modern bike question - 08 ktm 530

[Marc.com]

A mate of mine had a YZ450F that blew a big end before he wore out his first set of chain and sprockets. And the dealer expressed no surprise at that. 

Yeah the RMZs have some endearing problems as well.....but hey more decent chassis to slip old 500 2 strokes into.

[mxmaniac]

I also heard of a shaft that runs through somepart of the water pump area or something like that and the seal that keeps the water from entering the engine is failing on the 08 09 450 allowing water into oil sorry, bit confusing but just trying to remember what the mechanic was saying.. i prob fugged it up

[Marc.com]

I also heard of a shaft that runs through somepart of the water pump area or something like that and the seal that keeps the water from entering the engine is failing on the 08 09 450 allowing water into oil sorry, bit confusing but just trying to remember what the mechanic was saying.. i prob fugged it up

there is the problem with kick back on compression snapping the back off the crankcases, really inconvenient. Normally though the Japanese are more committed to sorting it out.

[zorroz]

Must say for a modern, my 07 Wr450 has endured 11,000 hard k's and I haven't even opened the rocker cover and nothing has broken. Good all round rock solid reliable bike. But I am going back to a 2 dinger soon...

[TeeBone]

Owned a `04 525 also ( 2 oil filters...2 screens, head shake like all F..K ) ....

get the CORRECT spring and set the sag within the proper parameters and it WILL NOT head shake!

[ted]

TeeBone,
             Did that...from memory a 4.4 to a 4.6 or 4.8  85 mm sag on the 04, Heavier fork springs just like i did on the 08. I never bagged the 04 I just reckon the 08 is streets ahead of the 04 as one would expect

[TeeBone]

Ted> Fair enough, but I have NEVER had one headshake once properly setup.

[Mick22]

Just heard tonite of a couple of local blokes that just bought new KTM450's
Went out for their first ride and one bike lunched itself at 75km
His mate got the good bike though, he managed a second ride and almost 200km before it blew up

Both had lost all the engine oil.

WTF is going on with KTM

[VMX247]

Williscroft and Grabham suffer bad luck at Baja 1000
“We needed a bigger stator than the stock KTM 530 XCW stator to power the large lights required for the late night riding, but ours purchased through Ricky Stator in the USA failed when the solder broke on the wiring, stopping the bike at the 242 mile mark - ending our Baja ride with major disappointment,” said Williscroft.

“From the moment we arrived in Baja everything was running really well. We had great team support, and got in 1200 miles of pre running. Our confidence was high, and we had a good game plan in place for chase vehicle positioning, and which sections myself and Grabbo would ride.

“Our strategy was for Grabbo to start the race. He drew 12th position from a hat for the start, and unfortunately had to deal with a lot of riders dust. The race got underway at 6:30am, and the air was very still with no wind, so it wasn’t until around the 70 mile mark before he could get clear air, and actually start riding hard.

[ted]

Your point being?

[LWC82PE]

can you please post the link to where that Baja 1000 article comes from?

[JohnnyO]

can you please post the link to where that Baja 1000 article comes from?

It's on the Fullnoise website.

[LWC82PE]

what is the ful noise web address?

[TeeBone]

www.fullnoise.com.au  Owned and run by Gary Morrow

[crash n bern]

Mate of mine has the 530, just put a new set of rings in at 7,500 k's.  2,000 k's of that was at 130-160 kph through desert sand for 7 days.  It's going strong.

There where some issues because they run seperate gearbox and engine oil and one of the crank seals would let go and flood the other case with oil causing blowby.

I'm always wary of new technology. I wasn't ready to upgrade from my 2000 520 but had to race out and grab one of the last 525's when the 530 came out.  Rode them both back to back and was happy with my choice. Nothing wrong with the 530, just didn't impress me much and I liked the power of the 525 better. Plus the old motor has proven itself to be reliable.

As for head shake, as Tee bone said, set up right there's no head shake.  85mm sag is not enough, they should run at 110mm sag.  I'm by far a suspension expert but it's amazing how you can fiddle with it and think it is good.  Then have someone who knows a bit more about it, look at your bike tell you how wrong it is, make a couple of minor adjustments and totaly transform the bike.  05-07  handled better than 2000-2004 

I kind of miss the old days when you had four preload settings.  If you didn't like any you bought a set of Koni's and where done with it.  Now it's hundreds of dollars at a suspension tuner and forever fiddling with clickers.