First off, I will say that the 2008 KTMs are really good bikes, and it easy to see why they sell so many.
Venue:
Hare scrambles course at local MX track, lap time ~20 min. Trails were mostly 6 to 8 ft wide, very slick clay with ruts and berms, and power-sucking clay gumbo. The only way to go fast was play slotcars and have faith that you could rail the berms at each corner. Track was too wet to ride hard, between jumps were lakes and mudbogs. There were no rocks, roots, etc, so the venue did not allow for a true test.
Bikes:
2008 KTM xcf250, xcwf250, xcw250, xcw400, xcwf450, and a 2007 Suzuki that a guy let me ride. The KTMs came with new Bridgestone 401/402, the Suzuki had ?? I was using Mich starcross ms-3 front and s-12 rear.
Comments:
The new KTM rear fender seems to be designed for freestyle, it is short. The xcw's had soft compliant suspension, but the front was too soft for my taste and tended to dive and make the front end scary to me. The course was slick enought that I did not push it hard as I didn't want to wad up the demo bikes and ruin someone elses chance to test one. There were a couple of bumps on hte trail that caused all the bikes to "kick", so I really couldn't tell which version of the PDS works the best.
The 250f's were soft on power to me at this venue, but I know from riding an '07 that they work very well in tight woods. The 250f will make many a rider a hero in the tight stuff.
The 250 2T was great whether the trail section was slimy rut, power robbing mud, or bouncing off berms, this bike was easy to ride and easy to ride fast. I would own or race this bike in a heartbeat. The e-start on the 250 2T was a novelty to me, I would opt for the xc with stiffer suspension and no button.
The 450 was very smooth and had nice mellow bottom end and mid range power, honestly, I was surprised just how much stronger my 'berg was than the 450. Also, the 450 felt much heavier than my 'berg. I heard quite a few raves about this bike.
The Suzuki rm-z450 was a pleasant surprise to me. The bike was set up for full moto and was stiff, but I think that softening the rear compression dampening could have made it work well for me. The motor was similar to my 496, but softer everywhere. Actually, the rmz450 felt very much like my 'berg as far as handling and power, except that the 'berg felt a little longer, more stable, and slower to respond to imput. I think I coulld make a very good woods bike from the RMZ450 with out too much work (hmmm, and it as efi for 2008).
Being as my 496 was set up for me, it worked the best for me (and having the MS-3 front was an advantage as well). It hooked up at an idle and just accelerated and slowed down according to the amount I twisted my wrist. It fell into ruts and railed when I asked to, and jumped up out of the rut took an alternate line when that is what I wanted.
Bottom line:
The 2008 KTMs are better than ever, but for me (at least at this venue), the 'berg is still the leader. Had the terrain been rockier, the softer KTMs would have been better and challenged the 'berg, and the 250 2T would have really shone.
Venue:
Hare scrambles course at local MX track, lap time ~20 min. Trails were mostly 6 to 8 ft wide, very slick clay with ruts and berms, and power-sucking clay gumbo. The only way to go fast was play slotcars and have faith that you could rail the berms at each corner. Track was too wet to ride hard, between jumps were lakes and mudbogs. There were no rocks, roots, etc, so the venue did not allow for a true test.
Bikes:
2008 KTM xcf250, xcwf250, xcw250, xcw400, xcwf450, and a 2007 Suzuki that a guy let me ride. The KTMs came with new Bridgestone 401/402, the Suzuki had ?? I was using Mich starcross ms-3 front and s-12 rear.
Comments:
The new KTM rear fender seems to be designed for freestyle, it is short. The xcw's had soft compliant suspension, but the front was too soft for my taste and tended to dive and make the front end scary to me. The course was slick enought that I did not push it hard as I didn't want to wad up the demo bikes and ruin someone elses chance to test one. There were a couple of bumps on hte trail that caused all the bikes to "kick", so I really couldn't tell which version of the PDS works the best.
The 250f's were soft on power to me at this venue, but I know from riding an '07 that they work very well in tight woods. The 250f will make many a rider a hero in the tight stuff.
The 250 2T was great whether the trail section was slimy rut, power robbing mud, or bouncing off berms, this bike was easy to ride and easy to ride fast. I would own or race this bike in a heartbeat. The e-start on the 250 2T was a novelty to me, I would opt for the xc with stiffer suspension and no button.
The 450 was very smooth and had nice mellow bottom end and mid range power, honestly, I was surprised just how much stronger my 'berg was than the 450. Also, the 450 felt much heavier than my 'berg. I heard quite a few raves about this bike.
The Suzuki rm-z450 was a pleasant surprise to me. The bike was set up for full moto and was stiff, but I think that softening the rear compression dampening could have made it work well for me. The motor was similar to my 496, but softer everywhere. Actually, the rmz450 felt very much like my 'berg as far as handling and power, except that the 'berg felt a little longer, more stable, and slower to respond to imput. I think I coulld make a very good woods bike from the RMZ450 with out too much work (hmmm, and it as efi for 2008).
Being as my 496 was set up for me, it worked the best for me (and having the MS-3 front was an advantage as well). It hooked up at an idle and just accelerated and slowed down according to the amount I twisted my wrist. It fell into ruts and railed when I asked to, and jumped up out of the rut took an alternate line when that is what I wanted.
Bottom line:
The 2008 KTMs are better than ever, but for me (at least at this venue), the 'berg is still the leader. Had the terrain been rockier, the softer KTMs would have been better and challenged the 'berg, and the 250 2T would have really shone.
