KTM Freeride (new bike)

[NMTrailboss]

Originally Posted by ridenm

I think the Japanese have missed the boat by not selling decent dirt bikes that are street legal. AFAIK, the KTM and Husky dealers locally are doing pretty well with their road-going dirt machines. Let's ask NM Trailboss on this one -- he works for a multi-line, multi-shop dealer and would know if street papers help.

The main advantage I see here in the US is that trail mileage is being lost on public lands, and if your bike is street-legal it makes it easier to string together a good trail ride. If KTM brings this Freeride here with road-going papers, I don't think they'll languish in the showrooms.

No question that a street title makes any off road bike more desireable and much easier to sell, especially in the western states. Many people do not want to deal with the restrictions installed in the street legal models (uncorking, etc.) but that is part of the game. The Jap companies have a much harder and more strict time dealing with the EPA on street legal models than do the euro manufacturers, so not likely to see much from the big 4 that is a serious street legal off road machine in the near future (IMO).

I'd love to see the 350 Freeride come to the states and I agree it would have decent success if brought in with street legal papers depending on what KTM decides to price it at.

[huckleberry]

Originally Posted by barnyard

They sell well enough for boutique brands. That is not well enough for Honda, Yam, etc.

The argument I always hear is that people want the performance of a KTM race bike, with the maintenance intervals of an air-cooled jap bike for the price of a 10 year old KLR. Plus 12 inches of travel at both ends and someone 5' 3" should be able to flat foot.

Ugh.

I'll buy part of what your sayin but not all. I think a bike like the freeride with a plate and at say 55-6,000.00 price would probably sell well. Would everyone like it to have a foot of travel, sure but the dimentions on the freeride are practial and ergonomicly correct so it would feel right. look at all the kdx's, its,xr's that have been sold thru the years and this is along those lines, we have to face the fact that ktm upped the anty with the race bikes they sell now which in my mind are the poor mans works bikes! This is also why folks get tired of the upkeep of such a high strung machine, and many of these people would like to have a lower maintainance machine, they need a good trail bike not a racer. This brings us back to the freeride!

[barnyard]

Originally Posted by huckleberry

I'll buy part of what your sayin but not all. I think a bike like the freeride with a plate and at say 55-6,000.00 price would probably sell well.

and there is the rub.

I do not see a street legal 4t selling for less than a 200 2t. Right now, our local dealer has 2011 350 XC-F for $8199. Is it even possible for them to sell a 2012 of the same displacement for $2,000+ less????? If it is, I will be the 1st in line for a heaping plate of crow. My bet is that it will be in the $7,500 to $8,000 range, which prices it out of anyone loyal to any Asian brand.

[dlrides]

Originally Posted by barnyard

The argument I always hear is that people want the performance of a KTM race bike, with the maintenance intervals of an air-cooled jap bike for the price of a 10 year old KLR. Plus 12 inches of travel at both ends and someone 5' 3" should be able to flat foot.

This


It will sell for $7,999, showrooms will have first year models three years later.

[barnyard]

Originally Posted by dlrides

This


It will sell for $7,999, showrooms will have first year models three years later.

and the same group of people will bitch and moan about how Suzuki does not update their DR or why Yam does not offer a street-legal wr450.

This will be a case of put up or shut up. If the Freeride is a sales success, expect imitations. If they sit unsold in showrooms, expect the Asians to point and say, "See, what's the point."

[Pitster]

Glad to see KTM has the balls to take a chance on a new market. Japs bikes are heaps behind in Dual sport / Off road bikes as far as I am concerned.

[barnyard]

Originally Posted by dlrides

It will sell for $7,999, showrooms will have first year models three years later.

Putting some more thought into it, that may not be the case. KTM does not make lots of any model bike (compared to the Asian brands). Around here, the only KTMs that are steeply discounted are the 4t MX models. I don't know that I have ever seen a 300exc/xcw on the showroom floor, they fly out the door.

My point is that KTM seems to be doing a very good job of generating very high demand for their fairly limited number of motorcycles. The more models they are able to put an engine into, the better and this will make 3 models for the 350.

KTM already has a loyal fan base that will snap this model up and feel that it is a great value.

Will it convert other riders to drink the kool aid???? Hard to say. The 950/990 are ridden and enjoyed by people that had not sipped the kool aid before and KTM is a much, much bigger brand than it was 10 years ago.

The more I think about it, the more I think KTM may do fairly well with this new machine.

Not that my opinion matters.

[Gordy]

My opinion of this bike can best be summed up in one word.

5MOH!

[SidewinderX]

Originally Posted by barnyard

Putting some more thought into it, that may not be the case. KTM does not make lots of any model bike (compared to the Asian brands). Around here, the only KTMs that are steeply discounted are the 4t MX models. I don't know that I have ever seen a 300exc/xcw on the showroom floor, they fly out the door.

My point is that KTM seems to be doing a very good job of generating very high demand for their fairly limited number of motorcycles. The more models they are able to put an engine into, the better and this will make 3 models for the 350.

KTM already has a loyal fan base that will snap this model up and feel that it is a great value.

Will it convert other riders to drink the kool aid???? Hard to say. The 950/990 are ridden and enjoyed by people that had not sipped the kool aid before and KTM is a much, much bigger brand than it was 10 years ago.

The more I think about it, the more I think KTM may do fairly well with this new machine.

Not that my opinion matters.

Agree 110%.

[NMTrailboss]

Originally Posted by Gordy

My opinion of this bike can best be summed up in one word.

5MOH!

My exact thought while reading this thread!!

I'd love to try this bike out as a technical single track bike. Could be my cheater bike!

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by NMTrailboss

My exact thought while reading this thread!!

I'd love to try this bike out as a technical single track bike. Could be my cheater bike!

If you get one, I will have too!!

[charlie264]

Anyone got one?

[2whlrcr]

Sort of. I bought a new 2013 KTM 350 XCFW and it is one sweet ride. I love the motor. A lighter, lower, slightly detuned version of my bike will turn a lot of people on. I'm just afraid the $9-10K price tag, may turn a lot of people off.

[gybeman]

The one issue, or compromise, with the Sherco and Ossa I read about other than its 2T non street legal creds, is that its the same gearbox, or very close to the trials bike, which means basically it a trials bike with a high seat and longer suspension. The shifter is a mile away with tiny gaps between 1st - 4th and huge gap to 5th-6th.
I haven't ridden either, but as a trials bike owner, it looks like theres 2 niche markets here. The Sherco / Ossa as a long range trials bike (for the guys who want to strap a seat and more fuel on a trials bike, or in this case I think the seat comes off to make it more trials worthy) and the KTM for its easy trail/dual sporting usefulness.
Haven't read anything about what KTM did with their tranny but the shifter is in the 'normal' location.

[2whlrcr]

From the specs I've been able to some up with, it looks like nothing has been changed with the transmission from the standard 350 XCFW. Both bikes have a 24:73 primary ratio listed. The Freeride does have a smaller final drive at 11:48. My bike came with a 13:52.

My bike has a reasonably low 1st gear. I would say comparable to 4th on my GG. So I think what you're going to get with the Freeride is a 1st gear that is going to give you some trials capability, (not as low as a real trials bike) and semi close spacing between the remaining gears. I would also venture a guess that top speed is only going to be slightly over 50 mph, giving you a comfortable cruising speed of around 40mph. My will cruise at 50mph and tops out at about 60-65mph.