On just about any other bike, it would have been an impasse. Torrential rain had turned the trail into a river of flowing clay and the rider had dropped the bike on a steep hill climb upstream. So slippery, it was hard to stand, let alone move forward and the brake-locked wheels were sliding back in the muck.
On most bikes, this rider would have dug the rear wheel down into the dirt rather than drive the bike up hill. But on this bike, the trials-style tires found grip where the rider's boots couldn't and the journey continued.
This rider was not on just any bike. This rider was on the new KTM Freeride 250R, a rare bike that outperforms its rider to tackle terrain that would have left them stranded on other bikes.
The KTM Freeride 250R is part of the new breed of liquid-cooled two-stroke motorcycles. The Sherco X-Ride 290 and Ossa Explorer 290, both of which debuted in Canada for the 2014 season, are joined by the KTM Freeride 250R, which has been available in Europe since 2013 but only came to North America this season.
They're small, light, quiet, powerful, nimble, easy to ride and fun despite not being as zippy as their bigger-boned siblings. Their engines are tuned for torque and steadiness rather than whiplash acceleration and speed. They're forgiving enough for riders still developing their skills, but capable enough to be interesting to experts. In Europe, they're street legal, but Transport Canada doesn't allow new two-strokes on the road any more, so the turn signals come off before they cross the ocean.
Like the fabled Goldilocks, riders in Canada can now find one that's just right. The Ossa is the smallest and lightest, with the most-targeted purpose. It's a trials bike with a seat. The Sherco is a little bigger and easiest to ride of the bunch. The KTM is the most versatile, most expensive at $9,599, fastest and biggest of the three, but it's still smaller than most other dirt bikes.
It feels bigger than it looks, however. With one of the highest ground clearances and lowest seat-heights of any dirt bike, there isn't a lot of room left in between for this rider's 37-inch-inseam legs. But stand on the pegs and the bike grows. Even without aftermarket bar risers, it was easy standing all day. Choose to sit down, though, and you're not penalized in handling much as on other bikes. Even sitting way back in the saddle to get a little legroom, the front end still grips and turns in well.
This is a hallmark of this bike: It forgives rider errors, but responds sharply to demands. It's easy to pop the front end up over logs, but it doesn't buck unexpectedly accelerating on steep hill climbs. The front brake has a nuanced feel and stops confidently under full force, but isn't prone to wash out if you grab too much.
The other hallmark is its affinity for anything but straight, flat terrain. Despite having 20 or so fewer CCs than the Ossa and Sherco, it's the fastest of the three and handles top speeds the best. In wide open routes, full-size bikes pull away in a cloud, but even riders a little better will have a tough time keeping up with you on a Freeride when things get narrow or steep. It slithers through tight twisties and handles adrenalin pumping hill climbs with nonchalance.
But it really sets itself apart on tight, twisty, steep down hills. Even the nimblest of other bikes feel clumsy on descent, but the Freeride acts more like a mountain bike. Linear engine braking and smooth throttle response make it easy to regulate speed while maintaining control.
Unlike the Ossa and Sherco, the KTM doesn't have a set-it-and-forget-it gear. The Sherco handles anything in 3rd. The Ossa, 4th. The KTM requires frequent shifts among 2nd, 3rd and 4th to keep momentum. First is so short it's almost irrelevant, and fifth is just for passing through on route to an overdrive 6th. But the amenable transmission handles the changes easily, with or without engaging the supple hydraulic clutch.
The biggest dimension shave from full-sized rides come in weight and suspension travel, which means it isn't likely to respond well to hard landings from big jumps, but remains forgiving on whoops.
A bike this suited to rough terrain could use a more robust bash plate, despite its unrivalled ground clearance. And at this price, hand protectors should be included in a bike that craves tight single-track riding.
The over-exposed electric-start motor also looks vulnerable to damage. While the magic button was a nice convenience on the KTM, it wasn't missed on the kickstart-only Ossa and Sherco because they booted to life so easily. The lack of kickstart on the KTM would be missed, however, if the battery failed.
KTM markets its bikes as "Ready To Race." Its other models are aimed to win those races, and frequently do. The Freeride 250R isn't likely to take a professional to the podium, but it is more likely to get an amateur to the finish line.
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