2019 Factory Off-Road Bikes—Ron Commo III’s KTM 300 XC

Ron Commo III is a consistent top-10 performer in the Kenda AMA National Enduro Series. Since he is a former pro trials rider, he naturally excels in the really technical stuff. We took a look at Commo’s 2019 KTM 300 XC two-stroke at the Muddobbers National Enduro in Matthews, Indiana, and chatted with him about his bike setup.

Related: 2019 Off-Road Factory Racebikes—Grant Baylor’s KTM 450 XC-F

Beginning with the engine, Commo runs a Rekluse manual clutch along with an FMF Gnarly header pipe and an FMF PowerCore 2.1 silencer. One of the most notable modifications is the Lectron 38 H-Series carburetor.

“Lectron has helped me in the past,” Commo noted. “I was having some carburetor issues at wide-open speeds and stuff like that. When I’d go wide open, chop the throttle, and then get back [on] it hard again, it would kind of bog a little. So I reached out to Lectron and they sent me out a carb. It basically fixed everything. I rode a hare scramble last weekend where I could just grab a handful of throttle and it pulls all the way to the top. It never sputters.”

A VForce4R reed valve system is used in conjunction with the Lectron carburetor as well.

“With the reeds, you can definitely feel the difference,” Commo noted. “The reed cage design allows no air to get past without pushing the reeds, so it makes a lot more horsepower. I don’t know what the actual [dyno] numbers [are], but if you’re a good rider, you can definitely feel the difference.”

Suspension-wise, Commo managed to snag a set of ex-factory WP cartridge spring forks, which are set up by TF Racing.

“I couldn’t afford the [WP] Cone Valve forks, so TF Racing managed to get the older factory forks,” Commo explained. “They are the factory forks that the [KTM] team was using just before the Cone Valve forks came out, [which] I think [was] in ’07. They’re great; I love them. I’m running a big axle up front because the [older-style fork uses] a larger axle [than stock.] All [I had] to do was change the spacers out.”

At the front of the bike are SXS triple clamps from the KTM PowerParts catalog with XC Gear Mako 360 custom engraved bar mounts, a Renthal handlebar, ARC levers, Enduro Engineering brush deflectors, and a throttle housing made by Joker Machine.

“I use a Joker Throttle housing and tube, which I don’t think they make any more,” Commo said. “I just like the feel of it.”

An IMS fuel tank and a set of sharp IMS footpegs are used, as are Moto-Master brake rotors front and rear, with the latter being a solid unit. Commo also runs several Enduro Engineering items, including a sharkfin, brake pedal and tip, clutch slave cylinder guard, radiator braces, and a skid plate with a linkage guard.

“I tend to go over things instead of around them, so the linkage guard is mandatory,” Commo noted.

As far as the drivetrain, Commo changes the standard 13/50 gearing to a final drive ratio of 14/51 using sprockets from SRT. A TM Designworks chain guide is run as well.

“The 14-tooth front sprocket frees up the chassis,” Commo explained. “It flows a little better where the chain can roll right onto it, whereas with the 13 it binds. The factory guys are all running a 14, so it works a little better."