Turn your KTM950 into AWD in 3,4,5,??? easy steps

[cjracer]

This project has been hidden away from public view for some time now, over 1 year. So it may have slipped out to a few friends or anyone stopping by the shop that may have caught a glimpse of something odd.

I'm sure the neighbors have been wondering why the lights are still on at 4am???

My opinions on AWD have been stated before and this build report will try and start from the beginning. I'd like to try and document this the best I can. I may get long winded from time to time, so bear w/ me as I try my best to get this out.

The building of an AWD KTM 950 ADV.

It all started here about 2 yrs ago:

http://www.christini.com/news.php

I spent countless hours reading old articles and test reports on Christini's AWD system.

Being a mechanically minded person, I liked how his system worked and the fact I could see the parts. Yes, there is alot of stuff going on, but it all has a purpose.

One of my good high school friends works at a local tool and die shop. I stopped in to say hi a few years ago and see this on the shop floor.


I've been in a few CNC shops over the years, but you don't run into cool stuff like this everyday. We get to talking about it and they actually helped produce parts for these bikes.



Up until now, I've only ever seen these in magazines.

So after a few pics...




I tried to get a time set up for a test ride.

A few weeks later....




It was so much fun. I'm not a fast rider, but I could tell it was helping me out and made riding so much more fun. Isn't that what it's all about?
Enjoying your riding time to the most.

[Geek]

[AdvGa]

CJ,
You never cease to amaze me with your engineering prowess.

Great Job!

[ginslung]

Originally Posted by AdvGa

CJ,
You never cease to amaze me with your engineering prowess.

Great Job!

Well said. Suffice to say, there's a lot of people tipping our hats to what you have done and will do.

[Qwik]

That thing was the center of attention at the Rally

[cjracer]

Well thanks guys. That's so kind.


So after this little test session the gears started to grind away in my head "How can I get this to work?" "Would it work?" "How long will this take me?"

In the end in knew I had to try. That's been a problem of mine for some time now. Once an idea gets stuck, it won't leave until I build it. That's why we have welders and CNC machines now. Not much you can't fix.

Around this time a good riding buddy of mine (Jeepboy), had an incident at his farm.

We had done several trips together and he was an early 950 lover.

Read more here.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380796



I headed down to take a look and see what his plans were. The bike was totaled and off to auction soon, no way I could buy it from him or the insurance comp. Some IL Rules.

A few months go by asking him if he knew what was up w/ his bike. I was now on the hunt for a 950 to use as a doner.

A few frames popped up in flea-market. I picked one up from James Renazco, the seat god. He had just parted a bike out and the frame was left. Perfect. This is a start, I thought. No way was I was going to let me 06' 950 sit apart while I build this. I need to ride.

Up on the bench it went to start looking, thinking, and drooling over.

[a$$hole]

This is going to be sweet! I've been waiting for this thread to happen!

[stephanektm]

Originally Posted by cjracer

This project has been hidden away from public view for some time now, over 1 year. So it may have slipped out to a few friends or anyone stopping by the shop that may have caught a glimpse of something odd.

I'm sure the neighbors have been wondering why the lights are still on at 4am???

My opinions on AWD have been stated before and this build report will try and start from the beginning. I'd like to try and document this the best I can. I may get long winded from time to time, so bear w/ me as I try my best to get this out.

The building of an AWD KTM 950 ADV.

It all started here about 2 yrs ago:

http://www.christini.com/news.php

I spent countless hours reading old articles and test reports on Christini's AWD system.

Being a mechanically minded person, I liked how his system worked and the fact I could see the parts. Yes, there is alot of stuff going on, but it all has a purpose.

One of my good high school friends works at a local tool and die shop. I stopped in to say hi a few years ago and see this on the shop floor.


I've been in a few CNC shops over the years, but you don't run into cool stuff like this everyday. We get to talking about it and they actually helped produce parts for these bikes.



Up until now, I've only ever seen these in magazines.

So after a few pics...




I tried to get a time set up for a test ride.

A few weeks later....




It was so much fun. I'm not a fast rider, but I could tell it was helping me out and made riding so much more fun. Isn't that what it's all about?
Enjoying your riding time to the most.

man!! those trails behind you look s-i-c-k!!!! its snowing back here!! CAN'T GO RIDE!!!!!!!! ARGGHHHH!!

[stephanektm]

i forgot to ask but what's going on with the awd 950?? thanks!!

[cjracer]

Originally Posted by stephanektm

i forgot to ask but what's going on with the awd 950?? thanks!!

W/ my current bike???.. It's hibernating over the winter, resting up for the next list of mods. I put it through a lot last year. We're heading south to test more in April.


The trails are great fun, we're lucky to have enough family land by us that I can get out and test projects there. (My secret TEST facility) I've been riding these trails for over 20 yrs now. I started to build them when I was very young w/ my go-kart. Back then I had to keep an eye out for the cows that were in pasture.

[stephanektm]

hi craig!! i guess you have to watch out for those animals in the trails or else you hit a tree!!!! allright keep up the magical project it is by far the most interesting thing to happen to a motorcycle since the christini awd!!! cheers!

[cyborg]

Awesome job describing this amazing process so far Craig! Sure appreciate you taking the time to post it up for us to drool over.

[Katoom119]

Originally Posted by cjracer

At the moment I'm not building any. There is only 1 of these built and future bike test is on going.

If Geek ever got ahold of one you'd never hear from him again...

[cjracer]

Originally Posted by Katoom119

If Geek ever got ahold of one you'd never hear from him again...

He did.... Mine. It's worked out well so far, but this spring he'll be back here. Hope he doesn't try to ride home with the wrong bike.

Part of the reason for the paint job. Keep the lookers away trying to find the next pretty bike.

[Katoom119]

Originally Posted by cjracer

Hope he doesn't try to ride home with the wrong bike.

My point exactly!