2008 KTM reviews

This bike is amazing. It's not the kind of bike that has a monstrous hit like a motocross 450, but has just the right power for the open and tight woods. I just got done riding with this bike. It has 120 miles on it and I hit 85 mph. The suspension on this is pretty good. Set the sag and dial in the clickers and it's even better. Depending on your weight you may need different springs or even a revalve. For stock it's the best woods 450 money can buy. Go KTM. Show less

This ride is second to none in the woods. Unstoppable torque, excellent handling and very well balanced. The exhaust valve can be adjusted from mild to wild with little effort. The optional ignition mapping switch allows you to tame it in the tight and wet stuff. The rear single link swingarm tracks wickedly well with no surprises. I am a 34 year vet with tons of war wounds and could not be happier with this ride. I can't wait for the 09 season to start. Show less

I just bought my 300XC-W (E) this past weekend. I can't really say I'm upgrading, so I'll just say I am switching directions from a SX525 so that I can play more in the woods, trails, and short hare-scrambles. So far I'm very impressed, it's typical KTM quality. The clutch is excellent and it doesn't wear out your forearm. Both the kick and the electric start work great. Throttle response is great with tons of power. I might experiment with one of the three different power valve springs. Red is definitely the 'hotter' spring making the bike behave like a SX. It has very light steering which makes the 300 feel 20+ lbs lighter than the 525. The bike is taller than the 525, but once you're moving you don't really notice it. More updates to come later. I'm very happy with the bike. Show less

This bike is everything the magazines say and more. It will climb a tree if you let it. Feels a lot lighter than my SX 250 and the power comes on much smoother. Lots of single track were I ride and the bike handles it perfectly. Out in the open it just rips! I love this bike! And the electric start just seals the deal. Show less

It has more personalities than Britney Spears. I can't say enough about the smiles this bike brings. It turns and jumps like an MX bike (Ocitillo). With such smooth power it's a true woods weapon (Hesperia to Big Bear loop). It loves to really open up and rev to the moon (California cities). I have put 25 hours in the dirt in 2 months. I can't stay off of it. The best part is I can ride it every day because it's a true dual-sport especially since the CHP is pulling plates from converted dirt bikes. I love leading the pack of heavily modified 450 MX bikes flat out in the desert and using my turn signal to tell them where we are going next! Show less

I cannot say enough about this incredible bike. I absolutely love it. For what it is designed for, mostly trail and some street, it exceeds my every expectation. This is a hardcore trail bike with a license plate. It has shredded every trail I have ridden with ease. The seat is a bit firm, but who sits down on the trail? The suspension works so well I find myself looking for the nastiest thing on the trail to stick it in and it will say, "Is that all you got?I have owned 6 other bikes from motocross to dual sport including a KTM 640 LC4-E. I still own it and love it. But on no other machine do I catch myself giggling in my helmet like on my 530. It is by far the easiest and most fun machine on the trail I have ever owned. With a rejet and mods to the silencer, the power is even more intense. Big power from off idle all the way to the moon! Note: Consider your options wisely. This is a great bike but use it for what it was made for. KTM makes more specialized models than others for a reason. Each is built to do a specific job. Chose the one that will do what you want. My 530 does everything I want and then some! It is a great machine! Show less

This bike has an excellent attention to detail, construction, and stock parts are ready to race. This bike requires only adjustment and not really any aftermarket equipment to perform. You can add protection, but right out of the box is a winner. The newer 300 engine is as mellow and agressive as any rider wants to make it. The e-start is a hit and is not a factor for an already light and flickable bike. This engine is a 250 on steroids requiring rider energy. Motor is very tunable thanks to a dual map ignition, tunable power valve spring and other regular things like jetting and gearing. Best KTM I have ever ridden. Show less