Getting new trail bike?

[Jo3yT]

alright so im moving on from motocross and want to get into more offroad/ trailriding and im planning on doing some aussie offroad championship rounds. ive been offroad riding for years now but ive always just done it on the weekends that i havnt been racing, but after a few years of racing ive realised that i enjoy 'offroadin' more. Also, I wont ride anything but 2 strokes . anyway, im pretty light and small (approx 5,10). im not sure if i should get a ktm 300exc or the husky wr300 or maybe even the tm en300. I need whatever bike i get to be a very capable racing machine but  it also needs to be able to handle the harsh trails that I ride. Is 1 of these bikes more suited to my riding or are they all pretty much the same?
cheers.

[Stusmoke]

Welcome to the forum Jo3yT, Good to see another all time smoker here.

From the reviews I've read on the Katoom vs TM MOTOCROSSERS, they are VERY different machines. As you probably know, when it comes to build quality and top of the line components, nothing compares to the TM. Not to mention its my favorite shade of blue. However the Katooms are very well established 2 strokers and they make a fucking good screamer. Huskies have been around for yonks and make a terrific motorcycle whatever class that may be. For the sake of being so well known and easy to get parts for, I'd go the KTM. They're great, well designed and awesome fun to ride bikes that aren't trouble to get parts for. TM's can be hard to get parts for (atleast they are in American from what I've heard and Australia too) but they are tremendous bikes. TMKIWI should chime in here... The huskies, been around and successful for a long time, that tells you all you need to know. Anyone of these bikes are designed for enduro and no terrain will stand before them however you are pretty short (no offense lol) so you might need a fair bit of preload. But thats irrelevant all of these bikes are easy to set up for the riders personal tastes and physical dimensions.

So yeah, when it came to the crunch I'd get the KTM or husky. Just my 2 bucks worth.

Hard bunch of decisions are ahead, alot of the guys on here have got an absolute gold mine in experience in almost every area of dirt bikes (And GP).

We look forward to seeing your new smoker mate 

[Jo3yT]

thanks for the input! i really appreciate it I agree with you the tm's look fantastic and i know they are great quality and I also love the ktm's and that electric start on it is to die for! but yea, im thinking the husky, and as you said i know theyre are great machines and theres a husky dealer just around the block from me, whereas the nearest ktm dealer is a 6 hour drive away, not to mention the husky is a fair bit cheaper too. so, i think in the next few weeks im gonna try to get rid im my mx rig and hopefully grab wr300, then i just gotta rip off the adr gear and ill be racing the next Aorc round!

[TMKIWI]

Welcome to the site.
Options options options.

KTM:
Pro's: Great bikes with good back up service and lots of after market parts.Good strong motor.
Con's: PDS creates alot of debate. Some love it some don't. High seat height.

TM Racing:
Pro's:Top of the line component's. Race ready out of the box. Very powerfull motor. Good handling. Very little after market part's. ( You don't need any )
Con's:Very little after market part's. ( depends which way you look at it ). Limited dealer network. ( Aussie does have a good importer and parts are easier and cheaper then you think ). Very powerfull motor. Get a JRF Torque Controller. 5 speed box.

Husky.
Pro's: Good strong bike. Cheap.
Con's: Getting a bit old now. Odd kick starter. New model next year.

Gas Gas.
Pro's:Good components. Low seat height. Strong motor that doesn't hit as hard as the others. Looks cool.
Con's: See motor above. Depends on how you like your power delivery.

Husaberg.
KTM with CC forks and linkage rear.

All good bikes that boil down to this.

TM: The animal of the bunch. Good for pro riders.
KTM: Fast all round bike but people are divided on the handling.
Husaberg: KTM that handles better then a KTM.
Husky:  Odd ball of the bunch.
Gas Gas: Good bike that suits novices as well as experts.

Choose your poison and have fun.

[Jo3yT]

^ thanks!! ohhh mann that tm is looking and sounding more delicious Im gonna search around, and find out where the nearest tm dealer is. mayble thay'll let me take it for a test ride!

[Stusmoke]

I was also going to suggest the Gas gas and husaberg options but I assumed you had reasons for knocking them back.

The TMs are definitely tuned, designed and tested to the Nth degree for one thing: Racing.
If racing, be it enduro, motocross or supermoto etc, is the game, You'll be eating a dick finding a machine better suited to the job. Just my 2 bucks worth. They are expensive but I think the top shelf... everything can really pay off in some situations. The enduro models in particular are just wow apparently. MXA thinks the MXers are great too but have some down sides.
But to be really honest, all these bikes are to-die-for machines and one of the biggest concerns when purchasing a brand new bike I think is dealership convenience and support.
If the huskies are coming out with new models soon, then I would wait. Infact I would wait full stop until you've got a full list of 2013 models to choose from. If they get shit reviews but one really shines, or vice versa you get more bang for buck. You never know, maybe the husabergs or gas gas are gonna come with EFI if thats your thing. I doubt it but its a possiblity.
TMKIWI is quite right when he says people are divided on the handling. I guess it really depends on your riding style and physical dimensions who knows