Tourque of the new 310, opinions?

Whats the overall opinion of the 310 offroad?
Tourque? Power? Handling?

LOVE my TE310. I ride desert single track where all but 1 or 2 guys I ride with are on 450's. Ridden properly, she holds her own all day long, and doesn't wear me out like my 450 did. Plenty of grunt to get up on top of the sand/whoops. The bike pulls hard, but not as abruptly as you'd find on a big bore, and handles as well as my last 250 2-stroke. I can throw it around like the old XR250's if you ever rode one of those in the woods! Very nimble feel to it. Kind of a tough question really, as everyones interpretation is different, but for me, I don't feel I'm giving anything up to the big bores on any given trail we ride, hill climbs, etc. Only place I'd give the trophy to another bike would be in wide open flat sand washes, or flat out smooth hill-climbs. That's just the nature of horse power...The orange bleeders in my group aren't sold on my Husky just yet, but by the same token, they have yet to show me why or where their bikes are better. Took me awhile to swap over, let alone to a smaller bore like the 310. I just took a chance cause I was tired of buying the same new bike every year. Have had 8 400/450 KTMs in the last 8 years. So... All this coming from a LONG time KTM owner. Have to say the G2 quick turn throttle was what put the bike over the top for me though. The bike reacts quicker now without me having to use the ol "whiskey" throttle like you would on a 250 thumper or 125 2-smoke.

Nice honest feedback buddy, i too used to be a KTM man (530 EXC) then went honda CRF450X then R and now 510 TXC. Im just finding the 510 heavy of late and have been tinkering with the idea of the 300 2t until I heard of the 310 4t. I totally agree with the fact that big bore is what you need in wide open dune flats for top speed. I frequently hit big dunes at speed just to make it to the top because of the deep boggy sand. This is where I was concerned the 310 would let me down. Its just anoying that my local dealer wont let me test ride one after buying my new bike from him a short while ago.

Love my '09 TE 310

If you can get on one, do it! I ride mostly single track desert trails here in central Oregon. On the straight up flat, dirt forest service roads you will be wanting more. But, like I said, I'm mostly in the twisty turny when I get to chose where we ride. There, I can't ask for more.

I decided on it because of the ingenuity of the bike. If you look at the techno side of things, they are ahead of the curve. My KTM buddies are looking at 2011 to have some of the same advances, EFI and link suspension, Etc. Plus 50 STATE LEGAL My KTM buddies got plates on the 450's but only one will be able to keep it. Once DMV checks on the renew, they will be asked to turn their plates in. With so much riding close by, I think it's worth it to have a bike I can ride to and from or just cruise around town during the summer (looking forward to this).

All the guys I ride with are KTM guys. Two 450 XCf's, a KTM 450 EXC, a 300 XCW, and a 250 XCFW. On the packed dirt roads heading to the single track, the 450 KTM's will smoke me every time. I have found when I'm wide open I get a little head "shake" if you want to call it that. But, I am working with my suspension and thinking about a dampner, so I can't tell you whether that is going to be resolved or not. On the heavier, big bores that I ride with, both have dampner's so I'm not sure if they would be better stock or not. The 250 XCFW has a little better gear box for the dirt hard pack, but seems like my close ratio gearing and bigger bore lets me "lug" it around.

No problems having the juice for hillclimbs yet, but I'm sure I'll find something that I would like a big bore for. I'm also finding that I might need to do some experimenting with the sprockets front and rear because the whooped out portions of trail leave me wanting a little easier time getting the front end light to skip over the next roller. However, this is a compromise because I still want it to have the top end for some hard pack so we'll see where I end up on this issue.

Overall, I have to say that my TE310 has been great so far. I'm glad I got just a little more than a 250 but also glad it handles better than a 450 in the tight woodsy areas of single track. My buddies on 450's seem to get more tired on the bigger bores.

Hope this helps...

By the way, one of the KTM 450 guys is a Husky CR250 owner of old, around 1989. He keeps coming over and drooling on my Husky. Just something about that sexy look of the Italian red head! Bet I get him on a Husky within a year...

Still want a Husky TE 350. I agree the 310 is a great bike, pinch my brothers 09 310 for a blat every time I can and think its just great (no discernable headshake at all). Being circa 250 pounds without gear a 350 wpould be brilliant. I originally had a 510 and found it a handful in the real tight. The 450 I bought felt so much more manouverable. In turn a mates later model 450 also felt better balanced. So with that knowledge I am convinced a 350 would suit a lot of us full figured me who are finding the wrestle with a 450 detracting from the joy a little.
I have found the 310 having to work hard driving me up steep inclines, however there is never any doubt of making it and directional change is miles ahead of the 450's. I have to confess that after an hour in the saddle I have no apparent need to get off and strech, can't say that for the 450 either, Yep the 310 is a nice bit of kit but a 350 would be the ducks guts.

I ride sand and if you are riding dunes I don't think this bike is good for that. It's really a 250 with more off idle torque. It's a woods or trail bike. If KTM made a 300xc street legal I'd go back to that. As far a link suspension I rather not have the link for woods riding. Give me the progressive spring instead. It sounds like to me you ride more open terrain. Big four an two strokes out run this bike and you don't get a weight break with the 310 to make up for it. Mine weight 275 out of the box with a gallon of fuel in it.