2022 TSCEC Red Canyon Enduro Test Six

This was my first time racing my 2021 KTM 300 XC-W TPI that I recently featured in the KTM 300 SX vs. KTM 300 XC-W TPI video. I planned on riding the 300 XC-W TPI at this event due to the more technical test sections and dry slick conditions that typically exist. This year's event lived up to those expectations as there were multiple A/B course splits that had some challenge areas to keep you on your toes. The bike delivered excellent traction, predictable power and I was really stoked on how the chassis felt in the race conditions. I managed to win the overall event on the day and had a blast on two wheels! Nearly 500 riders attended the opening round of the TSCEC enduro race season and I hope that the series continues to see an increase in rider attendance throughout the 2022 season.
2021 KTM 300 XC-W TPI:
Parts Breakdown:
Tires: Michelin StarCross 5 Soft Front and Medium Rear
Michelin Bib Mousse
Bars: Mako 360/ Renthal 921 FatBar
Protection: Enduro Engineering
Suspension: Solid Performance
Exhaust: Akrapovic
CDI: Silber Overall Tune
Head: Silber
Gearing: 13/51
Seat: Seat Concepts Comfort
Grips: Renthal Kevlar
Triple Clamp: KTM SXS
Fork Height: Line One
Sag: 110mm
Footpegs: IMS Core Enduro Sharp
Headlight: MotoMinded
Filter: TwinAir
Lubrication: Motorex
Clutch: Rekluse TorqDrive
Brakes: DP Solid Rear Rotor

[@dwaynecopeland9537]

What an awesome ride!! So smooth. I don't know how you process the terrain info so fast. You passed me about the midway point of Test 3. I never heard you and barely felt your presence behind me to move out of your way. Ten seconds later, your dust was gone. Nice job!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Hi Dwayne, thanks for watching! How was your race? I’ve been reading trail for a long time and the speed just comes with the 10,000 hour rule. It’s all relative though, when I’m pushing I feel the same way you do. The speeds are just different! I try to setup clean passes early that are easy on myself and the other riders that are riding their own race. I’m hoping to put together a POV video soon with my voice over giving some play-by-play breakdown of what I’m doing through these sections.

[@dwaynecopeland9537]

@@ColeKirkpatrick Hi Cole. I've always been impressed with your riding and love watching your videos. I've been racing for around 30 years and have a lot of time on a bike but I've never been able to push myself to the speeds that you run. I actually have to turn the sound off on my videos just so it appears faster, I lug the engine too much so if I listen and watch, it feels a lot slower. As for my race, I managed a second place in the Master 50 class.

[@ThomperBeThompin]

@@ColeKirkpatrick I'd love to hear that. Thanks for making the vid. You fast!!

[@tylerhall3854]

That's awesome I hear so many guys saying Pds is awful when carrying speed, this definitely says different!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I keep hearing the same thing too but there's plenty of guys way faster than me that haul ass on PDS as well. If you've got the bike setup properly it performs great. Same way that if you take the linkage version and have it setup poorly, it's not going to work very well.

[@kennywiechman451]

Very impressive ride Cole.

[@JSCHNIEDERS1]

Holee Shi#!!! Now that's how you ride a smoker!!! Refreshing to see a top level A guy gettin it done on a 2-stroke. Nice work, Cole!!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

haha, thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!

[@Tlisotta2010]

Nice work as always! So smooth. Doing my first Enduro - TSCEC in April!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Sweet!

[@loganlifsey762]

This is amazing please make more videos soon. GoPro riding is good and/or voice over riding video is also good and something I’d look forward to watching from you. Longer videos like this are great and make me want to watch more and more. Please make some more videos and possibly another bike shootout video? That’d be great!

[@enduroskillstraining]

Epic riding dude 💪😎👍

[@bobbysouthard1]

If I play this video on slow motion it looks just like I remember riding it!

[@SWFlowseeker]

Awesome to watch..great riding

[@thomastjg53]

Great footage, so fast. You must not have stock suspension ,your riding is so smooth. And you are having fun doing it, that’s what’s about.

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thanks for watching! I don't run stock suspension as it comes sprung too soft for my weight (175 lbs) and I do prefer stiffer valving than stock. Dirt bikes are still fun after all these years and the main reason I continue to race a few local enduros each year is that I still have tons of fun lining up and reading trail while going as fas as possible.

[@wayneleonard8367]

Very nice ride!

[@russssh]

So fast man! Wow great riding.

[@mikemerrill175]

Love the sound of a well ridden 2 stroke hauling A as this one is.

[@mikemoralesofficial]

Very nice!

[@ferider8728]

Best vid this yr ive seen, your a very good rider, i can't wait to be has good as you are. You really sold that 200!!! if you where a salesmen

[@chongorlz9716]

That sucker is fast! Great ride man 🤙🏽‼️

[@dimetime333]

Very nice! I strive to ride this confident one day.

[@selcosucks]

terrain looks rad

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

It’s so much fun to ride

[@omannomads1309]

Man you were on fire, did you have the map memorized to ride that fast!!???

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

The thing I enjoy about enduro racing is that you don’t get to practice the trail beforehand. You’ve got to read it at race pace and go as fast as possible while trying not to make any mistakes.

[@justinawingo]

Awesome video! Sub 👍🏻

[@eddieparks4201]

Always a pleasure getting to visit with you and your Dad! You remind me of me riding, but on 10X Fast Forward ! Yeah right, it would be at least 20X! You are an awesome representative for our sport! Be Blessed and Be a Blessing!

[@MathewsGuitarWorks]

Normally video doesn’t show exactly how steep and big things are nor do they really show how fast you are really going. Well, this video is an exception because that looked like you were hauling ass and it was steep and big terrain. Heck of a ride sir.

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thanks for watching!

[@MathewsGuitarWorks]

@@ColeKirkpatrick 🤘

[@darrellmoore6016]

Your suspension looks like it works pretty awesome who did your it

[@RocketRidez]

Where do you practice your enduro training. I’m located In Texas and would love to prepare myself for enduro racing a bit more. Can’t seem to find tracks to practice on for enduro.

[@hickokaviation2249]

I’ve never heard a 300 XC-W’s top end before this 😂😂 That was really fun to watch. How did you do in the race?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I won the overall, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@transparent4847]

Love my 21 300 xcw. Had Corey from Protune do the wp 6500 fork cartridges and a Ktech rear shock bladder revalve. Bike was completely transformed…soaks up rocks/roots but can also be firm enough to stay on top at speed. Would be nice to have the factory level shock/forks but an additional $3500-4500 over the 6500’s was unfortunately out of budget range. The bike is amazingly balanced and far more capable than I am:) I could ride this trail with you, but you would definitely disappear off ahead with me having little hope to keep you in site. Some great riding!…be careful:).

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I'm a big fan of the 6500 kit as well. I had the chance to spend a lot of time over the summer on a loaner set from Solid Performance and have recommended that setup to a lot of riders. I'm glad you had a similar experience with that fork as well.

[@jparedes413]

What’s your tire set up? Man you are hooking up everywhere! Great riding man.

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

At the west Texas events I run the Michelin StarCross 5 soft front and the Michelin StarCross 5 medium rear. I always run bib mousse inserts as well.

[@jparedes413]

@@ColeKirkpatrick thanks man, I miss try that. I primarily ride WTX.

[@Webbmx7]

“Are you a B Rider?” 🤣🤣

[@qtubin]

Damn that's boogin.

[@futurefaith]

Is that in the Post area? It looks like the Wild West

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

It’s about thirty minutes south of Post.

[@leohens]

Hi, what’s the maximum gear that you used here ? 3? 4 ?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Max would've been fourth...mostly second and third except for a few high speed spots

[@armourbl]

Nice line choices in a lot of place. This is super fast for an enduro though don't you think? You were hauling ass.

[@hivoltagentx]

Hey Cole, can you post some stats like top speed and average speed, on IG or Facebook ??? I'm assuming you track yourself. Thanks !!! entertaining as always....great riding !!!! Congrats on the overall.

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I’ll look and see if the GoPro recorded that data but I don’t use a gps watch at the races.

[@hivoltagentx]

@@ColeKirkpatrick If you're GPS is on in the GoPro you can use the overlay, but I know that's a pain, so no worries, just curious, thanks for the reply.

[@andrewwheat3874]

Are you a B rider? Lol

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

B-