I too rode/raced 2 strokes back in the day 71-84. I tried a 450 enduro for tough woods riding.. I now ride a 250 2t and will never go back for my main bike. For me, they are just plain ol more fun to ride. Light, instantaneous throttle response, etc. I'd absolutely get the 300. Awesome, well thought of, fast, versatile bike.
Which one will you not mind picking up repeatedly vs how much damage can either take when smacked up against them granite boulders you have down east? No, seriously, it might be a consideration.
I've seen both exact bikes together on a recent technical woods ride here in the mtns. The 300 is infinitely more capable if you ride anything hard.
That’s actually a good point. I worry about smashing that big old pipe on the front of the 2T, but I’m no spring chicken so the less weight I need to throw around the better. Have to admit I’m super impressed with all the tech and write ups on the 300. My biggest worry is having that 300 rocket out from underneath me. Suppose it’s a matter of throttle control just like when I started racing with a 1000.
If the KTM is all it's cracked up to be, the throttle will be very usable. I think the 250X might need some coaxing down low, depending on the gearing, but I'm sure the 300 has it when you want it, wherever you want it. In an "Oh, shit" moment, a handful of either throttle will be a problem. Just get a good pipe protector, it'll be fine and you'll grow into the 300. A small side story... I bought a Trials bike some time ago...had the chance to test ride three different ones. The 250 2t was a dog. The 400 4t was a dream. The 300 2t was an explosive waiting to propel my ass into serious trouble, but that's what it's designed to do...explode straight up rock walls, with a Pro level rider. I bought the 400.
The 300, as is other current crop of good 300s, is actually pretty tame, relatively speaking. Wider power bands, different powervalve springs, fly wheel weights, etc all go toward making it more tractable offroad.
that 2014 300 xc-W will be tamer than the ktm 300"XC" version .. the xc is more race oriented. Snappier, firmer suspension, with linkage (the W will be PDS, no linkage).. The honda 250x is a 4 stroke. Way tame as well, decent bike, but for $1k more i'd likely go with the newer ktm .
I would go for the 300 as well but that being said, my answer to most questions is "get the 2 stroke"...
I was left unsupervised this weekend and took my rims apart to powder coat the hubs. I may have been drinking, and my neighbor works in the powder coating industry, may have talked me into it. Anyone ever lace a wheel?
I just picked up a 2018 TM 450EN Stoked to ride it once my shoulder is better. I am familiar with the TM supermoto bikes but this my first experience with an enduro model of theirs so hopefully it meets expectations
That's because you are a man. The Big Red Pig that my brother is finishing up for our 24 hour race. Precision Concepts suspension, Scotts damper, fluidyne radiators, Al Baker/FMF exhaust and a Mikuni TM40 carb (plus a shitload of little things). Oh, and 9600 lumens on the front
Yep. Lacing it is easy. But unless you get lucky you will curse and drink even more while you are trying to get it true. The next one you do will be much easier though.
I actually spent quite a bit of time on that bikes older brother. Those things are tractors! That is a 650, isn't it?
Nice.... Years ago we took trip from Va to Marquette/ Upper Peninsula , Michigan for the Parts Unlimted UP300, that was some of the best riding ever. 40-50 mile single track loops, just great riding all day. Mike