KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas own the 300 two-stroke cross-country motorcycle segment. These off-road competition-focused dirt bikes share much in common with their respective brand’s motocross models, most notably chassis design. The easiest way to decipher a cross-country model from an enduro (in stock trim) is the former has a front number plate while the latter are equipped with a headlight. If off-road competition and light motocross (i.e., vet track) riding and racing is in your future and you want a big-bore two-stroke dirt bike, read on to learn about three options available in 2024.
Related: 2024 Fuel-Injected 300cc Two-Stroke Enduro Bikes To Buy
2024 KTM 300 XC
All-new in 2023, KTM’s flagship two-stroke cross-country racer’s biggest update for 2024 is front suspension related. (KTM/)
The longest-standing 300 two-stroke cross-country model is KTM’s 300 XC. After being carbureted from its inception through 2019, it received fuel injection in 2020 in the form of transfer port injection (TPI). Last year, the 300 XC was given throttle body injection (TBI). This model and its Austrian cousins require premixed fuel like their two-stroke motocross-focused counterparts. The big update on the 300 XC for 2024 is its use of WP’s Xact 48mm closed-cartridge coil-spring fork instead of the WP Xact 48mm air fork found on the 2017–2023 models.
2024 KTM 300 XC Price: $11,299
Related: The Most Expensive Cross-Country Motorcycles To Buy
2024 Husqvarna TX 300
The only two-stroke cross-country model from Husqvarna is the TX 300. (Husqvarna/)
Husqvarna’s two-stroke cross-country lineup is slimmer than KTM’s and GasGas’ as its lone model that fits that description is the TX 300. Like its orange relative, it was fully overhauled last year and gets a WP Xact 48mm closed-cartridge coil-spring fork this year. Unlike Husqvarna’s full-size motocross racers, the TX 300 is spec’d with regular-height suspension instead of a 10mm-lower setup. Still, its claimed seat height is 0.3 inch less than the KTM’s. In terms of price, the TX 300 is the most expensive in the segment but not by much—just $100 more than the 300 XC.
2024 Husqvarna TX 300 Price: $11,399
Related: WP Xact Pro 6500 Cartridge Suspension Kit Review
2024 GasGas EX 300
GasGas’ EX 300 continues to be the only 300 two-stroke cross-country model from Austria with forged triple clamps instead of CNC-machined units like the KTM and Husqvarna have. (GasGas/)
If 11 grand is out of your budget, GasGas’ EX 300 might be a little closer to your desired price range. It’s $700 less than the KTM and $800 below the Husqvarna. Some cost-saving measures—like the absence of an engine map select switch—are reversible through GasGas’ Technical Accessories catalog. This model is new from the ground up in 2024, and features brand-specific components such as an all-aluminum subframe, forged aluminum triple clamps, and Braktec brakes and hydraulic clutch. According to GasGas, the EX 300 rolls onto the scales at 226 pounds wet, without fuel.
2024 GasGas EX 300 Price: $10,599