Quick Ride

KTM 300 XC Yeah, we still ride two-strokes

Quick Ride

OKAY, WE'VE BEEN over the two-stroke/ four-stroke thing more than once, so pay attention: Even though "diesels" appear to be taking over, strokers are far from being on the endangered species list. One ride on the 2006 KTM 300 XC proves that two-strokes still have a place, and what better place than on the trails or the track or, hey, maybe even in your garage.

When KTM introduced the XC line about a year ago, I came away mighty impressed with the fourstroke 450 XC (Quick Ride, October, 2005). But I’m still a fan of two-strokes, which makes the $6548 300 XC the perfect next choice. First off, the nice thing about the eight machines in the XC lineup is that they are bare-bones racebikes,

doing without headlights, kickstands or odometers. Or is that bad? It all depends how you use your off-roader. Hey, every ounce counts for lightness!

For its part, the 300 XC might just be the perfect combination of race/trailbike. That’s a credit to the versatility of the suspension and engine tune. The fork and shock are set up with a nicely progressive action that results in a happy medium between full-on racing control and simple off-road play riding, with supple response at low speeds in most conditions and the firmness you need when shredding. Hitting bigger rocks at low speeds can bring out some harshness and deflection. This is

where the racing bias is made evident, because when you hit those same rocks and bumps fast, the 300 becomes super smooth. And if things ever do get out of shape, the light, 223pound dry weight makes it easy to get straight again.

But what really makes this bike special is the 293cc of two-stroke power. Bottom-end grunt is a little tame, but that’s what makes the engine easy to manage at low speeds. In tight technical sections, you can milk it around in a controllable fashion. Once you turn the throttle hallway, however, it is “Hello powerband!” Out in the open, the engine screams with that fun, lightweight two-stroke muscle. Even though KTM gave the 300 a new crankshaft to increase traction and reduce vibration, vibes still are a bit bothersome at higher rpm.

If you run in wide-open spaces a lot, you might consider the 300 XC-W with its wide-ratio gearbox.

Controls are top-notch, brakes work with precision, shifting is flawless and clutch pull is practically effortless. I became so attached to the Brembo hydraulic clutch I now wish every manufacturer used it. After all the trail mileage, only one problem surfaced: The new half-turn quickrelease gas cap leaked when the tank was full.

Overall, though, the 300XC is a solid package, and what’s unique is that KTM is the only dirtbike manufacturer of the (can we say?) Big Five that makes a non-motocross two-stroke. Even without a standard spark arrestor, this XC comes pretty close to completing the off-road necessity list with a 2.9-gallon gas tank and an 18-inch rear wheel, plenty of speed and lots of fun. All you need is gas.. .oh, yeah, and some two-stroke oil. -Ryan Dudek