KTM 350XCF-W .....breaking it in.....

[Crawdaddy 96]

I feel fortunate to live so close to Pamo Valley......Lusardi Truck Trail, Black Mtn Truck Trail, and Santa Isabel Truck Trail are all ~15 minutes from my driveway along with a few side trails.......fun area to ride anytime......so I headed over there with my friend Ron (Slowdown) around noonish to break-in the 350XCF-W and get a general feel for the bike/suspension modifications.....and just generally enjoy the day......

Wow, that bike is rolling DOPE and I'm addicted already......very light, peppy and smooth fuel injection.......pretty apparent that it'll have plenty enough juice on the trails "for me".......(I haven't railed on the throttle yet.....was told to behave on the first ride)....just took it for a nice/short ~40 mile loop today and had a blast........time to dump the oil/filter and hit it a bit harder on the next ride.....

I didn't notice any of the "popping" on decel that I've read about......maybe that's unique to the EXC version.....

Definitely a much greater overlap between the 300XCW and the 350XCF-W as opposed to the 300XCW the WR250R.......the 300 and 350 both are very light and very fun whereas the WR was fun but also a bit porky......that said, the porkyness/beefy subframe/350 watt alternator made it a great ADV "traveler".........the 300 will likely be relegated to technical missions on mtn goat trails and/or heavy sand (dune) rides........slap in the right gearing and that bike kicks ass in either scenario........the 350 is replacing the WR as my new "anywhere" bike......the 350 is clearly more of a trail performer/true dirt bike than the WR and I wouldn't want to use it to go to Alaska or some other multi-week trip as I would on the WR ......but I'm confident it'll be a nice platform for short multiday exploration once I add on bigger tank or Rotopax mount.....probably not as comfortable as the WR for the inevitable/boring slab sections but it'll truly go "anywhere" once you're off the boring sections.....

A few pics

Up top on Black Mtn TT:

(you can see the trail winding up down below.....just left of the bike in the pic below)

Cruising through the trees on Santa Isabel TT before the traverse over to Black Canyon

Santa Isabel TT in the background......fun traverse in either direction

[Uncle Champ 116]

This is torture, it's kinda like reading Playboy (yea I could have me one of those if only),Bikeporn, pure and simple.

Congrads.

[hoss314 0]

Feel like a smooth operator....

[CL300CAPT 0]

Ditto Uncle Champs remarks. Congrats Chris, I'm really happy for you. Great looking new ride!

[stomp944 0]

First impressions sound good. Glad you got out already for a quick shake-down run.

It'll be farkled to the hilt for DS before long I'm sure!

[kkug 146]

NICE Bike !

[Riggerdan 147]

Good luck on ya mate'

May that bike bring you many adventurous CORE miles....

[amgems 79]

You won't get the popping / backfiring, because you don't have all the smog junk like the EXC. The FI mapping is also better (not leaned out) as compared to the EXC. On the EXC when the smog stuff is removed and the JD Tuner is added it will run "almost" as good as the XCF. But that's against the law From what I understand the dealers won't / can't re-map the EXC's any more.

Chris, did you add the Sicass 45watt headlight bulb yet? I had problems with those. Went through 3 of them. The solder on the bottom of the bulb melted. All my electrical system checked out OK. Some of the smart guys here at work figured it was cheap solder from India where the bulbs are made. Most solder in US is mostly tin and silver (I think), and the stuff from India and China is mostly lead. There is another 45watt bulb that I'm waitjing to recieve so I can try it out. http://www.eiko.com/Products.aspx?CatID=82&ProductIndex=6245B-BP

Is that the TM Designworks skid plate? I got one of those for Christmas. Nice. I have an aluminum KTM Hardparts one for sale now.

Nice Pictures. I've got to get up on those trails. Kind of in my backyard too, Poway. You got tracks?

[Bagstr 287]

"Light and peppy"

What a concept. This bike is just going to help you find more goat trails in the Deep Wilderness.

Heaven help us.

[Crawdaddy 96]

You won't get the popping / backfiring, because you don't have all the smog junk like the EXC. The FI mapping is also better (not leaned out) as compared to the EXC. On the EXC when the smog stuff is removed and the JD Tuner is added it will run "almost" as good as the XCF. But that's against the law ;)/> From what I understand the dealers won't / can't re-map the EXC's any more.

Chris, did you add the Sicass 45watt headlight bulb yet? I had problems with those. Went through 3 of them. The solder on the bottom of the bulb melted. All my electrical system checked out OK. Some of the smart guys here at work figured it was cheap solder from India where the bulbs are made. Most solder in US is mostly tin and silver (I think), and the stuff from India and China is mostly lead. There is another 45watt bulb that I'm waitjing to recieve so I can try it out. http://www.eiko.com/Products.aspx?CatID=82&ProductIndex=6245B-BP

Is that the TM Designworks skid plate? I got one of those for Christmas. Nice. I have an aluminum KTM Hardparts one for sale now.

Nice Pictures. I've got to get up on those trails. Kind of in my backyard too, Poway. You got tracks?

I haven't rec'd/tried the 45W bulb yet.....also ordered his 5W pencil beam LED just for kicks....

It's a plastic Acerbis skidplate....

I can send you tracks for Lusardi/Black Mtn/Santa Isabel......pretty easy to find......nothing special but close to home....

[Crawdaddy 96]

This bike is just going to help you find more goat trails in the Deep Wilderness.

That's the plan but ssssshhhhhhh....keep it quiet......my 300XCW might hear you.....The Smoker is NOT happy about the new/lighweight 4 stroke in the garage.....clearly The Smoker is going to have a more diminished role now.....

[zracing 0]

I feel fortunate to live so close to Pamo Valley......Lusardi Truck Trail, Black Mtn Truck Trail, and Santa Isabel Truck Trail are all ~15 minutes from my driveway along with a few side trails......

Is the AZ plate paper work already done or were you flying under the radar on a 'dirt bike'? Congrats again on a sweet new bike!!

[zancat 0]

I saw you two at 7-11 on my way home yesterday afternoon. Noticed the white hand guards.... Was wishing I was going riding yesterday. Nice brisk day, but sunny!

Cool ride, love those spots. My Backyard too.

Z

[SCHWINN 0]

I called on this bike thinking to convert it to street legal but its a red sticker bike that may have some more obstacles than a green sticker bike to make Cali legal.

2011 KTM 350 SX-F

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/3536891547.html

[baldbeemer 0]

I called on this bike thinking to convert it to street legal but its a red sticker bike that may have some more obstacles than a green sticker bike to make Cali legal.

2011 KTM 350 SX-F

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/mcy/3536891547.html

Easy, quick drive to Yuma and tell 'em you keep it at CrawDaddy's place (They probably know him, everyone does.) Get your Zoner plate then slap some lights on that baby and hit the streets.

[Oracle 195]

Nice. I was all over that area yesterday with a couple friends. Was the gate to Black Mnt. open today? Beep once for no, and two for yes

[Crawdaddy 96]

All the bikes were street plated, all the gates were open, the sky was blue, the temp was 75 degrees, the trails were smooth as a carpet, High School kids were offering free bike cleaning at the end of the trails....

Pick your facts.....choose wisely

[dsfox 0]

That is one sexy bike. B)/> ...after you break it in, I'd love to try it out perhaps?....my bro in tuscon might be getting one...

[DustyRock 0]

That is one Purdy bike ! I want one too.

[Crawdaddy 96]

Heading over to my Bullhead City shack tomorrow night and the AZ. MVD in Bullhead Friday morning....it's about a mile from my house, never crowded, friendly/helpful staff.....a tad bit different than CA. DMV

Next pics you'll see of the bike will be with the behemoth 5.3 gallon tank up front (big and fugly but weighs very little, is only ~1(?) inch wider than stock tank with shrouds, protects radiators from side impact, carries 3 gallons lower than stock tank carries 2.25 gallons for even better (lower) weight distribution, and obviously offers stooooopid range if I ever actually fill it up beyond ~3 gallons.....I'd imagine I'll get about ~50(?) mpg with this bike?

Just need to push through two more days of work so I can get out to AZ. and ........RIDE IT!

[Oracle 195]

All the bikes were street plated, all the gates were open, the sky was blue, the temp was 75 degrees, the trails were smooth as a carpet, High School kids were offering free bike cleaning at the end of the trails....

Pick your facts.....choose wisely :heh:/>

[Crawdaddy 96]

Just spent ~15 minutes at the Bullhead City MVD. $35 for title and registration through 1/14. Didn't even have to take the bike out of truck. "Sir, this VIN comes up as a dirt bike?". "Yep, but it comes with a headlight and I put a brake light on it". "Oh, ok, here's your street plate"

I love AZ.

[Covered in Dust 162]

Just spent ~15 minutes at the Bullhead City MVD. $35 for title and registration through 1/14. Didn't even have to take the bike out of truck. "Sir, this VIN comes up as a dirt bike?". "Yep, but it comes with a headlight and I put a brake light on it". "Oh, ok, here's your street plate"

I love AZ. :D/>

+1 on Az DMV

CiD

[DustyRock 0]

Just spent ~15 minutes at the Bullhead City MVD. $35 for title and registration through 1/14. Didn't even have to take the bike out of truck. "Sir, this VIN comes up as a dirt bike?". "Yep, but it comes with a headlight and I put a brake light on it". "Oh, ok, here's your street plate"

I love AZ. :D/>

Hands clapping !!.... Ca DMV 30+ min just to get to the surly person behind the counter that will be receiving $100s of my hard earned dollars to pass on to wherever it goes...... My brother lives in Az. If I get an XCW I will have to pay him a visit

Congrats for living in one of the last states that try to preserve your rights......

[baldbeemer 0]

Just spent ~15 minutes at the Bullhead City MVD. $35 for title and registration through 1/14. Didn't even have to take the bike out of truck. "Sir, this VIN comes up as a dirt bike?". "Yep, but it comes with a headlight and I put a brake light on it". "Oh, ok, here's your street plate"

I love AZ. :D/>/>

So Chris can I use your address and register all my bikes in AZ?