2013 KTM 350 XC-F: A Good Choice For A Versatile Rider
Home Blog 2013 KTM 350 XC-F: A Good Choice For A Versatile Rider
A motorcycle with a 350cc engine may not seem too practical when you want to race in a 450cc circuit, but there are plenty of advantages to riding a dirt bike like the 2013 KTM 350 XC-F. The bike is lighter, which makes up a bit of the power lost with a smaller engine. KTM also made a few other tweaks that make this motorcycle more desirable for off-roading and racing lovers.
Plus, this bike allows riders to step down and race against 250cc bikes, since the rules have grown less strict over the years.
When you’re astride a 350 XC-F, you might notice that it gets off to a sluggish start when riding alongside a 450cc bike. However, once you get going, you’ll find the bike’s power output becomes stronger and more consistent, making up for any losses early on. It certainly doesn’t hurt that KTM gave the 350 six gears for riders to play with, and they’re set at all new ratios for better handling and maneuverability as you race along the off-road track.
In the mid-range, you might notice a distinct lack of aggression, but hit the throttle just a bit and you’ll get that sensation back right away.
If you want to take this off-road ride into a 250cc race, you might be worried that the larger size could impede the bike’s performance against the lighter-weight competition, but KTM foresaw that issue. In order to get rid of as much weight as possible, the engineers stripped the 350 of lights found on the streetbike version. So, you will need to be careful about riding near dusk when the natural light starts to fade.
You could also, presumably, just look to get some illuminated motorbike accessories if you don’t mind adding a bit of weight onto the motorcycle.
KTM made up for the lack of lighting by adding a few new components to the 350 to give it an advantage. In addition to the sixth speed, there are also new linkage parts, a larger fuel tank, hand guards and an 18-inch rear wheel. KTM included a backup kick starter as well, which is ideal for dead engine starts, and the suspension is tuned for enduro riding.
While this may not be the most powerful bike on the market, it is surely ideal for riders who enjoy racing in the 250 and 450 classes, but don’t want to haul around two separate dirt bikes to do so.
2013 KTM 350 XC-F Image Gallery
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While this may not be the most powerful bike on the market, it is surely ideal for riders who enjoy racing in the 2509 and 450 classes, but don’t want to haul around two separate dirt bikes to do so. A motorcycle with a 350cc engine may not seem too practical when you want to race in a 450cc circuit, but there are plenty of advantages to riding a dirt bike like the 2013 KTM 350 XC-F. KTM gave the 350 six gears for riders to play with, and they’re set at all new ratios for better handling and maneuverability as you race along the off-road track.
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