350/300 both great bikes and very capable. 300 is a bit feisty and can catch you out but can be tamed somewhat if correctly set up. You say a couple of hard enduros, what else will you be doing?.

 

2hr H&H and some time cards

 

I've ridden a 300 for the past 4 years and loved it! The power and the weight make it a formidable machine!

The only negative against the 300 I would say is the fuel consumption! Flat out racing I will do 1.5hrs only. Take it to Dunkirk and I can only do 45 minutes on a tank of fuel... They drink it compared to the FI four strokes.

Having recently ridden a new 450 and 350 I'm set on going to a four stroke for the next bike, but I'm stuck on which one.

I want to change to four stroke mainly for a change (I've been on smokers solidly for about 13 years) and the fuel consumption.

I'm going to put a deposit down on a 2017 next week, but I think I'm going to have to flip a coin on which bike! I find the 350 is perfect when they are new and fresh, but after 50 hours becomes mellow and a bit dossile. The 450 stays sharp and has that nice hit of power if you want it.

Choices, choices...

 

Had all three of them. The 450 (fuel injected) is fat and mega strong, pulls on long uphills better than all others. The 300 is the one which makes me smile most but is, as H&Hmadness already mentioned, a real drinker. Its the most difficult to ride of these three and makes you tired when you are less skilled (or an old fart like me). The 350 is defo the best of the three. The most underestimated bike ever. Its faster than the 300 on fast tracks only just a bit slower than the 450 FI bike. Its almost as nimble as the 300 feels a bit heavier in the very slow and tight stuff, but just a bit. Fuel consumption is good on both FI bikes of course.

With the 350 you cant go wrong whatever your preferred play ground may be. Try one before you take your final decision.

 

The 350 is winning the race (excuse the pun), I think for the number of hard enduros I'll be doing simply basing a decision on that wouldn't be the way to go.

Anybody have one I could have a go of

 

Agreed on the 350exc I had a 2012 FI bike and I am a very novice rider but loved it (apart from the cough stall occasionally! but like I say it was probably rider error) ive had 7 different KTM's over a three year period and would probably say the 350 was the best for me (probably followed by the 250 2t) but I think the 350 will see you racing and also be very competent in hard endure, good luck with your choice.

 

For whats its worth I had a 2013 500 and now have a 2013 300 and the 300 is much better, its lighter and goes where you point it where as the 500 just ploughs on and is more difficult to turn. I would expect that the 500 is similar to the 450.

The 2 strokes have more tuning options than the 4 strokes so you can adapt it to your preferred riding style, with carb jetting and power valve adjustments you can do a lot with it. You can't do that with a 4 stroke.

 

The 2 strokes have more tuning options than the 4 strokes so you can adapt it to your preferred riding style, with carb jetting and power valve adjustments you can do a lot with it. You can't do that with a 4 stroke.

what he meant to say was:

The 2 strokes need more fucking about with than the 4 strokes and in order to adapt your riding style to the bike you will have to fuck about with jets and power valve adjustments, you have to do a lot to it. You don't need to do any of that with a modern 4 stroke.

 

If it's for everything get the 350

 

Good point nickr, best bit is though is once sorted a 2t is a dream machine where as once you've spent loads on bling, a pipe, fancy wheels etc a four stroke is still only a four stroke.

 

Theres a lot of cross over, but obviously each has their own best characteristic suited to particular terrain. You can't say one is better than the other. I hav'nt had to do anything performance wise with mine, it was perfect for me straight out of the box. Just added some bolt on protection and 108 hours later, still like new. It does get a pampered life though, I must admit.

 

Let the battle begin

 

only good thing 450's are for is powering out of a flat gravelly bend, how sideways you want depends on how much throttle you give it :scooter: