TE/TC From Beta 300 to TE/TX 300 ??

Hi Guys,

I've been watching the 2017 250/300 threads for some time. I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a new bike and I'm coming froma Beta 300 which I really have loved! the engine is super smooth the seat height is perfect for me and the electric start works every time. Even jetting was perfect out of the box for me. The only negative for me with the beta was the linkage bearing servicing...I miss the simplicity of the PDS.

Now that KTM has added the counter balancer, fixed the estart and ditched the 4C's I'm considering either a 300 XCW, or TE 300. I guess it comes down to if I want linkage or PDS as both bikes come with the xplor forks. the xplor and the AER are another worry for me since I've never ridden either in my terrain, which tends to be very slow extremely rocky single track.

I've read all of the jetting and/or reed block woes and they have me a bit put off. I've had to jet just about every ktm I've ever owned and wouldn't expect the 2017 to be any different. But I don't want to have to spend $450 on a new carb, or a new reed block. I have also read reports that the JD kit alone is all that is needed...which would be fine for the mere $85

If I'm about to plunk down over $9k on a bike I don't want to have to start re engineering the thing to make it run good. Are most having luck dialing these new bikes in without too much drama??

If I decide to not go PDS, then the choice becomes XC/TX vs. TE with the fork being the major difference. it seems ktm is always "experimenting" with the latest WP forks, so I'm a bit gun shy on the AER at least for rocky single track.... Then again the open chamber's were never anything fantastic, so I wonder if the xplor "updates" really change that in the open chamber category?

Even my beloved Beta now comes with Sachs forks which I also don't really know much about.

I know everyone likes to justify their purchases and post up how great everything works...at least at first...and I know these new machines have only been available for a short while so I'm looking for honest opinions from someone who might have owned/ridden a Beta 300 and moved to a KTM/Husky in terms of motor and suspension for tight single track.

Honestly if you mainly want to ride mx and tight tracks and woodland, go for a TX, the aer48 may be a gamble but you could always fit the spring kit.

On the other hand if you want to ride more open going tracks and have an arguably more versatile bike that can also do the above tracks however may not be as good with mx go for a TE.

With all those concerns, why in the world would you not buy another Beta? I don't have any linkage issues on my 300 RR.....just saying

basically I only ride tight rocky single tracks...with an occasional jeep trail or pavement to connect them....never any mx or jumps....big air to me is 3' , However a small log crossing to me is also 3'

also can anyone tell me about the spring kit for the AER fork? I guess it eliminates the "air spring" on the left fork and still leaves the right fork leg to do all the valving, but at that point are they just a twin chamber fork on one side and spring on the other?

Jack M just won his class at Unadilla w/2017 KTM 300XC stock. He was struggling in the top ten till he got the AER fork. Don't ride this bike Steve, you will buy one, he said. Has more bottom than his other 300s. All he did was lower fork pressure 15 lbs after talking to Lafferty. I've ridden Wookies 2016 350EXC [street legal] w/PDS and it's the best of the stock PDS bikes I have ridden. Fork worked well stock but don't know which fork it is. I get hung up alot w/ my FE250 Hooskie on the damn linkage on our non groomed trails. Rocks, out croppings, and logs are dangerous and stop the bike big time. Wookie saw me get hung up a few times on simple log crossings and decided to go with PDS.

Seems the xplore forks are getting good initial reviews as well. I was leary of pds at first but now I love it. I have a 2015 300 xcw

yeah, I've had many PDS bikes in the past, and having had linkage for the past 3 years I don't really see the benefit at least in my slow technical terrain. it may be better at woops and heavy hits but I don't have much of that. the only thing I hate about pds is the seat height!

Ha, and I installed the 2" taller seat... @6'4" & lanky legs...

I ride with a few guys like you....cheaters is all I can say!

long legs are a huge advantage in technical terrain!

It's also a curse at times with leg cramps that'll make you scream like a 12 year old girl watching Friday the 13th for the first time... It's not all candy canes, fairy dust and unicorn farts is all I'm saying. Haha. But seriously, on a long technical ride in the heat, I get some bad cramps and bike ergos take some creativity but overall, I'd take long legs vs short legs.

By the time you raise the seat, raise the bars and lower the pegs to get a comfortable riding position, long legs can't touch the ground either. Now try to get your bike under that log or tree across the trail where everyone else just rides under.

I ride a 2016 TE 300 I finished King of the motor with a full course finish and won Last dog standing in my class. That is all I need to know that I purchased the correct bike for what I ride Plus I am 60 years old

Rode a Italian husky last year at KOM and could not finish in time got a new Husky TE and finished All I really ride are the National Hare and Hounds and extrean endure stuff

no issues with linkage at all on my beta 300. 100 hours..

My Buddy Ken just went from a 15 300RR to a 17 TE 300. He did the JD kit and it runs perfectly. He says he truly feels that he is a little faster on the TE. He's a pretty quick expert rider. I rode the bike two weeks ago and picked up a 17 TE 300 yesterday myself.

here's my bike! https://vimeo.com/184081050

Does the new 17 come with a FMF pipe and spark attested

Nope, but Bill is awesome and made one work for me!