The huge range of changes for the 2023 KTM 350XC-F certainly had me interested in throwing a leg over the middle weight , as it appeared to be the most updated model this year . So , is this bike all it ’ s hailed to be ... and who does it suit ? One thing I find hard when looking at bike stats and reviews is deciphering the sales gimmicks or pitches from the practical use and trying to judge what the bike ’ s really all about ; where its strengths are and if its going to be any good for me . I do understand that there are a wide range of riding styles and rider ages out there and no one size fits all , but I wondered if this middleweight could , technically , fit the majority . After reading up on the bike , I had an idea . KTM has the slogan ‘ Ready to Race ’, and I wanted to find out if ‘ Joe Schmo ’ could take the bike off the dealer floor and race it with next to no prep at all . Chatting to Vege , KR ’ s publisher , we came up with the idea of me entering and riding the 350XC-F at Round 3 of the GNCC at Burts Farm . I was going to be heading into a two-plus hour race , with no prior knowledge , to give this machine the trial-by-fire it deserves and see what it ’ s all about .
RACE CONDITIONS This wasn ’ t going to be the usual test consisting of a couple of laps around a test track . Nope , the track would cut up to race conditions . Ruts formed , braking bumps rose up and we did not stop , even for fuel and the 350-XCF did do the entire event of two-plus hours on one tank of gas ( no fuel stop beats a fast filler every time ). Race conditions are a real reality check . I can say that I was fairly impressed right away , and could see where the 350 was strong and capable of doing a championship run without modifications of any kind , just some chassis tuning tweaks . Even with gassed arms , the 350 never glanced off anything or lashed out in violence , so the chassis has great feel and movement at any speed , very stable . The suspension was perhaps set up a little soft for my weight , but it is a marked improvement on prior models to where I can finally say you don ’ t need to throw out the forks . I must mention the tool-less adjustments . This is a
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