by twowheels » Wed Sep 03, 2014 9:30 pm
I got tired of looking at the 350 Factory in my shop and decided to ride it Labor Day, much to the delight of the five or six guys that also happened to get some seat time on its inauguration day. Impressions from riding the bike back-to-back with ... 2013 GasGas 300, 2014 KTM 250 XC-F, 2014 KTM 250XC, 2012 YZ250 "off-roadified" and a 2014 KTM 300XC.
Looks - nothing else I've seen, or anybody else had seen, comes close. Flat out sexy! Some of the appeal was moderated when a pair of Sidi Crossfires peeled back the airbox lid graphics and spread the adhesive around.
Smoothness - from bottom to top the smoothest off-road bike I've ever ridden. Usually Flexxbars get mounted to everything around here, but this time I don't see the need. The six-spring clutch engagement and pull are excellent. Carburetion is excellent, and the motor never stumbled or lurched, unlike the KTM thumper.
Motor - one guy kept trying to bury it in deep sandy corners but it kept pulling through. I'd put it somewhere about a 275cc 2T, but it lacks the snap that puts a grin on your face, even if it's pulling twice as far in a gear. One guy said you could ride it like a 250F or a 450 either/or, and that may be true, but it will definitely favor more flowing courses. There was more engine braking than on a 2T, but noticeably less than on the KTM 250 XC-F.
Rolling feel - certainly a combination of the four-stroke motor and the Marzocchi 48s and Sachs rear, but the plushness was outstanding. Combined with the breadth of engine power the bike just wanted to run in the whoops. The trail lacked meaningful roots or rocks so I'll withhold judgement until I get to ride in those conditions (and until the suspension fully breaks in). Nevertheless better suspension action than any of the other bikes.
Brakes - one of the riders managed to toast the rear brake by essentially using the pedal as another footpeg. A Dirttricks rotor is going on in place of the stock rear, and the fluid will get swapped out for something better than the standard Nission goo. The front was strong as is typical.
Suspension - I pulled 1-7/8 turns of PFP out of the forks in an effort to get the front end down a little in the corners, and I expect as the suspension breaks in I'll slowly dial it back in. The rear was plush from the get go - we'll see what happens on different trails, and with time.
Noise - whisper quiet, especially compared to the dumbass with the full-moto PC system on his KX450F that was also on the loop. I missed the snap of the 2T exhaust, but you could almost ride this in the suburbs without offending the neighbors.
Seat/cover - I actually liked the sandpaper-textured cover better than I expected, and being familiar with Beta seats was immediately comfortable with the firm feel. Immensely better than the EE cover on one of the KTMs that was slippery by comparison. I didn't notice the scorecard holder, although it serves no purpose where we ride.
Weight - heavier than the 2T Betas to get on the stand, but with the handholds in the subframe still easy to lift. Nimble, but not as billy-goat-like in nature as my 250. The 350 definitely liked flowing around the outer lines more than trying the cut-and-thrust lines of the 250 ... kind of like the GasGas 300 that was also present.
Ergonomics - completely natural, which makes sense because it feels just like all the other Betas. The KTMs felt pieced together by comparison. I jumped on the GasGas 300 and immediately noticed I was getting slapped in the backside in the whoops, but that is due to the peg-to-seat dimension. Interestingly the GasGas felt the 'farthest out there' in terms of ergonomics, but I was able to adapt within a mile or so having spent a couple seasons on the new chassis.
Starting - little red button, what else? A couple of us kicked it just for fun, and while firmer than a 2T was easily manageable with the lever.
Map switch - no appreciable difference on this terrain, on this day.
All in all a fun bike to ride, and if you have moderate-to-open terrain a sure winner. The Factory Edition goodies make it spectacular to look at, and all of the other details, from the motor to the suspension to the ergos, make it a top-notch off-roader.