KTM X-Strada Prime

Gravel up your life! This catchy slogan that KTM puts all over the respective pages of their product catalogue, admittedly doesn’t need to be understood as a personal invitation. But it may be, especially when the test bike is handed over with the words: “Keep it for some months. We don’t need it.”

For those not from Upper Austria: The KTM X-Strada Prime, which we will be discussing in the following, was taken over by our test pilot, hailing from the same federal state as the former Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen KG, back in July. Because it was chosen as small as possible (frame size XS/49) and actually from the 2022 model year, KTM didn’t set an urgent return date. Therefore, NoMan could spend a good chunk of her cycling life with it. Or rather: spice it up.

Regarding the dimensions, KTM sticks to their tradition of building relatively long road bikes, which is basically also true in the gravel sector. The Upper Austrians themselves rate the riding position on a scale from “stretched” to “upright” at the transition from the lower to middle third. So, if you have naturally long legs and a short upper body, it is wise to opt for the smaller size. Even for those with “normal” proportions, it’s worth considering a smaller model, depending on personal preferences for handling.

It’s worth noting that, compared to the two other carbon models, the Prime’s front suspension results in a slightly shallower head angle, 1.4 cm higher bottom bracket, and a slightly shorter reach (401mm instead of 418mm in size M).
The smoothness of the ride and the off-road capabilities should benefit from these changes, in addition to the effect of the Rudy suspension fork itself.

The debut of the X-Strada was only partially worthy of a high-quality sports device. It had the privilege of accompanying NoMan for a maiden ride at this year’s Salzkammergut Trophy. As her job was to report on the riders in the rear of the shortest route, this test ride was somewhat less performance-oriented, however.
Before and after that, this fine piece of equipment served exclusively as a means of transport and a shuttle to the lake, swimming pool, or outdoor café during the family vacation. The fact that it not only accepted this demotion, including hours of being chained to trees or fences, without complaint but even cooperated obediently, is still highly regarded by its test rider. After all, it could have just as easily expressed its displeasure about being relegated to an “everyday workhorse”, e.g., by getting a flat tire after navigating through the broken glass behind the beach buffet or acquiring scratches due to improper bicycle lock handling by the children, and so on.

As undecided as she was about the suspension fork, the verdict on the groupset is clear. NoMan is full of praise for Sram’s Rival XPLR eTap, which debuted last year. As a rider with very small hands, she appreciates the ergonomics and feel of the levers, as well as their simple adjustability. The shifting is as crisp and precise as expected from the Americans. The KTM combines a single-chainring with 42 teeth with a wide-ranging XG-1251 (10-44 t.) cassette, the slightly heavier of the two options due to the use of steel instead of aluminium for the large sprocket. This results in smooth gear shifts combined with a wide (440%) gear range that is sufficient for a variety of applications. The braking system, also from the Rival group and using two 160mm discs, was always reliable but never quiet - in fact, both the front and rear brakes squeaked loudly and consistently. !#@!!*#!!!*$

The DT Swiss wheelset provides affordable, reliable performance. 25mm high, 24mm inner width, and a weight of around 1,800 grams: these aluminium wheels are classic all-rounders that can also tubeless-ready. Their maximum system weight limit of 130kg is definitely not the reason for the relatively low overall limit of 109kg that KTM sets for the X-Strada. The DT Swiss wheels come fitted with 40mm wide Continental Terra Speed tires, featuring extra puncture protection that seems to pay off. Despite riding across numerous sharp and bumpy sections, NoMan remained flat-free. The dotted profile on these tires that reminds of human goose bumps offers a good compromise between traction and rolling resistance when riding on dry ground. However, if you often ride in muddy and deep terrain, you may want to look for a more aggressive tire, especially since the Conti tires tend to squirm when run at lower pressures to increase grip.

The X-Strada combines the sporty, stretched geometry of a distinctively designed carbon frame with plenty of cargo-carrying capacity and solid mid-range components.
The standout feature of the Prime is the wireless Rival XPLR, with well-designed levers and quick, precise, and surprisingly quiet gear changes. The brakes, although generally functional, were annoying due to constant squealing.
The RockShox suspension fork leaves the test rider with mixed feelings. While it undeniably adds comfort, traction, and safety at the front, it all seems to be painfully lacking at the rear. The front-heavy weight, fewer mounting options, and increased maintenance needs are other disadvantages that come with the Rudy fork.
Hardcore mountain bikers who see gravel biking as a way to build up endurance might be well served by the 40mm of front suspension. However, those like NoMan who approach gravel biking as an extension of road cycling (otherwise a mountain bike would probably be the more comfortable and potent option for off-road riding), don’t need it. A rigid fork, or in other words, the KTM X-Strada Master, would be preferable.

Speaking of upgrading, a lighter, more agile wheelset, possibly made of carbon, would be a great fit for the carbon version of the X-Strada. It would emphasize the frame’s performance-oriented, rigid character and make the KTM a strong candidate for gravel racing. As for adventure riding, the carbon version may not be the best choice due to its limited maximum weight capacity of only 109kg (compared to 117kg for the aluminium version), especially with heavy gear, but it might be suitable when traveling light, e.g., at the height of summer.