Update: piston probably fell somewhere between getting machined and put in the engine. There is a flat spot where the crack started (like it got hit with something the lines produced by the machining process circular are still there but dented) piston is produced by vertex so no blame on tm. Got all parts needed for the rebuilt for free. Bike is running great again
A lot off people have asked me about how the tm compares to my gasgas/ktm platform. so I thought lets make a video about it. So here is my honest oppinion about the bikes. I used the GG as last years race bike and now it's still my spare bike. The TM was ment to be my race bike for this year. I rode both bike for a very decent amount off time last weak when I was on a little enduro trip to France. Both bikes i bought brand new. GG has 107Hours on it right now and the TM 30hours
I’m sorry about my English it’s not my native language but I figured doing this in English would help out more people who are on the edge of buying a TM racing or not.
When I was on the edge off buying the TM or not there wasn’t much to find about the bike in English especially compared to the ktm 350 platform which is probably the most sold 4t dirtbike in the world. So I just went on and bought the TM anyways to figure it out on my own. So I wanted to talk about a few subject on the bike. The Engine, The frame, The handling, The suspension and maintenance.
I tested both bikes on multiple different soils types and types off riding single track, in the hills, sand and the MX track.
Let start off with the engine. I thought at first the TM is going to be a screamer being a 300 4t. Well that isn’t the case at all. The ktm 350 engine revs 1000 rpm more. But the biggest difference would be the way the power is produced. The TM revs up quite a bit slower but it’s way smoother and more torque-y doing it. This meaning you have to shift less on the TM, coming out off a corner it picks up easier, smoother and more powerful it’s very linear to the end of the rev range. Which for me is the biggest pro for this engine. It feels more like a 450 power wise (not as in real power but the way the power is produced) but easier to handle.
The downfall on the other hand is, in the tight single tracks, it feels like the rotating engine mass is pushes you a bit thru the berms making it easier to blow them out and losing time in a competition. This is something that takes a bit off getting used to (when you are used to the engine it's just fine) The KTM engine is a bit more lively and easier to maneuver around at first. This also has a but to it. The KTM engine is more prone to stall the TM is a bit more of a tractor in that perspective.
So the biggest difference seems to be due to the rotating mass. That both engines use in a different way, to it’s own benefits. It’s more a matter of what the riders preference is.
There is also a big difference in the way the transmission works. Due to the engine characteristics the TM gears seems longer and endlessly on the keto the gears seems shorter. On my local MX track I can do the whole track in 3rd gear with the TM. On the GG I have to shift between 3-4 and in the slowest corner I have to go back to 2th. I’m faster on the TM because you get more time to focus on the corner itself instead of shifting while braking. There is also quite a difference in releasing the clutch the Gasgas and my former Husqvarna both felt quite hesitant and shaky releasing the clutch where the TM is very smooth. I tent to use the clutch a lot less on the TM because of the more torque-y power. It must be said that on both bikes the gearing isn’t stock I've changed the sprockets to my liking. On the TM I run 2tooth more in the back as off right now. The throttle reaction on the TM is very direct and smooth. Where the gasgas even with a GET ECU and mapping seems a bit more hesitant for a split second.
Let’s talk about the chassis. The 2 couldn’t be more different. Where the gasgas is quite flexible and more comfortable the TM is more racier and stiff. The TM gives you more confidence to push and feels way lighter into turn. This is due to the frame and the positioning of the fuel tank in the rear of the bike like a Yamaha. On the other hand the TM is more prone to ruts the front wheel seems to be less stable because there is less weight on the front end. You have to ride it more precise but when you do the bikes keeps giving more confidence. (being less “stable” doesn’t mean it is sketchy or unstable, you just get more input threw out the handlebars. Most inputs you can just deny and ride on. It does take some getting used to predict: I don’t have to do anything with this input, and I have to react at that input) It’s not having a lot off headshake or something like that it’s stable at higher speeds it’s just different. (as off right now i can make the bike turn anywhere at anytime it does take some time to get fully confident in the chassis)
Continues in comments
Негізгі бет Спорт TM Racing 300 4t 2023 vs Gasgas ( KTM ) 350F 2022 comparison review. English + subs in comments
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