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Stopped by to pick up a part I ordered and saw the new street legal KTM 450exc. Looks very nice! They did a nice job of keeping the bike looking very usable off road because the blinkers and tail light are very small and tucked away and the speedo is not much bigger than a wrist watch. The only thing that looked like an afterthought was the horn mounted in front of the radiator. I was suprised to see it had a plastic tank because my DRZ has a metal tank and I thought that is was for street legal reasons. I wish Suzuki would update the DRZ.

The DRZ has always treated me well and I should learn to be happy with the big girl. She's faithfull and everything but it's hard not to look at the leaner, younger models. $7000 will keep me from divorcing her for now.

Hmmm.....me thinks "slimtrader" be none other than Mr. Mike Jennen. New KTM 450exc? Just say "NO!"

I would LOVE to have one of those. Since they are #1 new, and #2, hardly anybody ever sells their used exc, the chance of picking one up cheap is about non-existent.

slimtrader wrote:I was suprised to see it had a plastic tank because my DRZ has a metal tank and I thought that is was for street legal reasons.

Lots of guys think this ... my 94 Explorer has a plastic tank though. As does my 01 F650. Molding plastic to give maximum volume around a frame tube and radiators is probably much easier than doing the same with metal.

I know I have smacked my 01 LC4 plastic tank REALLY hard a couple of times ... Troy witnessed one of them in Arkansas last spring. The tank has some plastic dings, but if it had been metal, it would have been crushed.

troy wrote: I would LOVE to have one of those. Since they are #1 new, and #2, hardly anybody ever sells their used exc, the chance of picking one up cheap is about non-existent.

And #3, when we head back to the cabin we can sit around and talk about our KTM's

I couldn't resist, I ordered one as soon as I knew they were going to be street legal.

here is a picture after all the smog stuff falls off and the offroad parts get bolted on. a few more choice items and it will be ready for Colorado and Moab.

Runs awesome after you derestrict it and rejet it.
works great in the woods.

OOOH. Me seriously likey.

troy wrote:OOOH. Me seriously likey.

Don't do it Troy, stay away from of the evil orange light!

LetKo had/has a new 2007 TE 450 Husky sitting on their showroom floor. It too is street legal and cost $800.00 to $1,000.00 less than the KTM. But the old DR350 is paid for, running great and goes anywhere you want to go.

Here's a link to the Husqvarna website for those interested:

http://www.husqvarnausa.com/

Don't get me wrong, I like KTMs a lot and one of the best bikes I ever rode was a KTM 400 EXC. From what I can tell the major differences between Huskys and KTMs is the transmission (Husky has a close ratio) and price. They share a lot of the same parts and both use top of the line parts out of the box. I can have parts delivered to my door step in about two days and yes there are aftermarket parts available. But like I said both KTM and Husqvarna use top of the line parts so there isn't too much that you need to add. I will get off of my Husqvarna soap box. The important thing is to go riding!

Daryl

KTMRyder wrote:here is a picture after ...the offroad parts get bolted on.

What parts did you add?

safiri wrote:

KTMRyder wrote:here is a picture after ...the offroad parts get bolted on.

What parts did you add?

KTM Hardparts skidplate and fan kit and fuel tank vent

Enduro Engineering handguards,rear disc guard,slave cylinder guard

Flatland Racing header pipe guard and muffler guard (keeps your pants from getting burned on the muffler)

James Dean jet kit

smog stuff removed and exhaust restrictor removed

changed gearing from 15/45 stock on the 2007 (to meet EPA) way too tall

to 14/50 stock on the 2006 models

Need to do list

run wire for GPS
bigger fuel tank
HT oil cooler
cush drive rear hub (still debating this one)

The KTM is not a $9000 bike, $7998 is retail, I paid less than that.

how much is the cush hub and do you think its needed on the street? i know there are 2 schools of thought.

tim wrote:how much is the cush hub and do you think its needed on the street? i know there are 2 schools of thought.

I am not sure how much the KTM hub will cost, I haven't priced it yet.
on AdVRider Woody from Woody's Wheel Works says he has developed a new hub that will accept the KTM cush drive rubbers and sprocket carrier.

Some say the knobbies themselves are enough of a cushion, lots of people have plenty of miles on them with no troubles.
on the other hand a cush drive surely can't be any harm and should offer less shock load to the transmission.

Woody claims the pulse of a big single is really hard on spokes without a cush drive, of course he is trying to sell a product.

KTMRyder wrote:

tim wrote:how much is the cush hub and do you think its needed on the street? i know there are 2 schools of thought.

I am not sure how much the KTM hub will cost, I haven't priced it yet.
on AdVRider Woody from Woody's Wheel Works says he has developed a new hub that will accept the KTM cush drive rubbers and sprocket carrier.

Some say the knobbies themselves are enough of a cushion, lots of people have plenty of miles on them with no troubles.
on the other hand a cush drive surely can't be any harm and should offer less shock load to the transmission.

Woody claims the pulse of a big single is really hard on spokes without a cush drive, of course he is trying to sell a product.

This is one thing that I hate about motorcycle companies. Why in the world don't they put on a cush hub for a bike that they made street legal? Why don't they put on real bark busters, real skid plates and exhaust protection? An the list could go on...

Man that is sessy! Glad I am poor or I would consider buying one.

Daryl Perry wrote:Why in the world don't they put on a cush hub for a bike that they made street legal? Why don't they put on real bark busters, real skid plates and exhaust protection? An the list could go on...

I've asked the same thing and the answer I get is that the manufacturers are in a spec war. Weight. If one manufacturer can say their 400cc bike has X power and weighs 250 lbs, then the other manufacturers want to say their 400cc bike has X+10% power at only 247 lbs. They all know that their bikes--to be used as advertised--NEED a skid plate and brushguards. But those parts are heavy, and us consumers are too stupid (I guess) to consider these options when comparing the weight of one bike to another.

That and the after-market protection parts manufacturers all have naked pictures of the presidents of the motorcycle companies. It's just another case of the man keeping us down. I hate that guy.

Cush Hub: With knobbies I think you are probably ok. With street tires then you might want to spend the $$.

Spokes: Everything I do to my motorcycles and bicycle is hard on the spokes. Spokes hold up well and are cheap. Just catch the loose / broken spokes before you end up with a taco'ed wheel.

IIRC the 6th gear on the RFS bikes is thinner, and thus weaker, than the others. So don't get on the throttle in 6th!

As to the power of a single ... A few years back I was following Hayden and Brian through sand in Moab. Looking down I could see the pulsing of the motor in that the knobbie tracks were alternating sharp and fuzzy. Amazing sight to see.

Don't forget the EXC was designed as a race bike and never really intended to be used on the street, thus no cush drive. Not to mention it would inflate the price if it was incorporated at the factory. Besides, the majority of people that buy it for it's intended use as a dirt bike don't want the cush hub. But, it's available if you want to spend the $$.

Regarding weight. For all practicle purposes, the average rider can buy a 230# bike and hang another 9# of skid plate and bark busters on it and it won'
t make a bit of difference in how fast you go or how tired you'll be at the end of the day. An "A" or "AA" rider may be able to tell the difference but the average trail rider won't. A heavier bike can sometimes "plow thru" an obstacle and stay on line when a lighter bike can deflect off and change your line. Sometimes I think the perceived importance of the lightest weight possible is overstated. Also remember, the lighter you make a bike, the more you sacrifice reliability and longevity.

As soon as I get this 2-stroke bug out of me I'll bet I wind up with a 400/450 in the garage because they are so versatile, but I'll always keep an Lc4 around for the long hauls.

-Harvey

Harvey Mushman wrote:Don't forget the EXC was designed as a race bike and never really intended to be used on the street, thus no cush drive. -Harvey

From my readings on KTMTalk from posters in Australia, Europe, etc. the EXC bikes are sold street legal (and have been for years) in those countries. I don't believe they come with a cush drive there either.

I have read of guys buying the European spec. wiring loom (harness) so as to easily hook up lights, signals, etc.

Certainly RFS stands for Racing Four Stroke, and was intended as a very different bike than the LC4 (liquid cooled 4 stroke (?or 4 valve?)).

From my conversations at LetKo the RFS bikes don't require that much more maintanance (besides oil changes, unless you add on a cooler/larger reservoir ... which is a good idea when the temps around here hit 100) unless you do race (flog) them. The valves supposedly stay in spec as well, again, so long as you don't redline the bike for extended periods.

I have ridden with several guys on plated EXC bikes that did not have the cush hub. We were doing multiday mixed road (pavement, gravel, dirt) rides in NW Arkansas. Each of these guys has lots of miles on their EXCs. I did not hear about any problems associated with not having a cush. They said take it easy on sixth when on pavement ...

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a RFS and use for DS. I would probably add an oil cooler / reservoir so that I could go longer btw oil changes and feel better when the temps are high. That does add weight, and with lights the bike is approaching the weight of a LC4. Thus I haven't been in a rush to trade my LC4 for a RFS.

I have 97 620 RXC also, the difference in weight and size is considerable compared to the 450 EXC.