Test KTM 250 & 300 EXC TPI 2018
Published on 29/06/2017 DAM Racing Team-KTM , Erzberg Rodeo , KTM Belgium-Belgium , KTM Sportmotorcycles GmbH , Product newsScoop test: KTM EXC250 TPI & EXC300TPI
We talked about the background of the 2018 KTM two-stroke enduros here. Now it's time to experience what we came for! How do those revolutionary KTM EXC250 TPI & KTM EXC300TPI engines ride now? With the legendary Erzberg in Austria as a testing ground, our luck couldn't have been more…
When I got on the KTM EXC TPI 250 that morning, I immediately felt at home. Almost everything was identical to the 2017 model and thanks to the electric starter I was off with the simple push of a button. Our playground, for that day, was the Disney Land of extreme Enduro. Let's just say you could do worse.
How does such a TPI block feel now?
From the first difficult passage on the first slope, the 250 showed its 'punchy' character with a confidence-inspiring climb in the revs. Immediately the engine character felt very close to that of a carbureted 2017 model. The engine character of the TPI model may be almost the same as that of its predecessor with a carburetor, but despite everything it feels slightly less pleasant. At very low speeds the injected 250 seems to suffocate. The machine therefore requires to be used in its comfort zone. To shift from 2nd to 3rd at lower speeds, it is better to use the clutch. Once you rev the engine higher, it shows an exemplary linear character.
According to KTM officials, demanding pilots may require some fine-tuning of the injection system. Still, the standard settings would be suitable for the lion's share of riders. Let's just say that I am demanding...
We then move to another 250 EXC TPI but this time with an Akrapovic exhaust line. Apart from a more exciting exhaust sound and a slightly wider rev range, the conclusion remains the same here too. A motorcycle that runs well over the entire rev range, except for that small part of the low revs. It runs almost stationary, but never comes to a standstill.
The 300 as reference
With the same driving position and a slightly rougher exhaust note, the 300 EXC TPI showed itself excellently. It starts easily and the power is everywhere this time. During short turns, the 300 is remarkably more efficient than its smaller brother, thanks to better torque.
The 300 fully achieves the objectives set by the engineers - retaining the qualities of a carburettor-fed engine in terms of performance and handling while combining the benefits of injection.
Both models have two ignition maps, which you can select with a button on the left side of the steering wheel. In the first position you will find the standard setting, the second folder offers more traction and flexibility thanks to a constant power delivery. The second map was interesting and useful on the 300 in the winding parts of the test track. Since the 250 already lacked vitality in the first ignition map, the decision not to attempt the second was quickly made. We are also curious how the ignition maps come in handy on a wet surface, but we were unable to test that in the bone-dry Erzberg quarry…
Which suspension? Nothing to complain about!
We can be brief about the suspension. The WP components suited this type of terrain perfectly and were both precise and comfortable. Here too we hope for a re-match and on a faster circuit, but we are confident about it. At the end of the day and after the often rough treatment of the various test engines, not a single glaring defect emerged. Neither the potholes nor the rocks, the overheating of the engine blocks or the improvised free ride sessions by Johnny Walker were able to dispel the suspicion that these new TPI models were born under a favorable star.
You already understood, KTM is once again strengthening its leadership in the off-road segment and is immediately ahead of the competition with this new technology. This lead will continue to matter in the coming years and the technological achievements will already be on the showroom floor from July. As for the rates, every development has its price, the standard versions are available at 8.930 Euro (9.930 Euro in NL) for the 250 and at 9.575 Euro (10.690 Euro in NL) for the 300. This still leaves the two-strokes some of the prices of the four-stroke range. The latter only evolved slightly compared to the 2017 model year.
For the die-hards, KTM, like every year, also builds a limited series of 6 Days models that are equipped with a large number of components from the Power Parts catalogue. The 6 Days version has a red/blue/white design on the occasion of the ISDE that will be contested in France this year.
Text: Christophe Bertrand/MXMag.be/BJ
Photos: KTM
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