XC Dirt Bike Upgrade. 300 2T, 350 or 450 4T

I currently have a 2022 GasGas EX250 TPI and it’s been awesome. I am looking to upgrade to the new 24 KTM 300 XC TBI on the new generation frame and throttle body injection. Having ridden my cousins 24 250 XC it was just bloody unreal how good the new bikes are. Im not going back to an air fork either, hated them (I ended up putting WP 6500 inserts in my GasGas - night and day better).

I mainly ride cross country stuff with a few races for fun and a bit of hard enduro. I do dabble in moto tracks too. I think i’m pretty set on going to the new 24 300 XC and will be test riding one sometime to confirm but I am floating the possibility of a 350 or 450 XC-F. I’ve been on 2-strokes for years mainly because of the versatility in being able to do everything incl the hard enduro. I had a 450 moto bike years ago which was wicked until I wanted to do hard enduro stuff and it was a pig. I know the XC four strokes and the newer generation ones at that will be better. Staying 250 2T is an option too if I ride the 300 and decide I actually like the 250 better.

Any thoughts from some fellow moto/XC/hard enduro riders out there?

How much power do you need

I covered some serious ground on 450 bikes and preferred the Yam over the Honda

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

How much power do you need

I covered some serious ground on 450 bikes and preferred the Yam over the Honda

Attachment 251743

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I really like the look of the new 24 YZ450FX so if I went 450 then it would be between that one or the KTM. I think it’s fair to say I don’t neeed all that power but it sure is nice having torque when you want it hence i’m a 250 2T or above and a 350 4T and above kind of guy.

If you intend to still dabble in hard enduro the 2T has it all over even the latest 4T's. And the TBI's still can't keep up with a well set up carb, esp in the lower rev range. Yes they smoke at WOT, but how often do the vast majority of riders have the skills to spend much time at WOT.

I wouldn't give KTM the steam off my piss, seeing what they do to their customers with dud designs that they just keep pumping out. Its OK for a factory racer, but for Joe average its mighty frustrating.

The other Euro manufacturers have come along in leaps and bounds with their 2T's.

I'm dyed in the wool now, having come off 4 strokes for 40 years. Just love my 2T 3 hundy:thumbs:

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Originally Posted by XR500

If you intend to still dabble in hard enduro the 2T has it all over even the latest 4T's. And the TBI's still can't keep up with a well set up carb, esp in the lower rev range. Yes they smoke at WOT, but how often do the vast majority of riders have the skills to spend much time at WOT.

I wouldn't give KTM the steam off my piss, seeing what they do to their customers with dud designs that they just keep pumping out. Its OK for a factory racer, but for Joe average its mighty frustrating.

The other Euro manufacturers have come along in leaps and bounds with their 2T's.

I'm dyed in the wool now, having come off 4 strokes for 40 years. Just love my 2T 3 hundy:thumbs:

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Coming off a few carb 2-strokes (250 and 300) before my current bike, they definitely have better pull in the bottom and mid compared to my TPI but the TPI (Transfer Port Injection) is more smooth and efficient. The new generation 250 TBI (Throttle Body Injection) i’ve ridden a few times eats the carb bikes for breakfast though IMO. Having ridden it back to back with a YZ250 etc on the same day it’s just unreal how good the new TBI injection bikes are. The engine is so strong yet so smooth coupled with the new frame and bike geometry, I didn’t want to hand it back, hence why i’m looking at the upgrade haha.

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Originally Posted by stagstalker

Coming off a few carb 2-strokes (250 and 300) before my current bike, they definitely have better pull in the bottom and mid compared to my TPI but the TPI (Transfer Port Injection) is more smooth and efficient. The new generation 250 TBI (Throttle Body Injection) i’ve ridden a few times eats the carb bikes for breakfast though IMO. Having ridden it back to back with a YZ250 etc on the same day it’s just unreal how good the new TBI injection bikes are. The engine is so strong yet so smooth coupled with the new frame and bike geometry, I didn’t want to hand it back, hence why i’m looking at the upgrade haha.

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I guess I'm the opposite of the XR500 up the 4 stroke!
Na, it's a bit like what scope thread comes down to what you like and suits your riding style.
I never gelled with 2 strokes I certainly tried, But did pretty well in the national enduro and cross country's on 4 bangers, I finished up on a ktm 450xcf but my favorite bike was definitely the 350xcf if you haven't had a ride on one I'd recommend giving it a go before committing to the 450, most people are faster on the smaller bike.
Extreme enduro yeah definitely the realm of the 2 banger but the advantages are definitely not as massive as they were in the past now, me and a mate did the redbull Extreme in the viaduct at auckland on a couple of rmx 450s back in 2009?

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Originally Posted by BRADS

I guess I'm the opposite of the XR500 up the 4 stroke!
Na, it's a bit like what scope thread comes down to what you like and suits your riding style.
I never gelled with 2 strokes I certainly tried, But did pretty well in the national enduro and cross country's on 4 bangers, I finished up on a ktm 450xcf but my favorite bike was definitely the 350xcf if you haven't had a ride on one I'd recommend giving it a go before committing to the 450, most people are faster on the smaller bike.
Extreme enduro yeah definitely the realm of the 2 banger but the advantages are definitely not as massive as they were in the past now, me and a mate did the redbull Extreme in the viaduct at auckland on a couple of rmx 450s back in 2009?

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Test riding a 23/24 350 XC-F is definitely on my to do list!

Have a few test rides , pick the one that you can put where you want not the one that puts you where it wants

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Originally Posted by stagstalker

Test riding a 23/24 350 XC-F is definitely on my to do list!

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Had a ‘14 xcf 350 now have a 6 days excf 350, brilliant bike for what I do. Obviously newer models will be a bit different but the xcf had about 10 extra HP from memory, bloody snappy, revved out a lot higher and quick to ride but was a pig down low. Lighter flywheel so stalled a lot unless on the clutch all the time in the tighter stuff and got hot fairly quickly. XC is obviously its strong suit. If you’re into hard enduro as well I’d go 2T especially if you’re used to them.

With 2 smokes I'd rather spend more time at WOT on a smaller bike than on a bigger bike and not be riding to it's potential.
Definitely rider dependant though, I'm definitely not as good as a lot of riders.

Had a good blast on my mates 2022 KX450 today. Spurred on by a very well priced 2023 KX450X I found on trade me.

Video here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7_FI...BtcW9lMzJwNA==

It’s been a while since I swung a leg over a big 450 and boy do they haul! Bloody good fun! I’m glad I was able to do a test ride though because although it was epic fun once I got used to it, I was able to confirm that this exact bike wouldn’t quite suit me. Did make me really want to try a 350 though!

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Originally Posted by stagstalker

Had a good blast on my mates 2022 KX450 today. Spurred on by a very well priced 2023 KX450X I found on trade me.

Video here:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7_FI...BtcW9lMzJwNA==

It’s been a while since I swung a leg over a big 450 and boy do they haul! Bloody good fun! I’m glad I was able to do a test ride though because although it was epic fun once I got used to it, I was able to confirm that this exact bike wouldn’t quite suit me. Did make me really want to try a 350 though!

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Hard to beat a 450 around taikorea [emoji1]

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Ended up getting a new 300 last week. In love with it.

This should show my thoughts:

https://youtu.be/cJ2IDx2Iryo?si=gcwMdDS68NMpabQV

Yeah, whats not to like about a modern 2T. :thumbsup: