KTM updates 300 EXC HARDENDURO for 2026

Mattighofen, Austria- KTM has officially updated the 300 EXC HARDENDURO, giving it a focused round of refinements chiefly to the suspension, cooling, and overall design intended to extend its dominance on torturous terrain. Since its 2024 debut, this model has been the flagship of KTM’s enduro lineup, channeling Factory Racing know-how and championship pedigree straight to the showroom floor.

The 2026 bike wears a fresh graphics package that pairs KTM orange with a crisp white-and-black palette. A gloss-orange frame and signature orange-anodized KTM PowerParts tie the look together, emphasizing the machine’s race-bred intent without overshadowing the mechanical upgrades underneath.

Suspension leads the hardware changes. Up front, the 48 mm WP XACT Closed Cartridge fork gains preload basevalve adjusters, revised damping, lighter and shorter springs, and a new pressure reservoir matched to the updated spring-support geometry. A new one-piece hydro stop improves end-stroke control and contributes to a 200-gram weight saving at the front. Out back, an updated WP XPLOR PDS shock complements the fork revisions to keep the chassis balanced and composed.

Durability and day-to-day practicality get smarter touches as well. The fueling system adds a protective cap to the CPC connector to ward off impacts and prevent dirt intrusion. Cooling is bolstered by a new radiator cap with a standard thread for quicker, easier access, and a radiator fan now fitted as standard to stabilize temperatures when the riding gets slow and punishing.

True to its name, the HARDENDURO variant arrives loaded with factory hardware to attack the toughest specials. Highlights include an orange frame, a factory wheelset with black rims and spokes paired to orange hubs and nipples, CNC-machined black-anodized triple clamps, frame protectors, a ribbed factory seat, a map-select switch, a distinct HARDENDURO bar pad, and extra-soft grey ODI lock-on grips. Protection and control are further enhanced by closed handguards, a skid plate, a floating front brake disc with guard, a solid rear disc with safety wire and guard, orange oil and clutch-slave protection pieces, front and rear pull straps, and black-anodized engine hangers. The WP XACT Closed Cartridge fork with basevalve preload adjusters anchors the spec sheet, underscoring the bike’s competition focus.

Rounding it out, the 2026 KTM 300 EXC HARDENDURO meets Euro 5+ homologation and is slated to start rolling off KTM’s Mattighofen production line in September 2025. The result is a sharper, tougher, more controllable enduro weapon—one that’s been purpose-built to keep ruling the rough.

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