Thinking of a 350, change my mind.

pacetruckdrvr
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pacetruckdrvr
Edited Date/Time 11/12/2019 1:22pm
I currently have a 2018 Husky FC 450, I'm 47, weigh 155lbs, 5'10" and can get around the track pretty good, race the plus 30 and plus 25. I love my bike but every now and then hop on my sons 2017 KX250F and it feels much lighter although being almost the same weight, the motor just isnt strong enough. So my thoughts are to go with a new KTM 350SXF, I dont have a Husky dealer close to me and also cant stand the split number plates on the new gen Huskys.
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AH387
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AH387 9/4/2019 10:53am
9/4/2019 10:53am
As long as you aren't a guy who likes to lug 3rd, then the 350 is awesome. I feel like the chassis and motor feels a lot more 250f-like than 450. I don't like 450s as much because they just feel heavy and if I try to be aggressive, they wear me out and I make mistakes. So if you are like that, then a 350 is great because it let's you get aggressive w/o paying the price...plus you have much more power on top than a 250F. So it's all up to you and your riding style.
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MPJC
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MPJC 9/4/2019 11:01am
9/4/2019 11:01am
The 350 is awesome. Get one. It’s got way more power everywhere than a 250 while feeling almost as light. The bike is idiot proof to ride with the long pull. Put it in 3rd and hold it wide open!
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DynoDan22
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DynoDan22 9/4/2019 11:15am
9/4/2019 11:15am
I must have a magical '19 KTM 350-sxf. I can lug the $hit out of it and rarely use the clutch. I'm a slower Vet (200lbs) and I just ride the vet tracks in SoCal. My bike is all stock except a 51t rear (up one tooth from stock but standard on the '20). I find the 350 to be the perfect all around bike for most mere mortals. I can lug it or rev it. It feels considerably lighter than my '17 450 sx-f and is confidence inspiring. I don't care what skill level you are, we all have an "Oh S$hit!" moment. On a 350, I stand a chance, on a "Lap Howitzer" (450) I'm calculating my next medical deductible. To each their own, but my 350 has reignited my passion for riding and my 350 will go down as one of my most favorite bikes I've owned in my 30+ yrs. of riding. I say give the 350 a shot and give it time. Prior to my 350, I had a '17 450 sx-f and an '18 150sx. FWIW
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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 9/4/2019 12:12pm
9/4/2019 12:12pm
Riding cons:
Are you cool with high rpm's?
Are you cool with more clutch and shifting?
Are you cool with slower starts?
Are you cool riding harder to go fast?

Money cons:
Purchase price may be the same?
If you spend cash on HP might as well go bigger?
Less resale due to higher rpm nature?
More maintenance due to higher rpm?

Of course there may be some pro's vs. cons, but you asked us to change your mind...Laughing


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Agent717
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Agent717 9/4/2019 12:20pm
9/4/2019 12:20pm
I have a 2017 FC350. Coming off of a 2015 YZ250F I really loved the 350 for the first 6 months or so. The more I rode it the harder it got to figure out. Overall the motor just has a very "tight" feeling. It's hard to explain but it even in low rpm the motor feels wound out which impacts how the chassis feels/works. I've never had this feeling on a 250 or a 450. Could just be my riding style...
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AH387
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AH387 9/4/2019 12:21pm
9/4/2019 12:21pm
I'm just saying that a guy that doesn't like to rev and is accustomed to leaving it in 3rd, in all situations, maybe isn't the ideal rider for the 350. I ride some indoor AX and even some tighter outdoor tracks around me that the 350 requires 2nd gear and some revs. A 450 would've been able to torque around in 3rd at low revs and still get over everything, but not with the 250 or 350. 350s are easy to ride but I think there is a different type of approach to riding a 350 effectively, compared to a 450. And I think 250F guys would tend to enjoy them more than a typical 450 rider. But just my opinion.
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face biter
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face biter 9/4/2019 12:32pm
9/4/2019 12:32pm
Do it, buy the 350.
There... I hope I changed your mind.
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groggylbc
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groggylbc 9/4/2019 12:37pm
9/4/2019 12:37pm
Im 53 200lbs. I have a 2014 350. I love it. I am not especally fast...but not the slowest guy. The 450s feel way to heavy for me...and actually have too much power. My bike feels really really light compaired to the 450 when riding.
sure, Its down a little power in the bottom end...but its still fast! unless youre a pro, i dont think it will make that much of a difference.
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The_Diablo
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The_Diablo 9/4/2019 1:11pm
9/4/2019 1:11pm
350 is an awesome vet bike. 14/52 gearing. ecu remap. fmf sx header. It can lug 3rd gear just fine. I weigh 220 and can ride the majority of most tracks in 3rd.
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Tenacious P
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Tenacious P 9/4/2019 1:35pm
9/4/2019 1:35pm Edited Date/Time 9/4/2019 1:36pm
To me the 350 is backwards. It feels like it’s got 450 hp with 250 torque. I think if it had 450 torque and 250 top end high rev HP along with 250 weight, it would be a great vet bike.
I don’t like revving the shit out of a 4T so I have a 450 to lug around and a CR250 to satisfy my manic revving needs.
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Huckster
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Huckster 9/4/2019 1:46pm
9/4/2019 1:46pm
I had a 17 FC 350 and now have a 18 FC 450. I am a lugger and feel way more comfy on the 450. Yes it feels heavier but I got way more tired trying to ride the 350 hard. I rarely shift my 450. 3rd gear on most every track i ride.
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JohnMatrix
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JohnMatrix 9/4/2019 2:58pm
9/4/2019 2:58pm
I've gone from a 350 to a 450 and now on a 19 250sx. It feels much lighter than any 4 stroke and has excellent midrange so you don't have to wind the piss out of it. I felt like the 350 was missing that punch unless you were revving it out. That's where the 250sx delivers. Much smoother power than 2 strokes of the old days. Sure it's not the fastest of the three, but it is easily the most fun for me. It gives up to the 350 in traction, but it corners effortlessly. Definitely a bike to look into if you're open to something a little different.
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bodean123
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bodean123 9/4/2019 3:26pm
9/4/2019 3:26pm
These threads are so pointless.

Find a local, ride one, make your own decision.
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ben5020
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ben5020 9/4/2019 3:30pm
9/4/2019 3:30pm
17 fc350 52t rear, crower cam re-grind, GET ecu, yosh exhaust and she’s a beast! Have no problem getting the holeshot weighing the same as you is a huge benefit
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AH387
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AH387 9/4/2019 3:58pm
9/4/2019 3:58pm
bodean123 wrote:
These threads are so pointless.

Find a local, ride one, make your own decision.
Even that isn't going to give you the full story, imo. I feel like the 350 takes some time to adjust for most people. When I first got it, it felt weird and took a while to figure out the best way to ride it. Also, a lot of people experiment with gearing on those bikes too, depending on riding style, terrain. If I judged my 350 strictly off of first impression, I probably wouldn't have bought it. And that is based on shift points, seeming like it revved slower than I wanted etc. Now having dialed it in and adjusted to riding it, I love it. It's good to hear peoples takes on them and know what you are looking at, when deciding if it's the right bike for you.
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Kristen_Valentino 9/4/2019 5:57pm
9/4/2019 5:57pm
I say ride one, I have a 19 xcf, I like the gearing on the xcf alot, I feel it's just as quick as anything else, I love it for the most part, alittle moto and some woods riding, fairly easy bike to ride, try one out. Do a demo day.
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stone881
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stone881 9/4/2019 6:25pm
9/4/2019 6:25pm
Its all about gearing on the 350, so gear it for what you are riding. The young guns that were riding them were going to 13t drive sprockets, helps to reach the peak power which still takes a ton of throttle. Black throttle cam is also a necessity.

A Vortex box will make it hyper versatile. Anyway you slice it, you want to be revving it like a 250f, so if you like to be lazy and fast get the 450, but the 350 will be more forgiving of mistakes.
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AH387
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AH387 9/4/2019 6:37pm
9/4/2019 6:37pm
stone881 wrote:
Its all about gearing on the 350, so gear it for what you are riding. The young guns that were riding them were going to 13t...
Its all about gearing on the 350, so gear it for what you are riding. The young guns that were riding them were going to 13t drive sprockets, helps to reach the peak power which still takes a ton of throttle. Black throttle cam is also a necessity.

A Vortex box will make it hyper versatile. Anyway you slice it, you want to be revving it like a 250f, so if you like to be lazy and fast get the 450, but the 350 will be more forgiving of mistakes.
Agree 100%
pacetruckdrvr
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pacetruckdrvr 9/5/2019 5:18am
9/5/2019 5:18am
Mr. Info wrote:
There are none left. Does that help
Haha, maybe in the US, but I have a left over 19 local to me in Canada.
c0ncEpT
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c0ncEpT 9/5/2019 5:33am
9/5/2019 5:33am Edited Date/Time 9/5/2019 5:33am
AH387 wrote:
As long as you aren't a guy who likes to lug 3rd, then the 350 is awesome. I feel like the chassis and motor feels a...
As long as you aren't a guy who likes to lug 3rd, then the 350 is awesome. I feel like the chassis and motor feels a lot more 250f-like than 450. I don't like 450s as much because they just feel heavy and if I try to be aggressive, they wear me out and I make mistakes. So if you are like that, then a 350 is great because it let's you get aggressive w/o paying the price...plus you have much more power on top than a 250F. So it's all up to you and your riding style.
This is very true.

If you're a guy that rids the bike in 3rd gear the entire track you probably aren't going to like the 350. It really is like a 250 on steroids.

Guys that claim they can lug there 350 in 3rd gear are just out of touch. The bike might not be on the verge of stalling but it was no power below say 7,000rpm.

CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 9/5/2019 6:43am
9/5/2019 6:43am
I’m running 14/52 gearing on my 19 KTM 350. You can run almost the whole track in 3/4th gear. It’s got a Yosh full system and Vortex from Twisted Development.

The only other mod I’d suggest is to do something with the forks. Just personally I don’t get along with AER, they do work well, there’s just better out there.
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fatpurplepanda
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fatpurplepanda 9/5/2019 6:57am
9/5/2019 6:57am
If you want one, why do you want your mind changed? You're an adult; buy what you want..and the wife lets you
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user760a
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user760a 9/5/2019 7:27am
9/5/2019 7:27am
I rode most of the 19 KTM's briefly at a demo event this spring. I was most comfortable on the 450 because I have ridden 450's almost exclusively for 10 years

. I was most curious about the 350, though.

The main thing you will immediately notice is that the 350 lacks the off idle grunt that propels a lazy 450 rider along. It is not unlike a 250 in its need for rev's.

ask yourself this: can you still twist it hard? if you can, get the 350 and you will probably love it. It is not a gear high, lugging machine like a 450 CAN be if so desired. Ride it higher in the rev range and it is fast as hell, not 250 like at all
user760a
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user760a 9/5/2019 7:36am
9/5/2019 7:36am
also, in my short demo ride, I really think it was not possible to get a good feel for the advantages of the 350. The disadvantage of lacking low end grunt as compared to the 450 is immediately noticed, but the true advantages would have taken me a bit longer than just a few laps on a short pre determined test course.

Im talking about the handling advantages brought on by lower rotating mass, the lessened rider fatigue, the free revving nature of the motor, etc. These things take a little seat time to get , but I really think I may go to a 350 at some point as well. So many fond memories of more aggressive rding on 250F machines vs. lazy low end riding or cautious midrange use (I am off road racing lately).

I love my 450's but do recall one of the first times I was at a practice track riding my YZ450F, about ten yrs ago. The Ohlins guys showed up and let me ride their "shop bike"- a new YZ250F. I wanna say I was just as fast on the 250 and may have actually had more fun wringing it out. 350 splits the difference I think
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austin_bo
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austin_bo 9/5/2019 7:39am
9/5/2019 7:39am
Best bike I've ever owned. I'm 160 lbs and have no problem lugging the bike in 3rd after gearing it to 14/52. It also revs to the high heavens if you're into that sort of thing. It has substantially more power than my tuned RMZ 250 had, but it won't bite you quite like a 450 can. It also feels substantially lighter than a 450 when in motion. It's a bike that can make an average Joe feel like a pro (I say "feel" haha).

What's the worst case - that you buy it and don't like it? You should be able to sell it close to what you bought it for because they have great residual value. Consider the minimal losses as a rental fee haha
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MPJC
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MPJC 9/5/2019 10:21am
9/5/2019 10:21am
All of the comparisons to a 250 should, of course, be understood in terms of power placement. I have both a 250 and a 350 and when I get off the 350 and ride the 250 I feel like I'm on a 125. Ridden back to back, the engines are nothing alike. When you get used to the 350, it starts to feel like how you think a 250 feels. Then you actually get on a 250 and realize that the 250 is not even close. I'm 220 and my 350 has no problem at all keeping right with any 450 on a start straight. 250, not so much.
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MXer391
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MXer391 9/5/2019 2:25pm
9/5/2019 2:25pm
I have had a '14, '17, and currently a '19. I like each one more than the last. I'm close to your weight and I have no problems keeping up with 450s, actually I pull better starts on my 350 than I do on my RM-Z 450 because I rev it out and wait longer to shift. Anyone who tells you its more tiring to ride a 350 than a 450 isn't riding long enough or isn't riding rough tracks. Like mentioned before, changing the gearing helps as I feel it is too tall stock personally. I recently rode a '19 yz 250f and 450f and a '19 KTM450 back to back with my bike and I wouldn't trade it for any of them. I have never had any reliability problems either. Hope this helps.
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