765383_MY27 KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO _HARDENDUROStraight vertical? No problem.Hill climbs are something I'm just getting into lately. I've got a makeshift, small-scale hill climb in my backyard that goes nearly vertical, and after doing a handful in Iceland on the back of a Ducati DesertX, something that shouldn't be as capable as it was in that regard, I've been getting a hankering to try my hand at some steeper, harder, more gnarly hill climbs I know exist around my mountain compound.Across the valley, there are a few pretty-damn vertical, rocky, rutted-out climbs I know local dirt bikers and hard enduro folks use to train on. But living to tell the tale means I would rather be on something that's purpose-built for such tasks and obstacles. Those are few and far between, however, as while most dirt bikes are great for single-track and some light obstacles, hard enduro and hill climbs are another animal completely. So color me intrigued by KTM's updated 300 XC-W Hardenduro competition-spec dirt bike, which promises to not just be Ready to Race, but also go full Sound of Music, i.e., climb every mountain, ford every stream. I mean, look at that hero shot of it basically being parallel to a vertical grade.AdvertisementAdvertisementWoof.MY27 KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO765573_MY27 KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO Detail_HARDENDURO_HARDENDURO_DETAILS_PARTS765527_MY27 KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO Detail_HARDENDURO_HARDENDURO_DETAILS_PARTSGo BigSwappable Batteries, Inexpensive, Yet Superiorly Capable: Bonnell's 805 RX EV Dirt Bike Is HereWant A New Beta Dirt Bike? Why Not Go Racing And Save A Bunch Of Money?"The KTM 300 XC-W HARDENDURO is a purpose-built, premier model in the KTM Enduro lineup, engineered with years of championship-winning expertise and pedigree, bringing Factory Racing energy directly to the dealership floor," says KTM, and that promise seems to be backed up by the dirt bike's specs.Based around KTM's XC chassis, the whole dirt bike is designed with the intention of doing very dumb and questionable things across every known surface material imaginable. Whether that's dirt, gravel, sand, rocks, stones, boulders, trees, streams, logs, stairs, or your granny Mabel—over everything it goes. Powered by a 293cc 2-stroke single, it makes about 49 horsepower. A WP XACT Closed Cartridge front fork keeps everything in line at the front, while a WP XPLOR shock is out back and offer 11 inches of travel at the front and 12 inches of travel at the back.AdvertisementAdvertisementAgain, the thing is designed to go everywhere, so you'd expect Ford Raptor levels of travel, and you get it. The front suspension also offers compression and rebound adjustments, while the rear only gives the rider preload changes. That's all well and good, but the Hardenduro also gets a host of bespoke parts, too. 765390-my27-ktm-300-xc-w-hardenduro-hardenduroPhoto by: KTMOnly offered on the Hardenduro, you'll find (inhales): Hardenduro-specific graphics, an orange frame, a Hardenduro bar pad, soft ODI lock-on grips in gray, black ribbed Diamante Factory seat, a map-select switch, an orange Factory frame protector set, factory wheel set comprised of black Excel rims, black spokes, orange hubs, and orange spoke nipples, a wrap-around handguard kit, a radiator fan, black anodized CNC-machined triple clamps, a skid plate, floating front brake disc, a front brake disc guard, a solid rear brake disc, a rear brake safety wire, an orange rear brake disc guard, an orange Supersprox Stealth rear sprocket, an orange oil plug, clutch slave cylinder protection, front and rear pull straps, and a black anodized engine hangers.And breathe. AdvertisementAdvertisementThere are two things you should know. First, the 2027 KTM 300 XC-W Hardenduro will set you back $13,699, plus shipping, tax, and title. Second, according to KTM, this specific model is meant for closed-course competition use only, i.e., it likely doesn't pass the strict European emissions laws that even off-road dirt bikes are subject to and which got KTM in trouble not too long ago. That's obviously not the case in the States, so you don't have to worry. But who's ready to level up their enduro and hill climb game?
