KTM
NATASHA CAIRNS
E
ver since KTM discontinued the 200, the 150 has
been my choice of race weapon. It has been put
through over a season of enduro, hard enduro
and cross country racing, and it’s a perfect match
for my style of riding – it’s light and super fun to ride.
It has the same characteristics as a 125 but with
significantly more torque and power, especially
in the bottom and mid-range. As the track gets
more technical, the benefits of this bike start to
shine. It’s light enough that, if I need to, I can lift it
without needing to call for the Incredible Hulk’s
assistance. For riders of smaller stature, like me, the
lack of size and weight of the bike are a big bonus.
It’s competitive even up against the bigger bikes
and its agility is a distinct advantage – such as when
58 KIWI RIDER
descending a steep section of trail, where it doesn’t
feel top heavy and, basically, almost feels like a
full suspension mountain bike. This makes it easy
to recover when something untoward happens.
I like that the PDS rear shock doesn’t catch on
obstacles, and it provides a plush ride which helps
with reducing fatigue on the big distance days. I think
it also keeps the rear tyre on the ground, helping in
getting traction and driving the bike forward better.
The bonus is it comes with electric start, which is
such a huge benefit when put in a tough situation
where I cannot kick-start without compromising
my body position – like on the side of a nasty hill.
In saying that, if you have to use the kicker, it’s a
super-easy one kick thing to get going again.