Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/792642
similar to a KTM XC model. For a 300cc weapon, it's featherweight and the light- est in its class, at a claimed 224 lbs. It likes to be pushed and ridden aggres- sively. Suspension is fi rm, valved for a faster/expert rider. Exceptionally stable at speed; steering is precise. is is a bike that goes where you point it, immediate- ly and without a struggle. Carving tight single track is a treat; this is a machine that loves switch backs. Given the fact that this is a ride that really shines in the tight stuff , what's remarkable is it's also very stable at speed. e TM EN300 is somewhat of a sim- plistic, old-school throwback. ere's no electric start; gear box is a 5 speed. Power valve is a cable-actuated, electronic servo design with a gear box position sensor, similar to Honda's design before aban- doning their 2-stroke development. It's very much a "factory" looking bike, with sand-cast engine cases and incredible attention to de- tail found in all the hand- made, billet compo- nents dress- ing the bike. Carburetion was spot on for our test day conditions. It ran incredibly clean from way down low (for a woods racer, it's a fi ne lugger) building to a banshee-like scream. Power delivery is electric in feel, building to a hard-hitting mid-range, with an explosive top end hit with the map switch set on aggressive mode. Suspension as mentioned above is valved fi rm. is is an expert level bike right out of the box. Forks by KYB and they like to be pushed. At- tacking large logs at speed is no problem. e forks ride high and the stroke is very progressive in feel. e rear shock is built in house by TM. It soaks up the trail junk while remaining fi rm in feel for the hard hits. Once I got used to it, it's a very confi dence inspiring ride, one that makes you push harder as the bike just responds so much better when ridden aggressively. Brakes are strong, with the front being a Brembo item, the rear, from Nissin and rotors by Galfer. e hydraulic clutch is a Magura component. No doubt, the TM EN300 is a thoroughbred. It's a hand-built, very low pro- duction ma- chine. For such an exotic mount, you'd expect the feel would have a heavy, European infl uence, but we found it just the opposite. In fact, if I compared the handling to bikes we've tested during the last season, I'd describe the handling as similar to a YZ250X with expert level suspension settings. As a rider who is used to the fl ex of a steel- framed bike, the aluminum frame TM did feel a bit stiff er, but I'm sure a good part of that was