2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards: Enduro

The 2017 Bikesales Bike of the Year Awards will recognise excellence across 11 separate categories, after which we'll shortlist three finalists and then announce the outright winner on Friday, November 24 at the Sydney Motorcycle Show.

It's an exhaustive process – and that's just arriving at the category winners! To kickstart a big few months, let's start by announcing the winner of the enduro category for 2017 – the KTM 350 EXC-F.

When Bikesales' resident enduro gun Sam Maclachlan rode the updated 350 EXC-F in the Blue Mountains alongside former Australian enduro champion Ben Grabham, he had this to say:

"For 2017, though, the Austrian mega manufacturer has given KTM lovers a dose of serious smugness – this new package not only lets maniacs the likes of Toby Price and Daniel Sanders carve bush trails and desert roads with the precision of a factory-spec bike, but also lets us trail hacks enjoy the occasion.

"The 2017 four-strokes, however, are incredibly-well specced for trailriders, with the new X-Plor 48 fork almost as compliant as the 4CS fork that trailriders loved, but racers hated, but with much better progression through the stroke. The way that fork gobbles up loose rock with small, controlled movement is just nuts. Magic carpet stuff.

"The reason for this isn’t just the new fork – the entire chassis and engine changes have allowed the bike to find a new level of refinement, to the point where I had the confidence to attack obstacles I would have avoided on other bikes. Or at least taken a lot easier.

"The compliance of the chassis and the ability of the shock to match the fork's flexibility, as well as the sheer feel the bike offers the rider, means the trail isn’t kicking you all day. And that saves energy. It also means mistakes and bad line choices don’t hurt your progress as much.

"This amazing chassis – and I know I am very enthusiastic here, but it’s that good – is complemented by engines just as refined.

"The 350 EXC-F is an even sweeter nut and in tight bush, it’s easy to understand why the traditionally top-selling 450cc enduro is under threat. Of all my trailriding mates, I can’t think of one that wouldn’t be better off on one of these, as opposed to whatever they are riding now.

"It’s as light as a whip, nimble and agile, and the 350cc engine has enough power for most of us. Learn to ride it full-noise through the trees, then move to something bigger…

"The work on the clutch, engine management and crankshaft result in a more tractable package than before, and when added to the incredible chassis means this bike is a mountain goat.

"The footpegs, for instance, are sharp, self-cleaning, and perfectly positioned. The air filter -- that job we all hate -- is easier than ever to get to, handy for race-swaps but also great for home maintenance."

That's quite the wrap from Sam, who has ridden every conceivable enduro bike over the years as the former editor of both Dirt Action and Australasian Dirt Bike.

Congratulations KTM.

Honourable mention: Beta 300 RR
The strength of 300cc two-strokes is not the top-end power, but the mid-range grunt that gets you up and over hills, rocks and roots, and then flattens the goggles on your face when you crack it hard down a firetrail. That's the Beta 300 RR. Aimed at trailriders, it has a smooth throttle on its most benign engine mode but in 'full nuts' configuration it still has a great bottom end before cracking like a whip when the trail allows more than quarter throttle. If longer rides are your forte, the addition of the 650cc oil tank is magic, while frame guards, a small plastic bashplate, and handguards are all standard. If you are a trailrider who wants to enjoy a tameable powerhouse, doesn’t mind riding something a bit different and yet doesn’t want to give anything away in rideability, power or features, then saddle up on a 300 RR and find out for yourself.

Honourable mention: Sherco 450 SEF-R
A very rideable machine, built with trail-feel and chassis balance an important cornerstone in the design. Sherco has retained the trials feel and rider-focus, but moved the models further along the bush-bike path, with some well thought-out features. It's a sweet powerplant, and the bike lets you use the power to fix problems – but it's also useable at the same time. There are two ignition maps, easily switchable, and if wide-open trails are your favourite place to be, the 450’s manners, balance and stability are worth considering.