thx for informative review, im 56 years old and haave ridden for about 50 years, mostly road bikes. now ive decided to get into woods trail riding east coast. after a lot of research ive decided to go for the 300xcw, im 5'8 and weigh 190.
Hey great video Cole. You covered almost everything an enduro rider would want to know about the 300 xc-w and best of all, most of your opinions were "informed" and come with significant experience. I'm in the process of prepping an 18' 300 XC-W while I wait for the snow to melt up here in the north, and this video has done nothing except increase my anticipation.
Great vid. First time I’ve actually heard anyone explain specifically why they like pds over link. Most everyone had a preference and will say “if you ride X, get Y” but no one ever explains why or what they do different.
Hey Cole... I found your vid very informative and well presented. I gained a better perspective of everything and agree with everything you said. Well done mate... :)
Great video Cole, I've been agonizing over a decision to get a 300xc or xcw to ride single track and hare scrambles Im leaning toward the xcw now cheers
Did sxs ignition make keep the power curve smooth? I have 250 xc with a thinner base gasket, vforce reeds, and g2 throttle tamer like your setup. Loving the increased bottom to mid range pull, but falls flat on the top end when the trail opens up. Hoping the sxs ignition is the answer. I liked the 250 for the way it use to rev out.
The sxs ignition seemed to make the bike rev out more. In stock form I was impressed with how far it would rev out but the thinner base gasket took away that over rev. The sxs ignition helped get it back.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your setup. I just bought a 2018 xcw 6 days that I'll be racing in hare scrambles. Was the jetting you mentioned before or after the v force reeds? And did you have to make a jetting change with the Reed change? Thanks.
What fuel are you running while using those jetting specs? Thanks for all the info and coverage of the 300xcw. You sold me on one and I pick it up in 2 weeks!
The cone valve forks that I have on my bike I have been using for years. The stock forks work well but don't perform at the level of the cone valve forks. For me, if I was riding really rocky, slow speed, technical trails then the stock forks would work fine but I typically ride a broad range of terrain and like the cone valve forks.
Cole,Why do you prefer the stock 22mm offset triple clamps to the 20mm Ktm hardparts or X-trig clamps? The 20mm offset has more trail than the stock 22mm & hence makes the bike more stable. I would think for the desert this would be preferable. Granted I'm running the 20mm on a '14 300XC with the old frame. Maybe the new '17 Ktm frame geometry works better with the stock 22mm offset triple clamps than on my '14. IDK.......is this the case? Thanks Greg O.
Greg, thanks for the comment. I am not running stock clamps on my bike, I am using the SXS (which I think are X-trig clamps) and they are adjustable from 20.5mm to 22mm. The cone valve forks that I have use the old style fork lugs which don't offer the same wheel position as the forks that come stock. To get my front end to feel closest to what it does in stock form, I have to mount up different clamps. I do like that the SXS clamps are stiffer and offer adjustability in the form of offset.
With the older frames, I always ran the 20.5 clamps over the stock 22. I know that per the manual it says that a 20mm clamp will make the bike feel more stable but I always felt like they made the bike corner better. Just my opinion and input from testing but I always felt like the 22mm clamps made the bike feel longer and more stable.
@@ColeKirkpatrick Hei Cole! How is this the other way around? I have the older frame (2016) and i just purchased the new cone valves with the new style fork legs. Is my wheel now closer to the frame or further away? Thanks in advance!
I am interested in buying a 2017 300 to replace my YZ450F but I don't know if I should go with the XC or XCW. I rode a stock '17 300 XC yesterday at Forest Hill, LA. My other riding area is Barnwell Mtn. XC forks felt a little harsh but not terrible. I have been reading that the XCW forks are too soft and have a harsh feel on high speed hits. My concern is that the xcw forks will be disappointing in everything but very slow sections. Although the forks on the XC were a little stiff, would it be easier and less expensive to adjust them a little softer than it is to resolve the issues with the XCW forks? What are the other differences between the two models re. tranny and engine? Rear shock (pds vs linkage) doesn't concern me as much.
Barnwell Mtn. is a great place to ride! Both the XC and XC-W are solid platforms, I think it comes down to rider preference and what type of terrain you'll be riding the most. At Barnwell Mtn, I'd pick the XC-W over the XC. The cool thing about the XC is that you could remove some air from the forks to get rid of that harsh feeling you experienced. The XCW forks are on the soft side stock but if you go up a spring rate and add some oil they'll be in the ballpark.
Thanks for the information. I picked up an XC today at Adventure Moto in McKinney. I will set up my jetting like yours to start out with. I will be installing the VForce reeds too.
Hi Joseph, I will measure and report back but I actually didn't cut the silencer. It's from my 2016 250 SX and is the stock length from that bike. I did have to cut my 17 300 XCW core though so that it would fit in the 2016 silencer. I just measured each core from the two and cut what I needed off of the 300 core. Hope that makes sense!
And those jetting specs would work with the stock base gasket thickness or need to change it? Base gasket change seems cheaper than a s3 head. Can you list a part number for the base gasket?
thx for informative review, im 56 years old and haave ridden for about 50 years, mostly road bikes. now ive decided to get into woods trail riding east coast. after a lot of research ive decided to go for the 300xcw, im 5'8 and weigh 190.
Nice set up you got I might have to upgrade my 2013 someday its just so awesome I haven't needed too yet! :)
Thanks for the review and the advice on the settings.
Hey great video Cole. You covered almost everything an enduro rider would want to know about the 300 xc-w and best of all, most of your opinions were "informed" and come with significant experience. I'm in the process of prepping an 18' 300 XC-W while I wait for the snow to melt up here in the north, and this video has done nothing except increase my anticipation.
Great vid. First time I’ve actually heard anyone explain specifically why they like pds over link. Most everyone had a preference and will say “if you ride X, get Y” but no one ever explains why or what they do different.
Hey Cole... I found your vid very informative and well presented. I gained a better perspective of everything and agree with everything you said. Well done mate... :)
Great info! It's all of the little details that really make a big difference.
Great video Cole, I've been agonizing over a decision to get a 300xc or xcw to ride single track and hare scrambles Im leaning toward the xcw now cheers
great detail -
Awesome video!!
truly awesome. Great video, footage and explanation! And that bike must definitely be a joy to ride :-)
Thanks Mike, it's a blast!
Awesome review!
Did sxs ignition make keep the power curve smooth?
I have 250 xc with a thinner base gasket, vforce reeds, and g2 throttle tamer like your setup. Loving the increased bottom to mid range pull, but falls flat on the top end when the trail opens up. Hoping the sxs ignition is the answer. I liked the 250 for the way it use to rev out.
The sxs ignition seemed to make the bike rev out more. In stock form I was impressed with how far it would rev out but the thinner base gasket took away that over rev. The sxs ignition helped get it back.
Nice riding footage! Couldn't get the Mikuni dialed on my 17. Went with a Keihin 36mm and am loving it!
Glad you got it sorted, I just put an updated jetting kit in my Mikuni and it made it even better than I already had it.
Cole Kirkpatrick what updated jetting are you using for the Mikuni carb. I have a 2019 250XC I’m trying to get dialed in.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your setup. I just bought a 2018 xcw 6 days that I'll be racing in hare scrambles. Was the jetting you mentioned before or after the v force reeds? And did you have to make a jetting change with the Reed change? Thanks.
Hello Cole, I am wondering if you notice a big difference with the Reckluse clutch system? If you like it do you think it is worth the price.
What fuel are you running while using those jetting specs? Thanks for all the info and coverage of the 300xcw. You sold me on one and I pick it up in 2 weeks!
👍👍
Hey, can you compare stock forks with crone valve ? some guys stock new 2017 forks work better on slow speed rocks then crone valve
The Dirtbike Rider #2 No Music it's called Cone Valve.
I like the CV more than the XPLOR
i know, but someguys say crone valve is better for jumps and xplor for forest rocks.....
The cone valve forks that I have on my bike I have been using for years. The stock forks work well but don't perform at the level of the cone valve forks. For me, if I was riding really rocky, slow speed, technical trails then the stock forks would work fine but I typically ride a broad range of terrain and like the cone valve forks.
Hi Cole, are you still using the same carb specs on your carburator bikes?
I don’t see where you talked about your Rekluse clutch?
Cole,Why do you prefer the stock 22mm offset triple clamps to the 20mm Ktm hardparts or X-trig clamps?
The 20mm offset has more trail than the stock 22mm & hence makes the bike more stable. I would think for the desert this would be preferable.
Granted I'm running the 20mm on a '14 300XC with the old frame. Maybe the new '17 Ktm frame geometry works better with the stock 22mm offset triple clamps than on my '14. IDK.......is this the case? Thanks Greg O.
Greg, thanks for the comment. I am not running stock clamps on my bike, I am using the SXS (which I think are X-trig clamps) and they are adjustable from 20.5mm to 22mm. The cone valve forks that I have use the old style fork lugs which don't offer the same wheel position as the forks that come stock. To get my front end to feel closest to what it does in stock form, I have to mount up different clamps. I do like that the SXS clamps are stiffer and offer adjustability in the form of offset.
With the older frames, I always ran the 20.5 clamps over the stock 22. I know that per the manual it says that a 20mm clamp will make the bike feel more stable but I always felt like they made the bike corner better. Just my opinion and input from testing but I always felt like the 22mm clamps made the bike feel longer and more stable.
@@ColeKirkpatrick Hei Cole! How is this the other way around? I have the older frame (2016) and i just purchased the new cone valves with the new style fork legs. Is my wheel now closer to the frame or further away? Thanks in advance!
I love your gyro stabilized on bike footage! Which camera did you use?
Hi Timothy, glad you enjoyed it. I used a GoPro Hero 4 with an EVO gimbal.
Can you give more info in mounting position etc?
I'm running a mount on the chin bar of my helmet that I got from Amazon.com and then I am running the camera housed in an EVO gimbal.
Hi Nice vid, What Rekluse product are you running in the XC W ? Cheers
Hi Rich, I'm running a manual clutch on my 300.
I cant recon the throttle house you using, its not the same as my 2017. What carb are you using?
Good eye! I'm using a domino throttle housing with the stock mikuni carb.
I am interested in buying a 2017 300 to replace my YZ450F but I don't know if I should go with the XC or XCW. I rode a stock '17 300 XC yesterday at Forest Hill, LA. My other riding area is Barnwell Mtn.
XC forks felt a little harsh but not terrible. I have been reading that the XCW forks are too soft and have a harsh feel on high speed hits. My concern is that the xcw forks will be disappointing in everything but very slow sections.
Although the forks on the XC were a little stiff, would it be easier and less expensive to adjust them a little softer than it is to resolve the issues with the XCW forks? What are the other differences between the two models re. tranny and engine?
Rear shock (pds vs linkage) doesn't concern me as much.
Barnwell Mtn. is a great place to ride! Both the XC and XC-W are solid platforms, I think it comes down to rider preference and what type of terrain you'll be riding the most. At Barnwell Mtn, I'd pick the XC-W over the XC. The cool thing about the XC is that you could remove some air from the forks to get rid of that harsh feeling you experienced. The XCW forks are on the soft side stock but if you go up a spring rate and add some oil they'll be in the ballpark.
Thanks for the information. I picked up an XC today at Adventure Moto in McKinney. I will set up my jetting like yours to start out with. I will be installing the VForce reeds too.
Yamaha Rider . I bought one 3 days ago. Put 34 miles on her single track. Don't hesitate, this bike rocks my world.
Awesome riding! Where is this at in Texas?
It's near Post, Texas. An area that has several great riding clubs on some really cool properties.
how tall are you cole ?
where did you buy it please ?
I purchased the bike from Adventure Moto KTM in Mckinney, Texas
How much did you cut off of the stock silencer. I have a 17 XCW and love it. Definitely am going to change some things after seeing this. Great video
Hi Joseph,
I will measure and report back but I actually didn't cut the silencer. It's from my 2016 250 SX and is the stock length from that bike. I did have to cut my 17 300 XCW core though so that it would fit in the 2016 silencer. I just measured each core from the two and cut what I needed off of the 300 core. Hope that makes sense!
you jetting you mention is the same as on your site?
yes, same as what I have listed on my site
And those jetting specs would work with the stock base gasket thickness or need to change it? Base gasket change seems cheaper than a s3 head. Can you list a part number for the base gasket?
Yes, jetting specs worked with stock base gasket as well. I think the part number is 55430030025.
that's correct, it's the same.
pds work great in every situation except ..motocross track
Brake pads are cheap, i don't see the point in the solid rear rotor.
Also your bloody fast