2026 KTM 300 EXC HARDENDURO. Ultimate Hard Enduro Weapon?

With Manuel Lettenbichler already charging towards what looks to be his fifth Enduro World Championship, his weapon of choice needs little introduction. But for 2026, KTM has refined its most extreme race-ready machine yet – the KTM 300 EXC HARDENDURO – with a host of key updates to suspension, cooling, and overall design, ensuring it continues to dominate the toughest terrain on the planet.

Since its debut in 2024, the KTM 300 EXC HARDENDURO has established itself as the flagship of the KTM Enduro lineup. Born directly from Factory Racing expertise and championship-winning pedigree, it brings the DNA of the world’s most demanding races straight into the hands of riders everywhere.

For 2026, the HARDENDURO doesn’t just receive a fresh graphics package – with KTM’s iconic orange now combined with white and black accents, a gloss-orange frame, and premium orange-anodized PowerParts – it also benefits from significant hardware updates.

Key Technical Updates

• WP Suspension: The 48 mm WP XACT Closed Cartridge fork now features preload basevalve adjusters, lighter and shorter springs, new damping settings, and a redesigned pressure reservoir for improved balance. A new one-piece hydro stop enhances performance while trimming 200 grams of weight.
• WP XPLOR PDS Shock: Updated to perfectly complement the front fork, ensuring improved rear stability and responsiveness.
• Fueling: A new protective cap for the CPC fuel connector provides better sealing and protection from dirt or impact.
• Cooling: A new radiator cap with a standard thread makes maintenance faster and easier, with a radiator fan now fitted as standard to maintain optimal operating temperatures.

As the name suggests, the HARDENDURO edition is purpose-built for the gnarliest competition conditions, loaded with exclusive factory-inspired components that set it apart from the rest of the EXC range.

HARDENDURO Specific Highlights

• Orange frame
• Factory wheel set (black rims, black spokes, orange hubs & orange nipples)
• Factory frame protector set
• Ribbed factory seat
• Map-select switch
• HARDENDURO bar pad design
• Grey ODI lock-on grips extra soft
• Closed handguards
• Radiator fan
• Black anodized CNC-machined triple clamps
• WP XACT closed cartridge front fork featuring basevalve preload adjusters
• Skid plate
• Floating front brake disc
• Front brake disc guard
• Solid rear brake disc
• Rear brake safety wire
• Rear brake disc guard
• Orange oil plug
• Orange clutch slave cylinder protection
• Pull straps
• Black anodized engine hangers

The 2026 KTM 300 EXC HARDENDURO represents the culmination of years of R&D at the sharp end of Hard Enduro competition. With its Euro 5+ homologation, it combines race-bred performance, focused ergonomics, and leading-edge technology into a package built to withstand the world’s harshest enduro battlegrounds.

Production begins in September 2025 at KTM’s Mattighofen facility, with global availability following shortly thereafter.