KTM riders

[green machine]

Righto all you KTM experts i have an odd question for you.My EXC450 is the first KTM iv'e ridden and when i got it there was an Ohlins steering damper on it and i'm starting to think about taking it off because when riding the steering feels really heavy and it always feels like i'm fighting the damper to get the bike where i want to go(even when set at the lowest resistance)i had the same damper on my KXF and didn't have the same problem.The front end has to come off if i ditch it so the question is do KTM's have any known steering downfalls that make riders prefer to put dampers on them,as just a trailrider do i really need one.Swapped bikes with a couple of the boys on Sunday and the all commented that the steering felt too heavy and didn't like it,and their bikes steering felt nice and light.........any opinions welcomed...Cheers

[K6K]

Righto all you KTM experts i have an odd question for you.My EXC450 is the first KTM iv'e ridden and when i got it there was an Ohlins steering damper on it and i'm starting to think about taking it off because when riding the steering feels really heavy and it always feels like i'm fighting the damper to get the bike where i want to go(even when set at the lowest resistance)i had the same damper on my KXF and didn't have the same problem.The front end has to come off if i ditch it so the question is do KTM's have any known steering downfalls that make riders prefer to put dampers on them,as just a trailrider do i really need one.Swapped bikes with a couple of the boys on Sunday and the all commented that the steering felt too heavy and didn't like it,and their bikes steering felt nice and light.........any opinions welcomed...Cheers

If the steering is heavy at the lowest setting (can you turn it off?) I'd be looking for other causes...too tight steering head bearings maybe? The damper could have a binding issue somewhere. As far as I know it the damper should be making it easier for you - less force required to hold the bars and easier recovery after hitting roots and other sharp deflecting objects. I don't know if your specific model has any steering issues...I think I did hear some of the 08 KTMs had headshake issues and were a bit twitchy.

[green machine]

If the steering is heavy at the lowest setting (can you turn it off?) I'd be looking for other causes...too tight steering head bearings maybe? The damper could have a binding issue somewhere. As far as I know it the damper should be making it easier for you - less force required to hold the bars and easier recovery after hitting roots and other sharp deflecting objects. I don't know if your specific model has any steering issues...I think I did hear some of the 08 KTMs had headshake issues and were a bit twitchy.
I just put new bearings in the steering head and the damper seems to work ok,it's the under bar Ohlins type with RTC and Dampning settings and when dialed up as high as it goes the steering is pretty stiff, and it frees up as it's turned down,i guess the only way to find out is take it off and ride without it and see how it goes..... Cheers

[Stylo]

I just put new bearings in the steering head and the damper seems to work ok,it's the under bar Ohlins type with RTC and Dampning settings and when dialed up as high as it goes the steering is pretty stiff, and it frees up as it's turned down,i guess the only way to find out is take it off and ride without it and see how it goes..... Cheers

Hmmm, or maybe try option B . KX500, twice the power and less weight, also no problems with the steering head bearings cos your front wheel spends so much more time off the gound, even in 5th on a 500, and, therefore your grin factor would be double and that equals twice the fun.

Downside ? Problem is you'll have to find one first , or a CR500 in good nick. Good luck. If you can find a good one, buy it . My famous last words

[flyingcr250]

Hmmm, or maybe try option B . KX500, twice the power and less weight, also no problems with the steering head bearings cos your front wheel spends so much more time off the gound, even in 5th on a 500, and, therefore your grin factor would be double and that equals twice the fun.

Downside ? Problem is you'll have to find one first , or a CR500 in good nick. Good luck. If you can find a good one, buy it . My famous last words

not exactly helpfull.:facepalm:

[green machine]

not exactly helpfull.:facepalm:

What you reckon Steveo??,your a KTM man that's ridden with one and without one.....

[flyingcr250]

What you reckon Steveo??,your a KTM man that's ridden with one and without one.....

my old damper had no resistance untill it was needed, when it was turned right up you could just feel it, id lean toward how tight the head bearings are too??...

[green machine]

my old damper had no resistance untill it was needed, when it was turned right up you could just feel it, id lean toward how tight the head bearings are too??...

Yeah maybe,i just had an idea,i can take the damper part off and try it,can leave the mounting bracket on and see how she goes.cheers

[Ktmboy]

Its mainly the two stroke KTM's that get a bit (fair amount) of head shake and I've never really had an issue with the 4 strokes for some reason. I have heard that the 2011 are not so prone to the wobbles so maybe they have identified some areas that needed addressing.

Anyway a steering dampner needs to be seviced every 20 hours other wise the oil gets all gritty and gunge like. I was remiss and didn't service mine for a few more hours and it got to the point that the oil ports wore out and the thing acted in reverse. Strangest feeling, free to the outside but dampening to the centre. Made riding very interesting.

End story was it made it into a temporary file 13.

If you are going to get rid of yours give me a call as I may be able to make one good one from two suspect ones.

[green machine]

Its mainly the two stroke KTM's that get a bit (fair amount) of head shake and I've never really had an issue with the 4 strokes for some reason. I have heard that the 2011 are not so prone to the wobbles so maybe they have identified some areas that needed addressing.

Anyway a steering dampner needs to be seviced every 20 hours other wise the oil gets all gritty and gunge like. I was remiss and didn't service mine for a few more hours and it got to the point that the oil ports wore out and the thing acted in reverse. Strangest feeling, free to the outside but dampening to the centre. Made riding very interesting.

End story was it made it into a temporary file 13.

If you are going to get rid of yours give me a call as I may be able to make one good one from two suspect ones.
Cheers,iv'e just taken it off and the bearings have a nice smooth feeling,will give it a crack next weekend and see how it feels,the one i have is the Ohlins 2.1 under bar jobby,be lucky to have 10 hours on it.......so probably a bit flash to break up for parts .....

[barty5]

with out it your bars should be nice and free to flick from side to side with the front wheel suspended.

[REDRIDER]

Hey Steve, I know another guy thats just put an ohlins onto a kxf (2.0 or 2.1)? and is experiencing the same problem, even on its lowest setting you can still feel a fair amount of dampening going on, he was going to check his head bearings too, will let you know if he finds a solution.

[Rupe]

Hey Steve, I know another guy thats just put an ohlins onto a kxf (2.0 or 2.1)? and is experiencing the same problem, even on its lowest setting you can still feel a fair amount of dampening going on, he was going to check his head bearings too, will let you know if he finds a solution.

I've got a ohlins on my kxf. On a stand it will still slow/dampen the steering as it's oil moving through valves etc. However the lowest setting is very hard to notice on the track and would feel normal to ride. With the stock settings it's still a subtle feeling, but doesn't make the steering feel heavy as described.

I'd say the unit is not set up right, fualty, or you are picking up another problem

[green machine]

Hey Steve, I know another guy thats just put an ohlins onto a kxf (2.0 or 2.1)? and is experiencing the same problem, even on its lowest setting you can still feel a fair amount of dampening going on, he was going to check his head bearings too, will let you know if he finds a solution.
Yeah let me Darryl,pretty sure it's not the bearings as they are new,and without the damper the steering acts pretty much as Barty describes......

[green machine]

I've got a ohlins on my kxf. On a stand it will still slow/dampen the steering as it's oil moving through valves etc. However the lowest setting is very hard to notice on the track and would feel normal to ride. With the stock settings it's still a subtle feeling, but doesn't make the steering feel heavy as described.

I'd say the unit is not set up right, fualty, or you are picking up another problem
Yeah i had the 2.0 on my KXF and it never acted like this,this 2.1 was on the KTM when i swapped it and it's always felt a bit funny.....the guy put it on himself so i'll double check the instructions and see if everything is as it should be......any ideas on who would be able to see if it's faulty,working properly or need a service?

[green machine]

Well it seems in my first attempt at replacing bearings i f**ked it up,a mate seems to think i tightened the center nut on the damper too tight,being an amature i cranked it up fairly tight iv'e since found a procedure in the manual for tightening the triple clamp nuts and the single nut in the middle in a certain sequence.......got someone with a few more clues coming to check it out for me,Cheers for the replies fullas....K6K may have hit it on the head,finger crossed