With over a decade of racing - and winning - in cross country competitions, the KTM 350 XC-F has long shed its underdog label and proven itself a worthy adversary. Delivering usable power throughout the rev range, unwavering stability at speed, and true championship-winning credentials, the 2023 KTM 350 XC-F is once again READY TO RACE
Động cơ
Perfectly filling the gap between the KTM 250 XC-F and the powerhouse KTM 450 XC-F, the lightweight KTM 350 XC-F powerplant rules the roost in a class of its own. For 2023, the engine is tilted 2° backward with a lower sprocket position, which together with the benefits of mass centralization and reduced weight, makes the anti-squat behavior of the chassis second to none. With 450-rivalling performance and an overall engine weight of only 60. 6 lb, you'll leave the competition with more than a little mud on the face
Khung gầm và hệ thống treo
No matter how gnarly the trail is, you'll stay in complete control thanks to an all-new frame design that has not only been engineered for longitudinal rigidity, but also repositions rotating mass closer to the center of gravity. Thicker frame walls also improve reliability, flex characteristics and offer unmatched rider feel. A new shock mounting also provides improved anti-squat behavior for better traction out of corners, while the footpeg mounting position has moved inwards for less risk of hooking up on roots or rocks. Additionally, the inclusion of forged brackets on the lower frame rails allows for easy installation of the skid plate
tạo kiểu
The 2023 KTM XC and XC-F range feature an entirely new and improved rider triangle, providing improved knee contact - especially when standing on the pegs - with improved gripping surfaces all around. New plastics work to expel mud buildup in wet, muddy conditions, with a new, flatter seat profile and high-grip orange seat cover providing exceptional rider movement and control. A handy grip pocket under the seat, just above the airbox, makes gripping the bike and lifting it much easier. In terms of graphics, the 2023 KTM XC and XC-F design takes its cue from the early 1990s when purple was one of KTM's predominant colors
With 50 years of riding experience, Don Williams is a fan of all kinds of motorcycles. He enjoys sport bikes, cruisers, dirt bikes, touring bikes, adventure bikes, dual sport bikes, and rideable customs. Ask Don what his favorite bike is and he will tell you, "Whatever bike I'm on. "
KTM’s XC line is over 16 years old, and it more or less defines the category we call “closed-course cross-country. ” Setting aside the nonsectarian nature of the term, the category is populated with kinder, gentler motocross bikes. A 350XC-F is just like a KTM 350SX-F, but with a six-speed gearbox, softer suspension, a larger fuel tank, an 18-inch rear wheel, a kickstand, an O-ring chain, handguards and a skid plate. It has motocross power, a motocross muffler and is not EPA certified as an off-road bike. It’s a formula that’s resulted in over 20 off-road championships for the 350 alone
TRANG MỚI
For 2023, the 350XC formula is being altered more drastically than ever before. It has a completely new motor, a redesigned frame and all-new bodywork. Only a few core concepts are unchanged—the basic geometry, the 2. 2-gallon fuel capacity and the list of components. It still uses Brembo brakes, Brembo hydraulics, WP suspension components and Neken bars. KTM went all in with the concept that debuted in the 2022 Factory Edition, using the same platform for all its competition bikes in 2023.
The 350XC motor carries nothing over from 2022 aside from the bore and stroke. The head is obviously broader with more space between the double overhead cams The compression ratio is higher [14. 6. 1 so với 14. 2. 1]. Even the gear ratios in the six-speed gearbox have been altered, along with the primary ratio and the final drive sprockets. The common theme is lower gearing. First gear is a good 20 percent lower. Final gearing, however, is taller at 14/47. The bottom line is a wider range of overall gear ratios
Much has already been discussed about the new frame because of its use by the Red Bull KTM Factory team in the 2022 Supercross season. KTM is sticking with the steel backbone concept, but the new chassis is clearly more beefy, stiffer and a little heavier. On our scale the 2023 version is 237 pounds without fuel, which is around 7 pounds more than the previous version. The suspension components are the same as those found on KTM’s motocross bikes—the WP Xact 5448 air fork and the WP 5750 shock. The spring rate in the rear is 45 N/mm, which is the same as that of the MX bike, but the valving is softer. The recommended air pressure for the fork is 144 psi, which is 10 psi lower than the recommendation for the MX bike
NGÔI NHÀ CỦA 350
We still don’t understand why every motorcycle company on earth doesn’t offer an off-road 350 four-stroke. The 350XC-F is downright brilliant. After all this time, it’s still the missing link between the brutish overkill of a 450 and the sluggishness of a 250F. It’s simply proof that the guys who designed this bike actually ride, whereas the thinking in other boardrooms is restricted by traditional displacement classes
The 350 gives you the option of torquing your way along the trail at low revs or mounting a full-on attack by screaming the motor. Sometimes one approach works better than the other, but it depends on the rider and the terrain. If you choose the low-rev option, there’s a sweet zone below 10,000 rpm where the bike responds quickly but not violently. The high-rev technique, on the other hand, means things happen very quickly and forcefully, requiring more effort to maintain control. You are, after all, dealing with 50 horsepower, and the 350 carries its peak output for a long way. In truth, most riders use a combination of the two riding styles. You simply leave it in one gear and almost never shift. KTM altered all the gear ratios this year, including the primary gears and the final drive sprocket sizes. When you look at the big picture, the overall gear ratios are more spread out. First gear is about 12 percent lower. Second through fifth are lower as well, but by lesser amounts until sixth, which works out exactly the same as last year’s. On normal trails, there’s rarely a need for first. Likewise, you’re unlikely to find yourself tapped out in sixth, even in the fastest western GPs and desert races. Top gear is mostly for reducing the buzz on high-speed dirt roads
For 2023, the 350 motor gained a little in the middle. This makes the powerband even more versatile. It’s still super smooth and linear but with a little better response. There are two maps available on the new handlebars switch, and there’s a distinct difference. The lower map [green] is more rev-oriented than the standard map, which most riders preferred. Both are clean without pops or hiccups. Another option available in that handlebar switch is Quickshift, which is a feature that interrupts the motor for smoother, full-throttle upshifts. There’s no clean verdict on this; some riders claim it results in an unintended stutter, just by brushing the shifter. Others say there’s no downside, only benefits. That’s why KTM allows you to disable the feature with the press of a button, albeit a hard press of the button
YẾU TỐ MOTO
As we said, the new frame has been the subject of much discussion, prompted by the sudden slump in Cooper Webb’s Supercross results. In truth, what Cooper Webb might or might not be experiencing on a Supercross track with his 450 has no bearing on how the 350XC-F acts on the trail. The new 350XC-F handles about the same as the old 350XC-F. The only differences you might notice are a little more rigidity and a little less squat. Both factors are highly subjective. The rigidity is absorbed almost entirely by the softer suspension settings used by the XC. Most riders feel the new frame is superior in the sand, and that you can get away with softer settings. In that situation, the new bike is actually less harsh than the old one. On hard-pack terrain, you might have to use softer settings to get to the same comfort level you had with the old, flexier frame. As far as squat goes, this is the result of a repositioned motor. The countershaft sprocket is now a little lower in relation to the swingarm angle, which means the rear suspension stays a little more extended on acceleration than before. It’s a subtle difference, but some riders are more sensitive to that stuff than others. Is it better or worse? We’re not sure. Nó chỉ khác. We have noticed that the chain buffer endures more wear than the old one, so keep an eye on that
THE 350 UNIVERSE
You hear it all the time; people say that motorcycles have become too specialized. They aren’t talking about this bike. The KTM 350XC-F is the most versatile dirt bike in the world. It can do anything from motocross to EnduroCross. What’s even better is that it’s great at all those things. Không có sự thỏa hiệp. The power delivery is spectacular. The handling, suspension, brakes and clutch are excellent. The bike’s record over the past 16 years speaks volumes, and there’s no reason that the 2023 model wouldn’t continue with that legacy of success.