Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/241252
I t's always exciting when the KTM XC and XC-W 250's are fielded at the same time for an evaluation. The general perception of these two bikes is that they are fairly similar, save for a few obvious differences. And at first glance, that would appear to be the case. Off the showroom floor however, these two bikes really are quite distinct. Given that we've already covered the XCW earlier in the year, and that the changes to the XC aren't too comprehensive, we thought it would be fun to change things up and do a side by side comparison. Doing this really drew out the differences in each machine. Before we get into the comparison, here's a quick summary of what's new for 2014. XC-W 250 Similar to the XC, the ignition curve on the XC-W has been altered and the carburetor settings adjusted to tailor the bikes' performance towards technical enduro racing. The new jetting specs include a N8RJ needle set on the 4th clip position, a 68 Main Jet, 40 pilot jet and a 7.0 slide, which is a little richer than last years' specs. The cylinder head has also been redesigned for more efficient combustion and better response. Finally, the W received the same updated Boyesen reeds as its XC counterpart. Other changes include a stronger starter (480W versus 370W) and a more powerful battery that makes the headlight more than just a token display for getting through tech inspection. In the suspension department, the new XC-W comes with revised front and rear suspension valving that is specially designed for enduro riding (read: plush) In addition, the XC-W models received a new front master cylinder with a new reservoir, a smaller piston diameter and a new lever with optimized kinematics. We can't 2014 XC 250 The 2014 XC 250 features a new ignition curve, cylinder head, and jetting specs that are intended to make the bike even more "rideable." The new jetting specs include a N8RW needle on the 4th clip, a 170 main Jet, 40 pilot jet and a 70 slide. Basically what KTM did is richened things up and take a step back from the "leaner and meaner" jetting specs from last year. The linkage on the XC The XC also has a redesigned reed valve soaks up the hard hits housing that features Boyesen high-perforbetter than the PDS. mance reeds. The most notable change for 2014 is that the XC's are now fitted with the newly developed 48mm 4CS closed cartridge fork featuring the patented 4-Chamber-System. With this system, both the rebound and compression damping adjusters are located on top of the fork; the rebound is located atop the right fork and the compression is on the left. The forks are also fitted with improved seal rings made by SKF and high performance fork oil (SAE 4). The new 4CS forks are lighter than their predecessors and include new valving specs that are a better match for faster off road racing. December 2013/January 2014 9