Ktm vs japanese

[Hwyjb]

Greetings, I currently ride a crf250x but I'm thinking about getting a Ktm. Most people who race ride a Ktm, so my question is why Ktm? I know they have the rep as the best trails/enduro bikes but I don't really know why since I have never had one. Can anyone who has ridden both explain the difference? I'm leaning toward the 250 but the 300 2 stroke seems to get really good reviews, so I'm torn about that too.

Thanks

[Spud786]

Take a look at the options for a dual sportable race bike,  450+

 

The crfx has mainly  ac output lighting, doable with a dc convertor and better stator, still wont equal the 200 watt ktm stator on their 4 strokes come stock . A 5 speed really doesn't give you the options for low speed gearing plus high speed.

 

The wrf , comes the closest with its fuel injection and dc electrical system, although still has a 5 speed tranny.

 

Then you have the DRZ, the XL650. the KLR for more streetable , but then you really sacrifice the offroad lightness.

 

So what is the perfect dual sport race bike,  that has the gearing and motor for street and lightness for offroad

 

Hard to beat the 500 street legal Ktm, with 6speed and 200 watt wet stator, it sets the standard for a racable dual sport, that can be purchased off the floor .

 

 

I thought about the 300, but I don't think they are seeing much more than 50 miles pertank, have a dry stator, and need to carry premix oil.

 

 

I have a sport bike, that I try to atleast ride 20 or 30 miles or so on it perweek, cause my KTM gets all my time. Just a Fantastic Hoolligan bike once set up , it can do it all.  Id say its my favorite bike of all time, not limited like an mx'er or sport bike and provides exercise and adventure.

 

I guess my focus was on Longevity and ease of use and function, the 500 filled more of the Quota.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Spud786

[Redwood650]

Honestly, ride a ktm. You'll understand.

[Redwood650]

I had a crf250x and rode a ktm 350 and I was sold right away. It's smoother, feels more solid. It's hard to explain but I gained so much confidence just riding the 350 for a few mins.

Edited February 28, 2016 by Redwood650

[motovita]

 I'd say that the Japanese companies are one gear away (sixth) from converting lots of KTM riders to their brand. It's been that way for many years, the Japanese companies don't seem to care, although Yamaha has recently given their WR250F a six speed gearbox.

[sirthumpalot]

I read an article on the new Yamaha 450 off road bike the other day and the magazine said it topped at 101mph by GPS, it's only a 5 speed. That's plenty of top end, and they seemed to think the ratios were spaced ok. I do like 6 gears, but it will be interesting to see how people like it with 5.

KTM has been THE off road bike for a while, but the Japanese companies might finally be getting serious for a model or two.

Edited February 28, 2016 by sirthumpalot

[Spud786]

I read an article on the new Yamaha 450 off road bike the other day and the magazine said it topped at 101mph by GPS, it's only a 5 speed. That's plenty of top end, and they seemed to think the ratios were spaced ok. I do like 6 gears, but it will be interesting to see how people like it with 5.

KTM has been THE off road bike for a while, but the Japanese companies might finally be getting serious for a model or two..

Depends on the cruise rpm range to see how usable that 101mph max is. A DRZ can hit 101mph with its 5 speed. I can say the ktm is much more comfy running a 90 mph cruise, the DRZ is screaming it living guts out at that cruise range.

[motovita]

 It's easy to achieve a high top speed with even a four speed, it will however, compromise low speed operation and leave some big gaps between gears along the way.

 A six speed gearbox is about versatility.

[414Rides]

For me it was simple, I live in California and wanted, needed, a plated bike.  Coming from a 450x I like the KTM, A Lot.

[sirthumpalot]

Depends on the cruise rpm range to see how usable that 101mph max is. A DRZ can hit 101mph with its 5 speed. I can say the ktm is much more comfy running a 90 mph cruise, the DRZ is screaming it living guts out at that cruise range.

 

I won't argue your point, but I think the percentage of owners who will cruise for any length of time at 90mph on a dirtbike are relatively small.  Anyway, the magazine didn't seem to think the gearbox was too gappy, and my point was it will be interesting to hear what owners think when we start hearing from people who are buying them.  Here's an article about it from Dirt Rider:

 

http://www.dirtrider.com/long-haul-update-2016-yamaha-yz450fx

[Hwyjb]

Thanks for the replays. I'm looking to ride dirt only, not a dual sport. I kinda figured I would get response along the lines of "I can't describe it, you have to ride one to understand". That's the same way I feel when explaining why I ride a Harley. I talke to a guy today that has exactly what I was looking for, 2011 350. I plan to get it!

[E-TECH]

So no one around you has a KTM that you could ride ???? I don't understand do you not have riding buddies that own a ktm?????

[Spud786]

I agree percentage wise, having ridden dirt bikes across the states, its more ideal if a dual sport bike can sustain 80/85 mph for long periods of time to be competitive in that environment.   While the DRZ is capable of 100 mph, its main thrust blasts are from 70 to 90 mph with stock gearing, sustaining 75 or 80 mph is really its limit for long periods of time for motor health.

 

 

I have hit 102 mph on the ktm 500 in (5th gear), but that's not really usable, up to 90 mph in 5th is just usable , but not sustainable if you value your motor.

 

Like when somebody says I can hit 90 mph on my ktm 500 with 13/52, there should be a disclosure , thats not sustainable for motor health.

 

In a dual sport or supermoto environment , (sustainable) is as important as top speed numbers and usually more important.

[JVP]

I went riding in Ocotillo last week and brought my older CR250 Two Stroke.  Mainly because it works so well in the sand washes and tight mud hills, that are prevalent in that area. One rider was riding the new Beta 300 another had a 300 KTM, and there were some four strokes in the mix, including a 500 KTM EXC.  My CR is well maintained and super fast in most of the riding conditions.  However, it only has 5 speeds and when we got out on the open stuff, I had a hard time keeping up without thinking I was going to blow the thing up at full throttle.  I kept telling myself, where is that sixth gear?  I kept trying up shift with no results. Dam it....

 

The next day I took out my 500 KTM EXC and went with the other PLATED riders to Anza Borrego State Park.  It was a great experience.  An entire area that was closed off to me for years, because they don't allow OHV vehicles in the park.  I kept laughing to myself, that they wouldn't allow a dirt bike to be in the park, but they allow my dual sport that is just a capable as any motocross bike in.  I am sure the tree huggers are going to find a way to stop this in the future, but for now I am enjoying the fruits of a license plate.

 

My short answer... If you are not a track rat, buy a plated bike if you live in California......

[travertt]

Here's my experience/opinion.

 

Rode Honda CR250s (among other machines) back when I was much younger...and still immortal...awesome machines.

 

Several lives later I went back into the dirt and tried a DRZ400....just Waaaaayyy to heavy for real dirt riding only rode one season on that beastie.  No dual sport for me....just 15 minute rural highway runs to get to and from trails.

 

Switched to a WR450 for two or three years....huge improvement over the DRZ and truly bullet proof....a great machine but still heavy with a very heavy clutch pull (cable actuated).

 

Then I lost the ends of two fingers on my left hand (never argue with a snow blower) and had to find something with  a much lighter clutch pull.  After lots of research and egged on by two riding buddies who were on older KTMs...a few years ago I acquired a 2012 350 XCF-W knowing that I would be able to plate it (a must for me).

 

What a difference!!!  Like night and day...The overall package is just so much better in terms of delivering the requirements for effective handling in the dirt. It is not any one thing..although I'm sure everyone has their own opinion as to what is the most important component/aspect......rather it is  truly a great example of "the total being greater than the sum of its parts".

 

Can't say it with any more precision than that in this venue.....although if we had the time and a few beers...I'm sure we could have a conversation that would last for a good while..

 

Like others have said...find one and try one....you'll see for yourself. 

 

If you're sold on the 300 2 stroke...great......its a fantastic machine.  If you have to have a plated bike and live in a state where you cannot get a plate for an XCF-W...get the EXC and do the tweaks that are fully documented on this site to improve performance etc.

 

Either way...I expect you'll be a happy guy.

[oldfuddy]

That's the same way I feel when explaining why I ride a Harley. !

I rode Harleys for three decades. Absolutely loved them... even had one custom hardtail breathing nitrous. In 2009 I bought and rode my first KTM... by 2011 my Harleys, gear, parts, etc were gone. ALL my cousins and friends have Harleys and I still ride with them... and sometimes I do a quick blast through the gears to let them know that their well tuned and programmed Screaming Eagles do pull hard.... but the "Beast" (1290 SDR) pulls much much harder. Lol!!!!!!

[Orange Crush 500]

I don't own one but heres some info you would probably be interested in

http://dirtbikemagazine.com/home-features/2016-ktm-350xcf-full-test

There is also an article in the New Dirt Bike magazine, March 2016, pages 58 to 62 called BUILDING AN OFF ROAD WEAPON , about upgrading and improving the 2016 KTM 350XCF.

GOOD LUCK

Edited February 29, 2016 by Orange Crush 500

[Dansmith1965]

I went riding in Ocotillo last week and brought my older CR250 Two Stroke. Mainly because it works so well in the sand washes and tight mud hills, that are prevalent in that area. One rider was riding the new Beta 300 another had a 300 KTM, and there were some four strokes in the mix, including a 500 KTM EXC. My CR is well maintained and super fast in most of the riding conditions. However, it only has 5 speeds and when we got out on the open stuff, I had a hard time keeping up without thinking I was going to blow the thing up at full throttle. I kept telling myself, where is that sixth gear? I kept trying up shift with no results. Dam it....

The next day I took out my 500 KTM EXC and went with the other PLATED riders to Anza Borrego State Park. It was a great experience. An entire area that was closed off to me for years, because they don't allow OHV vehicles in the park. I kept laughing to myself, that they wouldn't allow a dirt bike to be in the park, but they allow my dual sport that is just a capable as any motocross bike in. I am sure the tree huggers are going to find a way to stop this in the future, but for now I am enjoying the fruits of a license plate.

My short answer... If you are not a track rat, buy a plated bike if you live in California......

I ride in both ocotillo wells ohv and the anza borrego state park as well. I don't think they'll stop plated bikes from the state park, but they have gotten much stricter on street legal parts. When I first started riding there 19 years ago any street legal bike was fine. Now my last trip a buddy of mine was stopped by a ranger for having his mirror folded down. Also speed is a huge factor. There's a 25mph speed limit on all anza borrego state park trails and they strictly enforce it. I heard recent stories of them impounding dual sport bikes for speeding and reckless driving.

By the way, what were the temps out there this last weekend? I wanted to go but I saw 90's in the forecast. Hope I didn't miss out, our cool desert season was short this year.

Sorry to be off topic.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Deepseadan

[JVP]

I was actually at Ocotillo @ Painted Gorge which is South of Ocotillo Wells.  I don't ride Ocotillo Wells anymore.  It is too blow out and too many restrictions.  The Weather was perfect.  75 H 50 L.

[Hwyjb]

As it turned out when unloading Sunday a guy pulls up with a '15 350 and we start talking. I told him I was interested in a 350 and he said he had a '11 350 for sale. I bought it this evening. Can't wait to get it on the trails! For my riding I will spend most of my time in 2nd and 3rd gears dodging trees and climbing hills in the southeast us.