Trail Rider Magazine

16 Trail Rider 2020 KTM 150XC-W TPI 2020 KTM 150XC-W TPI Initial Impressions Initial Impressions By Kurt Flachbart By Kurt Flachbart Life certainly has its twists and turns, but what I find most interes ng in general is how many things go full circle. As with most kids, I cut my teeth on small bore bikes. A Hodaka 125 Wombat was my first real motor- cycle with gears and a clutch. Thinking I needed more power, I bought a thoroughly thrashed, one season old 1976 YZ400C and gave it a go. The results were terrifying and this 15-year-old kid was back on the ddler bikes for the next dozen years. As for my personal bikes of choice during these so-called adult years, I've been on KTM 300s. They fit me well and offer more than enough grunt to carry my oversize bu up the steepest of trails with ease. Truth be told, I enjoy how 300s can be ridden lazily. It's no secret that Kurt enjoys his vintage and modern bikes alike. As you've seen, we've built a fair number of vintage rides here at Trail Rider Central — with a vast assortment of choices when it comes to displacement. Over the last year, I've grown fond of racing my old bud- dy Howie's 430 Husky, but many within my inner circle typically see me ripping around town on some funky '70's small bore. Why you ask? These bikes are easy to throw a leg over and ride. Also, star ng a small bore never requires a special "drill" or a herculean effort. One of the "bennies" of owning a motorcycle magazine is having the opportunity to ride many different bikes. As an older rider, I've grown complacent and accustomed to bigger bore 2 strokes. Yeah, like an old shoe. Well last year, I had an eye-opening experience in the way of our friend Pa y Rand's KTM 150 XC-W, which we featured in our January 2019 issue, "Every Advantage Available." On a whim, I decided to expand my horizons and ride her li le 150 on a rather rugged 90-mile invita onal event last fall and flat-out loved it. Her 150 opened a door to a room I hadn't been in for literally decades. The sensa ons were many. Light, fun and flickable with just enough torque to hang with the big boys. Yes, wheels were spinning! As one who's been impressed with KTM's fuel injected 2 strokes, my eyes lit up when I heard their 150XC-W was to be offered with Transfer Port Injec on for the 2020 model year. Excited? Yes! Just like that, we added another KTM to the fleet. As a realist, I have no inten ons to replace my trusty 300; it's got its place. Bikes being tools, we see no harm in adding to the collec on. Ok, enough bologna. Let's get to the meat and potatoes. Although I don't have a lot of seat me aboard the 2020 150XC-W TPI, the difference in feel to the 2018 model I'd been used to is dras c. Not that the '18 model was bad in any way, but the new 2020 model is very different in feel. This 2020 has an en rely new engine (adding fuel injec on required a total redesign) and pipe, along with frame mods. The two bikes are quite dis nc ve.

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