The perfect bike doesn't exi.................?

jgmdr520
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jgmdr520
Edited Date/Time 4/22/2021 5:34pm
Here's the deal. 43 yr old B rider, love to rev, riding 50% harescrambles 50% moto practice only. Mostly recently was on a 2019 Kx 450, awesome at moto terrible for HS. Before that 2013 Ktm 300xc, awesome for HS pretty bad for moto. I loved the KX handling,ergos, feel but as soon as I got tired, which was too soon, it felt like it wanted to injure me if I didn't stop. Always felt it was really close to being the perfect bike if it wasn't so overpowered for me. Getting ready to get another bike and can't decide but I'm leaning towards a 250f(only ridden a ktm and a yz once) or a 350(ridden a Husky once). Help.
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jdsmooth
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jdsmooth 4/21/2021 4:11pm
4/21/2021 4:11pm
I had a 2015 YZ250f, great power, pretty good ergos, but at 190lbs, I wanted to try a 450. I rode a 2017 KX450 for awhile and enjoyed it on the track for a few laps, but couldn't ride it in the woods, especially on tight stuff. Wasn't set up right for technical woods riding, but even with the right set up, I'm not sure I would've enjoyed it. My last bike was a 18 350xcf. I rode it 50% moto, 50% tighter woods. It was awesome. I felt like it was an improvement on the mx track, and obviously a lot better off road. To each his own, but I really loved my 350, and will own another one.
neverwas
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neverwas 4/21/2021 4:18pm
4/21/2021 4:18pm
You're correct, there's no perfect bike for every discipline.
The answer is more than one bike. It's quite simple really.
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LungButter
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LungButter 4/21/2021 4:29pm
4/21/2021 4:29pm
neverwas wrote:
You're correct, there's no perfect bike for every discipline.
The answer is more than one bike. It's quite simple really.
I must admit I was wrong.

I fully believe this is the correct answer upon further reflection.
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captmoto
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captmoto 4/21/2021 5:39pm
4/21/2021 5:39pm
neverwas wrote:
You're correct, there's no perfect bike for every discipline.
The answer is more than one bike. It's quite simple really.
This is the correct answer. OP needs to go be poor somewhere else.
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DB505
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DB505 4/21/2021 5:55pm
4/21/2021 5:55pm
jgmdr520 wrote:
Here's the deal. 43 yr old B rider, love to rev, riding 50% harescrambles 50% moto practice only. Mostly recently was on a 2019 Kx 450...
Here's the deal. 43 yr old B rider, love to rev, riding 50% harescrambles 50% moto practice only. Mostly recently was on a 2019 Kx 450, awesome at moto terrible for HS. Before that 2013 Ktm 300xc, awesome for HS pretty bad for moto. I loved the KX handling,ergos, feel but as soon as I got tired, which was too soon, it felt like it wanted to injure me if I didn't stop. Always felt it was really close to being the perfect bike if it wasn't so overpowered for me. Getting ready to get another bike and can't decide but I'm leaning towards a 250f(only ridden a ktm and a yz once) or a 350(ridden a Husky once). Help.
Sence you like the kx450, get the Kx250x
motorick5052
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motorick5052 4/21/2021 6:29pm
4/21/2021 6:29pm
I’m at little older than you, but our riding style and skill are very similar and I recently made the very same bike change that you are considering!
I even had the exact bike as I bought a new 2019 KX450 with big plans for 2020, expecting to do a big series down in Texas and registered for 2020 Vet nationals at
Glen Helen, mailed off a check and all, and then 2020 got flushed down the toilet thanks to the ignorant covid insanity!
I wanted to get a bike a little more off-road oriented but still capable of moto days or even an occasional vet MX event so I sold the KX to a coworker and bought a KTM 350XCF and couldn’t be happier with the bike!

I take the kickstand off, stiffen the clickers and bump the fork psi and it is a blast on the MX track that is capable of jumping anything I’d jump on the KX at the moto track, or soften the clickers, drop a few psi in the fork, top the tank off and go for a 2-3 hour off-road ride with my two buddies that only ride/race XC stuff!

I honestly feel like I have the best “do it all/one bike” and I love the engine characteristic of the 350! The darn thing just keeps revving/pulling further than any bike I’ve had and has more than enough to jump things right out of corners like my 450 did but has a pleasant manageable delivery for threading single track through the trees, and with the 6 gear transmission will flat haul on the top end out in the open areas!

If you have a KTM dealer nearby and they treat you right, I would encourage you to consider the 350XCF!
I couldn’t be happier with my decision and with the bike!
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!
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Tim507
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Tim507 4/21/2021 6:53pm
4/21/2021 6:53pm
Bikes are like tools, there's one for every job.....my tools are; 300TPI, 450X, Husky 701, EPure Trials bike......it's been my addiction since I was 9 years old. Same for my vehicles, one for every need. I'm not rich, just have always had a job and worked hard. There's 3 of us in my house....me, myself and I. Priorities and choices center around fun and adventure. Life is short - enjoy!!
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skypig
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skypig 4/21/2021 7:26pm
4/21/2021 7:26pm
My experience is there is a massive difference in the Suspension and Gearbox that suits MX v “Woods”.
If it suits one, it’s a pretty big compromise for the other.
asmith214x
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asmith214x 4/21/2021 10:22pm
4/21/2021 10:22pm
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and I feel great On this thing. You do have to rev to get it to take off, but 30-45 minutes into the 1-2 hour race I’m feeling pretty about not being afraid of the bike under fatigue.



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wrc777
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wrc777 4/22/2021 4:53am
4/22/2021 4:53am
asmith214x wrote:
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and...
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and I feel great On this thing. You do have to rev to get it to take off, but 30-45 minutes into the 1-2 hour race I’m feeling pretty about not being afraid of the bike under fatigue.



So the 350 is easier to ride when tired than the 300? I would not have expected that.
mx510
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mx510 4/22/2021 8:15am
4/22/2021 8:15am
asmith214x wrote:
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and...
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and I feel great On this thing. You do have to rev to get it to take off, but 30-45 minutes into the 1-2 hour race I’m feeling pretty about not being afraid of the bike under fatigue.



How do you like the Pro Circuit pipe?

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asmith214x
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asmith214x 4/22/2021 9:55am
4/22/2021 9:55am
asmith214x wrote:
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and...
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and I feel great On this thing. You do have to rev to get it to take off, but 30-45 minutes into the 1-2 hour race I’m feeling pretty about not being afraid of the bike under fatigue.



wrc777 wrote:
So the 350 is easier to ride when tired than the 300? I would not have expected that.
They are kind of opposites of each other, the 300 rips my arms off down low and signs off really early, where this has a weak low end but yanks hard mid to top. I have a high compression head and some other stuff on the 300, working on slowing it back down. The switch made me feel really confident on the 350
asmith214x
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asmith214x 4/22/2021 9:56am
4/22/2021 9:56am
asmith214x wrote:
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and...
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and I feel great On this thing. You do have to rev to get it to take off, but 30-45 minutes into the 1-2 hour race I’m feeling pretty about not being afraid of the bike under fatigue.



mx510 wrote:
How do you like the Pro Circuit pipe?
Well I’m not sure if it really helped power too much, but it sounds great and looks a little bit nicer. It’s the T6 and the weight savings were VERY small haha.
Dude Abides
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Dude Abides 4/22/2021 10:08am
4/22/2021 10:08am
2020 FC350 with a Big Tank and a tall soft seat foam....
I have had over 100 Mx'ers and this one takes the cake.
HS that I do are some gnarly single-tract, grass areas and natural old school motocross tracks....
Husky FC350 makes me happy, happy, happy.
J-Mill
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J-Mill 4/22/2021 10:23am
4/22/2021 10:23am
I love my FC350 everywhere except super tight single track. I don’t run a Recluse so the real tight sections require a lot of clutch work but other than that it is the perfect bike for me.
wrc777
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wrc777 4/22/2021 12:36pm
4/22/2021 12:36pm
asmith214x wrote:
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and...
Just went from a 2018 TX300 for sprint enduro/ GP’s to a GASGAS EX350F and I’m pretty stoked. I’m 6’2 240 (dropping more weight everyday) and I feel great On this thing. You do have to rev to get it to take off, but 30-45 minutes into the 1-2 hour race I’m feeling pretty about not being afraid of the bike under fatigue.



wrc777 wrote:
So the 350 is easier to ride when tired than the 300? I would not have expected that.
asmith214x wrote:
They are kind of opposites of each other, the 300 rips my arms off down low and signs off really early, where this has a weak...
They are kind of opposites of each other, the 300 rips my arms off down low and signs off really early, where this has a weak low end but yanks hard mid to top. I have a high compression head and some other stuff on the 300, working on slowing it back down. The switch made me feel really confident on the 350
I suggest riding a gear higher on the 300 and just blip the clutch to get it moving. That has calmed mine down some but 2nd is pretty nasty if you aren’t careful, and we won’t talk about first gear unless you like climbing trees.
Dirty Points 4/22/2021 5:33pm
4/22/2021 5:33pm Edited Date/Time 4/22/2021 5:35pm
Vital offroad 250f shootout dropped on home page shortly after OP posted:
https://www.vitalmx.com/features/2021-Vital-MX-Off-Road-Shootout,7340

About the winning YZ250FX, their statement nearly word-for-word matches OP want-list: "Who is this bike for? Pretty much any off-roader who also motos and wants a bike that can do it all."

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