Hi all
Here is the ride review of my new 2011 200 xc-w and how it compares to my last bike a 2010 390 fe Husaberg.
Terrain Details
The area I ride in is wet west coast single track.
There are lots of rocks and roots.
The trails are super tight and technical.
We also have lots of steep, loose climbs with root faces and boulders.
For those that have not seen my videos of my are you can see them here. http://vimeo.com/user2967588/videos
Rider Stats
6ft - 210lbs - Decent shape.
Senior expert class racer.
43 years old.
Last few bikes -- 2010 390 FE Berg --2009 KTM 250 XC -- 2006 200 XC
I am giving you this information as I believe it is key to how you interpret the review. I believe KTM makes all these different bikes so that we the buying public can buy exactly the bike that fits both our terrain and skill level.
Suspension & Chassis Feel
The open cartridge fork on the the new ktm product is perfect for areas like mine. The speed is always relatively slow and the open cartridge fork soaks up the rocks and roots far better then the XC product front fork.
Chassis Feel
The bike fits me like a glove at my size. Easy to move around on, great bars and levers.
Weight.
Its been a few years since I spent time on a 200 and it is a joy to experience the mountain bike feel again.
This bike feels like it is a 100lbs lighter then the berg in the tight stuff.
It creates what I call TIME & SPACE compared to the bigger bore bikes. Most of your bigger bore bikes required more effort to slow them down on descents and going into corners. The little 200 stops on dime, corrections happen instinctively.
The amount of effort saved compared to the 4 stroke or even the 250 xc is shocking.
Again for my area with its super tight trails there is nothing out there that compares.
Motor
The little 200 has a great motor, but coming off the incredible EFI 390 motor it feels out of tune and under powered.
That said the 390 motor is the single best dirt bike motor I have ever rode.
The 200 gets the job done in the power department by having just enough power to get you there. The beauty of the engine is that it never makes you work.
Conclusions
For me, in my area, the 200 is defiantly superior to the 390 FE and the 250 xc . If I lived in a area that had less big hills, more flowing trail, then the edge swings back in favor of the 390.
Hope you all find this helpful.
Cheers
Looki
Here is the ride review of my new 2011 200 xc-w and how it compares to my last bike a 2010 390 fe Husaberg.
Terrain Details
The area I ride in is wet west coast single track.
There are lots of rocks and roots.
The trails are super tight and technical.
We also have lots of steep, loose climbs with root faces and boulders.
For those that have not seen my videos of my are you can see them here. http://vimeo.com/user2967588/videos
Rider Stats
6ft - 210lbs - Decent shape.
Senior expert class racer.
43 years old.
Last few bikes -- 2010 390 FE Berg --2009 KTM 250 XC -- 2006 200 XC
I am giving you this information as I believe it is key to how you interpret the review. I believe KTM makes all these different bikes so that we the buying public can buy exactly the bike that fits both our terrain and skill level.
Suspension & Chassis Feel
The open cartridge fork on the the new ktm product is perfect for areas like mine. The speed is always relatively slow and the open cartridge fork soaks up the rocks and roots far better then the XC product front fork.
Chassis Feel
The bike fits me like a glove at my size. Easy to move around on, great bars and levers.
Weight.
Its been a few years since I spent time on a 200 and it is a joy to experience the mountain bike feel again.
This bike feels like it is a 100lbs lighter then the berg in the tight stuff.
It creates what I call TIME & SPACE compared to the bigger bore bikes. Most of your bigger bore bikes required more effort to slow them down on descents and going into corners. The little 200 stops on dime, corrections happen instinctively.
The amount of effort saved compared to the 4 stroke or even the 250 xc is shocking.
Again for my area with its super tight trails there is nothing out there that compares.
Motor
The little 200 has a great motor, but coming off the incredible EFI 390 motor it feels out of tune and under powered.
That said the 390 motor is the single best dirt bike motor I have ever rode.
The 200 gets the job done in the power department by having just enough power to get you there. The beauty of the engine is that it never makes you work.
Conclusions
For me, in my area, the 200 is defiantly superior to the 390 FE and the 250 xc . If I lived in a area that had less big hills, more flowing trail, then the edge swings back in favor of the 390.
Hope you all find this helpful.
Cheers
Looki
