Mark Fattore•8 Oct 2012

REVIEW

Launch: KTM Freeride 350

Name: Launch: KTM Freeride 350
Brand: KTM

Different, daring and bold, KTM's new dirt bike offering is a point of departure for the off-road giant -- a less is more philosophy

Originally, KTM Australia wasn’t going to bring the Freeride 350 down under, but it finally gave the pseudo trials bike the green light – a decision which has already proven to be a very rewarding one.

In just a short period of time, the Freeride has become the fourth highest performing bike in the KTM’s Australian off-road portfolio, offering something which is a quantum leap away from the company’s traditional razor-sharp, race-focussed fare.

Save for the engine, which is based on the 350 EXC-F powerplant, KTM has built a new bike from the ground up, one where the expectations aren’t about winning races and bulging egos, but as a low-stress, versatile ‘runabout’ that is easy to ride, has a massive fun factor, and leaves only a very small environmental footprint.

KTM has unearthed a belter of a motorcycle to meet that brief, which, ironically, has the ability to make more people feel good about themselves than, say, the 450 EXC-F. And after spending a day riding through chunks of precision-demanding single trail near Lithgow in the beautiful Blue Mountains, I’d have to agree, as a ‘traditional’ trial bike would have maxed out my capabilities as a clubman-level trail rider in a very short period of time. It simply would have been too demanding. If this is a so-called ‘half-baked’ enduro bike, then I’m sold!

At just 99kg, combined with a short 1418mm wheelbase and 23-degree steering angle, the Freeride is all about agility, as it’s just so easy to point and shoot through tight corners, with the extremely soft D803 tyres hardly ever breaking traction – even on shaky ground. The bike sort of makes trial and error redundant – but I still made a big error near the end of the day when I was pitched forward on the bike, inadvertently blipped the throttle, and was thrown off it like a rag doll. I did some damage to both the brake and clutch perches and inflicted a few scratches, but otherwise the Freeride was okay.

The KTM has plenty of stability, and it doesn’t feel like hard work when you ride it -- when perhaps it should in some of the confined spots the Freeride is capable of finding itself in. But it just chugs along without a care in the world, which is a confidence booster right there. And because there’s bugger all weight, it responds to all sorts of inputs, whether it’s through the bars, pegs or just a change in body positioning. And for those with a real moto trials bent, the footpegs can be moved back 8mm to give the Freeride even more traction and flair for climbing. Sure, it still takes a bit of paddling and improvisation, but that’s what bush bashing is all about.

DIFFERENT FORMULA

There’s no doubt the Freeride 350 takes a bit to get your head around, particularly for a KTM aficionado, as it’s cut from an entirely different cloth. The engine is based on the 350EXC, but then the Freeride sets its own agenda: the engine produces only a modest 23hp thanks to intake restrictions and a new exhaust design; the kickstart has been jettisoned; steel valves replace titanium; and there are die-cast crankcases instead of sand-cast. There’s also a Formula clutch instead of Brembo, with the Italian mountain bike company also responsible for the brakes on the Freeride: a four-piston front and twin-piston rear. The fuel tank and airbox are both housed under the seat, with the latter able to be changed in seconds. And the airbox sits high too, so water crossings shouldn’t pose too many problems.

All up, the Freeride engine weighs 1.2kg less than it does in 350EXC mode, and gases are expelled via well hidden underslung headers which run into twin mufflers, both fitted with catalytic converters. The headers and mufflers are both really small, and the Freeride is certainly quiet.

Not only have the gear ratios been tweaked to befit a less powerful bike, but secondary gearing on the Freeride is a very short 11/48, so that also helps to keep the engine on full alert. Still, the Freeride isn’t a power fiend where it pulls up hills using inertia and brute force, but it’s smooth and has a generous spread of torque. And you can still rev it – it’s good for about 10,000rpm – which you’ll want to as you take on more difficult climbs and ‘special assignments’.

On average gradient hills, the Freeride will happily ply its trade in third gear, with just a bit of clutch work thrown into the mix when required. The clutch is light, and like all the controls has a quality KTM ‘feel’ to it.

For more daunting assignments, just slip the Freeride into first gear and it won’t let you down – it will continue to stir, no matter how daunting the terrain.

The Freeride has a six-speed gearbox, and top speed isn’t blindingly fast – it taps out at about 90km/h, which is still fair considering the short gearing.

FUN TIMES

The bike’s frame is a mix of steel backbone bolted to forged aluminium side spars, completed by a subframe made from high-strength plastic which houses all the bits and bobs for the engine management system. Suspension is a 43mm upside-down WP fork with CNC-machined triple clamps, and the rear is a PDS shock with 260mm travel. The fork has 250mm travel, with 21 (front) and 18-inch wheels completing the rolling chassis.

With short suspension travel, the Freeride obviously isn’t suited to massive jumps and bone-jarring hits, but what it does mean is that smaller drop-offs, ant hills and track imperfections – ones that are only minor nuisance value to bikes like the 350EXC – are great fun on the Freeride, and that became obvious within five minutes of beginning the trail ride. It just blows away the absurd notion that you require hi-tech masterpieces to have fun in the bush. As well as delivering something fresh, KTM is putting some balance back into the argument. Never has bunny hopping been so much fun.

The seat height is 895mm, but if that’s still too high for some KTM has a suspension lowering kit that drops it by another 25mm. Other KTM Powerparts products include aluminium handguards, a sticker kit, radiator protector, bash plate, disc guards, and SXS clutch cover.

The brakes are quite powerful, and haul the $9995 machine up well. The fuel tank is not huge at 5.5 litres, but it’s probably not a bike where you’ll be doing a 400km weekend loop with your mates. There’s a fuel warning light.

GOOD THINKING

The Freeride 350 is an unintimidating trail bike, but it isn’t afraid to take on a challenge. For a number of prospective riders, that will hold a lot of appeal. It’s a real playground on two wheels, and I can now understand why it is selling in droves. I was a bit puzzled as to why before, but now it’s as clear as day. KTM, the off-road juggernaut, has stirred again, but in a very different, more universal way.

Visit the KTM Freeride 350 in Bike Showroom

SPECS: KTM FREERIDE 350

ENGINE

Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke single-cylinder

Capacity: 349.7cc

Bore x stroke: 88mm x 57.5mm

Compression ratio: 13.5:1

Fuel system: Electronic fuel injection

PERFORMANCE

Claimed maximum power: 23hp

Claimed maximum torque: Not given

TRANSMISSION

Type: Six speed

Final drive: X-ring Chain

Clutch: Wet, hydraulically operated

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR

Frame type: Steel backbone and bolted to forged aluminium side spars, plastic sub-frame

Front suspension: 43mm WP fork, 250mm travel

Rear suspension: WP shock, preload adjustment, 260mm travel

Front brakes: Formula disc

Rear brake: Formula disc

Tyres: Front 80/100-21, rear 110/90-19

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES

Rake: 23 degrees

Trail: Not given

Claimed dry weight: 99kg

Seat height: 895mm

Wheelbase: 1418mm

Ground clearance: 325mm

Fuel capacity: 5.5 litres

OTHER STUFF

Price: $9995

Colour: Orange/white

Test bike supplied by: KTM Australia, www.ktm.com.au

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Launch: KTM Freeride 350

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