2024 KTM XACT Enduro fork is AMAZING - WP Interview

[@BSm2919]

I don't think going to an air fork was a mistake. There are great air forks in mountain biking and if nothing else it was a great experiment. Our technology doesn't improve if we aren't willing to take risks.

[@zacharycrockett9884]

It was our fault ass the consumer that the manufacturers went away from air forks. Star racing uses air forks so if it works for pros why not us. I have loved my air fork mainly because it has helped me test suspension and set up.

[@OtisFlint]

Sorry but i'll take a properly valved KYB over my air fork in a heartbeat. The air forks don't deserve the bad rep they have, but they weren't an actual improvement over the spring fork. Meanwhile they added complexity, maintenance, variability, and one more item for a pre-ride check. Every mfg that did air forks went back to spring. Many riders ditch the air forks for spring. There is a reason. Spring > air.

[@tylerberry2476]

Finally it's good to see KTM recognize the value that you Provide. to them from your channel. Keep up great work !!

[@scannorse]

Well, he always looked/sounded as a ktm salesman…

[@rideordivekerry4830]

Handled that interview very well Kyle. I like that the guy from KTM didn’t try to claim the idea of having a knob to turn on the shocks 👍🏼

[@BigIronMoto]

Excellent interview Kyle. Really captured all the positive things about the new suspension well. Great meeting and riding with you!

[@tonyborrego6710]

Gotta love them orange 2 smokes. Ride an OHV area in the forest on my 450 XCF a few years ago and hated it. Took my 300 XCW a few days ago and had a blast!

[@coryjamesc]

Just Bought a 2023 KTM 300xc, and now I gotta change the forks.. OH MAN... the last bike was a 2017 YZ250x I wateched your video on it, and said thats the one the price it right. then I I sold it, and now Got the KTM, it was on sale and thats the one I have been wanting, again a lot to do with watching this channel. so far its awesome, The upgrades on this from the YZ are great.. Thanks For doing what you do, the Videos have been awesome.

[@nagelmotox284]

You didn't like the yz250x? What didn't you like about it? I like my 250 xcw but the suspension needs to be revalued. Even a stiffer spring felt couch like.

[@bogusfranz1503]

Can't wait to ride the Husky TE 300 with linkage - seems like it will be the sweet spot with these new forks.

[@SketchyXC]

I always love hearing from the guys who had a part in developing of products. Great interview Kyle! 🤘

[@WJamesBeoch]

I like how kyle says "Oh, I liked the air fork". Then when speaking of the new spring fork he's absolutely "glowing" when talking about it. Actions/expressions speak louder than words!

[@TrippsMedia]

Kyle is a shill for KTM. No honor with this man.

[@corbinhagler8223]

Testing

[@kweholt]

I have a 2023 KTM 250 XC. Low hours and I already did a spring fork conversion, the MX Tech Lucky Cartridges. Not stoked to have to spend the extra money when I could have waited 6 months to get spring forks stock….but I’d like to believe that my MX Tech Forks are a step above the 2024 stock forks. Time will tell

[@JG7Racer]

The ridiculous price hike on a 24' isn't something to envy..

[@TeamStruggleBunny]

Found a 2023 300 xc still in the crate and with the discounts on the 2023 I put that money into 6500 pros and still came out a bit cheaper than the 2024.

[@brendonsweeney4162]

Awesome!!!! did WP mention when the XPLOR PRO and XACT PRO shocks and forks will be available?

[@Dat_Sun]

The last aer was good for many. It's weight advantage is Huge. Springs make a lightweight bike feel heavy.

[@Bodie2020]

This may make me come back to ktm. I despised the air fork. And went to Yamaha for the suspension we could get it very consistent and reliable day to day. I didn’t have to have a log book and/or start the day with a lower pressure than I need for my weight. I’m over 6’ and over 240 fully kitted out.

[@milesc1985]

Did you get video of riding the 150xcw?

[@jppoirier475]

Great interview, glad to hear you like the new suspension. Can you talk about the transmission? Did they change the gear ratios this year?.....thanks

[@Mayobb833]

They're finally on par with every other manufacturer that made the mistake of going to an air fork

[@william6815]

I love my 350 excf wess with the air folk heaps better than my mates WRs

[@Drewski423]

@@william6815 I had my air forks revalved and they’re amazing. The guy fixed them to where I can run them down to 98psi all the way up to 130. They’re awesome

[@SketchyXC]

Not all air forks are created equal. Almost every guy ive seen in person complaining about air forks had no idea how to set them up. I have no complaints on my '22xc in rocky new england woods. I will say my buddies '23 xc-w fork has a nice planted feel but to me its just different not neccessarily better for how we ride.

[@Drewski423]

@@SketchyXC agreed. Everyone I know who said they hated them had them set up backwards from how you’re supposed to set them up. I ran mine for 70 hours stock before I had mine revalved and the only reason I did the re valve was because it was only 250 dollars more to go ahead and do it when I had them serviced so I did and man…..they were good stock. Zero complaints. Ran 12 clicks out at 123-126 psi stock and the were great. Now I run 12 clicks out down to 98 psi and it’s like riding on a cloud. If I ride faster stuff o just add air. All I ride is East Tennessee, Western NC, Va, and WVA mountain single track. Zero complaints stock or re valved. When I had them revalved I told Marc at MVR I wanted them to feel close to an xplor fork set up right for hard enduro and he did just that. Can’t beat ‘em IMO. But I’m sure these new closed cartridge forks will be really good. Especially on the XCW.

[@SketchyXC]

@@Drewski423 yea, im prob 215 with gear so i run mine at 140lbs and comfort settings for clickers. I like a little extra spring rate for preloading to get up and over obstacles, i just feel more controlled and can be lighter on the throttle set up like that. Plus i can blast the whoops next to the train tracks faster than if i set it up softer. Overall i just love my bike, id like to try the new ones but not enough to want to get rid of mine.

[@postmortemspasm]

Why is no one asking about the straight rate rear spring?

[@johngray722]

Now they just need them spring forks on the sx line

[@mikeb4708]

The only disadvantage I see with the PDS bike vs the linkage bike in off-road riding is the extra seat height.

[@BSm2919]

What a cool opportunity!

[@blarpieman]

It took 13 years to go backwards to 2011. Congrats Ktm on your marketing team. Brilliant. Wait will this come with wrap around fork guards this time or more open fork guards for lighter weight or wait will it come with a new larger axel or a smaller front axel for greater feel. So stupid.

[@georgebaird3468]

Great interview

[@richardhartley1705]

Very interesting 👍

[@milosbgd]

Hi Kyle, and what they did with the oil injection, I saw oil caps on the frame, so still we will have oil pumps and oil reservoirs like on TPI?

[@robertdebono2810]

Slow pressure nitrogen gas instead for Air forks should keep pressure variation low, less need to re check but more inconvenient, Air forks , noted by heat of hot days or in long races , increases pressure and adding to the problem, rebond dumping will become faster as oil heat and tolerance increase, this will let travle frequent start the absorption from fully extend fork making the waght shift to rear and make it softer while increases more stifness to the forks. For this I like to use ultra slick and viscosity controled oil from Race Tech

[@MarkSpencerAZ]

Why did they go to a linear rate spring leaving the progressive spring behind in the 2024? Progressive Dynamic Spring (PDS) ??

[@rafy600]

Great video Kyle, good info 👍

[@yukonjon5964]

all you need to know is most pro suspension tuners don't like air forks. its about time KTM! now if they will just put linkage back on everything again... i left KTM when PDS came out in 1998. funny thing is 10 years later my friend racer would say his latest PDS setting was, "as good as linkage!" yeah, what does that tell ya... he was still wishing for linkage. now they think they have PDS dialed, but to me its just 26 wasted years of trying it the hard way. if guys are getting hung up on stuff with their linkage bikes and think they need PDS, maybe their just going too slow.

[@DeadEnduro]

Just buy an XC model. Something for everyone

[@Mostviews111]

Ktm users are mind blown over the closed cartridge forks meanwhile showa and kyb have been doing it for almost 20 years.

[@kirkdunn1379]

KTM has had closed cartridge forks for years, had them on 2009 450 xc

[@CurtisBrandt]

Very informative presentation. Thanks!

[@dont3761]

I can see one of these in my near future. Is the seat height any lower on the PDS bike?

[@TeamStruggleBunny]

PDS is typically taller.

[@bradleyhetherington2145]

It’s about time because it’s the most expensive motorcycle I could possibly have and I have to go and purchase another pair of forks or upgrade your forks or something to get your forks to finally work. It’s like I might as well buy a Shurco.

[@brian0299]

Does anyone know yet what the piston and cylinder brands are? I'm hoping they're different from 2023, having seen the videos of shattered pistons with low hours on them.

[@rjthomasindyusa]

I'm looking for some new short levers.... kind of like the Midwest Mountain Engineering but without the leverage advantange/ pull reduction feature.... Any thoughts guys?

[@gdmfsob4424]

ASV

[@timothymeheden3125]

or just lay it over and break off the tip 😂

[@rjthomasindyusa]

@@timothymeheden3125 Funny enough.... I dropped the bike and now the clutch lever has the perfect bend.

[@scottforti3194]

Why is ktm saying that us ktm 500 has 64hp? Does that mean they aren’t restricting them anymore?

[@comoxvalleytrails]

Hello I need help I wanna start racing dirtbikes and your the most experienced person I know in two strokes should I get a KX 85 tc 85 or a kx112 I am 5’6 please help

[@yorkchris10]

I don't think you can have a patent on position sensitive damping concept. Husqvarna and Öhlins kept going with layed down twin shocks (some rising rate) and bottoming protection when everyone else switched to linkage. Öhlins was bought by Yamaha and their street bikes would show up with shocks that looked like Öhlins. I like my Utah ATK with linkageless single non-PDS WP shock.

[@Jaysrippen]

Possibly the BIGGEST news if its correct, that no one has mentioned is the KTM website is saying the 2024 street legal 500 EXC-F has 63hp!!! If correct thats ALOT more then its previous 39 ish HP!!! Hopefully correct??

[@LUCKY.CLIPZ1]

It's had 60+ since 2020

[@thorpe31]

Both spring and air forks are great. I really like my XACT air. But they aren't for everyone. They need to be set up right and regularly check air pressure. If you're not one to do that then you're better served with an air fork. The average rider is likely better served with a spring fork.

[@lukekelly5115]

They are perfectly fine just have a massive pressure spike and can't adjust the balance chamber the air cones you can and they work much better

[@johnbarnhart7174]

Not very informative. Does not say whether 2024 spring fork is the same as the 6500 cartridge. My preference would have been a Hybrid system with a single soft spring in the damping leg and the adjustability of 50-70 psi in the air leg. That would have been the best of both worlds.

[@WJamesBeoch]

I agree. That would be a real evolution in the OEM suspension world.

[@Z0ttMonte]

Do you know why the bikes got heavier?

[@Dashriprock4]

Spring forks and new frame

[@Z0ttMonte]

@@Dashriprock4 really just because of that? man the husky and gasgas will be more then 110kg then. Holy moly

[@Dashriprock4]

@@Z0ttMonte that's what I'm hearing. Open to new info however

[@dirtyoffroader2093]

Just as you change bike brand because of the old crud Air forks.. THEY pull you back in 😂

[@DMC-179]

so is it a fork with a 6500 kit?!

[@thekevinator149]

No.....not even close.

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

It's way more enjoyable to ride with friends that don't have air forks due to experiencing friends air forks collapse from losing air.

[@strictlymitch]

laughs in KYB

[@iago972]

quanto ha di autonomia ?

[@JG7Racer]

⚡️The price hike dosent make this New fork desirable. Get a 23' NOW on sale and do your aftermarket flavor and come out AHEAD.✌️

[@TeamStruggleBunny]

It's what I did. The discount on the 23s paid for 6500 pro inserts.

[@Bikesbikesbikes500]

Its a very close run thing. You don't only get the suspension changes and going forward the 23 bikes will lose value much quicker. I'm struggling with the price of a 23 bike plus 2k on suspension upgrades being very near the price of the new 24

[@TeamStruggleBunny]

@@Bikesbikesbikes500 I don't think the new bikes will impact used bike values that much. General a used bike is a pretty discounted purchase by its very nature and those looking at used are not in the market for new.

[@clumzer1]

my 2020 Xplor forks are WAAAYYY more plush and responsive than my sons 2024 250xc Xact forks. His are stiff and not and responsive

[@carolinasrt4163]

I wish ktm would be honest with themselves in no way is air better than spring 99% of riders want spring just give the consumers what they want across the hole range of bikes

[@rjthomasindyusa]

Annnnnd..... I just bought a 2023 300 xc. Maybe I shuould have waited....

[@TradesbyCaleb]

i feel you man

[@gabeandrade0]

I just got a 2023 tc250 and I want springs

[@Dat_Sun]

I wouldn't sweet it. Enjoy the aer forks, they are lightweight, to some of us thats a huge bonus. Spings have disadvantages. I have a 23 250xc (comfort settings and 9 bar) and a 22 250fx (revalved for plush single track and rocks). The spring forks feel dead and heavy in comparison, plus a I like not having to spend a fortune to swap springs. The aer's are free feeling!

[@Dat_Sun]

@@gabeandrade0 Why not get a te then?

[@Dat_Sun]

Annnd I think the 24's have a canbus system, more dealership dependant.

[@grecoconduris6716]

Better than KYB?

[@KiwiPC-vm8kb]

I would doubt it🤔... but time will tell 👍

[@WJamesBeoch]

Maybe simple valving change could make them as good.

[@bouzo4552]

Its a funny thing.... KTM is uber insecure about their forks, and to be fair , they bloody well should be! Before they introduced their air fork, their front suspension was incredibly bad, like the most brutal jack hammers for front forks bad, and now we fast forward to now , and even after "Motocross action" has repeatably said over the years ,and i mean like 15 years, said "no wait NOW its amazing this year, Even though its still a bit shit.... so here we are , KTM has finally gone back to spring [to be fair the xc-w is plush, and a spring }I own 2 Ktms currently amongst other bikes a ,22 xc 300 , i run the air way way below recommended as its harsh at the psi they recommend and deflects off everything , i also have 23 125 sx which is sick fun at the track, has still mapping issues even with the update {get your shit together KTM green map unusable } but again has harsh forks .... meh, spring forks are a step in the right direction so at least thats good. By the way great channel though!! cheers

[@Dashriprock4]

I know it seems counterintuitive but go up on the air pressure. I'm running 150psi and it's much plusher than, say, 134. The lower spring rate of 134 allows it to blow through the plushest part of the travel.

[@curtiscollins2174]

Please mention 13000 dollar price tag for new 300. Very important to majority of riders including myself. Way over priced. My humble opinion 😌.

[@tylerhall3854]

In past it's been same price as 300xc, that not the case this year?

[@tdubbs934]

23 tx and xc300 are ten k out the door. I bought my bike in march. (23 tx300). I should of waited and saved 3k ugh

[@kristinchrishadley936]

👋

[@stevedouglas1654]

Second

[@wesmattimore2895]

Imo air suspension always sucked.. surprised it took ktm a while to figure it out..ive ridden air, never liked it.. PEACE PEEPS

[@littemisscarrage2909]

go dudly get all ur caffer mates in to the club

[@cippolippo]

Amazing for who?

[@steveantoniou2150]

Sorry, did I miss something? How was the ride KYLE, AND the russel ranch is in Florida, deep sand and woops?? Bet you wish you had a motocross bike. I DARE YOU TO TEST IT IN NEW ENGLAND,

[@CarterCassedy]

First