This video is a few years old, since then the TPI bikes have shown to be very problematic. The TPI system needs a ton of sensors, (crank pressure, ambient pressure, etc...) to work correctly and there are many reports of problems. Stick with a carb for 2t, or go 4t if you want EFI. Yes a carb requires tinkering, but at least I know that when i have fuel/air problems its the carb and not of a plethora of sensors that you can't diagnose without a trip to the dealer.
Keihin can work just as well. JD kit and dial it in. Lectron is cool but a good feel for jetting goes a long way. Ive gotten better mileage out of a Keihin then on lectrons.
Great videos and info Kyle. Be good to hear comparisons on efi, stock carb and a lectron carb. Some guys are buying new bikes and installing lectron carbs so they don't haft to re-jet for elevations
I only have 997 hours on my 12 250 so I'll be rebuilding it and running it for another few years and hopefully in that time the efi will mature and the performance will come up to the level of a perfectly tuned 12 to 16 bike.
the nice thing about the TPI system.. 150 lb rider in the 280 lb Rider can ride the same bike and NOT have to rejet it... racing at sea level in the desert this is very impressive.
Kyle, I bought a 1998 ktm 250 EXC. totally re-built the entire bike. Looks brand new. Haven’t had a chance to take it out yet but, but looking forward to trying KTM out.
The pros and cons argument of carb over fuel injection is getting much less compelling, even from you Kyle. Maybe it's because all the top enduro riders switched, maybe because it's the Future, maybe both. I find it shocking that the oil pumps only last 60-80 hrs, what's up with that?!? I won't bother going into the snowmobile industry argument this go around. I'm elated these enduro manufacturers are going into efi with both feet. Future is bright. We will be laughing at these arguments for carbs sooner then later.
80 hours is the recommended replacement interval. I'm sure you do a piston EVERY 80 hours as per the service schedule. I'm pretty sure they'll last longer and that the aftermarket will come to the rescue with alternate parts!
TPI bikes a brilliant, future is this, not carb... I also read Graham Jarvis mechanic stating fuel economy is way better on the TPI, where some races done need a fuel fill as previous one did !!
Good wrap up on pros and cons on these bikes, I saw in other videos that there is other maps available for the TPI now so it runs a little bit richer and cooler that might make them run even better and eliminate the missing grunt as compared to the carburated motor
Kyle i love your videos and awesome dad skills. This is the video where you get into real issues of carb v tpi. My question: how better is tpi over lectron if at all
Just my opinion since we’re on the subject. I have a 300 Gas Gas with a Lectron and a TE250i. I ride all street. TPI is a no brainer. No mixing gas at the pump and guessing how much is going to fit in the tank. I spent a lot of money on the TE but it run phenomenal. So does the Gas Gas. Just one thing to consider. Driveability / street manners can’t be beat on the TE though. The Gas Gas even with the Lectron can’t compare. Not a knock. Just and observation
I'm from the netherlands. I went to my local KTM dealership and asked about how the tpi bikes are selling. I was kind off suprised he told me de tpi's didn't sell that good. Most riders who wanted to buy a new bike prefered the left over 2017 version. But it had more to do with being able to work on your bike yourself. It's more about acceptation instead of the bike being worse to ride.
Because I ride with major elevation changes, EFI has been the best since the invention of the wheel! Even my old yz250 has the closest thing, Lectron Carb, that thing once I had the lean/Rich perfect, that Bike has never been better.
Especially when u can just put a lectron carb on ....i have a 17 ktm and i wouldnt trade it in for a efi even if i got the chance ....the lectron runs so good that im happy with the carb ...and just less to go wrong ...i like efi onn lots of stuff but not on dirtbikes ...they should keep selling carb models.
On a carb, when you crack the throttle from idle there is a surge in air velocity before it settles. the overlap between slow speed and mid range circuits in the carb act a little like an accelerator pump so you get a quick bump a low speed. Put a vcuum metter on it ,,,you can see it happen
I feel the same way about injection on 2 strokes as I do insulin pumps for diabetics. You just can't be certain you're getting insulin delivery. Just as you can't be certain you're getting oil delivery. I would rather mix fuel all day long and know the engine is not getting oil starved.
Has the problem of oil leaking from the plug been corrected yet ??? Been watching other videos of yours, where that seemed to be an issue. Just curious if KTM and Husky has cleaned that up yet.
Does the fuel injected bike have an electric fuel pump that you have to consider and worry about I don't know I'm an old carburetor guy been working on those carburetors for 50 years and no trouble for me you're looking pretty good bud hope you're feeling better keep it up good video
That's what you get when emissions are crawling up your ass.. A remap will fix that as i heard, but you still have to deal with that crappy mikuni oil pump that has failed in many bikes..
The '18 carb'd bikes are in demand at this point as people want to keep it simple. All the '18 TE and XC-Ws are gone. Grabbing an '18 Husky TX300 now, will move the Lectron carb from my '13 300 over to it and rock on. I want, make that I need, the counter balancer and better e-start system :) My '13 has been a great bike. Has 300 hours in it and literally has been through Hell and High Water. The TPI bikes are cool, and my 450 has FI, but the old carb'd 2T engine combo is proven, so I am gonna stick with it. I prefer premix in 2Ts, I think the lube is dispersed through the engine better coming in with the fuel vapor. We will see long term how the TPI bikes hold up I guess. Hopefully fine, but I know for a fact the carb'd bike will last and last. When dropping 9 grand on a dirt bike, I want the sure thing...
How much of a difference is there between the 18 300xc and the 19 300xc. It reads like there was a lot of upgrades... I can get the 18 for about 800 dollars less... is it worth it to go with 19???
Judging from all the broken down KTM TPI bikes I've come across in the mountains around here. TPI adds about 100 new points of failure. 2 of them I think maybe KTM was trying to be too neat witth wiring. The bundle leading into the ecm module was just plain too tight and I think the natural flexing in the frame, over time, just wore out the retention clip and pulled the plugs loose just enough to were the motor just wouldn't stay lit.
I’m from Australia I bought a 2018 carbi exc 300 not many left and they aren’t selling the carbi in 2019. I’m stoked with the bike after spending years on motocross 450s. Wanted the carbi for its simplicity
If you are a moto dad with a herd of small carbed bikes, get yourself an EFI. On my first one. In 3 years havent touched or adjusted a thing and after 100 hours its as barky as the first day.
On my snowmobiles EFI gets about double the gas mileage which is big for riding all day. And it seemed similar with my 4 stroke 250s. And a always hated taking the carbs off to clean them every year on my quad and bike.(even running ethanol free)
Hey Kyle, Have you ever had to make any adjustments to your Lectron fitted bikes when you go down to St.george? Just curious what you've noticed. I had my Beta down there this spring at 40 60 degrees and it ran wonderfully with the Lectron. Just got back from Fish lake where it was close to 10k feet and 80 + degrees and it ran well there too.
In Australia, they said we would have the option to do TPI or Carb as we don't have the emission needs to force TPI. So I got a carb 18 model. Now they have said all bikes 19 and onwards is TPI. I wonder why the US still have the option but we don't.
We don't get a lot of bikes that you guys and the European market gets. I think it has a lot to do with import taxes so they limit what all comes to the States. It is frustrating to see all the awesome bikes the rest of the world has available to them while we get slim pickings.
Kyle, I'm new to your channel and enjoy your reviews. I've been riding and working on dirt bikes for over 40 years (mainly motocross bikes since I enjoy that type of bike and performance the most), and I'm looking at purchasing a high quality new bike for trail riding only, and want one that will last long term and doesn't require a lot of extensive maintenance. I'm leaning towards the KTM 300 XC-W and really like the idea of the TPI and not having to re-jet, but concerned about the issues I've seen they're having. I ride mainly around 1500' (occasionally Colorado Maintain trails), but have to deal with temperature and humidity changes regularly So my question is, should I go with the carbureted bike and change out the carb to a Smart Carb?
Dirtbike Boy Colton Watts I agree they are beautiful, but there are very hard to find, there not very local, you might have to travel quite a bit too pick one up depending on we’re you live.
Wow, you got me thinking. My riding goes from between 3500-4500 feet in the mountains, to less than 100 feet in the valley at the mx track. You think a carburated bike would work for that? I don't want to re-jet every time I go ride moto.
Nice video as always. Whats the fuel average consumption in the carburetor version 250 and 300 (2017/2018)? Obviously depends on many variables, I am asking just because some riders are complaining about high consumption since 2017.
Actually tpi bikes don’t mix the oil and gas for you it’s completely separate the oil goes in the crank case and the gas goes in the transfer port and if you’re oil pump fails the bike doesn’t run
So I've noticed you haven't been using the lectron on your 17/18 ktms. Any reason for that? I have a 17 300 and I feel the low end power is a bit less now with a lectron fitted. Your thoughts?
I can get them to run 98 percent as good as the Lectron with the stock carb and for only about $10 in jets/needles. I'm saving $450 per bike. Don't get me wrong the Lectron carb is FANTASTIC. I just don't have to have it in order to make my bikes run the way I want them to.
@Dirt Bike Channel Kyle great videos but really, could you make a video on any hard enduro competition experience. I have picked up on you channel 4 years ago and you got me hooked with this 300, since then I started looking for any feedback and video I could find on the 300 and everyone is saying it is great, which it is. Last year I bough a six days 300 2016 and before that I was a Honda guy with cr250r 2007 and crf450r 2008. This week I took part in a very difficult and challenging hard enduro competition where the conditions were rain, mud and sticky clay, well I can tell you that the 300 shines but I and many other riders in my Expert class got ‘beaten’ by a guy on a cr250 modded with a heavier flywheel. This guy was not a ‘sleeper’ i.e a pro dressed up in sheep’s clothing, the guy was a genuine enduro rider. Therefore the conclusion is if you want to be good, fast and skilful GO AND RIDE, it does not matter if the bike is 2005 or 2016 as long as it is a two stroke and you ride/train for HARD ENDURO. You make great videos but to be honest you can ride these tracks on any 4stroke, you are just touching the 2t 300 potential at 20-30%. I make this comment for everyone thinking that they need a new KTM to be good, and l TELL THEM YOU WILL BE GOOD IF YOU RIDE, BECAUSE I HAVE A NEW KTM AND A GUY WITH MY OLD BIKE BEAT THE PISTONS OUT OF ALL NEW KTM’s. Fair well and for everyone that want to see some of this competition see my videos that will be published shortly.
4-5 years? its 2021 (almost 3 years from the video upload date) and i already cannot get a brand new carburated version anymore (at least in my country), KTM only sale the TPI version for offroad bike, and stop importing the XC version, so if i want to get a brand new carburated 2 stroke offroad bike, the only option is with converting SX bike for offroad, or get the bike from another manufacture like yamaha or sherco.
I would put a caveat on the "tuning a carb isnt rocket science statement" after having tried to tune an early 2000's CR125 and its stupid mikuni. Its not rocket science with a good bike and carb.
Layne Ford I wanted to but the cost put me off.. the bike was only 1800 and i couldnt find any used ones at the time so it was gonna cost like 350 or something which was just too much. I counted my lucky stars when i just got it to a point where it only fouled 1 or 2 plugs a year instead of every other ride.
Before my 17 ktm 300 I never messed with Jetting on any of my bikes. Now it takes me less than 15 minutes to change a needle or pilot on my bike, it's not that difficult and I like doing it I wish I would have tuned the other bikes I had before.
I want your opinion Kyle what would you think would be a good next step bike for a 13- 14 year old and about done with my bike that I have now which is a klx 125?
I was really excited for TPI to come to the 300 XC but it didn't happen this year. I feel like the holy grail is a Lectron-carbed XC. Got my '19 300 XC on order.
Nah, not worth the cost. Rather have something I can work on then adding more factors that can grenade an engine or require the dealer for a tune. Keep it simple stupid and just learn how to jet.
why does anyone believe that an oil pump fails? This technique has been tested millions of times for 40-50 years. it´s not "NEW" and KTM is not the inventor either
My TPI runs to rich in the low end and I have had to clean the plug multiple times because it's caked in oil. It is Kind of aggravating because I bought the TPI so I would have to worry about that stuff way less. Getting stuck in the middle of a trail because of a plug on a 18' TPI is embarrassing.
aaron johnson that's odd. Probably a issue with how new tpi is. It's going to take a few years to get everything dialed on the product from ktm. I'm actually shocked it runs as well as it does fir being 2 yrs in the making.
In Europe they were having g problems with them running to lean, but I know it's running to rich on the low end. This is the first 2 stroke dirtbike to have a throttle body and no carb, but yeah Polaris has been injecting oil for awhile.
That's interesting. Not sure what could cause that. The tpi bikes run very lean. You may want to take it to the dealer to make sure nothing is amiss with your bike.
Here in Europe (Czech Republic) you can find EXC 300 tpi in stock at almost every dealer store and it costs 9500€.. and it's still too much, i hope i could get 2015 Beta RR300 with 86hours for 4700€ on Sunday :)
Motorcross is injected !! TPI are so much better !!!!!! And so does Graham Jarvis mechanic !!!!!!!!! fuel economy !! Insert from Graham Jarvis mechanic on new TPI..“The fuel economy is unreal. The bike wastes considerably less fuel than the carbed model and even with the same fuel tank as the ’17 bike, we’re finding we don’t need to refuel during a three hour race.
As for the advertised higher milage I'm sure they are comparing the new efi to a box stock carb bike as I get 42 to 50 mpg out of my old 12 250 depending on the ride and jetting.
You mentioned TPI eventually becoming the only thing available... I think there is some confusion out there on what is coming with the 2019’s - I’ve been told (maybe they were uninformed) that 2018 was going to be the last year with a carb version for the 300 XCW. Do you know for sure whether there will still be a carb in 2019 models? Thanks!
plz turn your intro music down just a touch. its not bad music it just not balanced to the level of your voice. we're watching reviews not attending a rock concert
Yesterday I tried riding the ktm exc 250tpi 2020, I can't believe how much weaker it is than my sx 250 2011, the exc is great for its purpose, but it's not a fun bike for me
Sorry for my dumbass question but what's the difference between a lectron carb and the factory. I'm thinking bout getting a 2t but I don't want to be screwing with a carb each time I ride.
@@michaelspinelli5261 the adjustability is much easier. You simply adjust the metering rod or power jet. You don’t need to worry about having spare needles or jets. I’m still trying to learn it but I love it. Very simple carb.
