RUST magazine: RUST #45

ENDURO
w
plush and sure-footed feel and on the
big descents the progression and stiffer
dampening kept it from bottoming out.
As well the set up seems to give the
KTM a more ground hugging feel.
The back-end seems more compliant
and the overall suspension balance is
excellent. The steering is precise while
the backend finds traction and ‘comes
around’ helping steer from the rear. This
is great in the slalom style riding needed
in tight woody terrain, like in Wales.
The PDS is efficient and even though
we had a good few logs to hop and
some slick hard pack with reasonably
sized rolling bumps, the PDS coped
well enough with all of them. I’d only
be wary in the case of high-speed big
rough stuff with the PDS, where I would
prefer the XC linkage on the back.
The KTM feels high, and it is,
particularly in slow going, until the
forks are coming under load. The firmer
damping makes them sit up a bit and
makes the bike feel more aggressive
and athletic. I loved it.
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