I could not help myself. I'm a weak man.

[troy]

He just had to do it. I can't really blame him I suppose--he couldn't have known my issues. He posted his 2012 KTM 350 EXC-F for sale on Craigslist for a great price that I just couldn't pass up. This is the fuel-injected 4 stroke that claims to produce 450 power with 250 weight and handling. Many reviews call it "the best dirt bike I've ever ridden".

I'm going to have to put some blame on our own Kendall because he should never have let me ride his 2012 350 EXC-F down at Disney. Crack for an addict, man. A wiser man than me once said, "never ride another man's bike unless you are prepared to go buy one."

It did not help when Bird Man let me play on his 2012 250 EXC-F. Nor did it help when Stu let me ride his 2012 500 EXC-F. There may be a conspiracy. I'm not paranoid if you guys really are out to get me.

So I went to see her last night, and in another moment of weakness, I let her come home with me. So now I have 3 orange bikes and a big white beemer in the garage. It's getting crowded in there.

We'll see how this plays out, but if I like the 350 like I think I will, my 2007 450 EXC will be for sale in late spring / early summer. (This is a factory street-legal machine, btw, and runs awesome.) Early bids accepted. Until then, I want to give this new bike some time. Plus I have a need for both street-legal KTM's in late April.

Here is a great video that compares the 350 EXC-F 4 stroke with the 300 EXC 2 stroke. Actually, the video is great because of the fantastic riding area they test the bikes in. DROOL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fv ... HD9Z4&NR=1

[gagnaou]

Congratulation on the new bike Troy!

[troy]

Congratulation on the new bike Troy!

I'm just hoping the 350 makes me faster so I can stay in your dust just a little longer.

[gagnaou]

Oh and BTW where are the pics, without a pic, it did not happen

[troy]

Oh and BTW where are the pics, without a pic, it did not happen

Ha. I bought it in the dark, and it's filthy. The guy didn't even clean it. If you want to see pics, google "2012 KTM 350 EXC-F".

[Rusty Jug]

Troy I'll send you some Red/white paint will make it look fast and Baja Winner!

[troy]

Troy I'll send you some Red/white paint will make it look fast and Baja Winner!

Your avatar pic makes me hungry.

[bird man]

Your avatar pic makes me hungry.

me too when can we go eat at Rusty's

Can't wait till you bring the new 350 to the trails or on any other ride and I can check it out

[Rusty Jug]

Need to make a trip to Eagle ranch with that bike! The video reminded me of Eagle Ranch rock area, so we know it will do it!

We can always put a brisket/pork butt on the smoker!

Crap I join weight watchers this Monday! Oh well you guys can eat good!

[kendall_smith]

Troy's will never look this good, but here's a pic of mine for those asking for pics.



Any excuse is good enough to show off this piece of Austrian art!

[Savage]

Who is "he"?
Do those have linked syspension?
Kendall's looks sharp.

[allkidd]

We'll see how this plays out, but if I like the 350 like I think I will, my 2007 450 EXC will be for sale in late spring / early summer. (This is a factory street-legal machine, btw, and runs awesome.) Early bids accepted. Until then, I want to give this new bike some time. Plus I have a need for both street-legal KTM's in late April.

You have to be kidding....did you really say, "if", I like the 350? You sound like me talking to my wife every time she notices another motorcycle in the garage...."well hon, I will only keep that new BMW if by slight chance I like it"...of course you are going to like it!

You now have the perfect combination of bikes....2 stroke for gnarly riding like chadwick, a reliable, street legal bike that can be ridden anywhere off road and a GS for longer dual sport/adventure type riding and for just riding to work. That combination has been my goal and I'm almost there. I've got the GS and 2 stroke...trying to decide between the 350 and 500.

[ICRider]

Coolness, Enjoy the bike.

[Stu]

"...trying to decide between the 350 and 500."

That is where I was last August. I finally settled on the 500. My "reasons" for deciding on the 500 EXC:
1) Better for longer distances such as in Utah (lower RPM vibration is nearly non-existent),
2) Better mileage,
3) Lower RPM for less wear (unless you like the higher RPM rush with a 500, that is),
4) Much better low end torque,
5) Weight reduction on the 500 is just as easy to achieve as with the same reductions on the 350,
6) Better do-it-all bike (combines the lightness of the 350 with the long distance capabilities of the 690 R),
7) Potentially better resale than the 350 models.

Advantages of the 350:
1) About 10 lbs less (& feels even lighter),
2) Easier to ride fast in really tight woods.

I have seen a lot of posts where the 350 has been bumped up to about 400 c.c. with very satisfactory results and no weight increase. The expense for this made the 350 more costly than the 500. However, for those wanting light weight and an overall great compromise this solution should be seriously considered.

In the end I would have liked to have both the 350 and 500 but no funds for both. I chose the larger bike and am very happy with my decision. The 500 deserves all the praise that has been heaped on it.

Troy, I would like to ride your 350 when you have it set up. They are great bikes and you will really enjoy yours. Will it tempt me to get a 350?

Stu

[troy]

Kendall is right--my 350 will never look as good as his in that pic. Although mine only has 20 hours on it, it somehow look like it has a few hundred hours on it through mud and rocks. So I don't get to enjoy that "new" bike feeling. Oh well, I was going to destroy the thing on my first real ride anyway.

Stu, you are of course welcome to ride it. I want to ride your 500 more, too. I barely rode it there at Bender's. I want to do a lap on it. I don't know how well I'll get my 350 "set up". I don't really know what I'm doing with these bikes. I mostly just change oil and ride. The small test ride I did it seemed to run great, so hopefully there's not much it needs for my riding.

I have a carbon fiber skid plate coming. That's the only thing I have planned to add right now. It just has the plastic handguards--I really should put some real guards on, but I want to enjoy the super-light front-end for at least a few rides. If it costs me a lever or 2, I guess that's OK.

[kendall_smith]

2) Easier to ride fast in really tight woods.

This was 99% of the reason I chose the 350. Granted, I am not using my 350 as a dual sport (I have my DRZ to take care of the dual sporting duties), so those factors didn't really weigh into my decision. I'm sure the 500 is an awesome bike in the woods as well, but the 350 has plenty of power to get me into trouble when I start getting tired and I would imagine the 500 would just compound that problem more. I've always enjoyed riding smaller bikes in the woods so I am able to wring their neck. I'd have to be a much better rider to use the potential of the 500 to the point I can use the 350.

In the end I would have liked to have both the 350 and 500 but no funds for both.

Stu

You and me both! If I had the money, my garage would look like a dealership!

[kendall_smith]

Kendall is right--my 350 will never look as good as his in that pic. Although mine only has 20 hours on it, it somehow look like it has a few hundred hours on it through mud and rocks. So I don't get to enjoy that "new" bike feeling. Oh well, I was going to destroy the thing on my first real ride anyway.

MY 350 will never look that good again- and it's the same bike! That picture was taken right after I got done putting all my goodies on it and before it ever really got ridden. I did the break-in on the street, so the bike was still showroom clean when I installed all of my parts. Unfortunately, there is really no way to keep them looking that good if you actually ride them. That's why I take the "glamour shots" when they are new- so I can always remember what they look like all shiny and unmolested!

Look on the bright side- the two previous owners got all of the first scratches out of the way so you can just enjoy the bike for the joy of riding it without worrying about it!

[stimmer6253472]

Sweet bike Troy.

[bonanzasteve]

Wow, that’s cool. I have been toying with the idea of replacing my DRZ with one or the other. My next question was going to be how you decided between the two, having ridden both, but Stu seems to have covered the differences pretty good. Since you were able to find a used one, that would factor into the equation as well. So what if you had found one of each on the market used, which one would you have chosen, all else being equal?
Steve

[Stu]

Rick is waiting for the new KTM 350 FreeRide that should be at the dealer's showrooms in late March or April. It is the same motor as in the 350 EXC-F and it may well be street legal. Suspension is less but then so is weight. Reportedly 220 lbs. which is really light for a 4 stroke. It will have about 30 hp and will be tuned for torque so it will be easy to ride. The only drawback I see is the 1 gallon tank (on the Euro version anyway). That is still good for 60 miles of woods riding from reports I have read on it.

Is this the bike we former and non competitive riders are waiting for? Sort of a combination of trails and enduro characteristics?

Stu