KTM 300XC vs KTM 300XC-W - Dirt Bike Magazine

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2 жыл бұрын

#motocross #offroad #dirtbike #outdoors
he debate between followers of KTM’s PDS and linkage rearsuspension systems has raged on for years. The sides are so clearly divided that KTM’s official stance is to stay out of it. Both systems are currently offered. That can cause some confusion. The case of the KTM 300XC versus the KTM 300XC-W is ground zero for the schism. Which is which? Which is for what? First and foremost, PDS rear suspension without linkage is used on the W. That means the WP Xplor shock is bolted directly to the swingarm. The spring is progressive and has dual rates of 60 and 66 N/m. The frame and swingarm are designed specifically to accommodate this system. On the XC, linkage is used to connect the Xact 5750 shock to the swingarm. A straightrate spring of 42 N/m is used.The W uses a WP Xplor fork with 4.4 N/m coil steel springs. The XC-W uses an Xact 5448 air fork without springs. Standard air pressure is 139 psi (9.6 bar).First and second gears are taller on the XC than on the XC-W. The final gearing on the XC is 13-51, whereas the W is 13-50. Ignition mapping is slightly different on the two bikes. Both have a secondary map preprogrammed in the ECU, but it can’t be accessed without buying the optional handlebar-mounted switch.he W comes with a headlight, a taillight and an odometer.The fuel tanks have different capacities: 2.4 gallons on the XC-W; 2.25 on the XC.Do we have a clear overall winner? No, of course not. The bikes have different purposes for different riders. We will point out, however, that the overlap is huge. In this era of limited supply, it’s wise to get what’s available rather than what’s perfect. You can easily modify the suspension on either bike to work in your world. In either case, you’ll have one of the greatest off-road bikes ever made.
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Пікірлер: 56

@gpaull2 2 жыл бұрын

Don’t pass up a deal on a 250. A lot of people in my group (including me) have gone back to the 250s. Deals can be found on them because everyone wants the 300. In addition they can be ridden a little harder and feel a little lighter. That equals more fun and less tired. The 250 still has more than enough power…250s we’re the prime bike size before 4 strokes were king and they’ve only gotten better since then. .

@sptnk87 2 жыл бұрын

Agree with you, I went from a 300 to a 150, love the light weight and it doesn’t wear you out as fast.

@Captndarty 2 жыл бұрын

Or just spend the money on what you really want which is a 300🤷🏻‍♂️

@sptnk87 2 жыл бұрын

@@Captndarty just sold my 300 for a 150, so no.

@enduroburro8538 2 жыл бұрын

Yup love both my 3hundo and my 250 sx both have there battle field but my 250 is alive and sparky so yah I get it the 250 is a beast I love her snappy attitude and when I'm chilling and chugging I like my 300 for sure but single double track I prefer my 250 by far

@WindowsPlaysFPS 2 жыл бұрын

Can confirm the TPI 250 has a good amount of balls. Makes my 2020 crf250 feel like a wet noodle. If you’re having power issues with these 250s then people suck at riding. Without a doubt the 250 can take you up any nasty single track you can throw at it.

@ttreb48 2 жыл бұрын

Having just purchased a 22 300xcw, I love it. I'm more of an intermediate rider and love the lower gear ratio. It allows me to still make steep climbs at lower speeds. I had my suspension done by motoexperts and I couldn't be happier.

@josephsoderberg9557 2 жыл бұрын

I jus t got the 2022 300 xc last weekend. I spent a lot of time trying to decide between the 250 and the 300. I also wasn't sure about xc and xc-w. After riding the bike, I am very glad I got the xc for three reasons. First, the air fork is much more planted and responsive compared to the oil fork. It is also a lot more adjustable. It keeps the front end lighter, which I like. Second, first gear in the xc is almost too low, and first gear in the xc-w is even lower. Third, I love the power. There really is a difference in power between the 250 and the 300. Even though the bike is the same weight. If I come to an obstacle in the road I get an immediate hit to lift the front end on the 300, but not so much on the 250. I also love the non stop torque when hill climbing with the 300.

@Drewski423 2 жыл бұрын

I love my 300xc tpi. I was dead set on a 300xcw tpi and I am so glad I went with the XC. I had my suspension re valved for what I ride and it’s been the most amazing machine.

@2511jeremy Жыл бұрын

Im going for the xc-w and gearing it up more top speed and the lower 1st and 2nd gears will help

@wfodavid 2 жыл бұрын

Hero dirt for this test. Rode the XC for decades. I'm old now and switched to the XCW. Nice work gentlemen.

@gpaull2 2 жыл бұрын

PDS needs the correct spring for the riders weight. In my experience everyone who spends the money to do this LOVES the PDS. The linkage is more forgiving to spring rate…hence why you hear about more people liking the linkage.

@TwistedTriggerEnduro 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for breaking it down and reviewing the bikes. Just recently got into riding and liked the sound of the 4 strokes. Didn't realize there was such a significant difference in "stall'ability". Now I get to learn clutch work. 💪😃. At least in amusing my 2 stroke friends along the trails and posting my fails for all to enjoy.

@GrotrianSeiler 2 ай бұрын

What a great review. Makes me want to get one of each. But their has clearly moved on for 2024. Great company.

@DirtBikeMagazine 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking it out!

@dc-pr6xt 2 жыл бұрын

Having owned a PDS and linkage bike I would opt for the XC, not just because of the linkage but the bike has a semi wide ratio trans and power delivery is quicker. Those who argue the PDS has more ground clearance arent wrong but when you learn to clear obstacles more effectively you are not dragging your linkage/swing arm over a log, etc anyways. But if we are really picking a 300, it would be the TX300. Just because. Lol

@eastwood4006 2 жыл бұрын

Where/what terrain are you riding on? I live in the southeast, Appalachia mtns, tight technical riding usually. I've owned 2 ktm 300s, an 04 exc and an 09xc. Thinking about getting a new 300xc-w...but I haven't ridden the new XC's with linkage. Is it that big of a difference?

@dc-pr6xt 2 жыл бұрын

Everything about a new bike will pretty much feel better. The counter balanced motors are noticeably smoother. If you are already used to the XC I would stick with it as the semi wide transmission is a sweet spot between the XCW wide and a SX close ratio. I live in and ride the Canadian Rockies. We ride anywhere from 3500 to 7500 feet. Lots of gnarly rocky single track, some quicker transition roads and so on.

@nathangraham7248 2 жыл бұрын

@@eastwood4006 I ride tight hard enduro in the British Columbia and it’s slow technical riding and I have a 2022 300 XC and am in love with how it feels and works

@The2006200 2 жыл бұрын

if you get the skid plate and linkage guard for an xc it will slide over logs better than a pds bike.

@edsmith6785 2 жыл бұрын

So the whole video is about the PDS vs linkage but I bet 90% of us would think it would be about the transmissions because that's why we watched.

@WASemiHardEnduro 2 жыл бұрын

This. IMO the XC's closer spacing is much more usable, even for hard enduro type stuff.

@troybond706 2 жыл бұрын

I currently ride the21' 300 xcw and my 14 year old is on the 21' 150 xcw for our woods bikes. My previous woods bike was an 09 300 xc. I would have loved to ride both xc and xcw as we also ride track and dunes (21' 450 sxf and the 150 sx) and I like the sx/xc suspension better than the new xplorer set up stock vs stock that being said I had pro action do all new susp on my new 300 and it is perfect for off road. I like no linkage for sliding over logs and such and I just don't worry about it at all back there but endless ppl ride linkage and don't seem to be getting hung up or breaking things. I think I would like the xc tranny/gearing better in 2nd/3rd but love the low crawling 1st gear of the w but I assume 1st on the xc isn't much taller as it seemed pretty low on my 09 xc. I don't use the tall 6th gear of the w at all other that a gravel road on occasion back to the truck, no fire roads where we ride. Only thing I would change on the 300 xcw is the gap between 2nd and 3rd is pretty big where you're climbing and feeling like its screaming a bit in 2nd so you up shift and find 3rd is too tall and can't keep it as crisp so I think the xc would be a tighter gap right there. Lots of climbing takes place in 2nd and 3rd, otherwise love the bike as is esp with the new suspension but I generally do the susp anyway on my new bikes. It's my first W bike and still deciding if I am in love or not. My oldest son rides the 450 xcf and I had an 08 505 xcf and loved it so with 3 xc's in my history and now the two xcw 's I think I like the xc gearing better at least in the middle. As you can see not a clear cut case for either as I have one and still can't decide:) whichever one a person buys they will love it and it will be the best offload bike they've been on. You just can't beat the fun factor of the 300. I have the 500 xcfw as well and it's a tourque monster and has its place but I take the 300 every chance I get it just puts a smile on my face from the first fire up but I'm a 2 stroke fan. In summary give me the 300 xcw with the sx/xc suspension setup minus the linkage and stick the 300 xc tranny in it.

@gpaull2 2 жыл бұрын

Adding one or two teeth to your rear sprocket takes care of the 2nd-3rd gap.

@troybond706 2 жыл бұрын

@@gpaull2 Thanks I will give that a try

@tonyajb 2 жыл бұрын

I have a 2020 300 XCW what I did for more top end is change from a 13 to 14 tooth in the front and dropped one tooth in the rear to 49.

@troybond706 2 жыл бұрын

Update - after putting some more hours on the 21 300 xcw the gap between 2nd and 3rd is not as big an issue as I originally felt it was. Growing up on 2 strokes you get used to hearing them scream or being in the power band aka on the pipe however this engine seems to handle sustained pulling through the mid range no problem. I don't want to say it lugs fine in 3rd as in my mind that term seems to fit the low end of the rpms just before staling. This past weekend we rode some pretty fast very whooped out sandy single track I found 3rd to have a lot of comfortable range from mid to top rpms. I was probably in 3rd most of the time and dropped to second for cornering, I feel like it's important to rev it out at times like that as well to keep things clean and to not foul the plug. I have two tpi bikes the 300 xcw and a 21 150 xcw as well my son rides. The 150 fouls plugs much more often and I'm pretty sure it primarily happens on the down hill decent using some engine braking. For sure the first two times it happened were after long descents. I now have him clutch and rev up at times and esp near the bottom when he will be getting back on the throttle and that seems to help. The mechanic at the dealership also showed me where there was a small sensor with a rubber boot over it by the throttle body (can you call it the carb on an efi?) to carefully blow off as that apparently has been causing some plug fouling. Thankfully compared to a 4 stroke swapping plugs is pretty easy however they are very expensive esp for the 150. I still want to get on a new 300 xc to compare and might make that happen we have a 450 xcf in the stable that may get updated to a 300 xc.

@GoViking933 2 жыл бұрын

I'm at work watching this and just drooling.. Cant Wait to ride my New2Me 2020 300 XCW again.. I was on a 2013 300XC for almost a decade.. A very Awesome bike and I was worried about the suspension on the W. I have to say, I had nothing to worry about, and the tranny is perfect (I ran 13/52 on my XC and that was about the same as the W stock).

@RC.56 Жыл бұрын

good insight... looking for my first dirt bike.... recommendations? though about a 350 xcfw, but they dont make one for 23.... 300xc/w? coming from tracking street bikes, not looking to race... but feeling the dirt..long rides, and open woods or desert.. dont know enough to prefer pds on a W or not... thoughts? never road dirt... a few quads maybe... which is more reliable, less headache and constant maintenance. do you want a lighter bike for slow? or something more stable a med speeds over bumps on longer open rides?... which is prone to more injury? faster, getting tossed with very soft susp? or slow with stiff susp getting beat up.... is there a happy medium? does height and weight compute? thanks for reading.

@pierosavarese5076 Жыл бұрын

Guys, do you know if it’s possibile to mount the xc swingarm/linkage/shock on a xcw model?

@wellingtoncarvalho4346 2 жыл бұрын

🤘

@chrispederson4157 2 жыл бұрын

Add a TSP high compression head Ecu reflash and you will not miss a 300. Way more mid to low and revs up like 250 does. Lots of fun.

@unes4228 2 жыл бұрын

What would be the best to ride as a daily(supermoto) and do some enduro and snow biking? Is there a bike that can do all of them?

@patmcavey9151 2 жыл бұрын

Exc 500

@jonathoncatterson8901 2 жыл бұрын

Yz450fx

@Bubbleuprubberdown 2 жыл бұрын

The best KTM/Husqy comes in red and a handful of $100’s less.

@robmanzanares 2 жыл бұрын

Bravo. Well written.

@WASemiHardEnduro 2 жыл бұрын

Correction: Both bikes share the same tank. KTM's website is incorrect, but they actually do have the same part #s if you look a the fiche.

@IgWannA2 2 жыл бұрын

PDS without linkage gives better ground clearance, better for enduro

@markar1977 2 жыл бұрын

Not so sure about that, Husky/GasGas seems to work quite well?

@jimollila1569 6 ай бұрын

👍👍👍

@austinleach6968 2 жыл бұрын

I own the 20 xc. They all need mods to suit the rider. One thing is for sure.. the 300 xc is an all around weapon.

@human1513 2 жыл бұрын

Had a 2022 300 xc. It blew the engine up completely at 7 hours. Trail riding only. Never jumped. Dealer could not find the problem after multiple visits. Then it just siezed while blue smoking.

@felix-ve8jk 2 жыл бұрын

Hmm

@human1513 2 жыл бұрын

@@felix-ve8jk Getting my KTM back today from the dealer. So looking forward to riding it with a new motor & oil pump.

@felix-ve8jk 2 жыл бұрын

@@human1513 what kind of gas and oil were you using? 7 hours is pretty new. I just hit 15 in mine and it still feels brand new.

@human1513 2 жыл бұрын

@@felix-ve8jk Only Shell 91 premium, no ethanol. Only using Motorex fluids. It would not lift the front wheel off the ground from day 1. Not even in 1st gear. I got it back from the dealer & hope to go for a ride tomorrow. Per KTM's instructions the dealer put it through 3 heat cycles of riding. The hour meter shows they put 0.9 hours on it in total. I asked and they said KTM said for me to, "Start it and immediately ride it normally. Do NOT idle it. Do NOT let it idle to warm up, do Not ride it gently from the start." I forget which bikes review it waa on KZfaq a few weeks ago. But one of the senior testers said he talks with the Sales Managee for KTM N. America. The KTM person, "We cannot tell the public but to get the 2 strokes to run properly you have to get an aftermarket ECU." That is straight from KTM! I know a few riders who got the Coober (ECU from Austria) or the upgrading of the stock ECU by Two Stroke Performance (Australia with distributors in the U.S.A. & Canada (BRC in Calgary)). Dealers in Australia and other places originally asked TSP to make a map for the TPI bikes because KTM was no help.

@felix-ve8jk 2 жыл бұрын

@@human1513 interesting. Good post and I do agree about the first gear...it's absolute dog shit. I've been considering some options and this is fairly helpful. I love everything else about the bike but it is my first 2-stroke.