New bike time

[Dan BatemanMember]

Hey guys and gals, its been a while since i posted anything and i know what a can of worms it will open but… which bike?
The trusty XR has gone to a new home and its time for a new steed, i’m looking at the mid size bikes and am seriously looking at Sherco 300i, KTM 350 and Husqvarna WR250 (2T).
I have riden the WR 250 and loved the power, and the suspension seemed a million miles away from the lounge i’m used to but i’m guessing any new bike is going to be compared to the xr :dry:
and the sound and smell of the two stroke was very addictive.
However i’m thinking that the four strokes are going to suit better as thats what i’m used too? :unsure:
I got to ride the sherco at the weekend and found it very easy to ride and also had plenty power for me with the option of different “maps” on the switch which i guess gives two different bikes for the price of one. It has plenty of good gear as standard and i think it looks pretty good.
Which leaves the KTM 350 the only one i havn’t had a go on but am leaning towards as they are the more common bike get great reviews and would be easier to get parts for.
I am not looking for a race bike or something to ride to work on but a bike to hit the trails on not have to fix something every five minutes easy to ride and just have fun on.
So i was wonderering if the oldbull collective (thats you lot) have any views or facts that could prove helpful in my decision…

[scott bockingMember]

Hi Mate,

If you have settled out on mid capacity 4 stroke there is a lot of hype around the Husky 310 at the moment and the prices are very hard to beat. Plus if you by one this year you will get a red one. After that the turn a shade of orange

STM

[Brett WilliamsMember]

Hi wazzup. I bought a 2011 Sherco 300i in Oct last year. Great bike. Went from a WR450 to the Sherco. Its got plenty of power (mapping switch, like you said) and the lower weight (over 25 kgs lighter than the new WR) and lower seat height is great, especially for vertically challenged people like myself!! No mods done other than bolt-ons (hand guards, rad guards etc). I find that I tend to use the clutch alot more (lighter pull than my sons Kato450) on this bike and as a result, less stalling. Probably ’cause you needed two hands to pull in the clutch on the WR (hyd v cable). Not interested in racing so I dont think I will wear the bike out in a hurry.
Hope this helps!
Cheers
Budge

[Dan BatemanMember]

Hi budge i remember you posting when you got your bike.
have you had any major dramas? and was it easy enough getting your bolt on parts for sherco?

[Brett WilliamsMember]

No dramas. Recently changed the water pump seal as it was dripping when cold and the rad overflow bottle cap split due to rubbing on full lock. Small adjustment fixed that. The 2013 bikes have relocated the over flow bottle to the back, similar to the WR set up. Bolt-ons are all aftermarket stock stuff. I picked up a brochure from the dealer a couple of weeks ago, showing all the accessories that can be fitted. Good range. Everything you want. I’ve come off it a few times (nothing major) and nothing has bent or broken.
I actually feel really comfortable on the bike which is a good thing as wifey says it better last for a long time!
Cheers Budge

[Dan BatemanMember]

Awesome thanks for the info budge
It was Neil’s from tripleR 2013 that i rode at the weekend and felt comfy on straight away.
I know this will be it for a long time too so i dont want to make a wrong choice :whistle:

[Adam RodgersMember]

Wazzup,

There’s a few Old Bulls with Kato 350’s now and I’ve heard nothing but good reviews, but you not going to bag your own decision.

Mines just clicked over the 6000k mark (200 hrs, 18 months old) and apart from a clogged fuel filter (now a regular maintenance item) no problems. It’s never let me down, even with the clogged filter it got me home.

It’s also great to ride thats why it’s got so many k’s

Try and get a ride on one, it’s the only way to compare

Adam.

[Damien BonoraMember]

Hi Wazzup,
I am with Adam, + 1 on the Kato.
I got one late last year after riding an 2011 ‘310 and I am loving the 350.

The 310 is a great bike in its own right but I feel the way it delivers the power is more like a race bike than a trail bike.
The power comes on strong when your in the right rev range but can be doughy down low.
The 350 has alot more punch out of the corners, and climbs hills easier as you can use the bottom end to chug up the incline.
On the 310 I found that you had to hit the hill with a heap of revs and it would spin up as it was in the meaty part of its power curve.
Just my opinion, take a 350 for a spin as Adam suggests.

[Dan BatemanMember]

Thanks adam and Trailraider for your input Sutto’s have ofered me a spin around the block on the 350 so i think i’ll have to just try that.
At the end of the day i would be happy to get any new bike if presented with one, but having to choose one from the many makes it all to hard :unsure: :dry:

[MichaelMember]

Hi Wazzup

I have a 09 TE310 it has been a good bike and has not given me any problems at all.

But I agree with Trailrader about how it delivers the power and does lake it down low, and when you hit a hill you have to be on it , otherwise it will die in arse.

Cheers

Strucky

[Rory RockMember]

What capacity was your XR?
How tall/heavy are you?
You should have a look at a TE449/511 if you are a big guy and after something with not too aggressive power but a big step forward in suspension from the XR. Super stable chassis which is very forgiving and climb hills like nothing else. They are our biggest seller and are proving to be bulletproof engines with some road capability as well. Plus the price is sensational!

[James RookyardMember]

Don’t forget about Husaberg. They have the 350 as well now. The 12 FE450 I have is the best bike I have owned and I know the KTM350 is a cracking bike, so the Berg 350 should be as well.
Such a shame they went away from the upside down motor though. It made air filter access second to none.

[Damien BonoraMember]

I agree Jimmy, i was definitely getting a FE390 til they stopped them
Still, very happy with the 350EXC

[Matt BakerMember]

Trailraider, lucky for you they stopped making the FE 390 and you got a KTM 350. The 390 is an underpowered, uninspiring bike. IMO they are boring to ride.

The KTM 350 or even an older 400 is much more fun with more punch off the bottom of the rev range (can’t beat a 450 for that though)

Wazzup if you want reliable, ease of maintenance and easy to ride go for a WR 450.

[Scott SouthwellMember]

Out of the group you listed I would say the KTM350 but if you have a secret desire for a 2t as it would seem with the WR250 2t (all 4t riders have secret desires for 2t) have a sneaky look at the 300 2t when your at Suttos.

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