Jesse Ziegler | November 18, 2021
This isn’t going to surprise anyone, but I pretend to be a factory racer a lot. Like, a lot. And maybe you do, too. After all, aspiring to be the best, riding the best, and surrounding yourself by the best is what got us and what’s kept us in this dirt bike racing mess for so long. If you don’t remember the dream of being on that team, you’re probably not signing a lot of race-day waivers today. But I might take it a tad bit too far.
Photos: Shan Moore
The 2022 KTM 350 XCF Factory Edition and I are nothing alike. True, it doesn’t have the real factory build treatment Ben Kelley and Josh Toth enjoy on the hand-built rides they earned, but for a ride you can walk into a dealership and buy, it gets damn close. To find out if this is the real deal, I rode both this bike and the real factory bike of Ben Kelley at the GNCC finale in Indiana (haha, they let me do that!)—more on that later.
Unlike myself, this new FE has the backbone to hack it in the real world of elite off-road. It’s a proven platform, perfected by the dominate career of Kailub Russell as he stacked up eight consecutive GNCC XC1 Championships aboard this one model. In fact, Russell hasn’t raced any other bike in his XC1 career. It’s just been the 350 branch of the KTM tree.
KTM’s Factory Edition concept has made its way to off-road with the 2022 350 XCF which you could call a “Kailub Russell” replica.
For 2022, this bike gets the royal makeover treatment again in its second season with KTM Red Bull Factory Racing graphics, a sharp blue Selle Dalla Valle seat cover/factory seat, and a dripping orange frame. Factory triple clamps in swanky orange anodizing compliment the on-brand blast. All this makes the bike look awesome. Like me with new boots, eh? Not really.
There’s more shiny stuff! KTM Factory Wheels, a holeshot device I’ll probably misuse or forget about, and an orange rear sprocket (I’d match with some socks or a keychain or something) keep this bike build’s hits coming.
We’re liking the trick factory triple clamps, and not just because they look cool.
On top of all the good-looking bits is a slew of actual performance-enhancing add-ons that make it more race worthy than a standard XCF and much less like me.
First, obviously, is the 2.6-gallon capacity KTM PowerParts fuel tank. Racing for hours is going to require fuel, and this checks that box off for you nicely. Since it’s included so smartly, you won’t have to pitch that 40+ B class top five finish to a fuel tank company come sponsorship application season. Nice.
With the Factory Edition model, you don’t hassle installing a larger fuel tank since KTM did it for you.
This tank fits well, has zero ergonomic impedance on the bike, and while it has a standard fuel cap, it is one KTM PowerPart away from a dump-can party in your pits.
Next, the FE gets an upgraded semi-floating front disc, a solid rear disc, smart undercarriage and rotor protection and a Hinson clutch cover. Additionally, and my favorite, is a FMF Slip-On muffler because I have a matching FMF Shirt. So not only do we match, but people might assume I’m on a/the team if I wear both. They don’t.
The KTM 350 XCF Factory Edition is a blur in the woods.
Before the GNCC finale in Indiana became a slew of steam-pumping bikes in the mud, I took the new ’22 Factory Edition 350 XCF to the turn tracks and woods yonder of Crawfordsville for an hour or so of photo bomb turns and testing. My original plan was to race this bike and Kelley’s bike, but the weather made that impossible, thank goodness. That was a little ambitious. Instead, I used the day prior to race day to get a quick test in.
The KTM 350 is a great GNCC motor. Traction-hungry and ready to surge-pass victims before diving into the trees is its specialty. Agile, responsive, and predictable almost all the time, there’s little surprise why the FMF KTM Factory Racing Team is all-in on this displacement. It’s remarkable how light it really feels with the speed potential inside. It never feels as cranky as a 450 can, but it will blitz to the end of the start straight with them just fine. While the FMF slip-on sounds awesome and looks cool, I can’t help but think the EFI mapping could use a little attention with the addition of the muffler on the stock bike. This bike runs perfect everywhere but right off the bottom. Here, the bike tries to get ahead of itself a bit with an abrupt spark before purring into the mid-and-up range.
The Factory Edition’s exhaust system is work of art. The FMF slip-on muffler is the icing on the cake.
The current generation of the KTM WP Xact AER-technology equipped fork is outstanding in the woods. Last year, I raced a stock 125 XC (most fun you can have anywhere) and it impressed me straight off the showroom floor as a competitive and comfortable setup for GNCC rips. Since GNCC racing in Indiana has larger bumps more than chatter, and we’re never really experiencing a slap-down landing like on an MX track, the air-sprung fork brings the benefits of its lightweight performance without the usual compromises. I was even impressed with its predictability on sharp root and rock hits. It just works for me in the woods, and I could recommend it wholly to anyone. Same goes for the WP Xact shock out back. Set the sag and adjust for conditions and enjoy the ride.
Most of the other additions on the 350 XCF Factory Edition are nice. The armor will be used. The seat will be needed when it’s wet. The holeshot device is fun but doesn’t stop me from sucking sometimes. The factory wheels will be abused by me when I change mousses. The brake upgrades are smart as the solid rear rotor is stronger in the heat of mud-filled battles and stopping is just as important as going in the end, right?
The Factory Edition is fitted with a solid rear disc.
I think the only part of the stock 350 XCF Factory Edition I’d not race with is the stock Dunlop AT81 front tire. I really don’t like it. And, apparently I’m not alone as all our test bikes were fitted with Dunlop MX33’s for the event. The AT81 rear is fine for soft terrain and woods, but the front just continues to baffle me.
I tried hard to think of what I would add on to this bike for a whole season of racing at from aspiring A-class youngster to sunset-bound 40+ dreamer. You could upgrade the stock flag-style hand guards for something more robust to save on lever budget, sure. But that’s about it. It is fast enough to race and win a lot of classes lining up on Sundays across the country. And, it has the legs to pull great results on west coast off-road events, as well. Even though they bring the 450 heat to the WORCS, NGPC, and other series, the 350 is kind of a smart choice for those of us that live in the real world.
Not much to complain about here.
There’s a saying that fits here: “All hat and no cowboy.” And while I’ve tried to be the opposite of that my entire life when it comes to off-road racing. I dress, talk, and act a lot better than I ever will be. Need proof? Look at every picture in this test. They are taken by professionals. You can hire them to make you look awesome, too.
The KTM 350 XCF Factory Edition has a big, big hat with those Red Bull graphics showing off all rhinestone-like in the pits. Luckily for it, it can pull off the rodeo, too. CN
Read Championship Caliber in Cycle News Issue 46.
