Edited Date/Time:
KTM Demo Days in Calgary, got 2 laps on the 250, 3 on the 300. The 300 was the only one I really wanted to ride, but it was leaving, and the Rep said to ride it, so I could compare it to the 300. Ok then. Good bike, a little soft in the bottom, with a surge, but I'm 255 plus gear, and want linear power, not hit. Suspension was REAL soft, hard to push on it, but overall, good bike. Put in the 2 laps, had the feel for it, and headed right back to the pits. If I was lucky, I'd get 15 minutes max in the 300, the test day was coming to an end.
Have 3 rides on the '07 Zook at Blackfoot, and a shitload of laps on my CR250's, so I'm really familiar with the terrain. Blues groove, with silt in the corners, big chop in some places. The 250 was a little difficult to get hooked up some times, and the lack of power was hurting me on some of the few jumps, so switched to the 450 once it was done. A good base of experience on this dirt, to draw a comparison between bikes.
Hit the track, at the face of a 70' tabletop. Could feel even on the way to the track, the suspension was stiffer, so I hit it hard. Not so much that if I came up short, I'd eat it, but enough to test the boingers on a flat landing. Cushy, would be the word I'd use. Didn't bottom hard, didn't hurt my wrists. Landed, and whacked the throttle wide open, to charge up the steep uphill, left handed 180, back down the hill again. Motor flat out rips, and is hooked up. Zero wheelspin, just forward acceleration. Track goes into a wide right hand sweeper, chop on the outside line, big marbles in the unused section. Forks worked well on the chop, for not being set up for my weight. I think maybe this bike might have had less time than the 250, Rep said it was brand new that morning.
Up a hill, across a straight, left hander into a tight right 180, almost went on my head with the front brake, using 1 finger. Phenomonal brakes on this bike. My Zook has a Galfer oversize and stainless line, not even CLOSE to this stopping power. Out of the 180, a short run to a 50' table, and a 60'+ step up double, depending on how far you want to flat land it. Think I was in third, pinned it. Cleared the table easily, pulled a gear, skied out the double, over jumped it huge. Again, no clutch slipping, just full on thrust, hooked up like I was on asphalt.
Long left sweeper follows, into a tight left handed, wet loam, uphill 180. Almost on my head with that front brake again, need to remember that. Right hand sandy loose berm after a straight, stuck the front wheel into the powder and it held. Awesome, couldn't do that on my 250. A drop off, into a right hander with ruts, one smooth line on the right left. Went for it, with minimum effort, the bike is just so light and turnable, not even an issue.
Next, short blind table, drops off into some ruts in a left hander. Hit it so hard, thought I'd overshoot the corner, after landing too far in. Nope. Front brake saved me, would've blown it on my bikes. Next up, high speed, uphill left hander with about 3 ruts, the inside one is hit it as hard as your balls allow you. I did, probably as fast or faster than on my own bikes. The handling and confidence this thing inspires is unreal. A couple more turns, followed by a whoop section. Bikes soaked up those whoops up like nothing. 2 more laps of the same thing, and against my will, brought it back in. Would rather have just loaded it into my trailer.
The engine on this thing is so hooked up, and so smooth. Never once dealt with wheelspin like my 250, and it had Geomax 81 tires on it, front and rear. Never heard of them, but they sure work on blue groove. Felt a little down on power for my weight, on the big uphills, but it was stock jetting, not set for 3500'. Some improvement to be had there, I'm sure.
Hydraulic clutch: So sweet, zero effort.
Brakes: You know that story.
Ergos: Thought it would feel weird, only thing off was lever height, and bar height. Easily fixed, and mandatory, at 6' 6".
Pegs. Beauty.
Shifting: clunky, but maybe that was the oil needing a change, the 250 didn't have that issue. I doubt they get any service during the day.
Overall: For whatever it's worth, this bike gets a 10 out of 10, from me. I've always found something on any bike that takes away from the package, but this thing is unreal. What's the expression you hear, "The 300 is the perfect do it all bike, no matter what you're riding"? Have to agree, and when I can jump on a bike, twist that throttle to the stops
the first time, and just ride, that's something. Crazy good package.
Got my Zook going, was having a lot of fun on it, and swore I was done buying new bikes. Never say never, I guess. If there was ever a bike that a guy could come off a 4 stroke, wanting less weight but keeping the tractable power, with awesome handling, this is it. Going to put my 500 up for sale too, after riding this thing. Haven't ridden it since 13, and I doubt I'd want to, after the Pumpkin.
