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The action is excellent
too and highly adjustable
for a wide range of
terrain conditions
Clever fuelling and electronics help on the
300 TPI too, virtually eliminating that sudden
burst/power band hit of the old school
two-stroke and replacing it with seamless,
yet very responsive thrust and excellent
traction at all revs. Of course, the old rules
still apply – a well educated throttle hand
will still deliver the best results despite how
incredibly easy the KTM is to ride.
The rest of the machine is all normal
KTM stuff and, frankly, still ahead of the
competition. Sure the new GasGas is closer
than ever, but just not quite as refined. I’m a
big fan of the PDS rear suspension system.
It is a super simple set-up, offers better
ground clearance with no linkages and
the shock can be changed in moments if
ever there is a problem. On top of that, the
performance is excellent. The WP forks are
wire spring units as opposed to the air forks
in its XC and SX stable mates, because this
offers maximum confidence for stable, fuss
free operation in multi-day events.
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42 KIWI RIDER
The action is excellent too and highly adjustable
for a wide range of terrain conditions... from
slow tight work to decent MX track blasting,
a more than respectable set-up is only a few
clicks away.
As always with KTM dirtbikes, the brakes are
very good, particularly the front one which has
stopping power and feel in spades. The rear
is not quite of the same standard as the front
while still being very good. I find the rear ever
so slightly vague to use. I put this down to the
smaller disc rotor (when compared to other
brands) and perhaps even the brake pedal
itself which seems a little flexible. However,
the upside is the smaller disc is much less
vulnerable to rock damage which is of greater
importance in the overall scheme of things.
What else? Well, the ergos are great and seem
to cover a wide variety of bodyshapes and riding
styles, it has a fantastic hydraulic clutch and
gearbox, an excellent odo/trip computer and
top notch build quality. When I first saw the bike
I didn't expect to come away thinking that with
the suspension set up for me, I'd happily own
one. It really is that good.
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