1609 DT final

4-strokes:
250:
The 2017 KTM 250 EXC-F has shed
in total 2.5kgs, the chassis has been
made stiffer and the power output has
increased. Mission complete.
Jumping on the bike for the first
time everything feels in its place and
comfortable, as with the previous
models.
The engine is fed by a white/opaque
8.5-litre fuel tank. The tank is also fitted
with a fuel level sensor.
Firing up the engine is an electric
starter…
The bike feels really feels light and
easy to push around the tight trails,
while having plenty of usable power
from the bottom up. The motor is
responsive and strong, which makes
it really easy to ride as a result.
Suspension-wise it has great feeling
front and back. More specifically,
the feeling of the forks are plush and
give you enough confidence to push
the bike fast. The suspension really
absorbs the harsh, rocky surfaces well
and took the bigger hits without hassle.
The 250 EXC-F is a great bike for any
level of rider – weekend trail warrior
to race-winning professional – and
it’s clear that it is more than capable
of competing in and winning enduro
championships around the world. Part
of the reason the 250 EXC-F is so easy
to ride is the great throttle response
off the bottom and right through the
rev-range, thanks to the advanced fuel
injection system. It uses an all-new
state of the art Keihin engine
management system with a
42mm throttle body, allowing
the injectors to be placed
differently, resulting in a more
responsive and snappier power delivery.
Upon checking out the exhaust of
the 2017 KTMs you will notice the
silencers have been made slightly
shorter and the header pipes have
been moved down to sit closer to the
engine, to help keep the weight more
centralised to the bike.
The 250 EXC-F is without doubt the
easiest bike in the entire range to ride.
It may ‘only’ be a 250 but it has an
incredible spread of power and loves to
be revved. Every horsepower it has is
usable and accessible meaning it’s truly
a bike for any occasion.
Kyle Says: Tight twisty and generally
all round fun. I did not spend much time
in the saddle but, when I was in the
saddle, smiles all round. People tend to
forget that’s why we ride bikes. Good
fun. Smooth power and she wakes up
after a hard roll on the throttle.
350:
When KTM introduced the 350cc
concept way back in 2010, it took the
motocross market by storm before
becoming a hugely popular enduro bike
a year later. The 2017 model delivers
more of the same thanks to its redesign
and in particular its lightweight handling
and brilliant chassis characteristics.
Power is abundant and it only weighs
in one kilo more than its smaller 250
EXC-F sibling, meaning it genuinely has
a bit less power than a 450 with the
handling of a 250.
Mixed feelings surround the 350cc
four-stroke when it comes to the
motocross side of the sport, but when
it comes to off-road, it’s the money.
The 350 feels light like a 250, easy
to throw around in tight single trail,
yet doesn’t have the tiring power and
weight of a 450 that wants to displace
your arms from the rest of your torso.
The 2017 KTM 350 EXC-F shares the
similar design to the 250 EXC-F engine,
yet has vastly more power. The DOHC
engine itself is 1.9kgs lighter than
the previous year’s powerplant. The
throttle response is great right off the
bottom giving you the power you need
with the flick of the wrist.
The KTM 350 EXC-F is one of the
most enjoyable bikes you will ever ride.
We had smiles from ear to ear after
spending time on this bike. The weight
of it allows you to push the bike around
where you want and has more than
enough power and torque to power
out of corners with little input from the
clutch, like you would need to at times
on a 250.
That’s not to say that you wish the
bike had more power. Far from it. You
just feel you’re a little bit more in control
than you would when you open up on
a 450 and you can get away with being
a little lazy on the throttle where you
couldn’t on the smaller 250.
And you save energy on the midcapacity
four-stroke as well. For those
keen on riding for the long haul over
the course of a couple of days or more,
you’ll be forever thankful with the
350cc characteristics. The ergos are
comfy – compact but still plenty roomy
– maintenance simplified and reliability
improves year on year. The 350 EXC-F
was probably the pick of the bunch for
many of the riders. The weight of the bike
and its punchy power really made for an
incredibly fun bike to ride. The addition of
the optional traction control showed its
strengths on slippery, dusty rock surfaces
and on longer fast stints behind the bars,
making it easier to ride for longer.
DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2016 3 9