KTM 450/530 EXC Dual Sports an oxymoron? - Page 9

trackhead · 01-11-2010, 07:56 AM

Old, but valuable thread.

I'm stuck between buying an XR650R or an older model KTM 525. I've read every post in this thread and here are my thoughts, questions.

1. Valves are disposable and easy to replace with Kibble Whites. Did that on my CRF250x, great valves. Valves are a non-issue in my mind.
2. Piston/Rings are easy to replace and not too expensive.
3. Splitting the cases to get to the tranny kinda sucks, but it's not too hard. Did that on my XR600R.

So, I'm mechanically able, but given the choice, I'd rather not be digging into the engine every year.

I'm interested in 95% dirt/5% road, long 10-12 hour riding days, day after day. Lots of time in 5th gear, some technical, lots of fire roads, 2,000 mile dirt tours, etc. I know the KTM will be better on the tech, that's a given.

With that, is the KTM 525/520 up to day after day of 400 mile days? I don't mind a winter tear down, but trail side failures of tranny's or engines imploding from low oil capacity isn't something I want to experience.

LukasM · 01-11-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackhead

Old, but valuable thread.

I'm stuck between buying an XR650R or an older model KTM 525. I've read every post in this thread and here are my thoughts, questions.

You are in the wrong thread buddy. The 450/530 KTMS made since 2008 are completely different, chassis, engine, suspension, everything. Try this one instead:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...201026&page=12

LILBIT · 01-11-2010, 05:44 PM

He said older model LuckasM. Right thread. There is a guy who posts lightly on KTM Talk who had a fleet of 5 doing just what you said. His bikes were negleted by manys standards. I remeber one with well over 300 hours of mostly desert use. Sorry i'd give you more info if i remembered. Someone else recently posted having over 400 hours on a bone stock engine. This is not typical with stock intake valves.

I'd say doable but would pick a bike and price fiquring a total rebuild from the start. Unless you find one with super low hours. Mine was 3 years old when i got it and had maybe 60 hours tops. I've seen some with less.

Low hour bikes can be fitted with Kibblewhites and not even need new seats. Rings can out last the cylinder coating. At 160 hours mine were on the tightest end of specs.

LukasM · 01-11-2010, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBIT

He said older model LuckasM.

?

This is why I directed him to the thread that is about the older model he is looking at (525), for exactly the kind of use he is planning. This thread here is about the XC4 engined bikes which are very different from the RFS.

LILBIT · 01-11-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukasM

?

This is why I directed him to the thread that is about the older model he is looking at (525), for exactly the kind of use he is planning. This thread here is about the XC4 engined bikes which are very different from the RFS.

Ah crap. Sorry.

LukasM · 01-11-2010, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LILBIT

Ah crap. Sorry.

No worries.

KTM's model numbers can get very confusing, especially in the 450s. Luckily the 520/525 (00-07) and 530 (08+) are much easier to keep apart.

lymanwhite · 01-11-2010, 08:31 PM

'Any number of things could be 'corrected' on the 530 to make it more comfortable for extended pavement riding, but why go to the trouble and expense?'

Please, you 'corrected' by buying a whole nother bike.

On the maint. I think this is also overcooked. Try not pegging it constantly, as it is a single cyl. 'thumper'; and w/ a modern syn oil like Amsoil, heat shear, and oil life have way more life than most believe.

I think the factory and engineers are very conservative with maint. recommendations, as they are a race bike factory with deep roots in a high fail rate sport. For the rest of us, I think it can be taken w/ several grains of salt.

osteo · 01-25-2010, 04:46 AM

I'll offer a couple words as I use mine daily.. 08' 450EXC

During the week I ride it to work and puttering around, mind you work is not very far.

During the weekends I'm on trails, fire access roads and single track.

I've 11,000km on the bike, approx 220hrs - I'd say 75% is dirt/gravel the last is pavement.

Oil changes are regular and valves checked regularly with no issues and adjustments as necessary.

Got worried reading some threads and peoples comments, plus the service manual as it says full rebuild after 90hrs. So had it leak down tested and it was only 10%. I had it leakdown tested at 2hrs as I was worried with a bit of oil burnage and it was 3% - so it is good. No worries.

The bike works well for both pavement and dirt, thinking on getting a second set of wheels for during the week and either put some Anakees or something on them or maybe a set of SM wheels...

So, does it do both chores, yup, I'm happy. Would I ride it for real long periods on the slab... probably not, but I have done 2hr rides on pavement and survived.

Is the seat a piece of 2x4? yup, but either it molded to my ass, or I molded to it, as it is comfortable now!

Gotta run to work.. ahhh...

D

stevh0 · 01-25-2010, 07:07 AM

I dont ride orange, mainly becos I stumbled into the Blue side of things prior to investigating my needs in a dualsport.

But whether you are riding a 530/450/510 or whatever colour blue/red/orange/green all the enduro based bikes have problems with long distance touring.

It needs oil. It needs the owners love to make it excell in conditions that its not really suited to. But what makes it better then anything else is the flickability, the no mountain is high or technical for us not to go over it (Im thinking erzberg / romaniancs) The bikes just go at anything you throw at it.

The biggest questions usually are the tires/luggage/gearing and extra fuel.Once you have mastered that, it will be hard to find the perfect replacement bike. I can live with 10hour oilchanges.

I dont hesitate to take my bike on longer trips. Depending on my gearing I know i have to ride slow to get there and then I can play harder when I am there, if that makes sense. I just wish we had better trail like terrain out here in south africa. I fall asleep on the 450 on the dirt roads.

DirtWarrior · 01-25-2010, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2whlrcr

Oh goodie, another opportunity to post a picture of my bike. I'm leaving in two hours to ride around the Smokies. Should be about 500 miles, mainly on back roads. The bike only has 300 miles on it now, so it should make it.

What kind of DS tires you runnin there?

motowest · 01-25-2010, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirbo

Interesting read:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=358010

Oh yeah, here's Nichelob's Ride Report. Thanks Cirbo!

stevh0 · 01-25-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirtWarrior

What kind of DS tires you runnin there?

Those look like sahara 3's

leftystrat62 · 01-23-2013, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by advjackass

. i have had the 625 sxc, 950 adv, and now have a se and while these are great bikes i have no interest in taking them on technicle single track. so i think the real question is what is your definition of "dual purpose"? let's face it you could ride a harley on most forest roads but that does not qualfy that bke as a dual sport! my 2 cents

I had a full dresser Harley that I rode on dirt roads for years-you mean to tell me I wasn't dualsportin'

G Goat · 01-24-2013, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftystrat62

I had a full dresser Harley that I rode on dirt roads for years-you mean to tell me I wasn't dualsportin'

I know it takes Harley riders a while to catch up, But two years?

01-11-2010, 08:31 PM	#127
lymanwhite Monkee Bidness Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Rockies / Gulfcoast Oddometer: 307	'Any number of things could be 'corrected' on the 530 to make it more comfortable for extended pavement riding, but why go to the trouble and expense?' Please, you 'corrected' by buying a whole nother bike. On the maint. I think this is also overcooked. Try not pegging it constantly, as it is a single cyl. 'thumper'; and w/ a modern syn oil like Amsoil, heat shear, and oil life have way more life than most believe. I think the factory and engineers are very conservative with maint. recommendations, as they are a race bike factory with deep roots in a high fail rate sport. For the rest of us, I think it can be taken w/ several grains of salt. __________________

01-25-2010, 04:46 AM	#128
osteo Motion is Life Joined: Nov 2004 Location: somewhere in Ontario, Canada Oddometer: 1,856	I'll offer a couple words as I use mine daily.. 08' 450EXC During the week I ride it to work and puttering around, mind you work is not very far. During the weekends I'm on trails, fire access roads and single track. I've 11,000km on the bike, approx 220hrs - I'd say 75% is dirt/gravel the last is pavement. Oil changes are regular and valves checked regularly with no issues and adjustments as necessary. Got worried reading some threads and peoples comments, plus the service manual as it says full rebuild after 90hrs. So had it leak down tested and it was only 10%. I had it leakdown tested at 2hrs as I was worried with a bit of oil burnage and it was 3% - so it is good. No worries. The bike works well for both pavement and dirt, thinking on getting a second set of wheels for during the week and either put some Anakees or something on them or maybe a set of SM wheels... So, does it do both chores, yup, I'm happy. Would I ride it for real long periods on the slab... probably not, but I have done 2hr rides on pavement and survived. Is the seat a piece of 2x4? yup, but either it molded to my ass, or I molded to it, as it is comfortable now! Gotta run to work.. ahhh... D __________________ "If it is small enough to eat in a single meal, don't worry about it, hit it!. If it is too large to eat in one sitting, get the hell away from it!" Jack Splash commenting on animals on the trail. Rally Connex Adventures Off-Road Adventures Make It Stick Media Adventure Has No Destination 08' KTM 450 EXC - The Half Beast - 04' Yamaha TTR250 (for the wife)

01-25-2010, 07:07 AM	#129
stevh0 Desktop Adventurer. Joined: Sep 2007 Location: Cape Town South Africa Oddometer: 1,093	I dont ride orange, mainly becos I stumbled into the Blue side of things prior to investigating my needs in a dualsport. But whether you are riding a 530/450/510 or whatever colour blue/red/orange/green all the enduro based bikes have problems with long distance touring. It needs oil. It needs the owners love to make it excell in conditions that its not really suited to. But what makes it better then anything else is the flickability, the no mountain is high or technical for us not to go over it (Im thinking erzberg / romaniancs) The bikes just go at anything you throw at it. The biggest questions usually are the tires/luggage/gearing and extra fuel.Once you have mastered that, it will be hard to find the perfect replacement bike. I can live with 10hour oilchanges. I dont hesitate to take my bike on longer trips. Depending on my gearing I know i have to ride slow to get there and then I can play harder when I am there, if that makes sense. I just wish we had better trail like terrain out here in south africa. I fall asleep on the 450 on the dirt roads. __________________ Adventure Magazine Like Us Y'all - Adventure Magazine Facebook Page.

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01-11-2010, 07:56 AM	#121
trackhead Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Utardia Oddometer: 2,684	Old, but valuable thread. I'm stuck between buying an XR650R or an older model KTM 525. I've read every post in this thread and here are my thoughts, questions. 1. Valves are disposable and easy to replace with Kibble Whites. Did that on my CRF250x, great valves. Valves are a non-issue in my mind. 2. Piston/Rings are easy to replace and not too expensive. 3. Splitting the cases to get to the tranny kinda sucks, but it's not too hard. Did that on my XR600R. So, I'm mechanically able, but given the choice, I'd rather not be digging into the engine every year. I'm interested in 95% dirt/5% road, long 10-12 hour riding days, day after day. Lots of time in 5th gear, some technical, lots of fire roads, 2,000 mile dirt tours, etc. I know the KTM will be better on the tech, that's a given. With that, is the KTM 525/520 up to day after day of 400 mile days? I don't mind a winter tear down, but trail side failures of tranny's or engines imploding from low oil capacity isn't something I want to experience.

01-11-2010, 05:44 PM	#123
LILBIT Ride you must. Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Lake Placid, FL Oddometer: 1,675	He said older model LuckasM. Right thread. There is a guy who posts lightly on KTM Talk who had a fleet of 5 doing just what you said. His bikes were negleted by manys standards. I remeber one with well over 300 hours of mostly desert use. Sorry i'd give you more info if i remembered. Someone else recently posted having over 400 hours on a bone stock engine. This is not typical with stock intake valves. I'd say doable but would pick a bike and price fiquring a total rebuild from the start. Unless you find one with super low hours. Mine was 3 years old when i got it and had maybe 60 hours tops. I've seen some with less. Low hour bikes can be fitted with Kibblewhites and not even need new seats. Rings can out last the cylinder coating. At 160 hours mine were on the tightest end of specs.