Reliability: KTM vs Honda vs Yamaha vs others

[Riccardo1989]

Hi guys,
i'm new here in this forum, i read your topics lots of times from Italy! I signed 'cos i found this forum very interesting with fantastic photos and well specified topics!
I own a DR350 MY 94 and it carries me around since 2007 in off and on road, now i would like like to change it with a more specialistic thumper and i'm thinking on KTM exc 450-525, Yamaha Wr 450, Honda 450X and Husaberg 550.
In your opinion which is the most suitable for going off-road and sometimes make some transfers on the tarmac?
Which of them requires less maintenance?
Thanks to all!

[Team Longriders]

The Yamaha. Dead reliable and no valve bull shit.

[wiggywildwildwest]

Originally Posted by Riccardo1989

Hi guys,
i'm new here in this forum, i read your topics lots of times from Italy! I signed 'cos i found this forum very interesting with fantastic photos and well specified topics!
I own a DR350 MY 94 and it carries me around since 2007 in off and on road, now i would like like to change it with a more specialistic thumper and i'm thinking on KTM exc 450-525, Yamaha Wr 450, Honda 450X and Husaberg 550.
In your opinion which is the most suitable for going off-road and sometimes make some transfers on the tarmac?
Which of them requires less maintenance?
Thanks to all!

all these bikes are high performance and high maintenance. find one which feels comfortable. see if any of your mates have one or see if you can test ride at a bike shop. only you know what you want.

Originally Posted by The Rider

The Yamaha. Dead reliable and no valve bull shit.

having seen a pile of these engines with blown bigends and receding inlet valves, i beg to differ.

[Riccardo1989]

I asked you 'cos some say that Honda need a piston change after half of milesage with respect to ktm...i've always thought that japanese motorbikes were more reliable. Anyway as soon as possible i try them to look for the best feeling!

[LukasM]

If you want reliable and still high performance with a wide ratio 6 speed, the KTM 450/525 with the RFS engine is hard to beat. Get a 2004-2007 model, all the issues are sorted on those.

They are higher maintenance than a DR but it's mostly 15 min. oil changes (every 15-20 hours or about 1000-1500kms in dual sport use). The stock intake valves are also a bit soft but if they wear out after a few hundred hours replace them with aftermarket stainless valves and you will get many years of service out of them.

The later years of the WR450F are also decent but due to much closer gearbox ratios they will never be as good as the KTMs as dual sport bikes.

[Off the grid]

The KTM RFS engine is the lightest, highest HP and most reliable engine made in the 400-525CC category. It's not even comparable. The tranny is equally good.

[G600]

Originally Posted by Riccardo1989

Hi guys,
i'm new here in this forum, i read your topics lots of times from Italy! I signed 'cos i found this forum very interesting with fantastic photos and well specified topics!
I own a DR350 MY 94 and it carries me around since 2007 in off and on road, now i would like like to change it with a more specialistic thumper and i'm thinking on KTM exc 450-525, Yamaha Wr 450, Honda 450X and Husaberg 550.
In your opinion which is the most suitable for going off-road and sometimes make some transfers on the tarmac?
Which of them requires less maintenance?
Thanks to all!

All the bikes you specify are race bikes and therefore not low maintenance. In my experience the old KTM RFS bikes are pretty reliable FOR A RACE BIKE.

If you want a low maintenance off-road bike go for a Honda XR4, Suzuki DRZ400, Suzuki DR650 or similar.

[tattewell]

As a trail bike I am very pleased with my 04 KTM 450 exc. That said, all the brands have something to offer, and my biggest deciding factor would probably be dealer support. Find the local guy around you that stands behind the product and you will probably be miles ahead in owner satisfaction.

[n16ht5]

WR450F 07+
KTM 450/525


Ride both and pick yer color. The only naysayers are the ones who dont own one. I found a better deal on a WR.. So I went wih blue.

[Riccardo1989]

are there any differences in rideability and maintenance between KTM 450 and 525?

[n16ht5]

525 feels heavier due to gyro. Actual weight is about the same. Maint same, although more pain on oil changes and valves need to be checked more compared to WR, but WR uses bucket/shim on valves. WR valves usually never move though. 525 has lots of torque, 110mph+ fun.

I'd say KTM 525 is better for high speed riding, 450ktm + WR is better for slow tight ST. All are totally reliable

[cross-country]

No, not much difference. You could say that the 450 crank would last longer because it is carrying less mass with the same size bearings as a 525, but you could also say a 525 doesnt' have to turn RPM's to make power, so it will last longer.

In the end, buying a used bike, your reliability is going to be a factor of the condition you bought it in and the condition you keep it in. Anyone that tells you that one brand is less likely to break down than the other or is faster/lighter/stonger/cooler probably just owns the bike they are hyping and doing it only to boost their own ego.

Choose a bike that you can go and personaly look at and ride. Choose one that has a transmision that fits your riding style and area.

[tdrrally]

buy a dr,xr,xt,ect and build it up for a great trail bike
(a crf is not a replacement for an xr)

you will be money ahead
(no matter what bike you get you will need to make it yours)

if you plan to race that is a new issue

but always get what makes you happy

[n16ht5]

Originally Posted by tdrrally

buy a dr,xr,xt,ect and build it up for a great trail bike
(a crf is not a replacement for an xr)

you will be money ahead
(no matter what bike you get you will need to make it yours)

if you plan to race that is a new issue

but always get what makes you happy

Been there, tried that. XR650L is too heavy and big for real trails, I dont care what anyone says. I can get it up some nasty stuff, but man is it tiring


That said, the XR400 makes a greattrail and DS bike if you dont mind kicking it

[Riccardo1989]

I know that XRs are great bike, if i used it more on tarmac than offroad i would buy an XR650, but if i sell my DR 350, i'll prefer a more rencent bike...