[News]

Fuel-Injected 2-Strokes Coming in 2018?

7 years ago | Photos: Marco Campelli | Black&RAD

KTM has confirmed that their 2018 two-stroke EXC models will come out with EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection).  This emissions-friendly bomb was revealed in a press release from KTM today, stating that fuel injection technology is ready for two-strokes, and the 2018 250EXC and 300EXC models will come equipped with it in Europe and the USA. Australia is expected to receive a small batch of the fuel-injected two-stroke models for model-year 2018, with the entire shipment for 2019 using the new technology.
Sure, there’s been speculation about these developments for a few years now, but it’s significant that KTM has finally confirmed the ongoing talk. The 2018 machines are set to be officially presented to press in May this year.

As outlined by the full content of KTM’s press release (see below), the major benefits of the new-generation two-strokes’ fuel injection – which they’re referring to as Transfer Port Injection (TPI) technology – are increased fuel efficiently, better throttle response and the capacity to re-program fuel maps.

KTM’s 2018 250EXC and 300EXC models are set to be officially raced in Austria at the 2017 ErzbergRodeo.

The price for the new TPI two-strokes is yet to be announced, but with the addition of this new technology, it is likely that we will see an increase. In fact, for several years, KTM has been upfront about the fact that it’ll narrow gap between the two- and four-stroke models’  prices at the dealer significantly.

Here is their official statement from KTM…

KTM is pleased to mark a major global milestone by announcing that it will unveil the world’s first serial production fuel injection 2-stroke Enduro machines at an official launch this coming May. The Austrian manufacturer is well known for its revolutionary advancements in technology and now the game-changer is finally here, with 2-stroke fuel injection Enduro models being launched as part of the 2018 EXC range. With KTM’s unwavering commitment to being at the very forefront of offroad motorcycle sport, in which the orange brand has achieved many championship wins over the years, the latest, exciting development in technology has come to fruition.

It has been no secret that KTM’s Research and Development department in Mattighofen, Austria has been developing this technology, which offers considerable benefits over carbureted models including drastically reduced fuel consumption while also no-longer having the need to pre-mix fuel or alter the machines’ jetting. 
 
Not only that, the new two-stroke TPI models offer a completely new experience in terms of power delivery and rideability, which once again demonstrates KTM’s commitment to its offroad roots, following on from the all-new generation of Enduro machines released last year.  As market leaders in this segment, KTM believes the new two-stroke fuel injection technology, known as TPI (Transfer Port Injection), is revolutionary. More information will be available during the international media launch, which begins on May 15, 2017.

“This is an incredibly exciting development for KTM,” continued Joachim Sauer, KTM Product Marketing Manager. “We have been developing two-stroke fuel injection for some time, and our goal was to create competitive motorcycles with all the benefits of fuel injection while fitting into our READY TO RACE mantra.”

Stay tuned for developments.

By the way, will these new injected two-dingers also come with the Traction Control technology that was introduced on most 2017-model four-strokes from KTM and Husqvarna? Based on the comments made by KTM Australia’s Technical Services Manager, Rob Twyerould, in a recent Transmoto article about Traction Control technology, there’s every possibility. “Once KTM and Husqvarna move to fuel injection on their two-strokes models,” Twyerould explained, “it’s much more likely for traction control to be incorporated because fuel-injected bikes use an ECU with much higher processing power and the ability to incorporate those additional features.”

And will they perform as well as their carb-fed predecessors? In a recent interview with Europe’s Enduro21.com, KTM’s product marketing manager, Joachim Sauer, pointed out that these new two-strokes have been tuned specifically to perform in a manner similar to a carbureted bike, and that testing has confirmed that they respond crisply, and (kind of obviously) have no need for jetting changes.

Do you have a 2017-model KTM 250/300EXC? Check out our insight into improving the standard bikes’ rich jetting.

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