DIRT AND TRAIL

So – you want a bike that won’t beat you up. That’s fun to ride without being
intimidating. That can climb mountains and undertake the faster flowing stuff.
You might just want to have a look at KTM’s new 250 Freeride.
Pics by Vernon and Rene (The owners)
Let’s have a bit of a history lesson
first. KTM’s plan with the Freeride was
to produce an electric bike. But that was
delayed – and it would appear that they
had a bit of a quandary because so much
time and effort had already been spent
on the initial design of the bike. Being the
innovative peeps that they are, they took
their 350 four stroke mill, de tuned that and
made a bike.
We remember the very first time that
we rode that bike – we were somewhat
underwhelmed. It was a great concept,
but to put it quite plainly, there was just no
woody factor. The bike was pretty dull. It
did everything well, but just lacked any kind
of personality. With apologies to all 350
freeride owners.
A year or so on, KTM nailed it by fitting
a somewhat de-tuned 250 2-stroke
engine. Now you were talking – the bike
was fun, lively and – just as capable in the
tractorlike terrain that the hybrid guys and
gals are after.
In typical KTM fashion, they did not
sit still – and the latest rendition of the
Freeride comes with a very lively 250 fourstroke
engine.
We roped in two of our favourite
girlfriends and dragged the bike off – with
the old 350 for a ride at the now famous
Mamarok track out near Pretoria…
What’s it all about?
Freeride: KTM blended enduro and trial
traits and enticed riders of all levels to
enjoy off-road without pressure and with
the fun factor pushed to the fore. For 2018,
KTM has merged the freeride 350 and
2-stroke freeride 250R into the ktm freeride
250 f with a newly developed, state-of-theart
250cc dohc 4-stroke engine based on
the power plant of the competition enduro
ktm 250 exc-f.
This machine has a reworked composite
frame, slim bodywork with a new front
fender, a new headlight mask and a new
design. It looks as sporty as it is fun,
especially thanks to its low weight of less
than 99 kg.
“It combines the ability to explore
demanding and unknown off-road terrain,
while performing with low noise levels
and a confidence-inspiring power-delivery
combined with a comfortable, low seat
height. This bike is the ultimate all-rounder
for fun trails, trials and enduro.”
And they have done some homework,
“The Freeride is now fitted with new highend
WP Xplor suspension.”
58 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE MARCH 2018