The 2025 KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition is indeed race-ready. It comes straight off the showroom floor, pre-plastered with numerous upgrades sourced from KTM’s PowerParts catalog.
By Noah Kepple | Photos Ryan Nitzen
The featured components that are not incorporated into the standard KTM 350 XC-F consist of a distinctive KTM orange frame, KTM split triple clamps, FMF 4.1 RCT slip-on muffler (equipped with a removable spark arrestor), orange hubs and nipples mounted to D.I.D Dirt Star wheels with Dunlop Geomax AT82 knobbies. You also get a Guts gripper seat cover and factory racing graphics. And that’s not all. You also get a semi-floating front brake rotor and a front rotor guard, a solid rear disc, a Hinson billet clutch cover, a holeshot device, a composite skid plate and a Bluetooth connectivity unit seamlessly affixed to the front fender for trailside map calibration. This bike isn’t much different than what Johnny Girroir rode en route to the 2024 GNCC title. KTM says the KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition takes its most important updates directly from the efforts of the FMF KTM Factory Racing GNCC team.
As a 2025 model, the Factory Edition model brings the latest version of KTM’s off-road frame concept to the mix, sharing enhancements found on the 2025 KTM motocross range, like a new frame and specially designed engine hangers that are hollowed out in the center to improve flex and rider comfort.
You’ll pay a premium for all these upgrades. MSRP for the Factory Edition is $13,149 versus the $11,949 for the standard, a $1200 difference.
Not only did I get a chance to just ride the new KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition, but I also raced it. I found myself atop the bike for the start of the Ironman GNCC in the Sportsman A 25-Plus class. This would be my first GNCC race ever, and I was excited. I went on to finish third in the three-hour-long race.
The first time I rode the bike, I immediately noticed the bike didn’t have that stiff “new bike feel.” The WP suspension has a supple quality that is immediately noticeable when riding through the woods, encountering rocks, roots, acceleration bumps and braking bumps. This sensation most likely relates to the split triple clamps, frame and new engine mounts. Although the loose and dry terrain was a bit slippery, you can easily ride the bike in a higher gear, helping you find traction.
I opted to race the bike using the aggressive map. Gearing felt excellent right out of the box. I felt the bike had the right mix of power and gearing for just about every situation that I encountered in the race.
Having ridden KTMs in the past, I prefer setting them up with a wheelbase that is as long as possible. For me, this improves their stability without compromising steering abilities, which is what I found on this bike.
The rest of the bike will feel very familiar to anyone who has ever ridden a newer generation KTM 350 XC-F in the past. The addition of the Factory Edition parts, however, transforms this bike to an even more race-ready off-roader than it already was as a standard model. And even if racing isn’t your thing, the Factory Edition enhancements, without question, will noticeably improve your ride even further.
I ran 110mm of sag and went two rebound clicks slower on the rear WP shock. I tend to ride with more of a slacker-feeling setup than most, and I was happy with just these adjustments. As for the fork, I ran the stock setting in the race, but if I had to do it all over again, I’d add a few clicks of compression to the fork to keep it riding higher, which I believe would have improved feel over bumps at higher speeds.
Otherwise, I was very impressed by how well the KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition performed in the Ironman race. I could not have asked for anything more from the bike, which, I feel, is saying a lot for a motorcycle rolled right off the showroom floor and straight into the heat of battle.CN
VIDEO | 2025 KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition – GNCC Race Test
2025 KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition Specifications
| MSRP | $13,149 |
| Engine Type: | Single-cylinder 4-stroke |
| Displacement | 350cc |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, 4 valves |
| Transmission | 6-speed |
| Fuel system | Keihin EFI |
| Frame | Chromoly steel |
| Front Suspension | WP Xact closed-cartridge spring fork, fully adjustable |
| Rear Suspension | WP Xact shock, fully adjustable |
| Front Brake | Brembo 2-piston caliper, 260mm disc |
| Rear Brake | Brembo 1-piston caliper, 220mm disc |
| Tires | Dunlop Geomax AT82 |
| Ground Clearance | 13.5 in. |
| Seat Height | 37.6 in. |
| Fuel Capacity | 2.25 gal. |
| Weight (wet, claimed) | 231 lbs. |
Click here to read the 2025 KTM 350 XC-F Factory Edition Quick Spin in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
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