Most KTM's in Dakar have the stock front fender!

keener · 03-17-2013, 09:42 AM

I was in process of replacing stock front low fender of my 04 950 ADV to a high fender, thinking it will eventually break and cause an accident or something. In the past, it has caused minor problems for me in mud. I am replacing the cross over break line for sure to 2010 specs. But...

looking at the rally KTM bikes in Dakar, I see almost all of them have the low fenders! I thought this was a must mod for a rally. Could someone shed some light on this. Is this because they ride at high speed or something?

mousitsas · 03-17-2013, 09:52 AM

Last time I checked, there was no so much mud in the desert

Great pics though!

Apple Jam · 03-17-2013, 09:55 AM

No mud, no problem

dog'meat · 03-17-2013, 10:29 AM

Peanuts · 03-17-2013, 10:39 AM

Guy on the left, normal human, high fender so he can ride through mud.

Guy on the right, superhuman, low fender because he rides at 100 mph+ on the fast bits and rides on the back wheel through the muddy bits ;)

jas123 · 03-17-2013, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peanuts

Guy on the left, normal human, high fender so he can ride through mud.

Guy on the right, superhuman, low fender because he rides at 100 mph+ on the fast bits and rides on the back wheel through the muddy bits ;)

Yes, so the trick is wheelie all mud holes. Sounds simple enough!

DuctTape · 03-17-2013, 02:31 PM

It's also not just Mud in general but the type of Mud. Here in the Midwest it's clay and cakes to everything. Even with a high fender I still have to stop and remove it or it will get to a point that the clutch can't handle it. Nasty stuff!

v8toilet · 03-17-2013, 03:06 PM

Also the low fender allows optimal radiator exposure for cooling whilst flogging said rally bike within an inch of its life. The lc8 adv bikes run hot at low speeds every little bit helps, except of course when it doesn't like in super clay. For some the choice is purely aesthetic

GZERO · 03-17-2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peanuts

Guy on the left, normal human, high fender so he can ride through mud.

Guy on the right, superhuman, low fender because he rides at 100 mph+ on the fast bits and rides on the back wheel through the muddy bits ;)

Lol, guy on the left is cyril depress, no normal human
and i think the guy on the right is him, and if is not him is marc coma, soo, no normal humans there.

jwalters · 03-17-2013, 05:16 PM

+1 Better airflow/cooling with a low fender.

Quote:

Originally Posted by v8toilet

Also the low fender allows optimal radiator exposure for cooling whilst flogging said rally bike within an inch of its life. The lc8 adv bikes run hot at low speeds every little bit helps, except of course when it doesn't like in super clay. For some the choice is purely aesthetic

MattyBoomBatty · 03-17-2013, 05:25 PM

I will have to say that I really really want to have one of those BIKES

! Maybe I will go buy one... if only!

What do you guys think the retail would be for one of those custom bike. Are they the 990?

v8toilet · 03-17-2013, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattyBoomBatty

I will have to say that I really really want to have one of those BIKES

! Maybe I will go buy one... if only!

What do you guys think the retail would be for one of those custom bike. Are they the 990?

The 660 rallye was 40k iirc. The newer bikes are mostly 450cc as a result of rule adoptions by various races to limit displacement. Some claim it was aimed at ending KTMs dominance, I don't know if I totally but it but it's plausible. Since most brands have 450 racers it brings more teams and competition.

Lc8grrr · 03-18-2013, 04:05 AM

Not quite right. If you follow Dakar from start to finish you will see them swap from low to high guard and back to low depending on the days stage and possible weather situation. If it is a dune stage they with run a low guard because there is little possibility of mud plus the bike is in sand and revving without the corresponding forward momentum so they maximise the airflow to the radiator with the low guard.

ABuck99 · 03-18-2013, 04:52 AM

Nice shots of those rally bikes up close. That sure ain't your daddy's 450-

Quote:

Originally Posted by keener

Blue&Yellow · 03-18-2013, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keener

Surely it must be a crime to build such a stunning trellis fram, paint it bright orange and then hide it under plastics!!!!

In Bologna they would crucify you for that I'm sure!

03-17-2013, 09:42 AM	#1
keener ^OP Speed changes you. Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Toronto, Canada Oddometer: 526	Most KTM's in Dakar have the stock front fender! I was in process of replacing stock front low fender of my 04 950 ADV to a high fender, thinking it will eventually break and cause an accident or something. In the past, it has caused minor problems for me in mud. I am replacing the cross over break line for sure to 2010 specs. But... looking at the rally KTM bikes in Dakar, I see almost all of them have the low fenders! I thought this was a must mod for a rally. Could someone shed some light on this. Is this because they ride at high speed or something? __________________ 04 ADV 950

03-17-2013, 09:55 AM	#3
Apple Jam Forest Flyer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Mt Hood mud flow Oddometer: 4,831	No mud, no problem __________________ .....Ride Oregon First "got no problem with keeping truly roadless areas as wild.... On the other hand, if it has been logged or mined and roads already exist,, ...then that land should be open for public use" (peterman)

03-17-2013, 10:29 AM	#4
dog'meat Presidient Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Cromagna Oddometer: 167	__________________ "I think of a man, and take away reason and accountability...", - Melvin Udall KTM 990 Adventure R 2012 - KTM 640 Adventure 2007 __________________________ Mexico City, Xilitla, Aquismon, the Cave, the River and the Shangrila... Mexico City, Cuetzalan, Nautla, Veracruz

03-17-2013, 02:31 PM	#7
DuctTape Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2011 Location: Kansas Oddometer: 220	It's also not just Mud in general but the type of Mud. Here in the Midwest it's clay and cakes to everything. Even with a high fender I still have to stop and remove it or it will get to a point that the clutch can't handle it. Nasty stuff! __________________ 2013 KTM 690 (Thanks FLHRCI Buyer! ) 2011 990 Adventure Dakar (Thank you Honey!) 2010 Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2010 Ducati 1198S

03-17-2013, 05:25 PM	#11
MattyBoomBatty I ride bikes Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Rutvegas, Verd Mont Oddometer: 33	Beautiful PICS I will have to say that I really really want to have one of those BIKES! Maybe I will go buy one... if only!What do you guys think the retail would be for one of those custom bike. Are they the 990?

03-17-2013, 09:52 AM	#2
mousitsas Beastly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Athens, Greece Oddometer: 2,143	Last time I checked, there was no so much mud in the desert Great pics though!

03-17-2013, 10:39 AM	#5
Peanuts Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2009 Location: UK Oddometer: 1,031	Guy on the left, normal human, high fender so he can ride through mud. Guy on the right, superhuman, low fender because he rides at 100 mph+ on the fast bits and rides on the back wheel through the muddy bits ;)

03-17-2013, 03:06 PM	#8
v8toilet Nothing to see here. Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Northwest U.S. Oddometer: 1,569	Also the low fender allows optimal radiator exposure for cooling whilst flogging said rally bike within an inch of its life. The lc8 adv bikes run hot at low speeds every little bit helps, except of course when it doesn't like in super clay. For some the choice is purely aesthetic

03-18-2013, 04:05 AM	#13
Lc8grrr Vtwin madness Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Not quite Tamworth, Aus Oddometer: 281	Not quite right. If you follow Dakar from start to finish you will see them swap from low to high guard and back to low depending on the days stage and possible weather situation. If it is a dune stage they with run a low guard because there is little possibility of mud plus the bike is in sand and revving without the corresponding forward momentum so they maximise the airflow to the radiator with the low guard.

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