KTM radiator recommendations?

[Crisis management]

Anyone got a right hand (non filler cap) radiator for and 06-07 450 EXC or recomendations for a replacement, I'm not convinced of the millions of cheap Chinese copies I see?

Yet again, a battle with a tree at Woodhill didn't go my way... I must learn to steer for the gap, not the trunk.

Also, any recomendations for radiator braces / guards?

Woodhill was great today (until the last 10 minutes), the sands a bit dry but lots of tracks I hadn't been on and the old carpark playground is lots of fun, I actually got over most of the obstacles but chickened out on the sloped ramp, I can imagine exactly how that's going to end!

[noobi]

The guys on thumpertalk are equally sceptical about the quality, however if you search on TT there are a quite a few people who have bought them and have nothing but praise. If you can find threads which indicate a consistently good product then buying from the same seller can't be too much of a gamble surely?
Especially considering the price.

If you want to buy in NZ though, 454 distribution bring in Chinese oversized radiators which RRP for $180inc per side, the fact that they are distributing them means they must have faith in them right?

[barty5]

quite a few on ebay going cheapish pending on how quick you want one you could have it sent to me in Connecticut east coast USA most here send for free. Have a friend coming to visit next week for 5 days but not back in nz for 2 1/2 weeks sure i could ask her to bring back. she lives in west harbour.

[Jay GTI]

A mate used those cheap Chinese radiators after a similar intimate moment with a tree at Woodhill on his 450SXF. He reported no problems, even during a few slow runs on a tight forest section on another trail ride where the bike boiled as normal (as did mine), but no leaks from the rads.

[Crisis management]

Thanks for the replies guys, sounds like the chinese radiators may be worth looking at, I have found a genuine radiator on Ebay but am waiting to hear back from the seller, if it works out I will take that over the chinese (seen far too many dodgy chinese products in the building industry to be too enthusiastic).
Any suggestions for radiator guards (second radiator I have destroyed so it may be a good idea!)?

Barty, thanks for the offer but I use the NZ post "you shop" facility which gives me an american address for that market, great service as they will combine parcels and ship when you want for a reasonable rate.

My "thing to remember for this week"... when your clutch hydraulics die and you think riding the convict should be fine cause it's a nice flowing track, second gear will be ok.... you're wrong, you will need the clutch shortly before you launch yourself off a drop off. Blipping the throttle has a different effect when the clutch doesn't disengage.

[pete.ktm]

Any suggestions for radiator guards?


i had some devol's but my ktm was always overheating and thought there might not be enough air flow.

Swapped them for a pair of ktm perimeter type guards.

Still overheated so got a fan and no more problems :(

devols offer more frontal protection but i like the look/mounting of the ktm guards better. Enduro Engineering do a arguably better devol type guard.

[Jay GTI]

seen far too many dodgy chinese products in the building industry to be too enthusiastic.


It's a fair enough concern when it's your pride and joy at stake, but another ride buddy has been steadily blinging out his KTM with cheap Chinise parts, they all seem to be holding up well. So much so that I've stuck some on my bike and there's only been one part I've thought "yeah that's not going on my bike", which was an oil filter cover that didn't slot into the engine case like the standard cover does.

[Crisis management]

Update...
New radiator from KTM $700... nope.

Had the existing radiators checked over for repair, once bead blasted it was fairly apparent that corrosion was going to kill them soon even if I didn't keep punting them against hard things, interestingly enough the radiator guy runs the chinese radiators on his MX bike.

Guess what I bought?


One new pair of shiny radiators delivered to my door from China for $145 (bought off Ebay Australia), I'll let you know how the install goes!

[BoristheBiter]

Great thread. I was thinking the same after doing this at the beginning of the year.

[Mungatoke Mad]

Update...
New radiator from KTM $700... nope.

Had the existing radiators checked over for repair, once bead blasted it was fairly apparent that corrosion was going to kill them soon even if I didn't keep punting them against hard things, interestingly enough the radiator guy runs the chinese radiators on his MX bike.

Guess what I bought?


One new pair of shiny radiators delivered to my door from China for $145 (bought off Ebay Australia), I'll let you know how the install goes!I got mine 2 years ago $135 the pair much better than the stock 1's KTM wanted $500 per side I see the CEO of KTM's salery has risen substantially in the last couple of years I'me sure he desereved it.:nono:
Or for those on a budget this is a cool little fix :niceone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abl78E_6TcI

[Crisis management]

Recieved the radiators today, not bad, 5 days from China to me. So far they look good, nice welds, tidy looking and are very close in dimension to the originals, I won't get to fit them till next week, I'll let you know how that goes.

[pete.ktm]

Recieved the radiators today, not bad, 5 days from China to me.

hey

can you give us the sellers name so the next time i bang into a tree (i wish, last time it was tip over putting it on the trailer) i'll be ready.

cheers

[Crisis management]

hey

can you give us the sellers name so the next time i bang into a tree (i wish, last time it was tip over putting it on the trailer) i'll be ready.

cheers

I got them of Ebay (australia), seller is ASI performance although there seemed to be a number that looked identical, theThumpertalk guys seemed to have used a number of different suppliers with all good feedback. The reasons I chose this one were, price & free delivery, consistent looking welds and 100% good feedback with a lot of sales.
I will fit them this week (stripping the 450 tonight) so will post up my conclusions.

Last radiator I squashed was on a 200 on the trailer.... I really must tighten the tie downs before driving off, ouch!

[nzspokes]

Meh, you guys crash to much is the problem. :bleh::laugh:

Im just going to head out and bend my Pro Circuit expansion chamber back straight.......

Fooking tree.

[Crisis management]

To crash or not to crash, that is the question (to bastardise some pommie git)



Right, fitted the radiators, I have at the same time changed radiator hose to silicon aftermarket things which contributes to the confusion.

Radiators bolt up ok, they are about 5mm thicker than stock and that's sort of ok.
The hose connectons are not aligned as well, they are ok but rely on some kinking of the hoses to fit, some of this is the new hoses, some is the radiator fittings. Overall this is ok. The throttle cables are a bit tight as the thicker radiator squeezes them, remember this is a KTM and the Austrians are notoriously tight on their clearances.
The shrouds don't line up at all, I will make these fit.

Ok, I have to sort out the trottle cables and the shrouds but that is a small price to pay for saving $1200, I'm happy to live with it.

May be able to give the bike a run this weekend, if so I will report back about viscous trees and radiator performance.. when's the next GNCC?

[takitimu]

To crash or not to crash, that is the question (to bastardise some pommie git)



Right, fitted the radiators, I have at the same time changed radiator hose to silicon aftermarket things which contributes to the confusion.

Radiators bolt up ok, they are about 5mm thicker than stock and that's sort of ok.
The hose connectons are not aligned as well, they are ok but rely on some kinking of the hoses to fit, some of this is the new hoses, some is the radiator fittings. Overall this is ok. The throttle cables are a bit tight as the thicker radiator squeezes them, remember this is a KTM and the Austrians are notoriously tight on their clearances.
The shrouds don't line up at all, I will make these fit.

Ok, I have to sort out the trottle cables and the shrouds but that is a small price to pay for saving $1200, I'm happy to live with it.

May be able to give the bike a run this weekend, if so I will report back about viscous trees and radiator performance.. when's the next GNCC?

I'll be real curious how they go, they look pretty nice.

[Crisis management]

I'll be real curious how they go, they look pretty nice.

I seem doomed to not get to ride off road this week.....

Finished fiddling with the radiators, still a bit tight around the throttle cables but acceptable, the shrouds fitted with a bit of massaging. The shroud and radiator "deflectors" (fit in front of the radiator?) do not align with the mounting holes, a good 5 to 10mm out so I will need to get some radiator protection for the front face, too many branches and stuff try and stick themselves through there.
The bleed screw on the non filler side is laughable, its a 6mm bolt (which is ok) with a rubber washer (which is not alright), however the KTM part screws right in.

Generally the fit is ok, the edge of one radiator is just touching the frame and I will keep an eye on that but everything else is ok, if money was not an issue I would buy new as the fit and quality of OEM parts is to a far higher standard but there is no way to justify $1400 on a 6 year old bike.

Anyway, I have it ready to run, unfortunately some numb nuts forgot to order his replacement clutch slave cylinder and for some reason oil pisses out of there when I started the bike, anyone know a competent mechanic?

So, it runs but I haven't done more than start it and then rapidly turn it off, maybe this weekend?

[pete.ktm]

if money was not an issue I would buy new as the fit and quality of OEM parts is to a far higher standard but there is no way to justify $1400 on a 6 year old bike.


cheers for the update.

sounds like a $US150 (each side last time i replaced mine, but you usually only bang one hopefully) good condition second hand original off e-bay is a safer bet. just gotta hope one is available when you need it.

[Crisis management]

cheers for the update.

sounds like a $US150 (each side last time i replaced mine, but you usually only bang one hopefully) good condition second hand original off e-bay is a safer bet. just gotta hope one is available when you need it.

That's what I did with the 200 and it worked well however, when I got my current radiators inspected by the radiator guys it was surprising how close to holing through they were from corrosion (despite using the right coolant). If you get into that position first get the existing radiators tested....

[Crisis management]

Finally got to ride the bike at Maramarua this weekend, radiators worked well, nothing leaked (despite my best attempts at crash testing) or fell off, all looks good, I'm happy!
I fitted an Oberon clutch slave cylinder as well and that was awesome, definately gave better feel to the clutch with a smoother action, best $150 spent.

[takitimu]

Finally got to ride the bike at Maramarua this weekend, radiators worked well, nothing leaked (despite my best attempts at crash testing) or fell off, all looks good, I'm happy!
I fitted an Oberon clutch slave cylinder as well and that was awesome, definately gave better feel to the clutch with a smoother action, best $150 spent.

Was it a lighter pull on the clutch as well ?, I'd never heard of the Oberon, looks very nice though.

I did try a Mid West Mountain engineering clutch lever & pulled the pin on it as it doesn't like being pulled back onto itself ( broke the rod which was a pain to fix ), but it definitely made the clutch pull lighter.

[Crisis management]

Was it a lighter pull on the clutch as well ?, I'd never heard of the Oberon, looks very nice though.

I did try a Mid West Mountain engineering clutch lever & pulled the pin on it as it doesn't like being pulled back onto itself ( broke the rod which was a pain to fix ), but it definitely made the clutch pull lighter.

Have a look at Oberon.com (whatever, english company), I have heard of them from road bikes and are very well rated, wider piston with double seals so no problems of the piston cocking over in the bore which is why the KTM slaves get sticky. I think it's a lighter pull but that is all dependant on the fluid viscosity (mineral oil on KTM, I used some 5 wt fork oil I had lying around) and feel between old worn out components and new (I've just spent a fortune so it must be good)....

I think it's lighter, but the best part is it's smoothness so clutch engagement and feathering feels far more controlable.

I am impressed; it's warranted, comes with gaskets, crush washers and clear instructions and was a good fit (and just about half price of OEM).

[takitimu]

Have a look at Oberon.com (whatever, english company), I have heard of them from road bikes and are very well rated, wider piston with double seals so no problems of the piston cocking over in the bore which is why the KTM slaves get sticky. I think it's a lighter pull but that is all dependant on the fluid viscosity (mineral oil on KTM, I used some 5 wt fork oil I had lying around) and feel between old worn out components and new (I've just spent a fortune so it must be good)....

I think it's lighter, but the best part is it's smoothness so clutch engagement and feathering feels far more controlable.

I am impressed; it's warranted, comes with gaskets, crush washers and clear instructions and was a good fit (and just about half price of OEM).

I had a look see, looked impressive, the only issue is they pull the pin around 2007 & I'm 2012 :(, the good news is I use brake fluid :) ).

Looked really nice to :(.