KTM 450 exc-g review

[Nikasil]

Hey, thought I'd post a link to this cyclenews test of the new dualsport ktm 450 thats out -- any of you guys taken delivery on the ones you put deposits on yet?

http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=10107

[kiethco]

Yep, I've got an 04 450 EXC. It's that good of a bike and more. The more is the XRish reliability I didn't expect. I love mine!

[Halfcab76]

Where has Cyclenews been, a lot of us have been knowing it was a great and reliable Dual Sport bike for years.

I rode my DRZ yesterday, I wish I had a dollar for every time I went for the 6th gear that WAS NOT THERE.

[trailsurfer]

What do you mean "where has Cycle News been"? KTM has just released the street legal version and Cycle News is one of the first to offer a ride report. Please think before being critical, it makes you look like you have no clue.

[Beyond The Pale]

I like how the artical says "California too." However, the bike is not yet certified to California standards. At this time no KTM's are yet in the on-road, green, or red sticker category.

It's at http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onroad/cert/cert.php

[John E Davies]

What do you mean "where has Cycle News been"? KTM has just released the street legal version and Cycle News is one of the first to offer a ride report. Please think before being critical, it makes you look like you have no clue.

Hey, don't get overcritical yourself. Let's put this in perspective.

The bike isn't different in ANY significant way from the previous models. The only changes are the emissions junk, quiet can, and factory dual sport stuff like honker and blinkers, which many of us have been buying and bolting on for years now (except, of cource, for the emsissions cr@p). The "new" EXC isn't really new at all.

The handling of the bike is unchanged, though the performance is no doubt softened a bit due to the exhaust. One reason we won't see too many magazine "road tests" is that those reports have already been done, repeatedly.

IF, as I was hoping, the bike had been significantly improved (increased oil capacity, cush drive, higher electrical output, adequate headlight, significantly more fuel, and lengthened service intervals) then I would be excited about it, and expect the magazines to be also. The only folks who seem to be ecstatic are those who haven't been able to plate one of the earlier models because of overly restrictive state laws.

It's a great bike - but the only really new thing about it is the 50 State legality.

When KTM comes out wth a replacement for the paint-shaker 640 Adventure using their all new 6 speed LC4 engine - that will grab my attention.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[trailsurfer]

Who is over critical? Your response has nothing to do with what I said. This is a bike that is going to be a "home run" for KTM and there are allot of guys that can't wait to get one and want to know if KTM had to ruin the performance of the bike to make it street legal. Regardless of your personal opinion, this is a new bike and Cycle News reported as such answering those questions. So Hey!

Oh, and I agree with you about the paint-shaker.

[Halfcab76]

What do you mean "where has Cycle News been"? KTM has just released the street legal version and Cycle News is one of the first to offer a ride report. Please think before being critical, it makes you look like you have no clue.

Sounds like some one need to get out more, there are other states besides California. The clueless have been riding street legal EXC's for several years now.

[trailsurfer]

Really? Street legal from the factory? I think your sadly misstaken. Again, the post is about Cycle News.

I and many others have ridden street legal KTMs for years, even street legal 2-stroke KTMs, and in Cali if you can belive that!! But not legal from the factory:naughty:

Your right I need to get out more, living at the beach is such a drag.

[kiethco]

So, ummm, back on topic,huh? Any print Dualsport gets is good news. More riders=more votes. November 7th is just around the corner. In California check out the CORVA site for your voting guide. www.corva.org

[John E Davies]

Really? Street legal from the factory? I think your sadly misstaken.

All the equipment installed on the "new" bike is stock KTM stuff readily available from any KTM dealer for most previous years. You can even buy plug and play factory KTM harnesses to hook up your KTM turn signals and KTM horn. I repeat, the only things new about the bike are that the buyer doesn't have to add the stuff himself after the purchase, and the 50 State legality, which admittedly is a HUGE benefit for a small number of buyers in CA and other restrictive states.

I do agree with your comment about the performance - it would be good to know how choked down the '07 bike is. However, it is irrelevant to most buyers because they won't tolerate that muffler very long. They will either hacksaw off the end cap restrictor or put an '06 EXC can on the bike. Either way the bike has to be rejetted to perform satisfactorily.

I applaud KTM for doing this. I just wish they had improved the bike in at least a few critcial areas.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Beyond The Pale]

a HUGE benefit for a small number of buyers in CA and other restrictive states.

I think you underestimate the sales figures for California. I can't find the figures, but if I remember correctly California sales are 10 times any other state. California represents about 25% of the US total for off road mototcycle sales. Add in the other "restrictive" states and I'd guess we are talking 50%. I'll bet that the California market is what KTM marketing is targeting for with these bikes.

The bike has been choked down quite a bit to meet the smog restrictions. I think it has a throttle limiter, smog pump, and a charcoal canister. I would imagine that it is easy to remove it all. If you are in California, keep what you take off. This state is planning on having smog checks for motorcycles in the future. At least California will not be the first to do so. Arizona, in the Phoenix metro area, has that distinction.

[Sleeperdrz]

What do you mean "where has Cycle News been"? KTM has just released the street legal version and Cycle News is one of the first to offer a ride report. Please think before being critical, it makes you look like you have no clue.

The "funny" thing about your statement is this... cycle news rode that bike months ago and sat on the story until the bike was released. 20 years ago they never used to do that. They would report on it way before any of the magazines. The other rags (dirt bike, etc) also rode it months ago, but due to their "lead time" you won't see the article until December.

[DualsportWA]

I think this is great news, and I think KTM is the first manufacturer to answer Husqvarna's 2006 TE250/450/510 50 state DOT legal lineup. (At least KTM is offering the 450/525, but no 250 yet...)

Anyways, it'll be interesting to see when the Japanese makers wake up and get with the program for REAL dualsports.

As for the KTM: What I have gathered is that these machines are about like the Husqvarnas in terms of maint. intervals. They are not drz400s (you can run one of those for 10,000 miles without cracking the engine open at all) in terms of maint. Having said all that, the KTM is high performance and light (like the Husky)

What makes the KTM appealing over the Husqvarna for dualsporting is the wider gearbox ratios. You can ride a KTM at 70 all day in terms of engine RPM.

From reading manuals and talking to dealers, and reading TT posts, it sounds like the Husqvarna/KTM service intervals are more like 3000-5000 miles for valves, main bearings (cam bearings on the KTM), top end etc, etc. You're talking lots of money.

I'd like to hear real accounts from owners in terms of dualsported KTMs (450EXC for instance) and hear how many miles people are getting (including riding on the highway for 100 miles at a time, I'm talking DS/adventure riding) before major engine work.

[kiethco]

I've got an 04 450 exc that saw 35 hours of Texas race track work before I bought it 2 years ago.

One thing I was worried about coming off of an XR 400 was the maintenance schedule of the KTM. My worries were for nothing. I've ridden my KTM as far as 200 miles on the pavement. Last year on LA-Barstow-Vegas we rode over 200 miles of the 460 mile ride on the 15 freeway. That's cruising at 60+ mph. No oil consumption issues. The 6 speed wide ratio tranny is the best on any bike. I do the valve adjustment less and less frequently, maybe 1000 miles if that. I change the oil at 500 miles.

I ride Dualsport exclusively and don't wring it out bouncing off the rev limiter. Very reliable, stable, balanced, durable bike that allows me to ride longer before I get tired. The E-start is an added bonus as well.

[DualsportWA]

I've got an 04 450 exc that saw 35 hours of Texas race track work before I bought it 2 years ago.

One thing I was worried about coming off of an XR 400 was the maintenance schedule of the KTM. My worries were for nothing. I've ridden my KTM as far as 200 miles on the pavement. Last year on LA-Barstow-Vegas we rode over 200 miles of the 460 mile ride on the 15 freeway. That's cruising at 60+ mph. No oil consumption issues. The 6 speed wide ratio tranny is the best on any bike. I do the valve adjustment less and less frequently, maybe 1000 miles if that. I change the oil at 500 miles.

I ride Dualsport exclusively and don't wring it out bouncing off the rev limiter. Very reliable, stable, balanced, durable bike that allows me to ride longer before I get tired. The E-start is an added bonus as well.

That sounds great... How many miles are on the bike total?

[kiethco]

I'd say around 5K between the racer guy and me. Gil (bmguyver) just did his top end and he had 20K+ on his KTM 520.

[Nikasil]

I'd say around 5K between the racer guy and me. Gil (bmguyver) just did his top end and he had 20K+ on his KTM 520.

So how did you fare after the 200-miler? Are you running the optional cushier seat? How is the vibration on a ride like that -- numb hands?

[kiethco]

The oil level was still within tolerance (visible in sight glass on side case. I have the Enduro Engineering seat foam. The bike isn't buzzy at 65mph and even above that depending on gearing. The 6 speed wide ratio trans is so adaptable, there's a gear for every speed. The EXC isn't a street bike, make no mistake about it. It does fine on the street, but it's a race bike first. You'll have more money on oil changes and filters. I change my filters every 2 oil changes now. I used to do them every oil change.

[trailsurfer]

The "funny" thing about your statement is this... cycle news rode that bike months ago and sat on the story until the bike was released. 20 years ago they never used to do that. They would report on it way before any of the magazines. The other rags (dirt bike, etc) also rode it months ago, but due to their "lead time" you won't see the article until December.

It's called an embargo, the manufacturers don't want the press to release information on new bikes before a specific date. This may have been the case with KTM. Because Cycle News is weekly, they still usually have the story before the monthly mags.