Suspension especially on a ktm is very important. I don't fill up completely on a short ride. I have handled the exc and xc-w and they are not as heavy. If a 525 exc feels lighter than than my 250sx, than there is a problem. I just find it weird that my bike is so heavy. Our enduros are usually 10 loops of 10km, with a chance to go to the pit every 1 loop. so i can manage with a standard tank, but i am going to change my tank anyway one day to an transparent tank. I still wonder if it is not my tank, what makes my bike so heavy? Does anyone have any suggestion on why my bike feels so heavy? I must admit i have not weighed my bike, but that will come later. sorry for my grammar and spelling, i have had a lot of beer's just before i wrote this response.
2006 KTM 250 SX dry weight: 215.4 lbs http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/ktm_250_sx_2006.php 2006 KTM 525 EXC dry weight: 250.9 lbs http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/ktm_525_exc_racing_2006.php HUGE difference in weight there! I simply can not imagine a 525 actually feeling lighter? :huh I have ridden and owned a number of KTM 2 strokes, and have ridden a number of 450, 525 and other KTM 4 strokes (though none of the most recent model years). In all cases, the 2 strokes feel dramatically lighter to ride to me. And the scales seems to agree.
I am mildly worried about the bikes weight, those 2009 250-300xc-w's feel extremely light compared to my bike. I will weigh my bike the and tank when i am back home during my vacation.
Previously you were comparing the SX's weight vs a 525 4 stroke. The 2009 300 XCW's weigh 221.3 according to this web site: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/24235/Buyers-Guide-Specifications/2009-KTM-300-XC-W.aspx (I could not find it on the web site I referenced before). A good friend of mine has a 2009 300 XC-W that I have put around 75 mile of riding on. Weight wise, it "felt" to me very similar to my 2005 EXC, if not a tad heavier. I suspect that much that is likely due to it having the electric start however. The 2009 does seem to carry it's weight differently to (better). I highly doubt there is anything "wrong" with your bike's actual weight unless some one bolted on some lumps of lead to it! . In your pictures, your bike looks essentially stock - nothing there that would make it feel noticeably heavier. Sounds like you are simply looking for an good reason to buy a lot of expensive "lighter" parts for it. If I were seriously racing again the first thing I would lighten would be me.
That is why i have to weigh my bike to determine if the bike is heavy or i have a mental problem , i will also look for the lead lumps . I am going to buy a transparent tank at one point (together with a lot of other useless, but nice stuff), but that will be in something like 2 years from now. My priority at the moment is maintenance and setup (engineering students have a lot of money). My local ktm shop has 2 2009 250xc-w and a 2006 525exc as well as various adventure bike's and husabergs etc. and that is what i used as a comparison.
Wow some really nice machines. Neat to see what 2 strokes others are trail riding Here's couple of my bike's, one is an KX550AF , its a 2001 Honda CR250r chassis with a big bore kx500 motor. The xr650l with my friend on it is another one of my steed's, but its need of some help at the moment. The 86 cr500 aint really special but I do love that bike. Having owned 3 kx500's, 6 cr500's all I can say is if your a 500 fan you really owe it to yourself to ride a short rod cr500 84-86. My 500 is all original, fork seals included wink, .020 overbore, caught the magnesium cover before it was leaking into the trans. I really do LOVE this bike, I'd like to throw some newer forks on it & some lighting as well as a 6th gear, but thats all I'd change <a href="http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/81cr450/library/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/8/81cr450_DSCN3260.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a> <a href="http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/81cr450/library/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/8/81cr450_DSCN3324.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a> <a href="http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/81cr450/library/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.advrider.com/advrider-photobucket-images/images/8/81cr450_DSCN3395.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"/></a>
1987 430CR. Cleaned up well. Ended up with 3 swing arms to get one.....Headlight and spark arestor for trail rides in PA.
Oh man. That puch is so sweet!! I can't even post a pic because its not worthy to be next to the puch
Nice bike there Bob, almost a shame to get it dirty! Here is my latest acquisition - 2000 wr360: It's in decent shape, plus it's plated
Some great looking 2T's everyone Here's my 84 Honda CR500R. 520cc Eric Gorr porting/major head work, decompression valve, 39mm PWK air striker, Scotts damper, billet clamps, Pro-Action valving and 87 cartridge forks (lightyears better than stock). Lots of fun--it makes me feel young again
Nothing like the short rod CR500's, man they rip. My buddy had an 84 he let me ride a few times, just scared the crap out of me as a kid. "decompression valve" Thats a must on the early 500, I'm amazed they could sell something that hard to kick at the dealer. Just plain a sweet bike you got there Is that 1st photo taken on the moon? I mean Cainsville
I sold my 2004 WR450f after Christmas and replaced it with a 2003 KDX220R. I should have done this years ago. Chuck