KTM has built a gang of race-winning machinery and though its current MotoGP racer (RC16) has some “room for improvement”, when it comes to producing top-of-the-podium off-road competition bikes, KTM kills it. Even when factory machines are five to ten years old, they’re still wildly competent when compared to today’s production offerings. They’re also always decked out in trick high-end aftermarket hardware and upgrades throughout which never hurts.
This 2012 quarter-liter KTM bike was originally owned by the KTM factory-enduro team but has not remained in anywhere near the condition and/or state it was in when the Austrian factory team possessed it. Since buying it the current owner has rebuilt the bike a total of three times, with the most recent rebuild – which the seller calls: “ the most extensive and roughly 20 running hours ago” – the XC-F was built to mimic a 2015 Factory Edition. The example was reportedly stripped down to the frame and had a lot of parts replaced to become a 2015 rep.
The powerplant was completely broken down and then built back up – done in-house by Factory KTM – with new titanium valves, retainer, springs, ported head, Pankl piston and crank, Athena gaskets, Hinson clutch basket, pressure plate, spring, and friction disks. The suspension on this bike underwent a complete rebuild courtesy of KTM’s in-house suspender supplier WP. This consisted of new springs, shim stacks, Race Tech gold rebound and compression valves.
The custom parts list added throughout the final build is extensive but highlights include full plastics and graphics, aluminum radiators, and Renthal twin wall bars. All of the minor components on this example were changed out as well, such as the chain and sprocket, grips (with Barkbusters), hoses, etc. The frame was also re-powdercoated in its original KTM Racing Orange. For an enduro machine this example is relatively immaculate, at least in the photos. And though this is a good looking bike (especially in super-moto form), it’s the Factory XC-F’s performance that makes this example special.
Before its power-plant underwent its transformation, the XC-F was powered by a fuel-injected 248cc DOHC single with a six-speed transmission. When the bike sold new in 2012 it went for $8,449, which makes this highly upgraded semi-custom factory example’s price seem increasingly reasonable. The 250 had a stock dry weight of 234lbs and a 39-inch seat-height. Stock XC-F’s came with 2.5-gallon tanks, WP suspension including inverted forks, and hydraulic disc-brakes front and rear.
This 2012 KTM 250 – which performs more like a 350 according to what I’ve read about this model – is obviously a highly-competent enduro bike, but with a few clicks here and there on the suspension and a change of the tires, the XC-F becomes a quarter-liter sumo beast. Luckily for any interested buyers, the seller also has a spare set of 17-inch super-moto rims wrapped in racing slicks. The sale also includes a KTM stand, spare air-filter, wash-cover, and front fork spacer for transporting the bike, all of which appears to be included in the sale of the Austrian brapper.
Last year Dirt Rider did a piece about Russell Bobbitt’s Factory KTM 250 XC-F racer where they interview the machine’s mechanic Charles Marchant. It gives a good sense of the immense amount of (on the record) work that goes into the transformation into a professional enduro racer. The level of attention to detail on these factory purpose-built bikes is pretty wild too, ordering parts covered in special coatings, building one-off brackets, and an (FMF) exhaust that was specially tuned for the rider, like a dozen other adjustable components on these Factory KTM’s.
You can find this 2012 KTM Factory XC-F 250 Racer for sale here on Craigslist in Alpharetta, Georgia with a price of $5,000, (though the seller does mention that’s a seemingly a flexible $5K they’re happy to negotiate on.)