TREAD SPR REC

Best in Class: KTM 350 EXC-F

If you had to pick just one off-road motorcycle to do it all, there’s only one bike that fills the bill– the KTM 350 EXC-F. Fast, light, agile, and street legal, this is the benchmark that other dual-sport bikes are measured by. Having a license plate on a competition-ready motorcycle is what KTM is all about. You can ride it from your house to the dirt.  And when you’re out on a trail ride you can jump on road and cruise into town for fuel and hot steaming plate of enchiladas. Sounds like the perfect day.

POWER

ENGINE

  • The 350cc 4-stroke engine with a state-of-the-art electronic fuel injection offers a very wide power band and is distinguished by a dynamic but easy to control power delivery.
  • Comes equipped with a kick starter as well as electric starter. And the hydraulic clutch by Brembo paired with a six-speed gearbox.

 

BODYWORK

AIRBOX

  • The ingenious airbox design guarantees protection of the air filter plus maximum air throughput for high performance. Replacing the air filter is an easy, no-tool operation.

HANDLEBAR

  • All EXC models are fitted with super strong tapered handlebars made of high tensile strength aluminum alloy. KTM bars can be fixed in four different positions to fine-tune rider ergonomics, and standard open hand guards provide protection to the rider’s hands.

SPEEDO

  • The speedometer integrates speed, distance, trip warning lights into a single unit with clear readily available information.

FUEL TANK

  • The fuel tank is made of lightweight polyethene, and fitted with a fuel pump and pressure regulator. This 2.25 US gallon capacity tank is good for 70-75 miles of off-road riding.

 

CHASSIS

FRAME

  • The frame design of the 350 EXC-F combines maximum longitudinal stiffness with optimum torsional stiffness for easy handling and precise steering behavior, as well as excellent ride stability.
  • Frame: Central double-cradle 25CrMo4 steel
  • Subframe: Aluminum

SWINGARM

  • The cast aluminum swingers is computer-designed for minimum weight, optimum stiffness and precisely-defined flexibility.

FRONT SUSPENSION

  • The front fork features CNC machined triple clamps specifically designed to minimize fork flex  to provide the rider prices feedback from the front wheel, even in the toughest terrain.
  • Suspension travel front: 11.8 inch

REAR SUSPENSION

  • A PDS shock absorber from WP Suspension works with a direct linkage to the swingarm. A wide range of setting options for rebound damping and high and low-speed compression damping are standard.
  • Suspension travel rear: 13.1 inch

EXHAUST SYSTEM

  • Light and robust. The aluminum silencer combine awesome power output, while keeping noise levels to a minimum.

COOLING SYSTEM

  • An integrated cooling system routes the coolant from the cylinder head through the frame, directly to the aluminum radiators.

CHAIN

  • It comes standard with a beefy 5/8 x 1/4” O-ring chain

 

WHEELS AND BRAKES

WHEELS

  • Black aluminum rims with black spokes are mated to CNC machined hubs with aluminum nipples to achieve maximum strength and minimum weight.

BRAKES

  • High-tech Brembo brakes are standard on KTM off-road bikes, and are combined with lightweight Wave disc rotors.

 

Editor’s Note: A version of this article first appeared in the Spring 2016 print issue of Tread Magazine.