2012 KTM 350 freeride

lamotovita · Nov 27, 2012

mwalker said: ↑

I've got cash in hand....ready and waiting
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How much cash ya got in yer hand?

One67 · Nov 27, 2012

straightrod said: ↑

^ Well God's sake tells us about it!
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I'm going up to the state forest tomorrow for a good ride, so will get a bit of a review up after that .

mwalker · Nov 27, 2012

lamotovita said: ↑

How much cash ya got in yer hand?
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Plenty

Steveman · Nov 29, 2012

Don T said: ↑

I'm seriously considering replacing my WR250R with a freeride.
Every year I do a week of enduro riding i Romania (EnduRomania), and to do that on a Freeride I would have to find a way to carry a bit more fuel than the 5 litres in the tank.
I'm thinking this (or something similar) is the best way to do it:

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You will love it. promise.

There are 4 things to think about. First, that it has less than 30 hp is something which is negative when sitting together with yer mates having a beer. In real world it plays no role when you buy and use the bike what its built for. Single trails, narrow and tough stuff, exactly that trails where your mates waste power and condition with their 500 exc's. They are faster on cross country racing, desert racing and MX but the Freeride isnt made for that kinda sports.

Second, the 5 liter tank is a mess but as you say two 1,5 liter bottles strapped to the back of the bike will help. And dont worry it will not break as long as you dont put more than 10 kgs (approx 20 lbs) on. It is definitely a super tuff bike although it does not look like one. More about that see below.

Third, it is damn expensive as alll KTM's are. But this you may handle with your christmas bonus

And in fourth place, it needs way too much maintenance. Like the EXC's it is called a "competition bike" by KTM which means oil and filter change every 10 hours, valve check every 20 hours and so on. This is expensive and it is boring, especially when you take a look at the warranty card which states that for competition bikes you have only 30 days (!!!)
But, if you do the first service at the dealer and he enters that in the dealer network you can expect KTM to be acommodating. At least sometimes... And the maintenance hours stated in the manual are for competition use and can be doubled when the bike is not used for competition.

The idea behind the bike is to hve a tool for the real tough stuff which will not exhaust you. I had a 450 EXC and its over 50hp were nice to have. But I think in 100 hours of use I had gears 5 and 6 only used twice on connection roads and farm tracks. In all the tuff stuff the boyz with the big "real" endurobikes have the throttle valve open 15 degrees, meaning they use maybe 15% of the power available. This makes it difficult when traction is bad in the wet on wet stones or just mud or wet surface.
The freeride is so easy to handle that you wont believe it. It is silent they say, it sounds like if a big dog farts. I know, but the idea behind is to not attract attention especially when you ride where it is not allowed (everywhere where I live)

It is a toy and it is not tuff I heard them big enduro boyz sayin'.

Bullshit, it is super tuff, Brandauer the 12 times Austrian trials champion and Husaberg factory rider became second in Austrias legendary Stone Eater Enduro Race and this guy is big and weighs 300lbs plus! Check this video (the bike is completely standard)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-20xs65ct7o

BTW, Brandauer is a top 20 finisher in Hells Gate, Erzberg and Romaniacs which are the toughest enduro races in the world. He quit with Husaberg and will do the next Romaniacs Enduro World Championship race on -guess what bike ?
Yes, it will be the first appearance of a factory supported Freeride in such a tough race.

Try one and tell me what you think

Cheers
Steve

jon_l · Nov 29, 2012

Cool video!

Brandauer is not running trials tires in the video, even though for what he is doing, I bet they would work better.

Steveman · Nov 29, 2012

jon_l said: ↑

Cool video!

Brandauer is not running trials tires in the video, even though for what he is doing, I bet they would work better.
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Well, I have no clue what Brandy said about them but I talked to another guy who swapped the trials tires against pure MX tires and he said he swapped back. Surprised me somehow. He said the trials are better everywhere except in deep sand and mud of course. And if you drive slant up or downhill in wet grass the front end slips and off you go.... No lugs on the sidewall like MX tires.

This guy also tried to switch to MX tires. Well its a long vid and am not sure which language he speaks
but its interesting what he says about the knobbies, you would not expect that. The guy is a good rider as far as I can see.
Listen what he says at 5:45 and from 6:15 t0 7:15.
Needless to say he did not use MX tires again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFksQyFqRss

Cia
Steve

jon_l · Nov 29, 2012

Looks like sticky stuff, and not enough speed to clean out the knobbies.

Hunebed · Dec 3, 2012

Sorry. I know I dwarf the poor thing, but skinny me even dwarfs the adventure. It was my third trip. Already so easy I have to expand territory.

But hey, I only did 75km's on 4.3ltr (enter fuel warning light) giving it some stick Need the Mojavi

milzispete · Dec 6, 2012

They arrive at last. Akrapovic exhaust now available. Part no 72005979000. Ask Santa early while stocks last

One67 · Dec 6, 2012

659 pounds :eek1, I'd expect them to double the horse power and keep all the down low torque for that.

I'll just pull the gauze out of the stockos.

Gryphon12 · Dec 6, 2012

Get a life! It's a hybrid Trials / trail bike. Save the Akra money and just buy a 350 XC-W if you want more power. That's NOT the misson for this bike. The American "bigger is better" BS is now polluting the entire planet!

I know, I know, you just can't fight this attitude. So, go for it, but Don't Complain about a lack of power on the stock bike when that's not its mission!

One67 · Dec 6, 2012

gryphon12 said: ↑

get a life! It's a hybrid trials / trail bike. Save the akra money and just buy a 350 xc-w if you want more power. That's not the misson for this bike. The american "bigger is better" bs is now polluting the entire planet!

I know, i know, you just can't fight this attitude. So, go for it, but don't complain about a lack of power on the stock bike when that's not its mission!
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+1

milzispete · Dec 7, 2012

Gryphon12 said: ↑

Get a life! It's a hybrid Trials / trail bike. Save the Akra money and just buy a 350 XC-W if you want more power. That's NOT the misson for this bike. The American "bigger is better" BS is now polluting the entire planet!

I know, I know, you just can't fight this attitude. So, go for it, but Don't Complain about a lack of power on the stock bike when that's not its mission!
Click to expand...

I think you are missing the point of an Akra pipe. They are all about looking cool, sounding loud and bullshitting with your friends about how it totally transformed the bike. It's just the done thing

Gryphon12 · Dec 7, 2012

Oh, now I get it. We are now all about making an entrepreneur from the former Soviet Block a very rich man in the name of current "style". And here I thought I only had to deal with that attitude from my women folk!

milzispete · Dec 7, 2012

Touratech haven't done too bad out of bling either. Once I've bolted another 50kg and spent the original price of the bike on 'essentials' I can put a BMW badge on it, re-name it a Freeriden and buy the matching Swarovski nipple pasties.I'm still not buying a bigger tank though as I'm adamant 90Km is plenty

ktmmitch · Dec 7, 2012

We were asked to look at making more fuel capacity for the FR when launched in UK,and to us,the most obvious way would be to ditch the right silencer,make a 2 into 1 Y piece for the exhaust,then replace the right silencer with a plastic-moulded 2/3 litre fuel tank that would connect into the existing fuel system,similar to our idea for the KTM 690 tank kits we produce.
2 silencers is more for show than power ,and the advantage of a bit more fuel is probably more important than a balanced silencer view from the rear.

lamotovita · Dec 7, 2012

ktmmitch said: ↑

We were asked to look at making more fuel capacity for the FR when launched in UK,and to us,the most obvious way would be to ditch the right silencer,make a 2 into 1 Y piece for the exhaust,then replace the right silencer with a plastic-moulded 2/3 litre fuel tank that would connect into the existing fuel system,similar to our idea for the KTM 690 tank kits we produce.
2 silencers is more for show than power ,and the advantage of a bit more fuel is probably more important than a balanced silencer view from the rear.
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Are you sure the two mufflers don't have anything to do with making the bike quiet?

Steveman · Dec 7, 2012

lamotovita said: ↑

Are you sure the two mufflers don't have anything to do with making the bike quiet?
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At least that is the statement of KTM. Two silenceres less noise emission...

Gryphon12 · Dec 7, 2012

They are also reasonably light, considering the overall wet weight at 228 lbs, and they meet the Euro-3 emissions. I'd say that they are part of the overall "package" of the Freeride. Given that the 350/500 have a single, large silencer, KTM certainly could have designed the Freeride that way - but they didn't.

I'd reinforce the subframe to carry Rotopax, and find some way to design a larger primary tank that isn't just between the top frame rails.

If none of this works, I'd buy a 350 EXC and remap it to a Freeride (minus the cam?).

milzispete · Dec 8, 2012

The comparison with the other KTM 350s reminded me of something I had read on Rickramsey.net about the parts comparison with the XCF-W. We all know the Freeride engine was derived from the XCF but you might be surprised just how much of it is the same including piston, head, valve train and cams. In fact it is pretty much identical with the main differences being the intake and exhaust. Ive had a look at my own Freeride and the exhaust is necked right down just as the header leaves the cylinder head.
Im sure someone can get an XCF exhaust header and end can to fit if they were determined enough. Im sure rally raid must have a pipe bender knocking about their shop somewhere. It would also leave room for the wee tank they have been toying with

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2012 KTM 350 freeride

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