Buying a left over model is a great way to get a good deal.  I’ve done this over the years and it’s a fantastic way to get a new bike.   You can get 1K or more off those left over floor models. Right now all the dealers are trying to get rid of 2019 models since all the 2020s are in stock and have been coming for months now. This question revolves around whether or not its and XC model or an XC-W Model.  THis is VERY important here.  

Lets start with the XC line since I have even more passionate feelings about the XC-W line this time around.  

XC Line Pro 2019 Comments

•  This is the last guard of carbureted XC bikes.  Simplicity people  
• This bike still has a kick start.  I’ll take that.  It’s a good thing. 
• The frame didn’t get any major updates.  The older bike is pretty much the same in most ways 
• If you can save $700 to $1200 - go this route! 

XC Line Pro 2020 Comments

• This bike has EFI and TONS of you guys don’t want to play with jetting.  2020 TPI system is much improved from what I can tell over 2019 TPI system.   
• Bikes start better 
• Bike adjust to altitude better 
• TPI bikes run a little smoother from what I can tell.  
• I LOVE the little changes in they made in valving on the forks.  Feel more planted and plush (remember to run a lower pressure than 139 psi) 

XC-W 

If we were having this conversation a couple of months ago before I had the chance to ride a 2020 XC-W… this would have gone differently.  

I’d have given you some speech about how the bikes don’t usually improve that much from year to year, so you should save the 1K and put that toward gas and tires.  

I'm not going to do that here. 

The 2020 KTM 300XC-W is so much better than my 2019, I don’t even want to own it anymore.  If I could drop the mic, it would happen right now.

New frame, new fork valving.  New geometry in that bike.  It’s the best combination of plush front fork to soak everything up while still feeling balanced and aggressive that I’ve ever seen in a bike. It’s stupid good.   

I’ve ridden it in the mountains back to back with the Beta 200RR and the forks felt more plush.  The bike felt heavier to me than the 200RR, but that is to be expected.  The point is that the forks gave me the impression the trail was smoother than on the Beta… and the Beta fork was impressing me! 

I’ve ridden it on the Red Trail near 5 miles of hell… Long story there….but it was fantastic.  I have ridden the bike in whoops and it’s staying straight and true and confidence inspiring and  

Holy crap I want one.  I want to dump my 2019 ASAP.  Sucks because I need to pour some more hours into it for the long term test.  Maybe I’ll ask someone else to keep slamming hours into it and see when it breaks.  

Support the show