KIWI RIDER DECEMBER 2021 VOL2 | Page 28

Since KTM introduced its TPI ( transfer port injection ) technology back in 2018 , the Austrian manufacturer has continued to refine and improve the technology with each model year . Some in the two-stroke purist community may disagree with this new technology being better than the trusty carburettor , I think , perhaps , they ’ re just scared of change . Whilst sometimes I do find myself sometimes getting nostalgic about the old carb ’ d 300s , you just need to a look at the advantages of TPI . The biggest being no more mixing gas , then there ’ s the clean running and consistent power delivery with no need to rev them up to clear out before an obstacle . No re-jetting for elevation changes . Also you can just lay them over without having to turn the fuel off , which everyone knows you will forget to turn back on and it ’ ll catch you out halfway up a hill . And , perhaps , the most important , they ’ re slightly kinder on the planet .

ENGINE One of the most impressive aspects of the fueland oil-injected TPI engine is how low the revs can be without the engine stalling . Sometimes , I ’ ve found it even gets to the point where it seems like the engine has stalled , only to pull in the clutch and feel the bike ’ s revs raise with a sensation much like auto stop / start in cars . The advantage this gives to a rider is the ability to to creep across slippery off-cambers and switchback your way up hills without breaking traction . Bottom end torque is definitely not what you might expect from a 300 and is quite mellow . Sometimes this is good and sometimes not so useful . It ’ s good in that it aids traction because there ’ s less of a hit , which allows you to be quite smooth . It sometimes leaves you wanting a bit more on hillclimbs where the top is in reach , but speed has been lost resulting in the clutch copping a lot of abuse to get you over the crest ,
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