300sx vs 300xc | 2023 KTM 300SX First Ride | Game Changer | Slavens | Highland Cycles 

I have a 23 250sxf, and a 24 250sx, and out of the 8 bikes I’ve ever owned, they are by far the most fun, fit, comfortable bikes I’ve owned. And yes. I’ve owned two Yamaha 250s.

I think Jeff was jealous that you had your bike way before he did and you were able to get a solid opinion out to us and mod yours before he could even uncrate one. If you watch his first vid the bike's tires aren't eve dirty and the nobs are super new and he's already complaining about how the thing handles horribly and not worth a crap. Seems a little like he's trying to get attention by changing the original first impressions. Kind of funny really. Loved the vid, and thanks for sharing your conversations when you took a break - everyone cuts those out and I personally like to hear the different ideas and how one feels the bikes are handling. Great show! Oh, and the beginning, absolutely brilliant - I laughed my ass off!! Excellent stuff Highland Cycles.

The first 40 second's we're Tom Hanks Forest Gump level 🤣🤣❤️❤️🤘

Man I can't wait to make it out there and do that ride with you Morgan. Didn't make it out this year but I will definitely make it out next year

I gotta say i love the fued. I actually really like Jeff’s channel and opinion but I got a kick outta this. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion imo. Perception is reality. Hell im a C rider so no bike will help me as much as getting in shape and racing more and more. Thanks for the review and keep up the friendly fued!! 😎

Been waiting for this vid!

Thanks very much for making this video Morgan. Very useful to a lot of people I would guess.

Great Vid!! Keep them coming!!

Love it!!! Great video man!

You stayed on him when you were on your bike!! lol Great vid.

About time you mule em up. So jealous I want to go do this ride

Sweet video and Alan is one seriously fast guy. Speaking of Alan, it is funny how the truly fast off road guys I've been around are not terribly picky. Sure, they want the bike to work as well as it can for them and they spend the money to make it so, but If there is a shortcoming with the bike, they simply use their massive reserve of skill to deal with it while they continue to haul ass at a pace that makes my jaw drop. A brand new SX with 15 PSI in the tires on a cold day? Ya, it is "a little lively, but not bad" - I love it. A high performance dirt bike needs a certain amount of speed to load it's suspension and get it to "come in" and to move through it's stroke, that is just reality. Make it overly soft and "comfy" and it is gonna be mush at speed. It sounds like KTM did a decent job with these new bikes, which is an improvement, as older models were too soft as delivered for the average American male customer who weighs more than 160 pounds with their gear on, and who rides at a "B" pace or better. Have ridden Peach a few times, it was fun to see you guys riding it a lot faster than I can. Watching on my big TV, I was gripping the armrests of my chair at around 19 minutes in when you got on it in the open terrain. Dude, you were flying. Both of those bikes sound great, like having Mitch Payton continuously adjusting your carb as you ride! All this makes me glad I sprung for an '18 300 XC with the carb instead of an TPI equipped XC-W at the time I bought. It also has a head on it, and it runs crisp and hard like that. I dig the instant hand to rear tire connection it has. Interesting comment I think Alan made about comparing these to the old 500s. I had a 500 back in the day and find myself occasionally riding my 300 like my 500, a gear high and nipping the clutch coming off corners to get the tire churning. Keeping the RPM down was necessary on the 500, both for vibration control and self preservation. Old habits die hard 😆 Forget that sluggish handling vibrating dinosaur 500 though, these new 300s truly are two stroke heaven..

Awesome👍👍

Love that loop . My 500 xc-f rode me though think it is easier going the other direction. Can’t wait to have Morgan help me set up my new bike next year

If you gear the 300SX 13:50, 2nd and 3rd become almost identical to the 300XC at 14/49 (stock). 1st is obviously still longer on the SX but not that much - should be just fine in the rock crawling, possibly even an advantage to the XC as the 300 will pull the longer 1st with more traction. In 5th you can go 50mp/h at 6500rpm on the SX with 13:50 which probably isn't pleasant but sufficient except for desert racing and such. But for guys that have no XC available, like we in most of Europe do, the 2023 300SX finally seems a viable option for offroad. Thanks for the comparison - it will cost me a lot of money 😁

You can complain about Jeff all you want. But don’t knock the Raven’s and the National Shock. They are awesome! But I got them from MX Tech, not Jeff.

Elect Morgan speaker of the dirt bikes council, he speaks for all of us average Joe's.

Love the JS taker - Spot on !

Jeff buys at least one new bike a year so he doesn't run out of things to complain about.

Screw Jeff. Remember 20 years ago a 250 Mx bike was the bomb in off road racing? US who grew up on those can ride anything fast. Slaven is slavin

Wish you would have ran side by side through the gears ☹️. Gotta be a big enough difference in top speed to make a want in open runs. Guess I can run the ratio #s to calculate mph

Exactly what I was looking for, SX is in pick her up today!

Thanks for the review. I would like to get a 23 TC250 and set it up for off road. I don’t care for the ratios in my 18 XC-W and would prefer the SX gear box and just gear down

Another fine video. And I think people might miss understand that a XC has suspension closer to a SX and if you want a plusher suspension then you should consider a XCW . And I don’t consider Jeff S. to be wrong but maybe not keeping perspective on what a XC model is setup to be . Its stiffer and setup for a more aggressive type rider.🤘🏼

Another timely awesome video! I race 40A Harescrambles down here in Texas and practice moto. What do you think about the SX 5 speed in that context?

At first I thought you started your morning finding your weed and accomplishing the wake and bake. Anyway glad to see you snapped out of that false accusation. Love the new 300s Thank you for the post.

First 30 sec -I’m dead😂

Something about the rims I had a friend who worked at a KTM dealership and I asked him why does the the exc model (Europe) have no name wheels while my sx (Europe) has Excel rims, and he told that the no name on the exc model are also Excel but without the branding. But these models where 2009 sx and 2009 exc.

Loving my 2023 KTM 300XC. In the woods the transmission and gearing feels great but the moto stuff it felt like most the jumps I was ringing it out in 2nd running out of revs or bogging in 3rd. Whats your thoughts on making it feel more like the SX on tracks? Should I go from 14/49 to 14/48 or 14/50 and ride a gear up then most moto bikes?

Hopefully the piston doesn’t explode on you guys! Ktm have really dropped the ball on there cylinders and pistons!!💥

Great video! Loving the 300 info. I'm mainly a moto guy +30B and I'm torn between the 300 and the 350. I'm currently on a 450sxf and it's a whole lot of bike. By the end of the day I'm dying. How does the 300 compare? Any chance you'll have a video coming out comparing the 300 and 350 and or 450?

Question? 23 300sx just cutting off mid ride,all connections have been checked and etc. Any idea how to get some factory/tech help?

The 2024 KTM 300 XC is gonna have spring forks 👍

Does the TBI smoke more than the TPI? It seems like it should since the fuel/oil mixture is a constant with pre-mix. Not that it matters to me per se. I assume the TBI should be as durable as the old carb bikes since fuel delivery is the only difference. TPI could obviously have problems with the oil pump or whatever determines the amount of oil being injected. I'm not saying many did, just that it would be a possible failure point that TBI eliminates.

I didn’t hear any mention of 18” vs 19” rear wheel. Noticeable?

LOL. Hate the start of the video.🤣 Seems so handy to be able to adjust the shock with no tools. If running tubes what tire pressure range would you suggest for a 80 KG (176 lbs) not fast rider with gear on in non-rock terrain? I have a 2022 KTM 300 XC TPI (now converted to a premix & TBI bike) with Michelin StarCross 6 Med/soft tires. Hated the stock front Dunlop AT 81 as it slide all the time at any angle

Did the head on the xc make a noticeable difference of power compared to the SX? Did you guys happen to race them?

Because of rebates I can get a '23 250XC and a '24 300SX for the same price. I'd prefer a 300 engine for the low end lug, but given the gearing difference I'm wondering which would be better? I don't do hard enduro type stuff but will do some slower woods trails with some roots and stuff (east coast). Is 1st gear on the 300SX low and slow enough for that? I could always gear down a bit as I don't need to go more than about 50mph. Thanks!

So they say, those 2 stroke KTM 300SX MX Dirtbikes, almost have equal horsepower to 80's and 90's 2 stroke 500cc MX Dirtbikes! This is what I've heard many times, although, I don't know if it's the truth or not.????

Are the sx/xc mapped the same? Same part# on ecu?

I’m curious on two things . 1. Which kickstand you put on that 300sx? 2. If you think adding an xc gas tank to the sx would be smart?

Morgan, from the jump this is not accurate - we all know Jeff does not post video of any rides. But, I'm sorry you were FORCED to ride a couple of awesome, game changing bikes that totally suck.

I always have been in awe of new Tech and new models that explore brilliant engineering. But you guys are chattering about the TPI versus the TBI and mapping and clicks of suspension over a 24 month period like these motorcycles are polar opposites. I ride in nearly identical semi arid like terrain on a highly modified Yamaha TT350 1988. What I'm saying is, if I don't know what a TBI 300 is like, I still think a 1988 TT350 is the Duck Guts. Thankyou for sharing.

Boy how lucky to have this place to ride.

DID rims Floating disk brake "Special Edition" KTM All standard equipment on Yamaha... For a lot less money too...

Do a review of that 350

what are you talking about at 9:24? Counter shacks??? I just got my bike 23 300xc I'm gonna motocross cross and woods race this beast and I need to know the details of what you are talking about please

Is the flywheel different from the SX to the XC?

We need a 450XC vs 300XC ride report

Good humor, dirt biking is supposed to be fun, not grumpy😂

Lmao. I love it! The best one is all the people that shit talk the new bikes before ever riding one 😂 and then I’m Jeff’s case, he should design his own motorcycle, I mean…. He knows better than ktm engineers after all 😂😂

How long can you ride the sx on a tank of gas ? I believe the book says .5 gallons more if it’s just .3 I’m about to buy an sx Just need to be able to run a xc race for an hour and half to 2hours?

Will that xc tank fit the SX?

Does the XC have a heavier flyweight than the SX?

How is the 350 vs the 300 in power? Trying to decide which one for one of my boys. 250 don't have enough in dunes. 350 does great. 300 is good. I have not rode one in years. 450 is a bit heavy for him yet.

Hahaha...you poor bastard!!! 😂

No drag race?

Why not test the SX on a MX track where it’s intended to be ridden? I’d say just get the XC for trails and SX for MX 🤷🏽‍♂️

Pretty sure Jeff complains about everything!

"The TBi exhuast is too loud on these and i don't like loud exhaust. It noisy and people are getting the gov. to shut down our trails because of obnoxious...rant rant ( continues rant for 12mintues on a 8minute long video) "- Jeffery Slavens

Slavens😂. Game Changer😂. He loves that buzzword