2012–2017 · Enduro · Buyer's Guide
Mountain Goat On A Diet
The Freeride 350 takes a liquid-cooled 350 cc single and detunes it on purpose, trading peak numbers for tractability. You get 23 hp and 18 lb-ft fed through a 6-speed box, tuned to pull cleanly off idle instead of hitting hard up top. What sets this generation apart is the whole package built around that engine: a genuinely tiny, trials-flavored chassis with long-travel, fully adjustable suspension and enough ground clearance to walk over ledges. In its class it reads less like a race enduro and more like a mountain bike that happens to have a motor.
This is a bike for the rider who measures a good day in obstacles cleared, not miles covered. It thrives on tight singletrack, steep technical climbs, and slow-speed line choice where heavier machines get stuck fighting their own weight. It ages well because the parts that matter are simple and rebuildable, and the aftermarket support is deep. The honest caveat: the 35.2 in seat is tall for its size, the 1.5 gal tank keeps your loops short, and the fueling wants regular attention to stay happy at idle.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 23 hp (17 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 18 lb-ft (25 Nm) |
| Displacement | 350 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 110/80-18 |
| Ground clearance | 12.8 in (325 mm) |
| Front travel | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
| Rear travel | 10.2 in (260 mm) |
| Seat height | 35.2 in (895 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 1.5 gal (5.5 L) |
Throw a leg over and the first thing that registers is how little there is between your knees. It is narrow to the point of feeling like a bicycle, and once you stand on the pegs your body does most of the steering. The 35.2 in seat looks intimidating on paper, but the bike is so slim and light that you plant a foot and tip it into corners with your hips. The single thumps out a workmanlike beat with a bit of buzz through the pegs at a steady clip, never harsh, never numbing your hands. Long suspension travel soaks up rock steps and root mats without kicking back, so you can pick a bad line and still ride it out. At real trail pace it feels alive under you, eager to change direction the instant you think about it, and completely unbothered by terrain that would have a bigger machine sweating.
Stalling and rough idle
The engine may stall unexpectedly or idle roughly, often due to fueling or air intake issues. Cleaning injectors and maintaining filters are recommended.
Electrical starting issues
Difficulties starting can arise from a weak battery, faulty starter relay, or wiring problems that cause intermittent failures.
Where this KTM Freeride 350 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Freeride 350 is actually built for.
This is your day-trip partner for slickrock, sand, and steep technical lines. It climbs and picks its way through the hard stuff beautifully. Just plan around the 1.5 gal tank, because range is the one thing it won't give you.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
Be honest with yourself here. This bike loves the gnarly detours off a BDR, but with 23 hp and a 1.5 gal tank it isn't built for loaded multi-day mileage. It's a technical toy, not a route-covering machine.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this KTM Freeride 350. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
