- Gets significant technical updates
- Fitted with competition-ready components
- Production already commenced
KTM has announced an updated version of its 300 EXC Hardenduro for 2026, bringing a series of chassis, cooling, and protection enhancements inspired by the bike used by reigning Hard Enduro World Champion Manuel Lettenbichler.
The Hardenduro has served as the Austrian firm’s two-stroke flagship enduro racer since its introduction in 2024, and the latest iteration continues to build on the standard EXC platform. According to KTM, the 2026 version delivers “Factory Racing expertise and championship-winning pedigree directly to the dealership floor.”
For 2026, the Hardenduro sports a refreshed graphics package, pairing KTM’s signature orange plastics with white and black trim, a gloss-orange frame, and a selection of anodised PowerParts upgrades for added factory flair.
But the real changes go deeper than cosmetics. Up front, the 48mm WP Xact closed-cartridge fork receives new damping settings and lighter, shorter springs, alongside a revised pressure reservoir and one-piece hydro stop. The result trims 200g of weight while improving suspension performance. At the rear, a revised WP Xplor PDS shock completes the suspension package.
Several functional tweaks also feature in the 2026 model. The CPC fuel connector now comes with a protection cap designed to shield against external damage and block dirt ingress. Meanwhile, the cooling system benefits from a new radiator cap for quicker access and a radiator fan fitted as standard, a feature not found on the base 300 EXC.
As expected from KTM’s factory-inspired line, the Hardenduro comes loaded with race-focused equipment. Highlights include a black factory wheelset with orange hubs and nipples, ribbed seat, map switch, wraparound handguards, solid rear disc, disc guards front and rear, skid plate, CNC-machined triple clamps, and pull straps.
KTM describes the new bike as “the culmination of many years of R&D fighting at the sharp end of Hard Enduro competition,” with production already commenced last month.
