OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => KTM => Topic started by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 05:24:53 pm

Title: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 05:24:53 pm
I am looking for another bike (modern) to temporarily replace my trusty TS125 on the road and occasionally the dirt, while I restore the old girl...

I am considering the following:

KTM 400 / 450 / 520 exc
HUSABERG FE 550
HUSQVARNA TE450 or similar

It will predominately be used on the road as a commuter as well as a touring bike for small trips, as well as trail riding etc.....
I am a fan of the bigger cube bikes, around the 400-500cc mark as this fills all the requirements I need.

What are the pros and cons for each of the above bikes??

Leading my list at the moment is the KTM 520 due to its quality equipment, good price and all round quality and reliability from what I have read so for.

Im hoping some of you out there have some real time experience with these machines or any other ones not considered....

Let the brand bashing begin!!!!!

Andy
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: magoo on July 13, 2009, 05:28:56 pm
No matter which of these sensational bikes you buy there is one unarguable fact, trail bikes are shit on the road. The only reason you would register a trail bike is so you can ride them in National parks. Maybe a BMW GS1200? 
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 05:36:12 pm
Im in NZ, the roads here are fantastic boh sealed or not..... lots of gravel roads and twisty tuns to have fun on while keeping an eye out for tracks off the road.....

I need the bike to commute to work and back on as well as fun days at the local bike park..... cant afford 2 decent bikes to do each job so I will get 1 good one to do both....

Have ridden a few biggish dirt bikes on the road and quite enjoyed it.... particulary when that undiscovered side track presented itself!!!

BMW ?????? Not likely.......
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: JohnnyO on July 13, 2009, 05:39:20 pm
Go for the KTM if you want any resale value and reasonable reliability.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: firko on July 13, 2009, 05:40:21 pm
Magoo stole my thunder...All of the bikes you mentioned make shit road bikes. It's a sliding scale, the better a bike is in the dirt, the worse it is on the road and visa versa. Get a dual sport not one of those MX bikes with lights.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 05:46:00 pm
I realise they are not GREAT road bikes but its only 6km to my work and about 600km of off road trails and tracks on my door step..... ;D

I need a bike with the best of both worlds ( if such a thing exists ) with a lean towards dirt capability while still being OK on the road.

I also realise its no GP road rocket, thats not what Im after......Im not in a hurry to get anywhere (especially work!!!)

Had an XR600 for years which suited my needs perfectly, I now want something in the same vein but a little more modern and refined....
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: LWC82PE on July 13, 2009, 05:51:09 pm
go for a DR650, XT660, KLR650 or maybe a DRZ400 or a low use watercooled XR650 from a couple years ago.

knowing what i know now after rebuilding a 07 KTM450 EXC for its 90hr service i wouldnt recommend a KTM 4 stroke unless you have got a big wallet or can do labour yourself at least and use afternmarket parts which is what. KTM big end kit just under $900 vs Pro X which was roughly half price. The big ends are on their way out after only 7000km's and also main bearings need replacing, inlet valves also stuffed. This was only for a easy going weekend and DSRMA rider who's religious with oil and filter changes after suffering several blow ups on Yams and doesnt flog the bike so he didnt want to risk it with his KTM as he had previously learnt the hardway from neglecting the factory maintenance schedules. initially i was really skeptical of KTM's strict service schedule and thought it was all BS, as if you need to change the big end and all engine bearings after 90 hours  But sure enough i found the KTM service schedule to be spot on, and the main bearings and big end did need replacing. the Bore and rings were FINE though. You could MAYBE push it to another 90 hours on the big end but i personally would not risk it, it would be playing russian roulette. i would not buy a used one unless the onwer could provide evidence of servicing to KTM's service schedule. With 1.2 liters of oil, all those high revs and the power they produce, there is just not the same life in the engine like the old 4 strokes. The sort of wear i saw on the big end is what i would expect to see on a TT or XR after 15-20 years of use.

Someone told me the otherday about his mate who has a new KLX450. The big end was stuffed after 80 hours. He complained to the Kawasaki dealer and they said 80 hours is the normal life for the KLX big end  ::)
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 05:56:44 pm
To hell with that then !!!! I have seen 400ecx's run for ages with minimal work required.......interesting.....anyone else got some info?

To me the Berg is the bike of choice but I need to justify its price tag.... it would be post 2005 as they switched to jap ignition and carb..... better reliability.....
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: swill on July 13, 2009, 05:59:34 pm
i had a wr 400 yer a good bike but just to heavy in the bush but not to bad on the road have you considered getting a ktm 300 or 380 i hear there just unreal bikes
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 06:02:50 pm
I had a KTM300, awesome fun to put it mildly  ;D No good on the road at all I dont think though....

I am going to go 4T (shudder) for hopefully less maintainence.....
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: LWC82PE on July 13, 2009, 06:03:26 pm
yeah its bloody stupid. high performace at the cost of lower life span. I know there is a lot of guys gambling and ignoring the factory recomended service schedules and the guys ive spoken to who have taken the risk have said they have regretted it big time, but they just couldnt afford to do what the book said, but then they have major blow ups that are either write offs or cost several $1000 to repair whcih they can just not afford.

i have seem many guys who were on WR400/426/450 yams and the KTM's from 3 or 4 years ago and they are now all on DRZ400's for more relaibilty and longer life in the motors.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 06:06:43 pm
Im not objecting to doing the servicing on a bike, i actually enjoy it but not when it seems to be every other day!!! I thought it would not have been an issue being only used as stated earlier and not raced or thrashed......

Anyone here own or owned one??
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: mx250 on July 13, 2009, 06:10:15 pm
From your description of wanting to ride the bike primarily as a commuter with trail riding/adventure touring prospects I would stay a million miles away from any of the bikes you mentioned. Everything from cost, maintenance to comfort, these are not the bike for you.

On comfort only these bikes will kill you. Out in the bush you won't notice it because you are continually moving around. After 5 minutes on the road it will feel like someone is kicking a wedge up ya crack - it is that uncomfortable.

For a mix of commuter, adventure and trail riding I would take the DRZ400. Don't believe me, see what the most popular hire up at Cape York is.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 13, 2009, 06:19:17 pm
I totally understand what you are saying regarding the comfort issue.... but I have a solution as a family member owns an upholstery business and can sort this issue for me.

Aside from this, I have done a LOT of miles on these type of bikes, although a little older and dont really find them too uncomfortable as Im used to it I guess.....

Realistically, it wont be getting a lot of touring use that i can forsee... 2 kids, new house and a wife....... it will be used for riding to work and back as i REFUSE to drive a tin top.... and putting on the trailer with my sons bike along with some mates and their kide to go riding in the bush etc.....

If Im going to be honest with myself, touring is more of a pipe dream.....at the moment....
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: LWC82PE on July 13, 2009, 08:04:03 pm
KTM have 2 service schedules for the 4 strokes. Whats recommended at 90 hours is for general use. If you race then all that is recommened for 90 hours is then recommended for 45 hours. :o

yes comfort! you will hate the seats, they are like sitting on a brick!
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 14, 2009, 12:11:18 pm
I think that I would be servicing it at probably 80 hours rather than the recommended 90 hours just to be sure.....Its no issue to me to do myself......even rebuilding it if needed wont be an issue.......( crossed fingers I dont need to )

Its really a coin toss between the KTM 520 and Husaberg 550

If anyone has any comparisons between these two bikes......start typing please.... ;)

Andy
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: Lozza on July 14, 2009, 01:35:06 pm
Those bikes are for milk sop nancy boys. Get a hold of a knackered WR 450 with an aluminium frame, turf the engine into the nearest skip. A resident of your town might be able to help you with the engine(TSS 500) ;) There is one soon to be under construction, design brief is if it won't lift the front wheel under it's own power in 4th gear, back to the drawing board. Add motard wheels.
Never put a spanner to it in 10yrs of caning, just keep the tyres up to it.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: Motoman on July 14, 2009, 02:11:33 pm
Looks like you have narrowed your choices but it is hard to go past a DRZ400E. I have 3 sets of wheels for my 2000 model, Motard, Dirt Track and Off Road/Motocross. I have raced and road ridden the bike for the past 4 or 5 years that I've owned it with only oil changes every few races rather than every race. The bikes have not changed much since 2000 so parts and after market items will never be a problem. Eventually I will buy a newer model and either put this one "out to pasture" or sell it for what I can get and carry on using the wheel sets. The DRZ may not be a "sexy" bike but like a woman which would be best to stick with, it will give you less trouble than one which is exotic and highly strung! Sometimes I wish I was racing a YZ450 or something faster but in the end of the day I am having great racing with, and beating people, (often they are on these exotic bikes) and able to do just about anything with the one machine. I can lavish as much money on the bike as I can justify and not think the money is going into something I hardly use.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: JohnnyO on July 14, 2009, 02:43:52 pm
The DRZ is a good reliable trail/enduro bike that wiil do a lot more hours than the KTM or Berg before needing a rebuild but the KTM or Berg are more of a hard core enduro machine. Depends whether you want better performance or longer life..
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on July 14, 2009, 05:08:16 pm
Yeah sure Lozza, are you gonna finance it ???

I have had a few people bang on about the DRZ400......I'll try and get hold of one to try it out I think.

Kinda like the better suspension and brakes on the Bergs and KTM's though.... not to mention hydraulic clutch etc...... maybe just bling but Im a bit of a magpie...... ;)

How bad are the KTM and Bergs though really with regard to servicing needs and reliability? Surely as they are both road legal models they are not as bad as the full on MX versions?

Am I correct in thinking the KTM 520 EXC is less highly strung than its SX counterpart therefore a bit easier on its components from a mechanical point of veiw..??
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: mick25 on July 14, 2009, 05:53:55 pm
Andy ,,the drz400 is cheaper to buy brand new in N ZUD ,than in oz, suzuki has a agreement on special prices in nz thats why they are more popular than the wr450 in nz ,i was told this at my local bike shop,but all comes down to how much you want to spend and riding you do,maintance etc ;D
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: mick25 on July 14, 2009, 06:01:45 pm
what about the mighty TT500  ;) a real head turner  :o im just chucken a spanner in the works BRO ;D
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: Marc.com on July 14, 2009, 06:10:53 pm
I have had a few people bang on about the DRZ400......I'll try and get hold of one to try it out I think.

the Euro bikes are true race bikes, they run wide open or throttle slammed shut and not particularly well anywhere else, you may get lucky and have a good run OR the engine may cost a few thousand to rebuild, thats the cost of racing.

The DRZ400 was designed to be an economical to use reliable bike that can do a bit of everything and still run expert times on enduro loops, bargain of the year. Unless you are really good you will be no faster on one of the Euro bikes despite the bling.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ozktm on July 15, 2009, 11:21:34 am
Currently have an '07 KTM 300 on the road, set of motard wheels for road use. Wouldn't suggest one for long rides. But fun for something like mcquarie pass down our way.
Would you not be better looking at something like the dual sporters that ktm have like these :
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2005-KTM-640-Super-Motard_W0QQitemZ300328729501QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item45ecfcbb9d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2005-KTM-640-Super-Motard_W0QQitemZ300328729501QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Motorcycles?hash=item45ecfcbb9d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

much longer service intervals etc.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: Marc.com on July 15, 2009, 03:16:57 pm
Yep good point as the previous owner of a couple of KTM 640s they will get the job done.
Title: Re: Opinions on what bike to get
Post by: ss2fly on October 15, 2009, 07:55:03 pm
Finally bit the bullet and got a KTM 520 EXC. Holy shit it rips your arms out if your not carefull!! Great fun though but thirsty.... oh well....

Just did a full service and went on a 250km round trip on it to test it out which it passed with flying colours. Was a mixture of seal, dirt and gravel roads and the Katoom did it all easy.

Came with heaps of extras incl a soft seat! Boy Im thankfull for that as I was still able to walk after the ride, it was suprisingly comfortable.

the only thing I need is a bash plate if anyone has one lying around.... doing a 5 day ride in the Wanganui National Park in a couple of weekends including the 42 traverse. If you know where Im talking about you will know how awesome the riding is in there....!!!!

I love the big beast so far.

Andy.