2012 KTM XC Enduro Line Reviews

KTM has the widest and most diverse enduro lineup in the industry, and it gets further bolstered for 2012. Four-stroke XCF models are available in 250, 350, 450 and 500cc versions, while KTM continues to serve the die-hard two-stroke aficionados with 150, 200, 250 and 300cc XC models. And most engines have the option of being paired to a wide-ratio transmission, identified by the “-W” designation.

KTM introduced its 2012 enduro bikes at the Inyan Kara AMA National Enduro, in Upton, Wyoming. And once we’d had the opportunity to do a quick evaluation of the various models we were allowed to choose our favorite KTM to race in the enduro the following day. Fun? You bet!

2012 KTM 350 XCF-W Review

Not only is the 350 XCF-W more stable and solid feeling than KTM’s two-stroke XC models, it’s also got the best brakes in the business.

When KTM’s 350cc project was announced, riders and the media were excited about the prospect of a lighter and easier to handle open-class machine. When the bike arrived, however, the motocross media said it was only slightly lighter than the 450 and had much less torque, running more like a fast 250F. Still, the machine has won motocross races all over the world, plus KTM had considerable success at off-road races with riders aboard converted 350SX motocross bikes.

2012 KTM Street Model Lineup Preview

When dipping its toes back in the streetbike market, KTM did so gently with the single-cylinder Duke models. But when the company decided to finally hit the ground running and introduce a slew of street models, it still did so in a conservative fashion. The company’s headliner, the RC8 superbike, lacked power compared to its rivals, and the fit and finish was still a little rough around the edges. That said, KTM designers nailed the chassis design from the start, as it’s one of the best handling motorcycles we’ve ridden. The RC8 R aimed to fix the power issue by bumping displacement from 1148cc in the base model to 1195cc — rivaling its V-Twin competition — but now that power wasn’t an issue, taming it was.

Taking the “Ready To Race” motto to heart, 2012 sees six street bikes in the KTM lineup, headlined by the RC8 R and RC8 R Race Spec models. Here’s the breakdown:

RC8 R

Both the RC8 R and RC8 R Race Spec enter 2012 enjoying a host up carry-over upgrades from 2011. Since the RC8s were late arrivals to the 2011 sportbike party, we’re highlighting the changes and upgrades.

The 1195cc, 75-degree V-Twin remains; enhanced with dual spark plugs for better combustion, and new camshaft timing, the RC8 R now matches the increased power of its club racing kits. A forged crankshaft receives an additional 100 grams of weight for more inertia and when combined with a 25% heavier flywheel the result is a reduction to the abrupt throttle response for which the RC8 was notorious. But that’s not all, the 52mm throttle bodies now have an idle speed control cam to allow smoother airflow in the initial range of movement, like when applying throttle exiting a corner. Of course, this change in airflow required the ECU mapping to be tweaked to compensate.

Heavily revised for 2011, the 2012 RC8 R comes to the U.S. with no technical changes.

The gearbox wasn’t ignored either when going over the RC8 R. Of note is a gearbox sensor that allows the ECU to help control engine braking depending on the current gear. This will help reduce rear-end chattering when diving deep on the brakes for a corner. Other improvements to the tranny include a revised drum and linkage to save weight and provide better shifting.

2012 KTM 200 Duke Review

The 200 Duke was developed jointly by KTM and Bajaj Auto.

Austrian company KTM is an acknowledged champion when talking off-road motorcycles, as the Austrian firm has made it a habit of dominating off-road motorsports events. The KTM 200 Duke is the first streetbike to be jointly developed between them and Indian motorcycle maker Bajaj Auto, whose stake in the European firm has now crossed 39%.