OK, What is so good about KTM???

[Pincushion]

The KTM's carry their weight well, much lower CG than the old YZ's. I can only compare an 03' KTM to an 00' 426.

[EM_rider]

Ever seen a KTM guy riding in a group of Jap bikes?

Yes, I see this happen all the time.

R

[GreenKLX]

Revolucion. I saw that little kid too, that shit was incredible.

[JohnRM]

I have owned 3 x KTMs. In general I found:

Upside: KTMs are designed by racers for racers, they have more sophisticated forks than Japanese bikes, fork preload tensioners are standard, adjustable position bar clamps are standard, you get easier access to most parts needing routine maintenance (because of their enduro heritage), bundled with great toolkit & manuals & carry case & DataTag (In UK anyway!), quick-change air filter, very few rear suspension linkage bearings to clean out, smooth & easy hydraulic clutch.

Downside: Suspension too complex for Joe Public to tune easily, some parts flimsy, some parts expensive, clutch release pistons leak after crash impact or heavy use & KTM don't sell replacement "O" rings for them - you have to buy the whole expensive module, chrome on fork legs is very thin & wears off, the rad scoops are fixed on by a quick-screw system direct into the fuel tank plastic & it always strips out the plastic, the quick release toggles on the air filter cover fall off and you have to buy more

[GMAN69]

I have an 05 525 exc and just sold my 2000 yz426. I love the KTM. The suspension soaks up all the trail nasties like they arent even there. I had no problems adjusting to the different design in fact I believe I like it better than the linkage. I only trail ride although pretty aggressive but not alot of big jumps. I think it weighs within a couple of #s of the wr and crx. The yz will beat it through the gears(not by much though) until The KTM hits 6th and its gone. But the Ktm is a wide ratio and is quiet as a butterfly. It feels alot smaller and nimble than the 426 even though it probably weighs the same. I have no regrets so far buying the Ktm and all my buddies ride rice burners. You should see them drool over the awesomeness of the Great Pumpkin.

[cbff33]

well i just looked up the weights and the ktm450 is like almost 20lbs heavier than even the yz400f. thats got to be heavy. i cant imagine lite and nimble.. and the new yz is only 11lbs lighter than the 400f. thats a pretty good amount..

stock

yz400f-231

06yz450-220

06KTM450EXC-248.7(from ktmusa.com)

06KTM450SX-231 (same as old YZ400F)

My EXC 450 feels way lighter than my 426. That includes the addition of 2 oil filters a battery and electric start. Picking up the 450 is relatively easy, picking up my 426, i'm ready for the ride home and beer.

[biznet1]

My EXC 450 feels way lighter than my 426. That includes the addition of 2 oil filters a battery and electric start. Picking up the 450 is relatively easy, picking up my 426, i'm ready for the ride home and beer.

The 426 is an old bike though. Let's compare similar years to be fair.

[MisterMan]

Very little high???? ARE YOU NUTS. 87MPH stock gearing. I still hit 80 geared down for the Colorado Rockies!!!

yes but I still know what I'm talking about...these bikes were not meant to be reved like mad. look at the power curve on a chart, the ktm has it all the way off start and then the yammie 450 takes the peak hp.

who cares how fast it will go, a kid on a lil 85 was whipp'n me and my dad on the flat track......it's thoes damn turns..... i just couldent pass him, by the time i was up to speed on the straights it was time to brake and that lil shit would cut me out...I didn't wanna wreck /w/ him so i gave up.

[ovrrdrive]

Picking up the 450 is relatively easy, picking up my 426, i'm ready for the ride home and beer.

That single comment just negated everything you said that was positive about the KTM. That's sad too, I was enjoying your viewspoints on it.

To say that picking up any dirtbike off of the ground wears you out so much that you have to end your riding day is just bullshit. I could pick my YZ up off the ground and place it in the back of my truck at the end of the day if I were so inclined to do so. I don't mind you, ? but I could.

When you start making comments like that it's clear you have brand bias and nothing you say matters anymore. If I want opinions like that I'll go to the katoom dealer and walk in and ask the first salesman I see if I should buy an orange bike over a yz and see what he says...

[Trees4Traction]

I have 04 yz450 i am 28 my dad has had 300mxc ktm's since 92 and brother 32 just got 250mxc after coming off a cr250 it's all about the after market parts that come stock on the ktm that us jap owners pay 2-3 grand for also it's about engineering. put it this way my brothers bike is cleanest bike I ever saw because he tares it down to the frame every time he rides to clean it sub frame and all. if I am not mistaken he can do it from one side of the bike the engineering is unbelievable. just sit and look at one for for a while. But on the other hand MY BIKE IS FASTER.

[ncmountainman]

i'd rather be fast and dirty,than clean and orange i've ridden a 05 300exc and don't care for it. very unstable feeling,and 50hp? i'd like to know where that 50hp is. he's put a aftermarket pipe on,jetted it correctly and uhh,well 'i just don't get it big dan'

[cbff33]

That single comment just negated everything you said that was positive about the KTM. That's sad too, I was enjoying your viewspoints on it.

To say that picking up any dirtbike off of the ground wears you out so much that you have to end your riding day is just bullshit. I could pick my YZ up off the ground and place it in the back of my truck at the end of the day if I were so inclined to do so. I don't mind you, ? but I could.

When you start making comments like that it's clear you have brand bias and nothing you say matters anymore. If I want opinions like that I'll go to the katoom dealer and walk in and ask the first salesman I see if I should buy an orange bike over a yz and see what he says...

First off, I don't pick my bike up on a relatively flat mx track. neither one of them. When I pick my bike up, It is usually upside down, on a mountain side 20ft below the trail where you MUST get it back to the trail. Brand bias? you are FOS. I love my YZ, and the power it generates. As said within other posts, one big problem with the KTM's is getting the suspension dialed in. My YZ is set up for the woods, and the suspension on it is awesome. Now that I am breaking in the rear spring on the KTM, I am finally getting that dialed in. It has nothing to do with brand bias though. Even though my YZ has been totally reworked for single track and enduro racing, It still doesn't compare to a KTM used for the same purpose. Read these posts again, to see what all comes stock on a KTM. Even a stock WR can't boast having most of the features that various people mention here. So take your brand bias, and have fun heaving your yammie into the back of the truck. As for that, I usually back into the ditch and just ride mine in and out of the truck....oh wait a minute, I live where I ride...2 miles of pavement and I am on single track heading up to 13,000 ft. Oh and out my front door I can ride all the way from Aspen to Durango in the dirt.

[cbff33]

yes but I still know what I'm talking about...these bikes were not meant to be reved like mad. look at the power curve on a chart, the ktm has it all the way off start and then the yammie 450 takes the peak hp.

who cares how fast it will go, a kid on a lil 85 was whipp'n me and my dad on the flat track......it's thoes damn turns..... i just couldent pass him, by the time i was up to speed on the straights it was time to brake and that lil shit would cut me out...I didn't wanna wreck /w/ him so i gave up.

I know about those kids. I grew up with one. Back in the days of the MT. CB MX races, I had a childhood friend, who one year raced his 80 and smoked all of us. I finished 2nd, numerous laps down to him. that same day, he raced his 80 in the 250B class, and won that. then he would jump on his dads Maico 490 sandspider, and go out and win that class on that bike, and jump back on the 80 and do it all over again. At the Arena cross at the pepsi center, I am amazed at the kids on the little bikes clearing the triples!

[ovrrdrive]

First off, I don't pick my bike up on a relatively flat mx track. neither one of them. When I pick my bike up, It is usually upside down, on a mountain side 20ft below the trail where you MUST get it back to the trail. Brand bias? you are FOS. I love my YZ, and the power it generates. As said within other posts, one big problem with the KTM's is getting the suspension dialed in. My YZ is set up for the woods, and the suspension on it is awesome. Now that I am breaking in the rear spring on the KTM, I am finally getting that dialed in. It has nothing to do with brand bias though. Even though my YZ has been totally reworked for single track and enduro racing, It still doesn't compare to a KTM used for the same purpose. Read these posts again, to see what all comes stock on a KTM. Even a stock WR can't boast having most of the features that various people mention here. So take your brand bias, and have fun heaving your yammie into the back of the truck. As for that, I usually back into the ditch and just ride mine in and out of the truck....oh wait a minute, I live where I ride...2 miles of pavement and I am on single track heading up to 13,000 ft. Oh and out my front door I can ride all the way from Aspen to Durango in the dirt.

Man, you orange guys sure get defensive...

Come to think of it, so do red guys when they're in one of the blue forums.

I do envy you for your riding locale though... But you can keep your KTM.

[4Stroke4Life]

sooo where is the KTM forum anyway ??

[cbff33]

I got blue sittin in my garage too. so what? I think the blue guys got a little defensive here too....and I believe someone on blue started this post! Oh, and I will keep the ktm. It is way better in the mountains.

[yamxer438]

I'm a yz450 rider also and my dad has an 01 400exc with big gun pipe and house of horse power sus, he also just got an 05 200. don't get me wrong i love my 450 but the ktm is a fun bike to ride, and once u use a hydraulic clutch you pretty much are hooked

[cbff33]

The hydralic clutch goes along ways towards eliminating arm pump.

[ncmountainman]

The hydralic clutch goes along ways towards eliminating arm pump.

so does the rekluse

[MisterMan]

I got blue sittin in my garage too. so what? I think the blue guys got a little defensive here too....and I believe someone on blue started this post! Oh, and I will keep the ktm. It is way better in the mountains.

think'n the same thing, we have both and love em both, I'll be neck and neck /w/ my dad and then he hits 6th and hes gone....