Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1517946
2024 KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO 2024 KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO Six Generations of Woods Weapons Six Generations of Woods Weapons By Kurt Flachbart By Kurt Flachbart 8 Trail Rider www.TrailRider.com It's no secret your editor Kurt likes his KTMs. So much in fact, this par cular 300 XC-W marks my 40 th KTM purchased over the years. Now I'll be honest, I wasn't in love with all of them but being a die-hard 2-smoker, KTMs 300cc woods bikes seem to fit me like a glove while delivering everything that I wish for technical woods riding. Out of those 40 bikes, I've been fortu- nate to own every genera on of the KTM 300 since its incep on. What I find interes ng is how each and ev- ery genera on performed. The early to mid-90s models were quality machines that have proven to withstand the test of me oh so well. With a linkage rear suspen- sion design, they were a bit of a mul -use tool working great in the woods and on faster terrain. The last two years of the first genera on ('96-'97) even sported Öhlins rear shocks. The year 1998 was the first year of linkless rear suspen- sion. Progressive Damping System or PDS for short was quite the upset in the world of off-road riding. Gone was the low-hanging link and woods riders loved it. I fondly remember my '98 300 EXC. Once the suspension was valved and sprung for my big German frame, the bike worked flawlessly in the rocks and roots of New England. So much in fact, I couldn't imagine a be er bike at the me. Although there were a few frame changes during the 10-year run of the first-genera on PDS, the basic geometry remained the same. For 2008 the EXC designa on for KTMs off-road model line here in the US was dropped. XC-W would be the designa on le ers. '08 was a major game chang- er as it was the very first year for the electric start 2-stroke. At the me having that "magic bu on" was a real game changer, greatly easing restarts on tricky hillsides. I threw down a year later for a new 2009 300 XC-W. That '09 300 XC-W was one incredible ride. As one who enjoys personalizing his bikes, I had it set up well for the intended purpose and couldn't imagine a be er-performing motorcycle for the job at hand…un l my buddy Crandall purchased a new 2012 300 XC-W with an en rely new chas- sis. I remember the day well. Crandall, myself, and a few others were on a 100-mile ride here in southern Maine. Now Crandall is also well versed in KTM and had previously owned what I was rid- ing. Every me we stopped, Crandall was gloa ng over his new bike and offered to let me ride it a bit. Being thoroughly sa sfied with my '09 mod- el. I declined.