The joys of owning a brand new bike [Archive]

Jay GTI

10th January 2011, 11:32

Just thought I'd share a few tales of the Kato ownership, as it's been interesting so far...

Due to acquiring a new GF the same time as the bike, I haven't ridden it anywhere near as much as I wanted, so it's still just under 10 hours...

So far I've had the valve stem seals replaced under warranty (first batch had 450 seals put in by mistake) and it's due to go back in this week for new bar clamps, as the ones on it have been known to crack. Again done under warranty, the joys of a brand new model I guess.

It has also developed a slight oil leak (more of a weep than a proper leak) from the rocker cover, but have been told a few of them have started doing this. Will keep an eye on it to see if it gets worse, talking the tiniest of leaks here, just more annoyed that a $14k bike does this with less than 10 hours on it than it actually being an issue.

Front brake has needed bleeding a couple of times, no biggie just annoying and it was fine yesterday.

Still very happy though, it's an amazing, do anything bike and is just as happy on the trails as it is on the track. However, it is a brand new model and I should expect some teething issues, which I've had...

takitimu

10th January 2011, 13:36

Nice post, random question how's the FI going, rumour I heard was they were having problems with the sensors, might just be a 250sxf issue though.

Jay GTI

10th January 2011, 14:03

Not had any problems with mine yet (touch wood). I'm loving the FI 'perfectly jetted for everywhere' benefit, but she sure looks complicated under the seat...

flyingcr250

10th January 2011, 16:59

:shit::shit::shit::shit::shit::shit::shit::shit::s hit::shit::shit::shit:

no cracks in my bar clamps.....yet.
no oil leaks..........................yet.
efi is sweet no problems.........yet.

not sure about the valve seals, ill know soon enough when i do the top end.
just had to put a bit of silicone around the TPS to stop water gettn in.

steve_t

10th January 2011, 17:09

So were the valve seals and bar clamps part of an official recall/fix?

Jay GTI

10th January 2011, 17:11

Cool, I was hoping you'd join in with how yours is going.

Only a small handful of the first shipment had the valve stem seal issue, although it has resulted in a couple of dead engines due to bits of valve seal ending up in the oil pump apparently...

Will have a look at the TPS tomorrow, see if I'm having any moisture issues.

Jay GTI

10th January 2011, 17:12

So were the valve seals and bar clamps part of an official recall/fix?

Yep, official recall and all done under factory warranty

flyingcr250

10th January 2011, 17:16

mine has done about 30 hours now, so far no major problems.

was the recall only on certain build numbers? i havent heard anything??

Bradz

10th January 2011, 17:18

Yours has a recall on radiator hoses Steve... :yes:

Jay GTI

10th January 2011, 17:19

mine has done about 30 hours now, so far no major problems.

was the recall only on certain build numbers? i havent heard anything??

Must not be riding mine hard enough then...:yes:

Yeah just on certain build numbers, TMG called me and said three bikes from the first delivery had the issue, the rest were fine.

flyingcr250

10th January 2011, 17:19

Yours has a recall on radiator hoses Steve... :yes:

ha ha ha, that was the dick on the seat that caused that problem.

Rupe

10th January 2011, 17:44

noobi

10th January 2011, 17:49

It got a bit hot

flyingcr250

10th January 2011, 17:52

30hrs and you're doing a top end...y?

it overheated a few times during the root 100, now its a bit smokey, and i dont believe in doing just rings, if the heads comming off then a new piston is going in.

and probably valve seals too ha ha ha

vazza

10th January 2011, 18:24

Wow not good.

ktm84mxc

10th January 2011, 20:18

scott411

10th January 2011, 21:07

http://www.mrmotorcycles.co.nz/product_info.php?products_id=1458

these are the best thing for the guys racing mx bikes off road, have stopped us boiling bikes dry many times

Buddy L

10th January 2011, 22:04

http://www.mrmotorcycles.co.nz/product_info.php?products_id=1458

these are the best thing for the guys racing mx bikes off road, have stopped us boiling bikes dry many times

X2 with this product.
im at 92 hours on my bike now, and fitted one of these from new from Scott, tonight with the first time i have ever put in any extra coolant in my bike, and i was less then 1/4 a cup.

flyingcr250

10th January 2011, 22:20

ill definitely be sorting something like that out, maybe i should put 5 of them on ha ha ha

Jay GTI

11th January 2011, 08:25

A few points the 350sxf is designed for MX eg a constant flow of air over the radiators & there is no catch tank for a boiling radiator.
So if you intend grovelling around in 1st gear in a muddy forest fit a catch tank & fan unit from KTM's parts catalogue.
This is a common problem on all 4strokes even at a MX meet , have seen many a CRF, YZF spilling the coolant on the start because they're been idling to long.
This is why there Enduro models have larger radiators.

Yeah cheers, well versed in the issues of boiling MX bikes, done it myself a few times on previous bikes. Although by the sounds of flyingcr250's issues, not much would have stopped his bike from boiling up...:)

flyingcr250

11th January 2011, 16:52

Yeah cheers, well versed in the issues of boiling MX bikes, done it myself a few times on previous bikes. Although by the sounds of flyingcr250's issues, not much would have stopped his bike from boiling up...:)

BAH! i saw a few "enduro" bikes sitting on the side of the track, looking like they were steam powered, one even spat all the oil out of its gearbox. at least mine finished ha ha ha

Jay GTI

11th January 2011, 17:18

BAH! i saw a few "enduro" bikes sitting on the side of the track, looking like they were steam powered, one even spat all the oil out of its gearbox. at least mine finished ha ha ha

Ha ha, sorry not meaning offence, just sounds like the event would have boiled the most hardened, desert spec bike... Have boiled a WR450 and an EXC250 myself, so 'enduro' doesn't mean they won't blow steam. Mind you, that just proves that my crap riding can get anything to overheat...

Bradz

11th January 2011, 17:26

The Gasser didn't even come close to boiling..

noobi

11th January 2011, 17:32

I lost coolant, but that was when the bike was upside down. Dont think I had it blowing steam, must be a KTM thing :bleh:

EXCDirt

11th January 2011, 18:24

The Gasser didn't even come close to boiling..

Never even close.

Saw 99 degrees on the temp and still no boil.

(Touch wood)

New Gas gas is up to 50 odd hours.... not really anything yet.
I'm not really that nice with it either.

Jay GTI

12th January 2011, 17:19

Does seem 2 smokes are less prone to boiling over, never had any problems with my old RM250 and that got plenty of low-speed, high rev abuse at Woodhill and Muriwai before we were kicked off.

Pierce

14th January 2011, 08:47

This is a common problem on all 4strokes even at a MX meet , have seen many a CRF, YZF spilling the coolant on the start because they're been idling to long.
This is why there Enduro models have larger radiators.

Yeah always got told when first started riding on my CRF not to sit there at idle for too long.

Pretty happy with my 2t aye, don't even know how many hours i've done on the current piston and rings but its heaps haha:apumpin:

Stylo

14th January 2011, 18:52

Yeah always got told when first started riding on my CRF not to sit there at idle for too long.

Pretty happy with my 2t aye, don't even know how many hours i've done on the current piston and rings but its heaps haha:apumpin:

Never had a problem either mate , pretty happy with the 2Ts too , bulletproof ...;-)

Ktmboy

14th January 2011, 20:12

The Gasser didn't even come close to boiling..

Ha ha, If you weren't sittin on the track havin a picnic then your bike may have got hot:msn-wink: (I can say this now cause you are probably at Desert Storm)This was a grovel and quite a good one. I boiled a couple of times on the hills but as it was a new bike I didn't have time to make a few mods beforehand. One would be to remove the thermostat for the event.

Muzza(legend from Kaikohe bro) fitted a fan to his KTM 450 and it didn't once get hot. He had heaps of trouble in the grovel and I had to help a couple of times. This seems like a good investment for the knarley shit.

flyingcr250

14th January 2011, 20:55

Ha ha, If you weren't sittin on the track havin a picnic then your bike may have got hot:msn-wink: (I can say this now cause you are probably at Desert Storm)This was a grovel and quite a good one. I boiled a couple of times on the hills but as it was a new bike I didn't have time to make a few mods beforehand. One would be to remove the thermostat for the event.

Muzza(legend from Kaikohe bro) fitted a fan to his KTM 450 and it didn't once get hot. He had heaps of trouble in the grovel and I had to help a couple of times. This seems like a good investment for the knarley shit.

a fan kit in on my list.....

Ktmboy

14th January 2011, 21:01

a fan kit in on my list.....

Steve can you let me know what prices you get. I'll do the same.

flyingcr250

14th January 2011, 21:03

Steve can you let me know what prices you get. I'll do the same.

yea, i probably wont get one for a month or so, gotta get a few other enduro parts, skid plate, hand guards etc..

Rupe

14th January 2011, 23:08

yea, i probably wont get one for a month or so, gotta get a few other enduro parts, skid plate, hand guards etc..

One thing I nearly said to you when we rode at the farm was you maybe let that bike idle too much. If someone is in the way, having a moment, or gererally struggling in front of you turn the bike off, you have elec start on it. MX 4strokes don't like sitting, where as a 2t exc would be sweet, jus something else to get used to haha.

that redline stuff in the coolant helps too.

and a fan and/or catch tank for the gnarly stuff

green machine

15th January 2011, 08:01

One thing I nearly said to you when we rode at the farm was you maybe let that bike idle too much. If someone is in the way, having a moment, or gererally struggling in front of you turn the bike off, you have elec start on it. MX 4strokes don't like sitting, where as a 2t exc would be sweet, jus something else to get used to haha.

that redline stuff in the coolant helps too.

and a fan and/or catch tank for the gnarly stuff

Water Wetter's the stuff your after,i put it in my bike and it hasn't overheated since,although i haven't done anything as gnarly as what you guys did Steveo..........

K6K

16th January 2011, 18:39

a fan kit in on my list.....

I recently found that the fan kit has a 80/85c sensor in it...so the fan comes on well before boiling and it sounds like it is getting hot when it really isn't. People on other forums put a BMW 91c sensor in it which saves the battery a bit on really hot days. After installing the fan I have not had a full boil over, only the odd cloud of steam from the overflow when the bike hits the ground. I have heard it bubbling on rare occasions though. Just before desert storm I removed the thermostat which improved cooling, we played around for a long time in the 'erzberg' section and the fan only came on a couple of times, previously it stayed on constanly in the really slow technical stuff.