RUST magazine: Rust#2

Around this course the
500 was one of my
favourite bikes.
It’s actually really easy
to ride because it’s so
tractible everywhere...
ride because not only is it so tractable
everywhere, but the power delivery has
been fine-tuned to provide monster grip
instead of monster power. So provided you
use plenty of input to steer the thing into a
turn it’ll carry you out the other side with a
remarkably smooth ride. I was actually
amazed at how well the 450 and 500
soaked up the bumps on this particular
circuit. These bikes flatten everything in
their path and KTM have done their homework
on the suspension settings. Overall
then they performed far better than I
expected them to. For me there wasn’t
much to choose between them but if I had
to pick I’d opt for the 500, just because it
allows you to be so lazy with the throttle and
gear selection. Yep, I know it’s the opposite
to what I said about the 250/300 two-strokes
but those are race bikes whereas these
things are cruisers. You could try racing one,
but make sure you’ve had a good night’s
sleep beforehand… Just a couple of laps
was all it took before I began to notice the
extra poundage of the big-bangers. You
have been warned. Nice bikes. Join a gym.
Summery Summary
So having thrashed KTM’s bikes around a
test track all day now I get to pick my top
three. And this selection is based purely on
my findings on the day rather than what I
know about the bikes. In first place it’s the
250 two-stroke. Come on, did you really
expect me to choose anything else? There