2017 KTM 300 XC Review | First Impression

After operating the KTM 250 SX, and feeling how smooth the new engine was, we were excited to learn that this new engine design incorporating a counter balancer would be shared over the KTM 2-stroke lineup. In the past, the particular 300 has always made solid power, and been our 1st choice when conditions got unpleasant, but there was always a noticeable vibration felt through the bars and foot pegs.

The 2017 KTM 300 XC was designed designed for closed course racing, and comes with a lighter weight AER air for, plus linked rear suspension. Out on the particular trail the air fork holds up well and has a progressive feeling whenever landing or going through g-outs. The particular linkage works in unison with the modern feeling of the front suspension, managing larger obstacles well at rate. When the trails slow down it becomes obvious that this bikes wasn’t made to get through rock gardens and intense obstacles as much as it was made to competition on more open courses. That’s not to say it can’t be done, exactly that it has more of a tendency to bounce from rock to rock and roll rather than drive straight through the barrier.

In the engine department everything is smooth as silk. Deficiency of vibration is impressive and well received by everyone who rode the bike. From the second which the bike fires up with the press of a button, it’s clear how the old vibration traits are gone, since the front fender hardly shakes any more. Throughout he rpm range the engine remains smooth, making the majority of its power down low and tapering off when revved, this doesn’t completely fall off, however it lets the rider know it is time to shift by making more sound than power. The part of the motor that really shines is its ability to be lugged one or two gears high. The engine can be lugged extremely low without fear of stalling, this provides you the ability to minimize wheel rewrite and maximize traction. Although the engine makes great power, we do notice that the new Mikuni carburetor is sensitive to elevation change, and also going from 2, 000 foot to 4, 500 feet produced the bike seem rich having a need to be cleaned out after lugging just for long periods of time.

The 2017 three hundred XC comes standard with excellent quality ODI grips, as well as handguards that are quite sturdy. It would be good considering that the bike was built for off-road, if it came standard with a skid plate, even if this were a minimal glide plate. Also the bike doesn’t come with a ignite arrestor, which is lame considering that the majority of off-road riding areas require ignite arrestors. From the looks of matters, and after our initial ride to the new 300 XC, it seems as if KTM has hit the mark on what they set out to do, which was create a smooth, go-fast 300cc two stroke. Make sure to keep an eye out for an forthcoming issue of Dirt Rider where we will be doing a comparison test in between KTM’S 2017 300 XC as well as the 300 XC-W, to help our readers decide which bike meets their needs.