Thats not the point. He’s proving that 2 S can handle better (or not flame out) than the 4 S. Yes if he worked the clutch more he may not stall. But that is not the point. Point is; going the same track, same gear 2 S pulled through and 4 stroke stalled.
@@stoned_snake8763 You make zero since. Thats EXACTLY the point. The point is if he weren't so used to the 2s he would have stalled it and not the 4s. If you put me on the 4s and him on the 2s ill beat him by half his time. THE WHOLE POINT IS THE WAY HE RIDES. there is no other point.
He even said i cant lie i felt so much more comfortable on the 2s because iv been riding it for 3 years. THATS THE POINT, THE WHOLE POINT AND NOTHING BUT THE POINT. and still only did 30 seconds faster with 3 flame outs. Basically he road the 4s betger without even knowing how to ride it.
Putting a rekluse clutch in the 350 makes it the best woods bike for my local tracks, solves the flame out issue however the 300 is great on the technical stuff as it grunts better than than the 350 even with rekluse. Figured I’d throw this out here for anybody considering as I’ve had experience with both bikes
The KTM 300 you can tune with the red, yellow and green spring. Put on the red spring if you want that power band to hit hard and brutal, put on the green spring and you will have a mellow tractor :) At least so they say, have not yet had the pleasure to ride one myself yet but think I will buy a KTM 300 2 stroke but also think of the KTM 500 as I do like the grunt of a big 4 stroke. I did love my Yamaha WR450 for tarmac and fast gravel roads but it was a bit hard to control at slow and technical and I am not a good rider at all lol :)
The 300 XCW definitely will outperform the 350 XCF in that type of riding. The XCW and XCF are in totally different categories. The XCW is a single track and technical trail bike, and the XCF is a MX / desert race bike. I think a more fair comparison would be the 300 XCW compared to the 350 XCF-W. I just bought a 15 Beta 390 four stroke, which is very comparable to the 350 XCF-W but a little more low end torque. Love the bike so far! Not a single flame out yet! We ride EM single track a lot. Hit us up if you wanna ride!
RiderDestinationsTV I agree with everything you said. I just wanted to pick up a "change of pace" bike, so I opted for the XC version of this bike. I have to say that I really like the suspension on it for the faster sections.
Dirt Bike Channel I second the suggestion of the XCFW. I ride the 250 XCFW and have never flamed out on that exact trail. Mind you, I like to ride in 2nd gear and slip the clutch when things get gnarly. It's nice to know that when I upgrade to the 300 XCW that I'll get all the benefits of the 2-stroke and it should already suite my riding style.
***** I'll third that suggestion. The XC-F is NOT a single track machine. That's precisely what the XCF-W is for, two stroke or four stroke. Not a fair comparison. I've got a de-restricted 500 EXC, and it would rip that trail. With a lot of clutch slipping, but with that butter smooth diaphragm clutch, it's not a thing. And the pros always say use the clutch to modulate power. So...
I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost the account password. I would love any tricks you can give me
@Thatcher Amari i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
Great job. IMO not a fair comparison but it shows a lot how perform each bike in the same terrain. Hopefully soon my garage will have a 300 XC-W which is amazing for trails, gnarly and technical sections, and 450 XC which is great for single tracks and faster staff. Actually I have a 450 XC-W and 350 EXC-F. The 450 is much more easy to ride and I love it. Even in gnarly trails it does the job perfectly! Anyway, great job, keep riding and enjoy! =)
I have a 2011 FE390 that I bought brand new in 2013 and JUST bought a 2012 TE300 that has 25 miles on it. I have a Rekluse on the 390 and have gotten used to the simple riding that bike provides. The 300...WOW! VERY light and nimble. Still getting used to the change. I feels like I out the 390 motor in a mountain bike. I had a good friend ride both of my bikes at Carnegie Hills in Livermore, Ca and after riding the 390, told me that the bike was like cheating easy. "Effortlessly to ride." He then rode the 300 and said he was able to make it up obstacles he has NEVER been able to make before and that he would be willing to challenge anyone (in his class) to the hill climbs they hold there each year. Excited to learn to ride the 2-stroke. GREAT videos! Keep 'em coming.
Hey I've got a question for you what kind of ramp are using to get your bikes in your truck? I usually load my bikes by myself and a wide ramp like that would make my life a lot easier! Also I know you're probably doing these reviews with these bikes being in stock form but you should think about getting a rekluse clutch on that four stroke. It helped mine a lot with the stalling out problem in the low RPMs Rocky sections.
Travis Napier It's just a basic 4 wheeler ramp. Makes getting in and out of the truck a whole lot easier. Yeah, I can see why folks would drop 1k on the rekluse clutch on these 350's. I have to admit though, I think that might take some of the fun out of it. Seems like cheating, you know?
Gearing is definitely a game changer. I run a 2014 500EXC with 13/48 and 14/52. Tight technical stuff I am constantly feathering the clutch and keep the revs up, it will plow up and through anything. Thanks for another great video.
Dirt Bike Channel If it has high gearing to pass emissions when sold it will suck on trails. Just like my 500 with stock gearing was awful I switched it to 13-50 like the xcw & it rocks.
Try the enduro version of the 350 not the cross one if engine stalls.Different(not so advanced)timing and heavier flywheel(more inertia).Agree the 4 stroke stalls easyer.But the bike you ride it is not for tech enduro if you are not familiar with an engine that fires once at 2 revolutions.The 2 stroke has much more advantages compared to 4 stroke in tech terrain.But the stalling is not a 4 stroke problem,it is setup and riding skills.Regards,
I like how you loaded your bikes in pick up bed. Are the front tires touching? FYI i just bought a YZ 450FX coming off a KX 250 2- stroke. It is a great bike, you should try it if you can. I do suffer from stalling it, most likey due to i am used to riding 2 strokes. Thanks for your videos!
Have you had your suspension set up on either bike? By that I mean, sprung for your weight/revalved. I just dropped my forks off at Fineline suspension in St. George, that guy is super ice and from what I've heard/read on the internet, he's a wizard when it comes to suspesion stuff. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited.
modestmoose83 On both bikes, I've double checked my static sag and then gone ahead and set the rider sag. Didn't have to change the springs for my weight. I wouldn't mind getting the XC-W's shock rebuilt to act more like the shock on the XC-F.
Where is this trail? How do I get to the trailhead? I live in the Salt Lake area and I'm always looking for good desert single track when the mountains are still covered in snow. Thanks!
Would you consider using the 300 2 stroke for Vegas to reno race, I'm undecided between the 450 thumper or the 300 smoker, could use your advice since you seem to have a have a degree of knowledge on both, thanks.
Josh Thomas Josh, being completely unfamiliar with your riding style, weight, and also knowing nothing about this race.... I really can't offer an opinion that would mean much to you.
I would suggest dropping a tooth in the rear so you could ride the 4 stroke in the correct rpm range. You should try keeping it higher in the rpm range that's where the 350 make their power. I have a 2015 350 sxf. I've found this to be the case for me. Love your show and thanks for all the videos.
Your video completley changes my idea on a 2t vs 4t I have been really considering a 4t for my seccond bike for low rpms but hearing this changes everything lol
I'm on a 125 two stroke right now, considering a 2010+ two stroke for my next bike. I'm in Pennsylvania and will be doing woods riding and hare scrambles, presuming you ride at least some of that kind of stuff, which woulld you say would work the best: 200xc-w, 250xc/xc-w, or 300xc/xc-w? I feel with a 300 I would put myself into a tree at my expirence level haha.
Foster Schutt Foster. I've owned KTM 300XC's and XC-W's, CRF450, YZ450F, and some other crap. I'm currently on a KTM 250SX converted to a 300SX with a wide ratio gearbox installed and lots of goodies. My 300SX is like a more hyper/intense version of the 300XC. It's pissed off all the time. I've added a flywheel weight, change the jetting, mellower powervalve spring. It helps, but I strongly recommend the 300XC-W for enduro riding. I didn't want the added weight of the starter and all that crap, which is why I have SX. With the wide ratio it does absolutely fine, but you'd better be an aggressive rider if you're going to go the 300SX route. The engines are simply tuned for max HP at the expensive of the low rpm luggability of the XC/XC-W.
I always love your videos, Kyle. I think the main take away from this is that the Two stroke is an easier bike to ride in these situations. I don’t think the 4 Stroke is any less capable, but you have to ride higher in the RPMs. You either have to really work the clutch, or put in a Rekluse auto clutch. I currently have a 2015 Yz250f that I ride. I bought it thinking I would go to the track, but I quickly found out I much prefer trails. It definitely likes to stall. For now I am going to throw some protective parts on the bike and a rekluse auto until I decide I’m ready to buy a dedicated trail bike. That bike will likely be a KTM 300 Xc-W. I rode a buddy’s newer Husky 300 TE and it really is very hard to stall, even for a novice woods rider like myself. Keep up the good work!
reading the comments yeah the pitchforks came out. i have a 350 EXC-F. so kind of similar. i hear you on not being able to do low rpm. you really have to gear them down and rev them to get low speed and keep rpms up. then you have to shift super picky. they're kind of fussy that way. i have a couple sprocket sets because of this. i wouldnt exactly say im dissapointed, but its a weird in-between engine. its almost like riding a 90's 2 stroke but it doesnt have a power band and you can engine brake. its great if you want to cover a lot of ground fast to get somewhere far away and back home. thats my 2 cents. i was looking at your video's, did you ever do a review on the EXC-F? id like to watch that if you did one. also, what brand of bark busters do you run on that 2 stroke? i like how they are the top clamps of the bar mounts.
Just wanted to let you know I have really enjoyed your channel I'm new too the single track scene coming from an mx background I am currently riding a crf450r but your videos and insight are helping me realize I need another bike for this style of riding keep up the great work thanks again
Do you think the bikes with the Linkage rear would be ok for harescrambles? I'm torn. I like the xc-f but the PDS option is tempting. I know I'm probably not a good enough rider to notice a difference.
Hi Kyle, I see you have a Scotts Steering Stabilizer on both bikes. Which are the biggest benefits you see in having a steering stabilizer while riding at very low speed in technical single trail?
Thank you for the video. Do you think the needle moves to one side if the rider is of somewhat generous proportions? I'm 6' 2" and fully suited I'm over 250 lbs. My main riding style is sit down trail riding where I rarely exceed 30mph. Thanks Kyle
Mike James Both of these bikes tend to like to be pushed, although the 300 two stroke doesn't have to be. I'd look for a 500 XC-W in your case. It's a 4 stroke. Tons of power, but it's not going to jump up and bite you all the time. Really mellow power, but plenty of it there in case you need it. Plush suspension too. I hope that helps.
what top handle bar clamps are you using on the 300? look like the same cycra busters i have on mine, nut the mounting point on mine doesnt work very well, loooks like what you have on your 300 will do the trick!
good video Dirtbike channel,dont listen to the obvious trolls' gave up on 4 strokes though when the crank shaft literally snapped in 2 and grenades my motor on my 2007 crf 450,went back to 2 strokes and now ride a kx 250 2003. and a 97 cr5
These comparisons are right on point, my buddy and I both bought 2015 husqvara te300's.. I come from a street bike background and a bit of supermoto. I haf never ridden anything bigger than a cr70f on dirt, we ride with my neighbor who has benn riding for a long long time, he bought a Honda 250x last year and we traded bikes the other day for a few miles, needles to say he loves the 300. As far as my input, I love my 300, its light, nimbles, you can lug it, you can let it scream....I'v only had it 6 weeks and already have put 12 hours 200 miles on it, all technical single track... Two stroke for life!!!! Anyway, we ride the Entiat ranger district in central Washington, over 300 miles of maintained single track with trail heads just a few miles from my house... You should hit me up and come ride up here, look up the trails in my arear here on TH-cam.
I've enjoyed your videos about the KTM 2 strokes. I was wondering if you have heard or experienced any throttle stick. I hear it been a problem with the KTM 2 strokes of the past. Thanks.
Richard Lundeen I haven't had any issues with that. I think if your throttle cable is good and the carb doesn't have any loose parts, this would never be an issue on ANY bike regardless of the make.
Great video, In my opinion both bikes are great! I had a question: I was wondering about your hand guards. Those look like you have the BRP mount and cycra hand guard. I see that you have some type of spacer connecting the mount and guard itself. Is that necessary? I have a Husqvarna FE350 and you bought the same set up as I believe you have
German Contreras Hand guards are all about what you like. Some guys like full wrap guards, others don't. I have full wrap guards on my 2014, but not on my 2015. I like it both ways. If you already have something, just use that and don't take them back.
What tire pressure do you run with all of those rocks? Im at 15psi in the tennessee mountains, very rocky, running HD tubes, feels like Im sliding around everywhere
+Bob Swagger If you are not running the TuBliss system on a trail like this, you have to run 15 psi or you'll get a pinch flat on your tubes. Yeah traction suffers for sure with 15 psi. That is why I have been running TuBliss for a couple of years now whenever I can.
great vid Kyle...I enjoy your your vids alot. But dont you think a 300 2 stroke is going to have a definite advantage over a 250 or even a 350 4 stroke? Is it really a fair comparison?
Isn't that the entire point, to show different bikes as a comparison :) I've taken no less than 6-7 bikes up the trail now. So far, nothing beat the 300, not even the 450's I've done it on.
true...and its like u say as well theres alot going on besides simply how much power a bike has once again good job. Take care Kyle...and keep em comin. Theyre great!
The XCF-W would have been a better apples to apples comparison to the XC-W. I doubt the flame outs would have been as much of a problem with the gearing and heavier crankshaft. But cool video!
I appreciate your opinion very much. I just can't see myself on a 500 while I'm trail riding places like Hungry Valley. It's 245 lbs dry and I can't help but think that bike would wipe me out if I ever needed to pick it up like your nearly upside down 300. I'm sure either one of your tested bikes would make me very happy. The 300 sounds great because of its light weight and slow speed manners. Great vid, perfect talk to riding ratio. Keep them coming.
Mike James Seriously, I've loved the 300XC-W more than anything else I've ever owned in my life. If you don't mind mixing gas, which isn't a big deal, the 300 XC-W would be a better fit than the 350 XC-F for your needs.
Also if they are worth it? My husqvarna comes with the stock hand guards. I could return what I bought no problem and would save me lots of money. What do you think
love he says flamed out pull the clutch on build your revs and slip the thing it's bathed in oil for a reason ... use it to keep your revs up and stop you from stalling
Watch some of my newer stuff and you'll notice that I am getting better :) Funny that you don't need to use the clutch on a 300 2 stroke as much. Those things are magic.
Nice video love your work mate,just wanting to know what size sprockets your running on the 350,I changed my 2016 esc,to 13-53 and it lugs unreal,it's suits my riding style (old bloke ) really well,and my rising erea,I went from 14-50 rear,I was in the clutch a fair bit,thanks again for the videos cheers
Don't get why everybody talks about him being biased towards 2 strokes there's certain things they're better at than 4 strokes I love the 2 stroke but I personally own a 4 stroke. To each their own it's all preference. Great videos man ! Keep it up !
Thank you for the great video! What year is that XC-F? Have you ridden the 2016 XC-F? Did KTM fix the low end bog for 2016 model ya think? Thanks again! Good job on video!
+Josh Merrill This one was a 2014. It was brand new. I don't know if they've done anything to fix the low end. Those 350s like to be pushed hard, so I don't think they are low end torque monsters.
Geez so many haters.. Get real!! Anyway, what specific differences can you feel regarding the PDS and the linkage suspension? I am a technical rider from Idaho so I ride different terrain quite often, i.e. open desert, technical desert, open forest, tight technical forest. Just wondering if my next purchase should be the 350 xcf or 350 xcfw. Thanks!
+Hayden Quinn I think the gearing and stock valving in the forks is a bigger difference than the PDS. If you like to go fast, get the XC. If MOST of your riding is tight and slow, get the W.
+Dirt Bike Channel - Just bought a 2014 350 EXC-F, deciding on gearing now, found a cool website to help - woodsware.aciwebs.com/gears/ Maybe you could do a future video on gearing.
Hi, tks for the video, very interesting. I have two questions for you. I know that the 300 will lug really down low and that the 350 will stall, but lets say if we can keep both on the low usable part of the rev range ( maybe 2.500 rpm or so), which bike will have more torque?? Second question, in twister sections with a lot of braking and acceleration, do you have to switch gears more on the 300 due to the shorter rpm range?? Many tks!!!!
Thanks to your videos I have added a 2017 300 XC-W to the stable of bikes for next year. It will be interesting to see if I like it more than the 450 CRF-X or as much as I like the 400 EXC. Im excited to be back on a 2 stroke. Thank you for the great videos.
You should try changing the rear sprocket. I was having the same issue stalling on my 350 exc 4 stroke and when i changed the rear sprocket it changed my life and I never flame out now. Thanks for the awesome video!! Nice to see a comparison of 2 stock bikes.
XC and EXC are the same models. The E just implies that the bike is for the European market.. Correct me if I'm wrong :D here in Germany we only have EXC models.
TPS tuning was a huge improvement as well. I picked one up from BDSB along with a Snap, Grunt and end cap. Opened the engine up and gave it a little more low end pull. You still need to be on the gas and clutch when the going is slow and steep. They are both great bikes. You are lucky to have the chance to do the comparison. My son runs the 300EXC smoker and it is a beast.
Dirt Bike Channel Where in Utah? I was trying to google it, but didn't come up. I've only been to Moab and the San Rafael Swell. Would love to check out some more areas. Thanks
My dad has the xtrainer, and my sister has the free ride. this is my viewpoint of the two bikes. The Beta is a real dirt bike shrunk 15% and de-tuned to be more friendly...but you can tune it back up using RR bits if you like. The Freeride is more like a trials bike with a seat on it and it's not as good for trail riding with your buddies on real bikes. If you want to play around psuedo-trials riding then it's fun, but for normal dirt bike use the Xtrainer wins my vote.
Do you think that in future videos you could talk about the gas mileage differences? Im curious to know how they compare and if the fuel range is something to consider.
Matthew G Yeah, it's something that I plan to test out thoroughly. I just need to get the time/weather to perform the tests. It's been raining a lot in my neck of the woods.
Great Video. I have the Beta 300 and a 15 300XC. Everyone says why two 300's...let me tell you they are very different bikes! Ever get Down into NM let me know and we can compare them all! Great vids man.
Great video i enjoyed it. Why didnt you compare the 300xcw 2 stroke vs 350 xcwf four stroke? Its my understanding that the 350 xcf is a faster paced GNCC bike.
How can you even compare if you don’t set the sag? That is a MUST. The 350 flames out because its mapping is so lean. The bike has Covid masks on it. I put a slipper clutch in mine and a different ECU. I can run it on an Mx track or hooligan trail rides. I do miss my 2 smoker however this is one hell of a bike. It is an expensive one to modify. What’s that saying? How fast do you want to go/spend? Great videos. Thanx.
Why wouldn't you compare the 300XC to the 350 XCF-W, which should avoid many of the "flame outs" that seem to be the only complaint about the four stroke??
That's a great set up to have where the two bikes perform better in certain areas. I think you'd really like the 300 XC with that 4CS suspension. One of our guys went from a 300 XCW to a 300 XC and he loves it. The Huskys and Betas are pretty amazing too. I rode the Beta 300 and liked it more than the KTM. Love the vids! Keep up the good work!
Gotta stop worrying about the 4 stroke guys getting upset stop apologizing they will be fine
You "flamed out" because you don't know how to ride a 4 stroke...there's a clutch for a reason
The problem isnt the F, it is the W.. The wide ratio transmission is what dominated this.
Thats not the point. He’s proving that 2 S can handle better (or not flame out) than the 4 S. Yes if he worked the clutch more he may not stall. But that is not the point. Point is; going the same track, same gear 2 S pulled through and 4 stroke stalled.
@@stoned_snake8763
You make zero since. Thats EXACTLY the point. The point is if he weren't so used to the 2s he would have stalled it and not the 4s. If you put me on the 4s and him on the 2s ill beat him by half his time. THE WHOLE POINT IS THE WAY HE RIDES. there is no other point.
He even said i cant lie i felt so much more comfortable on the 2s because iv been riding it for 3 years. THATS THE POINT, THE WHOLE POINT AND NOTHING BUT THE POINT. and still only did 30 seconds faster with 3 flame outs. Basically he road the 4s betger without even knowing how to ride it.
Putting a rekluse clutch in the 350 makes it the best woods bike for my local tracks, solves the flame out issue however the 300 is great on the technical stuff as it grunts better than than the 350 even with rekluse. Figured I’d throw this out here for anybody considering as I’ve had experience with both bikes
There must be a lot of pro riders in the comments section since none of them ever stall a 4t due to their amazing clutch skills.
Sprnklrmn hahahaha fr
One thing I will say is that a 2 stroke is the most violent bike you will ever ride, I love it
Dennis Cox Love me some 2 stroke power!
I do,
Violent? The 300 is a mellow tractor. The opposite of violent
Dennis Cox But at the same time they can be the smoothest!
The KTM 300 you can tune with the red, yellow and green spring. Put on the red spring if you want that power band to hit hard and brutal, put on the green spring and you will have a mellow tractor :) At least so they say, have not yet had the pleasure to ride one myself yet but think I will buy a KTM 300 2 stroke but also think of the KTM 500 as I do like the grunt of a big 4 stroke. I did love my Yamaha WR450 for tarmac and fast gravel roads but it was a bit hard to control at slow and technical and I am not a good rider at all lol :)
It seems as tho you're more biased towards the 2 strokes in general so it really is hard to tell
The 300 XCW definitely will outperform the 350 XCF in that type of riding. The XCW and XCF are in totally different categories. The XCW is a single track and technical trail bike, and the XCF is a MX / desert race bike. I think a more fair comparison would be the 300 XCW compared to the 350 XCF-W. I just bought a 15 Beta 390 four stroke, which is very comparable to the 350 XCF-W but a little more low end torque. Love the bike so far! Not a single flame out yet! We ride EM single track a lot. Hit us up if you wanna ride!
RiderDestinationsTV I agree with everything you said. I just wanted to pick up a "change of pace" bike, so I opted for the XC version of this bike. I have to say that I really like the suspension on it for the faster sections.
Dirt Bike Channel I second the suggestion of the XCFW. I ride the 250 XCFW and have never flamed out on that exact trail. Mind you, I like to ride in 2nd gear and slip the clutch when things get gnarly. It's nice to know that when I upgrade to the 300 XCW that I'll get all the benefits of the 2-stroke and it should already suite my riding style.
***** I'll third that suggestion. The XC-F is NOT a single track machine. That's precisely what the XCF-W is for, two stroke or four stroke. Not a fair comparison. I've got a de-restricted 500 EXC, and it would rip that trail. With a lot of clutch slipping, but with that butter smooth diaphragm clutch, it's not a thing. And the pros always say use the clutch to modulate power. So...
Flamed out? Whatever dude you stalled it where I’m from 😂 keep practicing!
Dang, I always thought 4 strokes did better with low rpm than a 2 stroke. Looks like there's more to learn.
I cringed every time I heard you say the bike flamed out just say you stalled the damn bike.
Turning the idle up on the 350s makes all the difference. More so than a heavy flywheel or a remap
I dont mean to be so off topic but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost the account password. I would love any tricks you can give me
@Dylan Milo Instablaster :)
@Thatcher Amari i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process atm.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
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@Dylan Milo glad I could help :D
great review! your mix of riding and talking is just fine. keep up the good work.
Great job. IMO not a fair comparison but it shows a lot how perform each bike in the same terrain. Hopefully soon my garage will have a 300 XC-W which is amazing for trails, gnarly and technical sections, and 450 XC which is great for single tracks and faster staff.
Actually I have a 450 XC-W and 350 EXC-F. The 450 is much more easy to ride and I love it. Even in gnarly trails it does the job perfectly!
Anyway, great job, keep riding and enjoy! =)
I have a 2011 FE390 that I bought brand new in 2013 and JUST bought a 2012 TE300 that has 25 miles on it. I have a Rekluse on the 390 and have gotten used to the simple riding that bike provides. The 300...WOW! VERY light and nimble. Still getting used to the change. I feels like I out the 390 motor in a mountain bike.
I had a good friend ride both of my bikes at Carnegie Hills in Livermore, Ca and after riding the 390, told me that the bike was like cheating easy. "Effortlessly to ride." He then rode the 300 and said he was able to make it up obstacles he has NEVER been able to make before and that he would be willing to challenge anyone (in his class) to the hill climbs they hold there each year.
Excited to learn to ride the 2-stroke.
GREAT videos! Keep 'em coming.
Darren Boddy Darren, thanks for sharing your experience. The TE 300 is an awesome bike!
You make great high quality videos. Subscribed!
87and66 Thanks for subscribing to the channel!
Hey mate nice vids id go with the 2t, also what brand of hand guards are on the 2t 300 i havent seen them before and they look good ?
Hey I've got a question for you what kind of ramp are using to get your bikes in your truck? I usually load my bikes by myself and a wide ramp like that would make my life a lot easier! Also I know you're probably doing these reviews with these bikes being in stock form but you should think about getting a rekluse clutch on that four stroke. It helped mine a lot with the stalling out problem in the low RPMs Rocky sections.
Travis Napier It's just a basic 4 wheeler ramp. Makes getting in and out of the truck a whole lot easier. Yeah, I can see why folks would drop 1k on the rekluse clutch on these 350's. I have to admit though, I think that might take some of the fun out of it. Seems like cheating, you know?
Gearing is definitely a game changer. I run a 2014 500EXC with 13/48 and 14/52. Tight technical stuff I am constantly feathering the clutch and keep the revs up, it will plow up and through anything. Thanks for another great video.
Greg Thorne Thanks for the comment. I may play around with the gearing on this 350. Not sure yet.
***** And if pure power was all that mattered, we'd all be riding 1000cc bikes :) Thanks for watching Jim!
Dirt Bike Channel If it has high gearing to pass emissions when sold it will suck on trails. Just like my 500 with stock gearing was awful I switched it to 13-50 like the xcw & it rocks.
Warsrogue
This bike comes with 13-50 gearing stock (the 350 XC-F). Going up to a 52 tooth on the rear would help in certain situations for sure.
Try the enduro version of the 350 not the cross one if engine stalls.Different(not so advanced)timing and heavier flywheel(more inertia).Agree the 4 stroke stalls easyer.But the bike you ride it is not for tech enduro if you are not familiar with an engine that fires once at 2 revolutions.The 2 stroke has much more advantages compared to 4 stroke in tech terrain.But the stalling is not a 4 stroke problem,it is setup and riding skills.Regards,
I like how you loaded your bikes in pick up bed. Are the front tires touching? FYI i just bought a YZ 450FX coming off a KX 250 2- stroke. It is a great bike, you should try it if you can. I do suffer from stalling it, most likey due to i am used to riding 2 strokes.
Thanks for your videos!
+Don Rohde Yes, the tires are touching. This allows you to put 2 bikes in a 6.5 foot bed and close the tailgate.
Have you had your suspension set up on either bike? By that I mean, sprung for your weight/revalved. I just dropped my forks off at Fineline suspension in St. George, that guy is super ice and from what I've heard/read on the internet, he's a wizard when it comes to suspesion stuff. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited.
modestmoose83 On both bikes, I've double checked my static sag and then gone ahead and set the rider sag. Didn't have to change the springs for my weight. I wouldn't mind getting the XC-W's shock rebuilt to act more like the shock on the XC-F.
Great comparison, thanks!
seth christiansen Thanks for watching. We hope to do more of these in the future.
Where is this trail? How do I get to the trailhead? I live in the Salt Lake area and I'm always looking for good desert single track when the mountains are still covered in snow. Thanks!
Kyle Brotherton, what do you think about the 450 4 strokes? And have you ever ridden a ktm 380cc 2 stroke or a ktm 500cc 4 stroke?
Would you consider using the 300 2 stroke for Vegas to reno race, I'm undecided between the 450 thumper or the 300 smoker, could use your advice since you seem to have a have a degree of knowledge on both, thanks.
Josh Thomas Josh, being completely unfamiliar with your riding style, weight, and also knowing nothing about this race.... I really can't offer an opinion that would mean much to you.
No worries, thank you for getting back to me on my enquiry, ride safe
I would suggest dropping a tooth in the rear so you could ride the 4 stroke in the correct rpm range. You should try keeping it higher in the rpm range that's where the 350 make their power. I have a 2015 350 sxf. I've found this to be the case for me. Love your show and thanks for all the videos.
Your video completley changes my idea on a 2t vs 4t
I have been really considering a 4t for my seccond bike for low rpms but hearing this changes everything lol
Foster Schutt Yeah get a 300 two stroke and you'll love the low rpm power.
I'm on a 125 two stroke right now, considering a 2010+ two stroke for my next bike. I'm in Pennsylvania and will be doing woods riding and hare scrambles, presuming you ride at least some of that kind of stuff, which woulld you say would work the best: 200xc-w, 250xc/xc-w, or 300xc/xc-w? I feel with a 300 I would put myself into a tree at my expirence level haha.
Foster Schutt I'd look for a 200 XC-W in your case. It would be a great step up from the 125 you are on now.
Foster Schutt Foster. I've owned KTM 300XC's and XC-W's, CRF450, YZ450F, and some other crap. I'm currently on a KTM 250SX converted to a 300SX with a wide ratio gearbox installed and lots of goodies. My 300SX is like a more hyper/intense version of the 300XC. It's pissed off all the time. I've added a flywheel weight, change the jetting, mellower powervalve spring. It helps, but I strongly recommend the 300XC-W for enduro riding. I didn't want the added weight of the starter and all that crap, which is why I have SX. With the wide ratio it does absolutely fine, but you'd better be an aggressive rider if you're going to go the 300SX route. The engines are simply tuned for max HP at the expensive of the low rpm luggability of the XC/XC-W.
CourageOO7
Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you have a pretty sweet setup for your needs!
Unrelated but what size tires are on your superduty? Leveled? Seen in a few of your videos. Looks great! You do a great job with videos too.
I always love your videos, Kyle. I think the main take away from this is that the Two stroke is an easier bike to ride in these situations. I don’t think the 4 Stroke is any less capable, but you have to ride higher in the RPMs. You either have to really work the clutch, or put in a Rekluse auto clutch. I currently have a 2015 Yz250f that I ride. I bought it thinking I would go to the track, but I quickly found out I much prefer trails. It definitely likes to stall. For now I am going to throw some protective parts on the bike and a rekluse auto until I decide I’m ready to buy a dedicated trail bike. That bike will likely be a KTM 300 Xc-W. I rode a buddy’s newer Husky 300 TE and it really is very hard to stall, even for a novice woods rider like myself. Keep up the good work!
Love my 525 but these vids make me miss my two strokes. Keep up the good work!
gootsAr15 Yes, each bike tends to be it's own animal and each is great in certain ways.
Your channel really helped me. Thanks
+Matthew Santos Comments like your are the main thing that keeps me going.
reading the comments yeah the pitchforks came out. i have a 350 EXC-F. so kind of similar. i hear you on not being able to do low rpm. you really have to gear them down and rev them to get low speed and keep rpms up. then you have to shift super picky. they're kind of fussy that way. i have a couple sprocket sets because of this. i wouldnt exactly say im dissapointed, but its a weird in-between engine. its almost like riding a 90's 2 stroke but it doesnt have a power band and you can engine brake. its great if you want to cover a lot of ground fast to get somewhere far away and back home. thats my 2 cents. i was looking at your video's, did you ever do a review on the EXC-F? id like to watch that if you did one. also, what brand of bark busters do you run on that 2 stroke? i like how they are the top clamps of the bar mounts.
Just wanted to let you know I have really enjoyed your channel I'm new too the single track scene coming from an mx background I am currently riding a crf450r but your videos and insight are helping me realize I need another bike for this style of riding keep up the great work thanks again
Buck p Yeah, the CRF 450R is a great bike on the track, but it's not best suited on the tight single track. Thanks for watching!
Do you think the bikes with the Linkage rear would be ok for harescrambles? I'm torn. I like the xc-f but the PDS option is tempting. I know I'm probably not a good enough rider to notice a difference.
Hi Kyle, I see you have a Scotts Steering Stabilizer on both bikes. Which are the biggest benefits you see in having a steering stabilizer while riding at very low speed in technical single trail?
Thank you for the video. Do you think the needle moves to one side if the rider is of somewhat generous proportions? I'm 6' 2" and fully suited I'm over 250 lbs. My main riding style is sit down trail riding where I rarely exceed 30mph. Thanks Kyle
Mike James Both of these bikes tend to like to be pushed, although the 300 two stroke doesn't have to be. I'd look for a 500 XC-W in your case. It's a 4 stroke. Tons of power, but it's not going to jump up and bite you all the time. Really mellow power, but plenty of it there in case you need it. Plush suspension too. I hope that helps.
Do you think the new TPI 2 stroke will maintain that low rpm lug?
what top handle bar clamps are you using on the 300? look like the same cycra busters i have on mine, nut the mounting point on mine doesnt work very well, loooks like what you have on your 300 will do the trick!
Corpse1984 BRP Hand Guard Mounts. www.brpmoto.com/index.php/ktm/product/1507-brp-hand-guard-mounts-bmi-9254.html
thanks man. you should keep things updated with what you've done to the bike. what shark fin(rear rotor guard) do you recommend?
It depends on the ride, if you ride with skill and no fear and experience it won't matter, but 2 stroke is wicked power,
good video Dirtbike channel,dont listen to the obvious trolls' gave up on 4 strokes though when the crank shaft literally snapped in 2 and grenades my motor on my 2007 crf 450,went back to 2 strokes and now ride a kx 250 2003. and a 97 cr5
These comparisons are right on point, my buddy and I both bought 2015 husqvara te300's.. I come from a street bike background and a bit of supermoto. I haf never ridden anything bigger than a cr70f on dirt, we ride with my neighbor who has benn riding for a long long time, he bought a Honda 250x last year and we traded bikes the other day for a few miles, needles to say he loves the 300. As far as my input, I love my 300, its light, nimbles, you can lug it, you can let it scream....I'v only had it 6 weeks and already have put 12 hours 200 miles on it, all technical single track... Two stroke for life!!!! Anyway, we ride the Entiat ranger district in central Washington, over 300 miles of maintained single track with trail heads just a few miles from my house... You should hit me up and come ride up here, look up the trails in my arear here on TH-cam.
Obed M. Thanks for the message. I'd like to try out a TE 300, as I've heard nothing but good things on them.
Nice comparison, glad I went with the 2 stroker!
I've enjoyed your videos about the KTM 2 strokes. I was wondering if you have heard or experienced any throttle stick. I hear it been a problem with the KTM 2 strokes of the past. Thanks.
Richard Lundeen I haven't had any issues with that. I think if your throttle cable is good and the carb doesn't have any loose parts, this would never be an issue on ANY bike regardless of the make.
I tend to agree with you on that. Thanks for your response.
Great video, In my opinion both bikes are great!
I had a question:
I was wondering about your hand guards. Those look like you have the BRP mount and cycra hand guard. I see that you have some type of spacer connecting the mount and guard itself. Is that necessary?
I have a Husqvarna FE350 and you bought the same set up as I believe you have
German Contreras Hand guards are all about what you like. Some guys like full wrap guards, others don't. I have full wrap guards on my 2014, but not on my 2015. I like it both ways. If you already have something, just use that and don't take them back.
Just cause you like 2 strokes doesn't mean you need to make 4 strokes look bad there way different in ways we can't agree
Ian C quit complaining and go make your own channel praising 4strokes
Everybody knows that you are a two stroke man
I read that if you increase the idle speed it helps TREMENDOUSLY on preventing flameout
What tire pressure do you run with all of those rocks? Im at 15psi in the tennessee mountains, very rocky, running HD tubes, feels like Im sliding around everywhere
+Bob Swagger If you are not running the TuBliss system on a trail like this, you have to run 15 psi or you'll get a pinch flat on your tubes. Yeah traction suffers for sure with 15 psi. That is why I have been running TuBliss for a couple of years now whenever I can.
Oh okay well I need some TuBliss then. No traction is no fun lol
where is this trail? I feel like I've ridden it before but cant put my finger on it. Lake mountain maybe?
Elaina Meadows It's somewhere in Utah County :)
Great vid Kyle . What a beautiful place Ide love to ride there . Fantastic
Do you find your scotts stabilizer a good investment and or a great help?
I keep thinking taking 2 stroke (300) or 4 stroke (350). Thanks you for sharing your videos! Awesome!!!
great vid Kyle...I enjoy your your vids alot. But dont you think a 300 2 stroke is going to have a definite advantage over a 250 or even a 350 4 stroke? Is it really a fair comparison?
Isn't that the entire point, to show different bikes as a comparison :) I've taken no less than 6-7 bikes up the trail now. So far, nothing beat the 300, not even the 450's I've done it on.
true...and its like u say as well theres alot going on besides simply how much power a bike has
once again good job. Take care Kyle...and keep em comin. Theyre great!
Thanks Brother!
did you ever try the dual sport 500 exc?
cadwarrior I have not had the chance yet. I'd like to...
4t guys don't stress each to their own. If your happy with what you have its all that counts.
Where is this trail?
The XCF-W would have been a better apples to apples comparison to the XC-W. I doubt the flame outs would have been as much of a problem with the gearing and heavier crankshaft. But cool video!
+Jeff Quade You may be right. I can only compare what I own. The XCF-W was too close to the XC-W, so I didn't buy that one.
I appreciate your opinion very much. I just can't see myself on a 500 while I'm trail riding places like Hungry Valley. It's 245 lbs dry and I can't help but think that bike would wipe me out if I ever needed to pick it up like your nearly upside down 300. I'm sure either one of your tested bikes would make me very happy. The 300 sounds great because of its light weight and slow speed manners. Great vid, perfect talk to riding ratio. Keep them coming.
Mike James Seriously, I've loved the 300XC-W more than anything else I've ever owned in my life. If you don't mind mixing gas, which isn't a big deal, the 300 XC-W would be a better fit than the 350 XC-F for your needs.
Dirt Bike Channel
Love you channel by the way!
L Mays Thanks for the kind words.
What year model is the 350?
Also if they are worth it?
My husqvarna comes with the stock hand guards. I could return what I bought no problem and would save me lots of money. What do you think
love he says flamed out
pull the clutch on build your revs and slip the thing it's bathed in oil for a reason ... use it to keep your revs up and stop you from stalling
Watch some of my newer stuff and you'll notice that I am getting better :) Funny that you don't need to use the clutch on a 300 2 stroke as much. Those things are magic.
Nice video man! I started with 250 carb two stroke and got rid of it for a 350xcf. So different. Both awesome. Wish I could have both but oh well!
Nice video love your work mate,just wanting to know what size sprockets your running on the 350,I changed my 2016 esc,to 13-53 and it lugs unreal,it's suits my riding style (old bloke ) really well,and my rising erea,I went from 14-50 rear,I was in the clutch a fair bit,thanks again for the videos cheers
does the W in that smoker mean wide ratio trans or is that only the 4 stroke
Don't get why everybody talks about him being biased towards 2 strokes there's certain things they're better at than 4 strokes I love the 2 stroke but I personally own a 4 stroke. To each their own it's all preference. Great videos man ! Keep it up !
+nothinfinerthana49er Thanks for having my back!
+Dirt Bike Channel your welcome man !
Thank you for the great video! What year is that XC-F? Have you ridden the 2016 XC-F? Did KTM fix the low end bog for 2016 model ya think? Thanks again! Good job on video!
+Josh Merrill This one was a 2014. It was brand new. I don't know if they've done anything to fix the low end. Those 350s like to be pushed hard, so I don't think they are low end torque monsters.
+Dirt Bike Channel sounds good! Thank you for the quick reply!
I've never ridden up that trail before. Looks pretty rad!
Alex Dorsey It it a fun one, but it can put you on your back in a few spots if you are not on your game!
Nice comparison bro !
Jay Ceeroy Thanks for watching. I'm glad you got something out of it.
Geez so many haters.. Get real!! Anyway, what specific differences can you feel regarding the PDS and the linkage suspension? I am a technical rider from Idaho so I ride different terrain quite often, i.e. open desert, technical desert, open forest, tight technical forest. Just wondering if my next purchase should be the 350 xcf or 350 xcfw. Thanks!
+Hayden Quinn I think the gearing and stock valving in the forks is a bigger difference than the PDS. If you like to go fast, get the XC. If MOST of your riding is tight and slow, get the W.
Great video, what gearing are you running on the four stroke?
+Dave D Stock gearing on both those bikes. I think it's 13 on the front and 50 on the rear on the 350.
+Dirt Bike Channel - Just bought a 2014 350 EXC-F, deciding on gearing now, found a cool website to help - woodsware.aciwebs.com/gears/
Maybe you could do a future video on gearing.
Interesting site.
Hi, tks for the video, very interesting. I have two questions for you. I know that the 300 will lug really down low and that the 350 will stall, but lets say if we can keep both on the low usable part of the rev range ( maybe 2.500 rpm or so), which bike will have more torque?? Second question, in twister sections with a lot of braking and acceleration, do you have to switch gears more on the 300 due to the shorter rpm range?? Many tks!!!!
Thanks to your videos I have added a 2017 300 XC-W to the stable of bikes for next year. It will be interesting to see if I like it more than the 450 CRF-X or as much as I like the 400 EXC. Im excited to be back on a 2 stroke. Thank you for the great videos.
Can you do video on proper chain adjustment on the 2015 xc-w.were to take measurements from on swing arm. Tks
Where is that's trail ?
Can you do 2 stroke vs 4 stroke with kid bikes
would 350 xcw-f be better for this riding then?
Great video and beautiful country. Where is this?
Utah.
You should try changing the rear sprocket. I was having the same issue stalling on my 350 exc 4 stroke and when i changed the rear sprocket it changed my life and I never flame out now. Thanks for the awesome video!! Nice to see a comparison of 2 stock bikes.
+Michael Fischer I have long since sold the 350 to make room for other bikes to test. I do miss that bike though...
haha thought the video was more recent! keep up the videos very helpful.
Where is this?
Are they both 6 speed boxes with same gearing?
+Stephan Karolyi Both 6 speeds, but not the exact same gearing the XC-F has a higher 1st and 2nd gear.
Could you please explain the difference between the XC and EXC models? Trying to decide what would be better as my first bike
XC and EXC are the same models. The E just implies that the bike is for the European market.. Correct me if I'm wrong :D here in Germany we only have EXC models.
Duck95ish the E stands for electric start
Where did you buy the 300 xcw
What kind of backpack do you have?
reilly jackson That is a Mil Tac Mule Camelback.
TPS tuning was a huge improvement as well. I picked one up from BDSB along with a Snap, Grunt and end cap. Opened the engine up and gave it a little more low end pull. You still need to be on the gas and clutch when the going is slow and steep. They are both great bikes. You are lucky to have the chance to do the comparison. My son runs the 300EXC smoker and it is a beast.
Greg Thorne Yes, I am blessed to be able to own 2 late model (new) bikes to do comparisons with. I like both bikes for different reasons.
Is this trail in Grand Junction, CO?
ElektrobanK No, this trail is in Utah.
Dirt Bike Channel Where in Utah? I was trying to google it, but didn't come up. I've only been to Moab and the San Rafael Swell. Would love to check out some more areas. Thanks
how about a beta xtrainer 300 vs the ktm freeride250 on the razorback
My dad has the xtrainer, and my sister has the free ride. this is my viewpoint of the two bikes. The Beta is a real dirt bike shrunk 15% and de-tuned to be more friendly...but you can tune it back up using RR bits if you like. The Freeride is more like a trials bike with a seat on it and it's not as good for trail riding with your buddies on real bikes. If you want to play around psuedo-trials riding then it's fun, but for normal dirt bike use the Xtrainer wins my vote.
What is "flamed out" never heard that before?
John Crash Just another term for stalling the motor.
Do you think that in future videos you could talk about the gas mileage differences? Im curious to know how they compare and if the fuel range is something to consider.
Matthew G Yeah, it's something that I plan to test out thoroughly. I just need to get the time/weather to perform the tests. It's been raining a lot in my neck of the woods.
Great Video.
I have the Beta 300 and a 15 300XC. Everyone says why two 300's...let me tell you they are very different bikes! Ever get Down into NM let me know and we can compare them all!
Great vids man.
***** Thanks Ken!
Have you ever gotten the chance to ride a wr200 they're older bikes but they are awesome.
dallas anderson I have not been on a WR 200.
Their great bikes but you can't get one in the U.S. anymore
Do you factor in the maintenance periods & up keep of a 2 stroke vs a 4 stroke when deciding what would be the best bike
Justice bdone 2 stroke
PS sorry i rec. got a 15 450 XCW ..should probably change my user name but ol faithful is still in the garage
Great video i enjoyed it. Why didnt you compare the 300xcw 2 stroke vs 350 xcwf four stroke? Its my understanding that the 350 xcf is a faster paced GNCC bike.
+greg sims Because those were the 2 bikes I owned at the time. I don't get paid to do this, or get free bikes.
How can you even compare if you don’t set the sag? That is a MUST. The 350 flames out because its mapping is so lean. The bike has Covid masks on it. I put a slipper clutch in mine and a different ECU. I can run it on an Mx track or hooligan trail rides. I do miss my 2 smoker however this is one hell of a bike. It is an expensive one to modify.
What’s that saying? How fast do you want to go/spend? Great videos. Thanx.
Why wouldn't you compare the 300XC to the 350 XCF-W, which should avoid many of the "flame outs" that seem to be the only complaint about the four stroke??
That's a great set up to have where the two bikes perform better in certain areas. I think you'd really like the 300 XC with that 4CS suspension. One of our guys went from a 300 XCW to a 300 XC and he loves it. The Huskys and Betas are pretty amazing too. I rode the Beta 300 and liked it more than the KTM. Love the vids! Keep up the good work!
RiderDestinationsTV Yeah, I'm excited for a 2016 300 XC. I'd like to try a Beta 300R too. I've heard really good things about them.
What is this trail? I live in utah
does the 350 have the wide ratio transmission or is that new for 2016?
Robert Kessler The 350 XC-W has the wide ratio tranny. All the W models do.
What can you do mechanically to stop the 350 from flaming out? Besides slipping and covering the clutch?
Rekluse 100%
Loving the"classic" two stroke vs four stroke battle! My 450 would pull the socks off the 300 tho! Had to get it in sorry!
Anthony Hendley Anthony, that depends on what trail we are on! Truth brother :) Thanks for watching!