Bike Build | 2024 Gnarly Routes KTM 300 XC-W

In this video I take a brand new 2024 KTM 300 XC-W and build it up for racing in Texas and upcoming Gnarly Routes tours this spring and summer. I've logged about twenty hours on a 2024 KTM 250 XC-W so I already know what adjustments I wanted to make on the 300 XC-W.
I swapped out the 45t stock gearing ( 13/45) for a 48t rear sprocket and a generous amount of lock-tite goes on the bolts. This tightens up the gears for racing and allows me to use third in most enduro race situations. The rear brake caliper is outfitted with an Enduro Engineering disc guard to keep rocks out of the way of the rear disc. Enduro Engineering front and rear axle pulls are installed to make wheel removal easier and an Enduro Engineering brake pedal tip increases durability and feel over the stock tip. Silicone is added to the shifter and chain slider to prevent it getting packed with debris. I use the Enduro Engineering start and stop buttons because they have a much more positive feel than the OEM start button. I also added a map switch on the bar. A fan will be added at a later date and I like to run one to keep the engine temps down when the going gets slow. An Enduro Engineering skid plate is added to protect the frame and under belly of the KTM power plant and the OEM bolt holes from KTM make mounting a breeze. I've been using Enduro Engineering products since 2000. The XC Gear Mako 360 SX is mounted in place of the stock bar mounts and does exactly what it advertises. It reduces hand fatigue and the impact felt in the wrists on large trail chatter. This bike came with billet triple clamps but I opted for the cast version as I like the comfort it provides in the roots and square edge bumps. A lot of XC-W models are starting to show up with billet clamps in stock form due to supplier shortages. The OEM odometer will be removed and replaced with a Trail Tech Voyager Pro unit that is mounted to a homemade mount (I'm planning on racing this bike this weekend and didn't want to mount up the Voyager Pro quite yet). The tires and tubes are removed and replaced with Michelin Bib Mousse front and rear mounted inside of Michelin StarCross 6 tires. I normally run a StarCross 6 med/soft front and rear in DFW this time of year because the dirt is typically soft. Gnarly Routes graphics from Bike Graphix are installed and they add at least five horse power to the build. Look fast go fast! An Akrapovic slip-on line silencer is mounted up in place of the stock unit and adds bottom end and reduces weight over the stock silencer. I do plan on testing the shorter SX/XC version of this silencer to see how it performs. The Akrapovic stuff is second to none, the quality and craftsman ship is truly impressive. I've logged hundreds and hundreds of hours on numerous bikes and have yet to have one fail or show sign of fatigue. WP XPLOR Pro 7548 cone valve forks tuned by Solid Performance replace the stock version and a WP XPLOR PRO 8946 PDS shock replaces the stock rear unit. Finally, a seat concept seat is installed and a MotoMinded headlight will be added once they are available.
Bike: 2024 KTM 300 XC-W
Exhaust: Akrapovic slip on
Tires: Michelin StarCross 6 Med/Soft with Michelin Bib Mousse
Bar Clamp: XC Gear Mako 360sx
Suspension: WP XPLOR PRO Cone Valve Fork (4.6 springs) and Trax Shock (6.9 spring)
Suspenion Tuned by: Solid Performance
Gearing: 13/48
Protection Parts: Enduro Engineering
Lubricants: Motorex
Seat: Seat Concepts
Graphics: Bike Graphix
Bars: OEM (Renthal twinwalls are shown at the start but it's the same bend as OEM)

[@SingletrackShortShit]

This was by far the most soothing thing I could have started my morning with. Awesome job on both the bike and the production!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thanks for watching!

[@Captain250FX]

I only gave this video one thumbs up because it wouldn’t let me give MORE! Beautiful bike bro!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thanks!!!

[@onthethrottle7104]

If you haven't watched this guy ride, it's a real treat. This guy can shred with the best of them!!! Great build video, nicely done, great show!!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@jaredandersen82]

This has to be one of the best and most satisfying build videos to watch! Excellent job, that bike looks like a beast!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@jaredandersen82]

@@ColeKirkpatrick Absolutely .... we're digging your channel!! A few of us up here in Tulsa that are like minded and enjoying your videos!!

[@BraaapoholicBob]

Cole, you are a bad ass rider...love your racing vids! Three more things I wud do because I'm super OCD...fork lug guards, pipe guard and swingarm guards.

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Those are some good additions, thanks for chiming in!

[@darinvanderpol3351]

Love watching your build videos. Thanks for doing them!

[@HuffyBoi_952]

those rad guards are sick!

[@Hendy711]

Awesome Thanks Cole. Love the build vidoes. Helps a guy like me get pointed in a good direction.

[@ATVB217]

Great video , sweet bike!

[@troybond706]

Thoughts on a bike for a teenage rider, a little background then some questions. Great build, I will have to watch it closer and look at the pile of parts I have ready to go for my 24 300 xcw hard enduro edition and see what else I want. I rode the 23 300 xc all last year and love it, very playful and fun reminds me of all my 2 strokes I grew up on, so much more responsive than my 21 TPI 300 xcw. My buddy picked up his 24 300 xcw in Oct of 23 and I was able to jump on it for a weekend before the snow started to fly up here in Canada. The gearing felt very similar or same as my xc which I love, I have had many xc bikes over the years and like them over the w, a massive improvement over my 21 300 xcw which was way too gapped out, It was my first and I thought my last w model. I've put some track time on the 24 300 xcw as well and for stock suspension and no engine mods the thing rips and is a pretty fun bike everywhere. So now I have seat time on both new 300's it is probably just the engine responsiveness but somehow the xcw feels a bit lighter when trail riding which I didn't think was possible as the new 300 xc feels very light and nibble. My teenage son has been on a 150 xcw (21 TPI) but he's now 17 and 170lbs so moving up. Before I got my 24 300 xcw I was getting him a 24 250 xc as I love my 300 xc. Then riding the 24 300 xcw I was feeling like maybe a 250 xcw would be a better fit, a bit more manageable as he is still figuring out controlling his traction with the clutch in real time. In watching many reviews it sounds like you need to be on the pipe on the 250 a lot more. I am pretty sure I want him on a 24 xcw as I like the no linkage on the trails and easy to put on a real light and a rad fan with the bigger stator though I think I would like the xc motors power better. He has jumped on my 300 a few times and does really well but gets off and says it feels heavy and compared to his 150 he is correct. Does the 250 xcw feel significantly lighter than the 300, on paper they are the same weight. I am tempted to get him a 300 and just buy some 250 decals for it so he doesn't know. We have a track for practice and fun but we mainly ride single track. He is not a super aggressive rider I just don't want to buy the 250 and be disappointed in the power but also want him to have to learn how to make it work and not ride lazy. Any thoughts? if the 250 does feel lighter maybe a fmf gnarly pipe for more bottom and mid? Btw I ran into you in riding in green river this past October

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

The 250 Xcw for sure feels lighter than the 300 and I think the chassis difference is what makes it feel lighter to you than your xc. I think the 250 would be an excellent bike for your son.

[@ronlawson5819]

Sweet build

[@SteveKiziak]

Nice edit! Bike looks awesome!

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulg7964]

Great content. Most people blather on and on. I'm stoked on this build as my son and I are picking up a couple of these. I tried to convince him into getting th TX 300 over the TE because we live in San Diego and primarily ride desert. I've been riding here from 86 to present. I'm coming off a RFS 450xc with pds. Can't decide between the TE or TX 300. Nice to have choices right 😊. Please keep the content coming. Great source of information. Btw foam ear plugs and silicone for larger voids.

[@pepemotores]

Te ha quedado de cine, imagino que no la tirarás por los aires como los locos de hard enduro.

[@jasonshurtz2235]

That’s an awesome build! Great job on the edit man👌 Any thoughts on the 450xcw? Have you ridden one?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I just put about an hour on one yesterday and loved it. Much less engine braking than my 350 Xc-f and it wouldn’t stall nearly as easily.

[@anythingadrenaline4515]

Can you huneslty notice a sound & power difference between stock and Akropovic exhuast?

[@randytidwell5836]

Any chance you and some of your racing partners may make the 24 hour hare scramble in Plantersville Al. at Perry Mountain Motorcycle Club this June 1st and 2nd. I think you have been there before right.

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I've been five or six times over the years and have been lucky enough to ride on some winning teams too. I've got some family stuff on the calendar early this summer so I won't make it this year but I hope to get out there again one of these days. I hope you all have a great event this year!

[@nivaldotimoteo3969]

Why you put glue on pedal shift??? Because dirt??? Sorry for bad english!!! Good job 👍👍🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹

[@lockshabaz1876]

Stealin that silicone trick 🧐

[@michaelwalas5948]

Looks like you own a TBI 250 and 300 xc-w What are your pros and cons of both? Is there much power differences in bottom and top end.. and which bike do you choose for riding types? Hope you hear from you 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Hi Michael, thanks for the question. I do have a 24 KTM 250 XC-W as well that's going to be going on the Gnarly Routes trailer soon as a rental bike for those rides. My preference is the 300 just because I can be lazier on that bike. The 250 requires more aggression to go fast but I would say the biggest pro for the 250 is how nimble and lightweight it feels. The 300 doesn't feel heavy but when you get on the 250 it certainly is noticeable. If I could only have one bike it would for sure be the 300 because it excels in technical trail riding but has plenty of power for days when I race or go to the motocross track for fun. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions.

[@bash6519]

Fuckin clean. Next time just see if you can buy frame and drivetrain hahaha. Less shit to take off

[@williamcrotts7054]

What final gearing did you settle on? I like the small rear so I went with a 12 on the front. I find I shift less with this 12/45 gearing. 13/45 was just too tall. Now it responds well to the clutch and rips to the top. I find that it doesn't load up like my TPI did and runs like a good carb bike. I bought the HE and it's my first time on a solid rear rotor and I really like the feel of it. Now, is the pro suspension that much better than the stock stuff? I can imagine the rear being a lot better but that new fork is pretty sweet..

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Still working on it, I rode yesterday with a 13/48 and third was just a tad taller than I like so I’m going to try a 49 tomorrow. 12/45 is the same as the 13/48 so we’re close. I think the sx/XC head would help low end too. That made a noticeable difference on my 250.

[@williamcrotts7054]

Buddy of mine ordered the sx head for his 250 but it's not in yet. Is a tuner change needed to do that?@@ColeKirkpatrick

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

@@williamcrotts7054 I didn’t have to reflash anything when I went to the sx dome insert on my 250 or 300.

[@williamcrotts7054]

Thank you@@ColeKirkpatrick

[@mikeb4708]

@@ColeKirkpatrickdoes the XC head add more compression?

[@Andrew-gu1zr]

Ready for Sandwinder?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

ready or not it's going to be a blast!

[@Hendy711]

Cole, what handlebars/bend do you like?

[@Hendy711]

Hahahahah. Sorry Cole, I could have read the build out list. You have the bars there!

[@williamcrotts7054]

I'd like to know what you're doing to get the sx insert into the xcw head. RK tech says it won't fit plus many others are saying the same thing. You may be able to get it to fit but it won't last long are the reports. Anyone else try this mod?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I know of a few others that are running the sx dome. I put it on a 250 XC-W as well and put around twenty hours without issue. I raced the 300 XC-W with it as well and didn't have any issues. I did just mount up a TSP head to test and compare and the piston looked just fine upon inspection of the oem head and sx dome. I did notice the inner o-ring showing sign of wear more than I'd like though and the TSP head and medium dome is on for now.

[@williamcrotts7054]

You are the man, thank for taking the time to reply. @@ColeKirkpatrick

[@woodsrider75-el5vu]

Are you running your bars in the forward position?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

I run them so that bars are centered over the middle of the fork caps. If I can't get them centered then they are a little bit back but I don't run them far forward.

[@Moto619films]

Do you prefer the xcw over the cx im looking at picking one up but cant decide. Already have the xcf350 so looking to add a 2 smoke

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

That's a tough one! I've ridden the XC-W almost exclusively since 2017 with a couple of sx models too during those years but I always felt like the XC-W worked best for the majority of my riding. If my focus was just on racing enduros and cross country events, I would go with the 300 XC but I do a lot of trail riding in the mountains in the summer and really like the way the XC-W works in that terrain. The front end feel on the XC-W and the ease of removing the shock are big highlights for me. The XC-W is a lot smoother than the 300 XC in 2024 so keep that in mind when making your decision.

[@josiahlopez2955]

What front rotor guard are you running

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

It’s an Acerbis one

[@Mostviews111]

Why would you take off those cnc triple clamps wanna sell em?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

Big difference in front end feel. The cast clamps are a lot more compliant in roots, rocks and square edge chop. They may not look as good but I really like how they make the front end feel.

[@philashmore3925]

just one rear rim lock ?

[@ColeKirkpatrick]

With a normal rear tire and bib mousse, yes. If I run a gummy like the Michelin enduro xtrem I’ll run a second rim lock with a worn out bib mousse.

[@philashmore3925]

@@ColeKirkpatrick thanks that's what we're going to do

[@goldlinemedia967]

20k dirt bike 😂😂😂