2023 KTM 300 XC-W (EXC) Hard Enduro Motorcycle Build

[@maxs4986]

if i ever built a bike this clean id be afraid to take it out of the garage, Awesome bike!!

[@BestNThDez]

Thank you. I have 180 hours on it now, and I have had zero issues.

[@johnmccool7551]

Sweet ride enjoy 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@vvlter]

Best looking Enduro bike online besides all the protection. Really clean

[@BestNThDez]

Thx

[@bikevault2302]

awesome build - love it

[@qwaz2672]

this bike will survive the apocalypse

[@TwistedTriggerEnduro]

Fantastic bike set up. I'm jealous to say the least. Thanks for taking us through your set up. Just finding your community today and looking forward to seeing more. 💪😃👍

[@sambennion7577]

I run the same close brake pedal from Clean Speed and have always liked them. Good tip on the new swing arm covers, I'll be keen to check those out.

[@TACOMOTOCO]

Clan and solid, nice work trent!

[@SketchyXC]

Very nice setup!

[@chuckgator105]

You are the man 🔥 😎

[@surfpr727]

Excellent and very informative video! I was wondering if you did the TSP Injector Relocation Kit. Do you think is needed or worth it?

[@onthethrottle7104]

Awesome bike! I have the same bike - now I want a few things that you showed, haha. Those swing arm guards are sweet. I also like those handguards, I run the Enduro Engineering and like how I can adjust the flags up and down - I ride with my levers further down than most people and like to adjust the flags to protect me hands. Also, really like your bar set up (Neken). Any chance you can post the bend of those? Great show, beautiful bike.

[@BestNThDez]

Neken 121 bend bars

[@onthethrottle7104]

@@BestNThDez Thanks BestNThDez!

[@GnarlyChicken]

Nice build. Have many of the same components on my 21 TE300i. Curious as to why you went with the xcw versus the new 23 xc with no fuel pump/tpi?

[@BestNThDez]

Mostly a timing thing. I had this bike on order from midyear last year, and got it back in May I think. And around here the XC’s aren’t even available yet, so I’d be five months without a bike still. Plus, I prefer the PDS for what I do over the linkage. If I was racing desert again, I would get the xC, but the XC-W is more my style.

[@usa45v26]

Nice 300! I just bought a 23 to compliment my 450SXF-FE. I checked IMS site for those pegs. I only saw 5mm down/back. That goes for enduro or mx style. Maybe they discontinued them. Have you ever encountered problems with the oil injection on your tpi bikes? Subscribed!

[@robertcadiz4346]

Great build. How did the brake pedal tip work out? Thanks

[@BestNThDez]

Great. I like it and a great company with awesome customer service. I sheared one of the two bolts that holds the brake pedal tip to the brake pedal arm in half, and called CleanSpeed to get a replacement bolt, and they sent two bolts and a brand new brake pedal tip! Great company! I like the pedal tip which allows you to keep the ball of your foot on the peg and still reach the brake pedal without repositioning your foot (mostly). Solid product!

[@giopirmisashvili5514]

Best ❤

[@Nicky_Pin_It]

Super solid build. Looks like you know what your doing. Whats your thoughts on the KYB inserts? I cant seem to find a happy place with the stock Xplor suspension

[@BestNThDez]

That’s what I am running, are the KYB inserts. Give Johnny a call at The Ride Shop, down in northern Phoenix, Arizona. Tell him I sent you. He does Cody Web’s stuff and a lot of the other good hard Enduro riders.

[@BestNThDez]

I really like my KYB stuff, and actually like the stock stuff, but it’s way too soft, and I’m only 155 pounds naked. If someone is out just putting around on some easy trails that is 170 180 pounds, the sock stuff works great.

[@connellymark]

Awesome bike! Have you had any issues with the fuel tank cap vent? I just got one of these bikes and hate that they’ve put the vent tube down the triple clamp. Never run one of the tank cap vents before though and just wondering what you think of them? Thanks

[@BestNThDez]

No issues at all. Don’t have to mess with the long tube anymore.

[@connellymark]

@@BestNThDez thanks for letting me know - which one did you get?

[@tomcorle1400]

Very nice! The shorter silencers gives you more top end, not bottom.

[@BestNThDez]

You are mistaken. Directly from FMF's website- "The Shorty will give you even more throttle response and low end power", "this design results in a finely tuned bolt on performance silencer that maximizes bottom and mid rpm power.". "To Whom It May Concern: Thanks for contacting FMF Racing. The SST is meant for top end power, but your Shorty silencer is meant for bottom end power."

[@roddas26]

What was that you where saying Tom?

[@thedogandduck1712]

I thought the shorty pipe was for top end power - and didnt support the bottom end like a long silencer ?

[@grantbowen5047]

I think this is every accessory ever made?

[@TheTacticalHouse]

No dampener.

[@gregjohnson8095]

Great video. What rear tire are you running. ? Thanks.

[@BestNThDez]

I don’t recall what was on the bike when I made the video, but depending on what and where I’m riding, I’ll run an IRC VE-33s (best all- around for everything out here, excluding high speed single track desert racing type stuff, due to longevity), IRC JX8 Gekotta (great gummy for tech stuff, that does amazingly well even when worn out. Lasts longer than one would think for a gummy), or a Tusk Recon Hybrid (great cheap tire for different terrain out here in the SW. Not the best at any one thing, but OK/good on a lot of stuff, especially for $50) all on the rear. On the front, I run Goldentyre 216. AA Fatty, and Bridgestone M59’s. I buy the M59’s when on sale, as the Goldentyre is so expensive, but it lasts forever. I got 30-35 hrs on my last Goldentyre.

[@andycoleman3200]

Nice build! I too have the same scoot. Thanks for showcasing some nice hardware. What are your thoughts are on steering stabilizers?

[@BestNThDez]

Unless you are racing desert, not needed. I’m a long time, retired desert racer, and have never not had a stabilizer up until about a year ago. I would’ve sworn that it was a dumb decision and unsafe to ride without a stabilizer in the past, but since I mostly do hard Enduro slow speed stuff, Ive not needed it, and haven’t missed it in the least bit. I stopped using mine this last year and feel completely totally comfortable without it, although I would’ve thought differently had you asked me before this year. So, they have their place, but not in Hard Enduro, or just for someone that puts around on single track. Down in Baja, desert races, and higher speed single track stuff, they’re definitely a good tool and piece of insurance. Matter fact, I have three of them sitting in my garage not being used right now.

[@andycoleman3200]

Thank you for the informative feedback. I ride southeastern single track mixed with two track and was wondering if a damper would be useful. My speeds vary from really slow single track to moderately fast on two track. @@BestNThDez

[@climbingprophet]

Very solid build! Which rear tire are you running?

[@BestNThDez]

IRC VE33S. Great all-around tech tire. Not quite a gummy, but dang close. It does really well in the technical single track type of stuff.

[@johnmccool7551]

Have you checked out slavens channel .he’s building a pretty sweet on over there .changed forks and shock .😳😳😳😳😳😳✌️✌️✌️✌️👍👍👍

[@BestNThDez]

Ya, I watch his videos.

[@Bigemoney2]

Nice work, Trent! Is the bolt loose on the bottom of the skid plate?

[@BestNThDez]

Lol! That’s a good catch. When I went on my ride in Wyoming, halfway through the ride, I noticed that the bolt was sticking out. I thought it had come loose, but it all makes sense now, because when I went to tighten it, it was super stiff from the Loctite that I had put on it originally and forgot to tighten it up.

[@Moorey1986]

Who makes the lower fork shoe? Looks beefy as furk!

[@BestNThDez]

SXS Slideplates. Yes, they are super beefy and good.

[@dross2775]

Wow, great work. I'm in Wyoming, where do you ride?

[@BestNThDez]

Southern Utah, but my in laws have a cabin in Star Valley Ranch, so we do a July ride up there every year. Plus we go to 1 different area in ID, UT, CO every month from June to Sept. I ride down here in St. George all the time.

[@dross2775]

@@BestNThDez Thanks for the reply, I grew up in Logandale/Overton area, St. George was the ol stompin ground.

[@BestNThDez]

Nice. I know Logandale and Overton very well. I live in St. George. Where do you live at in Wyoming?

[@dross2775]

@@BestNThDez Rawlins, it is on I-80 between Rock Springs and Laramie.

[@johnmccool7551]

Just sold my 12 500excf. Why do I have 300 on the brain already .didn’t see a stabilizer or is that because no need for speed .👍👍👍👍

[@BestNThDez]

I used to ride the big four strokes also, but later in life, I got more into the hard Enduro. As far as the stabilizer goes, you are right, no need for one, plus they limit your steering turn angle typically, and that’s an important thing to have in hard Enduro.

[@paulbrown1700]

Where did you find the swingarm protectors?

[@BestNThDez]

Direct from Crosslink(ed) Components.

[@whiskeytango854]

No front caliper guard?

[@BestNThDez]

No, I’ve always been able to keep my front rotor and caliper safe. It’s the back one that is troublesome for most. It wouldn’t hurt, but I’ve never had the need. I replaced maybe one front rotor in 25 years.

[@riders.oregon4474]

Does anyone get after you for no spark arrestor?

[@BestNThDez]

No. I’ve never had anybody check.

[@riders.oregon4474]

I have been checked in Oregon summer. Never in winter.

[@southeastAF]

What kinda doctor are you?

[@BestNThDez]

Ok, I’ll bite? What pray tell are you eluding to?

[@southeastAF]

@@BestNThDez just playing with ya. Just too nice of a bike. 🤙🏽🤙🏽

[@BestNThDez]

Thank you!

[@KnuckleCrushers]

😂

[@gman3725]

You are serious

[@demzsolt]

It's not a hard enduro bike, it's a dakar bike..

[@sammoore7397]

Hard enduro set up😂

[@Hardenduro488]

looks more like a desert bike not enduro

[@BestNThDez]

Why, because of the desert tank?

[@Hardenduro488]

That as well but you need a good front disk guard and I would recommend a dirt tricks sprocket bulletproof makes front fork lug guard. For hard enduro you would want not that big of a gas tank stock is more then enough

[@BestNThDez]

@@Hardenduro488 Ya, I haven't found a need for a front disk guard yet, although one wouldn't hurt. I have 198 hrs. on this bike already, and haven't had to touch the disk yet. As far as the desert tank goes, I do long desert single-track rides every once in a while, and hate having to cut them short due to the lack of fuel, so I just run this tank and only fill it as full as necessary when I ride tech stuff. It hasn't and doesn't bother me one bit, but yes, I could put the stock tank back on and probably be fine most of the time.