2012 KTM 300XC vs 2011 EC300

[AZRickD]

I think the GG 300 is (thankfully) softer off the bottom than the KTM. It also revs better.

 

[john01]

Honestly I don't see the quality edge going to KTM. For me bike quality is components that make up the bike and how well the bike performs. My son had two KTM's and compaired to my 2010 GG they were a notch behind IMHO. I do put more into how well a bike handles and feels so others mileage may vary.

 

[Jakobi]

Honestly I don't see the quality edge going to KTM. For me bike quality is components that make up the bike and how well the bike performs. My son had two KTM's and compaired to my 2010 GG they were a notch behind IMHO. I do put more into how well a bike handles and feels so others mileage may vary.

Yes the GG comes with some hella nice quality components. I don't disagree there. No need to fit bigger rads, cooling fans, or even change the pipe. From this angle its prime.

I guess I'm basing my judgement on the smaller things like the engine casting, and plastic mouldings. I can think of heaps of little things I had to shave, tweak, adjust or sand. How about those fuel cap seals?

I know everything has manufacturing tolerances and no brand comes out with a beautifully blueprinted engine, but GG has a bit of room for improvement.

 

[john01]

Agreeded but as does everything man made; always room for improvement. I do like that GG keeps on with the small improvements comming while keeping the great handling.

 

[Jakobi]

Maybe a bit more room than the competition

They have nailed the chasis though! Sitting on a KTM just feels a bit alien to me. I rode a friends blue one (2011 Berger) and given that it needed some jetting work it just didn't feel as natural as a package. The GG I threw my leg over and was right at home. I believe he commented on my bike having more of a mid range hit aswell.

To be honest I can keep pace will him all day on my bike, but when we swapped his just didn't inspire the confidence to push and he left me for dead. When I finally caught up it was me who suggested we swap back! Hah!

 

[john01]

LOL so the blue pumpkins don't feel any better than the orange one's. They do look sweet though. I feel wierd on the KTM's. I just feel like I'm sitting up on them and have to pay way more attention to my body position than any other bikes I've ridden.

 

[Jakobi]

LOL so the blue pumpkins don't feel any better than the orange one's. They do look sweet though. I feel wierd on the KTM's. I just feel like I'm sitting up on them and have to pay way more attention to my body position than any other bikes I've ridden.

+1 to a tee! The blue pumpkin had super plush forks! Dare I say too soft?

 

[Vindicator]

Maybe a bit more room than the competition

They have nailed the chasis though! Sitting on a KTM just feels a bit alien to me. I rode a friends blue one (2011 Berger) and given that it needed some jetting work it just didn't feel as natural as a package. The GG I threw my leg over and was right at home. I believe he commented on my bike having more of a mid range hit aswell.

To be honest I can keep pace will him all day on my bike, but when we swapped his just didn't inspire the confidence to push and he left me for dead. When I finally caught up it was me who suggested we swap back! Hah!

+1

I do think the KTM has certain quality details and overall is a better built bike but the GG just feels natural ! It took me a long time to get accustomed to my ex 07 KTM (coming from a XR650) and to be quite honest I never felt "at ease". It always felt I was siting on top of the front wheel.
I find the GG 300 motor to have more bottom and mid range than my 07 pumpkin and the rear shock, so far, simply allows me make almost any kind of mistake . As for the front Zokes 48 CC, what a delight !

 

[thumperrider1]

Yes the GG comes with some hella nice quality components. I don't disagree there. No need to fit bigger rads, cooling fans, or even change the pipe. From this angle its prime.

I guess I'm basing my judgement on the smaller things like the engine casting, and plastic mouldings. I can think of heaps of little things I had to shave, tweak, adjust or sand. How about those fuel cap seals?

I know everything has manufacturing tolerances and no brand comes out with a beautifully blueprinted engine, but GG has a bit of room for improvement.

I would not use KTM fuel cap design as a blueprint for building any bike. LOL!

 

[bukwheat]

Yes the GG comes with some hella nice quality components. I don't disagree there. No need to fit bigger rads, cooling fans, or even change the pipe. From this angle its prime.

I guess I'm basing my judgement on the smaller things like the engine casting, and plastic mouldings. I can think of heaps of little things I had to shave, tweak, adjust or sand. How about those fuel cap seals?

I know everything has manufacturing tolerances and no brand comes out with a beautifully blueprinted engine, but GG has a bit of room for improvement.

by john01

Honestly I don't see the quality edge going to KTM. For me bike quality is components that make up the bike and how well the bike performs. My son had two KTM's and compaired to my 2010 GG they were a notch behind IMHO. I do put more into how well a bike handles and feels so others mileage may vary.

I would have to agree with John...I've always liked the old Maico engine castings and the like. I want a bike to look nice, of course, but the main
clincher in the whole scheme of things is performance. I think GG's performance far outweighs the nuances of weird size nuts and bolts. I have found no reason to complain about the fit and finish on either of my GGs.
One thing about GG, you don't hear about problems with holes in expansion chambers,and as mentioned before, gas caps that fly off if you drop the bike, wimpy electric starters that need service so much that more people take them off than leave them on....every year its another mass produced problem with KTMs.

I see GG and other brands; Ossa, TM, Husky, Fantic taking more and more market share from Big Orange in the next couple of years.

 

[Jakobi]

I would have to agree with John...I've always liked the old Maico engine castings and the like. I want a bike to look nice, of course, but the main
clincher in the whole scheme of things is performance. I think GG's performance far outweighs the nuances of weird size nuts and bolts. I have found no reason to complain about the fit and finish on either of my GGs.
One thing about GG, you don't hear about problems with holes in expansion chambers,and as mentioned before, gas caps that fly off if you drop the bike, wimpy electric starters that need service so much that more people take them off than leave them on....every year its another mass produced problem with KTMs.

I see GG and other brands; Ossa, TM, Husky, Fantic taking more and more market share from Big Orange in the next couple of years.

And thats why we all own Gassers and not pumpkins! Mine are far from complaints.. maybe just constructive critizism. You identify some rippers for Katoom too! Haha