Doug's 2018 KTM 350EXCF

      When I first bought this bike in February 2019 I didn’t do my usual new project for 21J for a couple of reasons. I wasn’t able to ride at that time and I didn’t think of it as a project. I bought it as a replacement to my 2012 KTM 500EXCF which I had sold. I wanted something a little lighter and smaller motor displacement. The motor makes it feel lighter than it actually is, the ole motor inertia thing.

I was looking for a deal on a 2018, at that time there were no deals on 19’s and I couldn’t find any 18’s around either, I finally found a very good deal on new one at a Scottsdale AZ dealership that made it worth the drive. 

My first rides around my area told me the stock gearing was to low it had no real top end cruising speed so I changed to a 48 tooth rear sprocket. I installed a skid plate a Rekluse and small rear blinkers etc. My first real ride was a 100 mile dual sport ride above Nevada City. I found out a couple of more things, the stock seat was too hard for my ass the stock front tire did not work well on gravel roads the rear brake was to sensitive and it vibrated through the handle bars on long road sections. The 2018’s have solid mounted handle bars. I also felt it was a little under powered because I was used to the 500 power, especially on the roads. Other than those things the bike worked very well.

Before my second dual sport ride I installed a tall Seat Concepts seat and changed the front tire, installed a different set of rear brake pads and a set of Flex Bars I borrowed from a friend. I did a couple of short rides and found I was not comfortable at all with the Seat Concepts seat. It was wide in spots that made it difficult for me to get comfortable when riding especially in single track; it wreaked havoc with my balance. I think it would be would be fine say riding in Baja. So I bought a KTM soft seat.

So after all that on my second dual sport ride a 145 miler I found the Flex Bars took care of the vibration plus absorbed some of the hits, the new front tire worked better and the brake pads weren’t as touchy and the new soft seat worked great. And I changed the rear tire after this ride I found it didn’t work so well after all.

Now the only real problem was the Rekluse, I like engine braking and the set up I was using created very little engine braking. So before the next ride I tried a different set up. The next dual sport ride a 155 mile ride it worked better but still didn’t have enough engine braking for me. On a long downhill say fourth gear just sort of coasting it wanted to free wheel. But other than that this was a great ride I’m now getting use to the 350 motor and beginning to really like it. 

Before the next ride (92 miles) I tried some different spring combos in the Rekluse and it worked great except that in order to satisfy the higher idle required for the 350’s fuel ignition (2000 RPM) the bike creeps while in gear and the clutch is out was significant, brakes will hold it but it’s a pain, so I’m still working on that.  

I’m still playing with the clickers but the stock suspension works pretty well for me. I drilled the out the end cap on the muffler to let it breathy a little better and have taken out the reed cage in the air box for better air flow. It does create a little more power and it’s still quiet. Actually I’m not sure removing the reed cage makes it run better off idle, so I’m still playing with that. I’m not planning on doing anything else to the engine, the bike has really all the power I need for the type of riding I’m doing. Actually I’ve been riding this bike more on the single track trails lately than my 300 so it works well for that kind of riding. No it’s not better than my 300.

I have just under 1000 miles on the bike now and everything is pretty much dialed in don’t feel like I need to do much of anything else except continue to enjoy riding it.  

So in the end it did turn into a bit of a project bike. This is a great all round bike and if I only had one bike to do everything I do, this would be the one. Yes it is heavier than a KTM 350SXF or 350XCF it doesn’t make as much power either, but it handles well and only feels real heavy when you need to pick it up.

Doug 21J

PS  I’ve taken the he reed cage in and out several times, but I’m still not sure if it’s that much better with it out. I changed the TPS setting from a stock .54 to .68 which fools the ECU and richens the fuel mixture; this also helps eliminate pop lean backfiring. The last thing I did was remove the solid (Domed shaped) end on the end of the spark arrestor screen on the stock muffler and replaced it with the end of a Dr. D spark arrestor screen. This increased the motors ability to rev out more freely, but it did increase the exhaust noise.

I’ve put my Wolfman saddle bags on the bike now and have filled them with tire changing tools, a tube and a tire pump. I’ve also put a tool bag, spare nuts and bolts etc in the other side.

I just installed a heat shield on the head pipe; unfortunately after riding with new pants I burned several holes on the inside on the leg.

Now I’m just waiting for the next ride.