Motorcycles BS Thread 2.0

easier to just buy the kit since I needed a piston,rings, gaskets, and everything else.

 

#2 especially. i have 3 bike so far, and still want a cruiser haha

 

Gotcha.
You could make the world's smallest engine block coffee table with the old jug...

 

So after riding my xr650l on some small off roading trips with my dad, I have come to the conclusion everything would be so much easier and more fun if I had a lighter bike. Its just heavy, I can manage it, but its not exactly fun. And it would also be nice to have a lighter bike for riding around in town and to class. No need for such a big bike. So i have been doing some searching and looking for a possible bike in the future.

It seems that alot of companies only have to option, you either get a 250, or one in the 600 range. I dont think I would be happy with a 250. I love the power of the 650. So i have been looking at ktm, there 350, 450, and 500 exc bikes. Using there 2016 specs the 350 is almost 100 lbs lighter then my xr. The 450 is only 10 pounds more then the 350, and the 500 is the same weight as the 450.

With that being said it would seem like the 500 would be an awesome bike. Its way lighter then the 650 and seems to have the same power characteristics. But im also curious on how well the 350 and 450 would do. I think with the more i ride on the roads/ highway the 350 wouldn't be as comfortable as the 500. I use my 650 as a rode bike too, going on cruises on the back roads and such for fun and to kill time. ANd i don't see the point in the 450 when they weigh the same, pretty sure the 500 is just a stroked out version, guess they have different power delivers?

Any input/suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Get the 500. I personally didn't care for the exc i rode but that's my opinion. I'm sure the local KTM guru will chime in soon @TheMuffinMan

I have so many bike parts on the way yet I'm out of town for the next week and half or so.

 

I have a KTM 525 XC-W which is an EXC without the street legal stuff like a headlight though I added it since I bought it.

While you can ride a 525 on the street it's not glorious. I'd say a 500 or 450 are good sizes; 350 if you're a smaller rider. Do be aware that KTM's are racing engines and while they are high performance your oil changes are every 25 hours or so (usually 8 hours of riding with friends is only 4 hours of engine time if that).

 

But it's worth it, to me at least. If you want something more streetable but not as good on the trails look at a KTM 690 Enduro. It's 317 lbs and the suspension is nowhere near the 500EXC but they'll both feel amazingly better then the XR650L that you're on. I rode my old 690 from Denver to Seattle and back. I wouldn't do that again but it's possible. 6,000 mile oil changes on the 690.

 

the 525 is the same as the 500 right? just not street legal but there all 510cc? And what do you mean by not glorious? and what kind of street? highway?

I have rode my 650 on the highway for 33 miles straight and that wasn't exactly fun but doable. I understand its not going to ride anything like a street bike but im okay with that. I just want to know if it has the power?

How is your bike agility wise? pretty nimble for what it is? Have you rode anything light to compare?

 

If you want something without the maintenance of the KTM's look at a Yamaha WR450R.

Only hosers ride DRZ's

 

No i don't need that streetable lol.

 

Cant find anything on a wr450r. Looks like it was just a concept???

Or is it an older bike

 

The 525 I have is 275 lbs, the new 500's are a bit lighter. I haven't ridden anything lighter but the 525 is agile as fuck. Mostly people desire a smaller engine for more forgiving throttle input on tight trails. The 500's have lots of torque and it's awesome. I did 100 miles on my 525 once when a friend on an XR600R and I were on a 3 day off-road trip on our bikes and he got an emergency call from his wife and we decided to hightail it home on the slab. I had no problem on trails with the 525.

I was 270 lbs + 50 lbs in clothes/armor, gear, and camping stuff. The 525 maxed out at about 75 with me on it; newer 500's have more power. Not only that but when I pulled the engine apart to rebuild it (it's a 2007) there was a ton of gunk and nasty crap all over the valves and piston which I'm sure was robbing power. After changing cams, some head and carb work and a new piston and cylinder the bike has crazy amounts of power! I'm sure I could hit 90 or more with it but I'm still breaking it in. I do weigh 250 lbs now too...

 

Oh they changed it to WR450F for the new model, oops.

 

Okay i like what im hearing. looked at the drz400, only ways 7 pounds lighter then the xr. I only weight 140 so the 500 will probably fly with me on it lol.

How old can I go and still get efi? Im more familiar with that then a carb (well not on a bike). And it seems like you can tune the differently pretty easily or no?

and is the wr450f a new thing or did they make a bike similar to it before. Im not in the market for anything brand new. The older the cheaper i assume

 

Them is fighting words

 

Figured since this is my first post I'll throw in pictures of my bikes

 

The 500's had EFI when they were released in 2012 though later years had more refined FI systems. I'd look at a 2014 or newer personally.

FI tuning is doable but annoying and has a steep learning curve to tuning. Carb tuning is easy. YMMV. The 530's that preceded the 500's (still same 510cc displacement) had carbs still if I recall.

2007 was the last year of the 525's which I have, then the 530's ran from 2008 to 2011. If you go with a 530 buy a 2011 model year, the earlier years had issues that were eventually sorted out by KTM. Then the 500's came after that.

 

Okay I see. Thanks

Any big differences between the 525 and the 500? Had any major problems with your 525? Sounds like thats the one I might search for.

 

Ahh it sounded like you wanted new. Well, the real question then is what's your budget?

 

Idk what my budget is. Cheap lol. What's the price range on them? Definetly won't be spending the price for a new one lol. It's okay if it needs a little work as well.