Discussion
As I seem to be shrinking I'm considering chopping my KTM 350EXC in for one of the newer 250 Freerides. Reviews seem mixed so wondering if any of the BB massive have any experience with the later 250 model? I'm only going to use it for TRF trail riding so I don't need a full fat enduro bike anymore.
250 is way better than the 350 but still has low rent cycle parts.
No kick starter means if the battery isn't charged you're bump starting.
It's far more Trials bike than Trail bike so decide what you want to do with it and whether the move from the enduro bike needs to be so extreme.
If it is, you might find a decent trials bike with a long range tank/seat assembly is more suitable.
Something like the Beta 300SS is a superb bike and you can practice trials in peace and fit the LR tank for longer rides
No kick starter means if the battery isn't charged you're bump starting.
It's far more Trials bike than Trail bike so decide what you want to do with it and whether the move from the enduro bike needs to be so extreme.
If it is, you might find a decent trials bike with a long range tank/seat assembly is more suitable.
Something like the Beta 300SS is a superb bike and you can practice trials in peace and fit the LR tank for longer rides
Steve Bass said:
250 is way better than the 350 but still has low rent cycle parts.
No kick starter means if the battery isn't charged you're bump starting.
It's far more Trials bike than Trail bike so decide what you want to do with it and whether the move from the enduro bike needs to be so extreme.
If it is, you might find a decent trials bike with a long range tank/seat assembly is more suitable.
Something like the Beta 300SS is a superb bike and you can practice trials in peace and fit the LR tank for longer rides
TBH I'm not too worried about it not having a kick start. When it's not being used (like most of the time No kick starter means if the battery isn't charged you're bump starting.
It's far more Trials bike than Trail bike so decide what you want to do with it and whether the move from the enduro bike needs to be so extreme.
If it is, you might find a decent trials bike with a long range tank/seat assembly is more suitable.
Something like the Beta 300SS is a superb bike and you can practice trials in peace and fit the LR tank for longer rides
it will sit on a trickle charger and if I flatten the battery trying to start I certainly wouldn't bother trying to kick it back into life. Valid points about the cycle parts. I saw one of the early ones and they were even worse! I do want more trails than trials. They are marketed as a trail bike so if they ride like a trials bike I wonder if that's the reason why there are some many second hand ones for sale with hardly any hours on them.
Unfortunately I do not have your skill set so making the perfect bike is out of the question. I just buy and ride
Pravus1 said:
I found the freeride a lot softer with a worse throttle connection than the exc. Less enjoyable to ride but still very capable
Did you ride the later model as I was hoping the WP suspension would sort stiffen it up? I did read that the re-map option is supposed to liven it up a bit too.crusty said:
For TRF green laning it's perfect, I am personally a fan of the exc 300cc 2 strokes, but as you say, you are not after a proper enduro bike
That's was I was thinking and hoping. Nothing too bad then
Cheers for the input gents...very helpful
I'm looking at them too - everyone I spoke to said the 350 is the one to get (or the Beta X Trainer)
Whilst a lot of people criticise them, the last 3 on ebay (£2500-£3200) have all sold within 24 hrs !
I want to do less boring fields and more tricky stuff in Wales / Peaks and I'm using about 20% of my 450's power / suspension so it seems a bit OTT
Everyone used to use Serrows / CRM / DT175 etc the full on enduro bikes simply aren't needed for UK lanes IMO
Whilst a lot of people criticise them, the last 3 on ebay (£2500-£3200) have all sold within 24 hrs !
I want to do less boring fields and more tricky stuff in Wales / Peaks and I'm using about 20% of my 450's power / suspension so it seems a bit OTT
Everyone used to use Serrows / CRM / DT175 etc the full on enduro bikes simply aren't needed for UK lanes IMO
I spent a day on an EXC 350 followed by a day on a 250 Freeride in offroad in Spain a couple of years ago and found the 250 just as capable (with my limited experience) and much easier to get back on (at about 5'9). It was also surprisingly decent to ride on the road during the stretches between the trails. Its much longer legged than a trials bike in my opinion (having spent another day on a beta).
I did an Ady Smith day last year and absolutely loved the 350...I imagine the 250 to be just as capable. It rained all day and the power delivery of the 350 was perfect, backing it in to corners and letting it slide around finding grip on acceleration was a doddle.
Rode the 300 2 stroke all afternoon and it was just too full on for the conditions and my skill level. Spinning the back wheel in every gear on hard acceleration just dying to throw me off...which it did at the end of the day when I flipped it coming out of a corner in 1st. Wild bike
Rode the 300 2 stroke all afternoon and it was just too full on for the conditions and my skill level. Spinning the back wheel in every gear on hard acceleration just dying to throw me off...which it did at the end of the day when I flipped it coming out of a corner in 1st. Wild bike
Everyone used to use Serrows / CRM / DT175 etc the full on enduro bikes simply aren't needed for UK lanes IMO
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Well that's what used to be... I had, Serow DR350 and then TTR 250 I did a few enduros over the years also then I've had a 15 year break getting back into it had EXC 350 and now looking at a Yam WR250f seems you have to ride like you're in the special test in the ISDE to lane these days !!!
Maybe it's the old last one to the butty van is a sissy
I just hope I can find some other old farts to potter along with don't think my mid 50's body can take the punishment even if my teenage mentally brain wants to ... KurtFlew said:
I did an Ady Smith day last year and absolutely loved the 350...I imagine the 250 to be just as capable. It rained all day and the power delivery of the 350 was perfect, backing it in to corners and letting it slide around finding grip on acceleration was a doddle.
Rode the 300 2 stroke all afternoon and it was just too full on for the conditions and my skill level. Spinning the back wheel in every gear on hard acceleration just dying to throw me off...which it did at the end of the day when I flipped it coming out of a corner in 1st. Wild bike
The 350 has the same engine as my current bike and it's a peach. Not sure why KTM dropped the 350 freeride and now only offer the 250 Rode the 300 2 stroke all afternoon and it was just too full on for the conditions and my skill level. Spinning the back wheel in every gear on hard acceleration just dying to throw me off...which it did at the end of the day when I flipped it coming out of a corner in 1st. Wild bike
Got me wondering now because the 2020 bikes are being heavily discounted which as we all know with KTM is normally the sign of new bike on the horizon….maybe a new 350….I need to wait
Andybow said:
If you’re looking at a free ride , the Xtrainer is the better of the 2 imo , far better parts , just as easy to ride but it’s throttle is smoother
That's a bit of a curved ball as I've not seen one of those before. Seat height is the same as the Freeride too. Being a smoker is it highly strung and lively ?I've had no issues with my Xtrainer. The suspension is not Enduro suspension, but is perfectly suited to lower speed work, and green roading, in particular. It's very easily and reasonably revalved (using £10 KTM shims btw).
If you are a member of the TRF, there is a very good article in the latest Trail magazine on FreeRide and Xtrainer.
If you are a member of the TRF, there is a very good article in the latest Trail magazine on FreeRide and Xtrainer.
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