Enduro21 takes a closer look at the Red Bull KTM 250 EXC-F Josep Garcia will race in the 2024 International Six Days Enduro in Spain.

It ain’t easy to get hold of factory KTM race bikes at the best of times but amplify that by 10 when it is the world champion’s bike, it’s the ISDE, on a busy build-up schedule when weather is affecting the organisation AND it is the home race for the rider.

But Enduro21 got it in the end and we’re glad we did as it gave chance to spy some of the finer details the Farioli factory race team put into bike set-up for the Six Days.

Finishing touches

The main thing to report, just as you’d expect, is this is a brand new KTM 250 EXC-F built for the race by the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing enduro team in Italy.

Finer touches are added at the race like always and Ivan Pueyo, Josep’s mechanic, had a busy couple of days doing the finishing touches ahead of admin check in and Josep getting his race numbers ahead of technical check on the bike and it going through to parc ferme.

Enduro21 is a little surprised to find Josep’s bike is the same as the EnduroGP machine he raced to victory in this year’s world championship. Surprised because we thought six days of racing would mean a little more caution with the bike build for durability. EnduroGP weekends are hard on a bike, make no mistake Josep shows no mercy with his bike either, but two days of tests is a lot easier than six days.

We expected Ivan to explain the engine tune at least would be geared towards durability: “No, it’s the same bike. The only thing you will see is a few extra places I put lock-wire to make sure the part cannot fall off. Like the wheel spokes, the front sprocket lock-nut and radiator cap.”

“Some of the bolts are also replaced with stronger steel [replacing aluminium ones in places like the chain guide/rear sprocket protector] and I use some thread lock around the bolts. You can see I make some paint marks on many bolts to make it quick and easy to do a visual check on the bolt to see if it is turning.”

Using thread lock on bolts, and lock wiring is obviously a good idea at tough events, but these two extra tips are great advice. Look closely and you can see Ivan’s paint marks on the bolts on the side of the engine mount for example.

Love the lockwire

Lockwire holding the spokes together is a good tip too. Ivan twists lockwire around the point in the middle of the spoke, where two meet and binds them together. That way, if one comes loose it is held in place by the other.

Remember the rider has to do all the work on the bike at ISDE so even checking if spokes are loose is a time cost they can do without in the short service time allowance. It’s the kind of thing you often see riders doing quickly while they wait for the time control during the day.

Things like the additional layer of protection aorund the coolant hoses, the carbon fibre protection on water pump and are all the same as all KTM factory enduro bikes. Notice also the cable tie around the outside of the headlight rubber mount to stop it from undoing.

The factory race bikes also run the older-style kill switch with a cover over the top (to prevent the rider pressing it by accident in a test), tougher throttle housing and Josep has an additional starter switch just behind the triple clamps on the frame headstock.

The only other changes specific between the EnduroGP bike and ISDE are purely about set-up for the conditions: different mousses, tyre choice, extra foam behind the engine/sump guard to keep the mud out and different suspension “that’s everything”.

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi