Ossa Explorer v KTM Freeride

[george formby]

Two bikes I'm very interested in, which is moot because only the KTM is available here. Ossa 74 kgs dry, Freeride 99.5 kgs.
Ossa recommends a new cylinder, piston & rings annually not sure how much maintenance the Free ride needs.
I also hope the Explorer is easier to work on than their latest trials bike, the 280i. EDIT, could be one & the same..
Check out how to clean the air filter..
http://www.ossauk.co.uk/users/UserFiles/File/air.pdf

Thoughts & ongoing info on this style of bikes welcome.

Hmmmm...

[Night Falcon]

both great bikes! The freeride is new piston and rings after 80hrs according to the maunal- not what I thought it would be given its detuned engine. I have sat on the freeride and it was love at first sit, but shes too high maintenance for love to last

[Crasherfromwayback]

The freeride is new piston and rings after 80hrs according to the maunal- not what I thought it would be given its detuned engine.

Yeah but there's no way you'll need to do that. An RMZ450 is supposed to have a new piston every 12 hours. But who do you know that does that?

[White trash]

both great bikes! The freeride is new piston and rings after 80hrs according to the maunal- not what I thought it would be given its detuned engine. I have sat on the freeride and it was love at first sit, but shes too high maintenance for love to last

My manual is telling me piston at 120hrs.

[Night Falcon]

My manual is telling me piston at 120hrs.

My bad...120hrs. Average of 10hrs awsome riding a month = new piston every year. Ya probably would get lot more out of it but I have this fear of exploding an engine if I'm even late with an oil change so my brain would treat an extended piston replacement like Russian Roulette

[NordieBoy]

Air filter on the Freeride is, open seat, pull dyson, clean filter...

[george formby]

Air filter on the Freeride is, open seat, pull dyson, clean filter...

My jaw hit the floor with that PDF file.. When I sank the DT up to it's eyebrows it was a side panel off & 3 screws to remove the twigs, tadpoles & mud.
I'm a bit gazzumped that a genuine go anywhere bike is potentially a real pain in the butt if you run out of talent. Mind you, it's Spanish. they probably have to import mud.

[gav24]

Jeez, I remember when cleaning the filter was a quick job that anyone could do...!

That Ossa's a joke!

Maybe this is a sign of things to come.... Like when everyone used to work on their own cars...

I remember when all this was just fields...back in my day...when I were a lad.....etc etc zzzzzzz

[george formby]

There was a mint DT 175 on Trademe a few days ago, allegedly less than 10k on the clock & it looked original. A modified DT 175 (suspension & brakes) to this day is the best trail bike I have ever ridden. Might be better off getting one of those & doing the upgrades on forks, shock & different wheels with discs.

[NordieBoy]

I remember when all this was just fields...back in my day...when I were a lad.....etc etc zzzzzzz

Oi! That's my lawn you're falling asleep on!

[pete-blen]

There was a mint DT 175 on Trademe a few days ago, allegedly less than 10k on the clock & it looked original. A modified DT 175 (suspension & brakes) to this day is the best trail bike I have ever ridden. Might be better off getting one of those & doing the upgrades on forks, shock & different wheels with discs.

Yer prob not to far wrong.... I still think one of the best dirt bike motors I have ever riden/owned
was a DT400..
One in late model running gear would be great bike..

[Trials Rider]

[QUOTE=george formby;1130463463]Two bikes I'm very interested in, which is moot because only the KTM is available here. Ossa 74 kgs dry, Freeride 99.5 kgs.
Ossa recommends a new cylinder, piston & rings annually not sure how much maintenance the Free ride needs.
I also hope the Explorer is easier to work on than their latest trials bike, the 280i. EDIT, could be one & the same..
Check out how to clean the air filter..
http://www.ossauk.co.uk/users/UserFiles/File/air.pdf

Thoughts & ongoing info on this style of bikes welcome.

Hmmmm...

Also check out the Sherco X ride http://www.sherco.com/EN/Xride.html I rode one last week, neat wee bike, I could have lots of fun on that

[Lotus54]

[QUOTE=Trials Rider;1130465413][QUOTE=george formby;1130463463]Two bikes I'm very interested in, which is moot because only the KTM is available here. Ossa 74 kgs dry, Freeride 99.5 kgs.
Check out how to clean the air filter..
http://www.ossauk.co.uk/users/UserFiles/File/air.pdf
/QUOTE]


OSSA fixed that air filter issue and older bikes can be retro fitted.
The new system is very quick and easy- plus the filter element is quite high.
I know when I trail rode my GasGas TXT Pro trials bike it had huge issues with water. The filter is quite low and water got in there. One time I barely made it back to my vehicle.

I certainly like the light weight. New improvements for 2014 are in place, and I have one on order.
I was told 7 weeks (probably Spanish weeks).

I can certainly post up a review af any are interested.
I'm not selling my 300 XCW, I think they will compliment each other. I expect the OSSA will be fantastic on the mountain trails and really rough single track I like a lot. Not so hot on fast Two-track or open desert type trails. But I don't lie those as much anyway.


Mark

[gammaguy]

Yeah but there's no way you'll need to do that. An RMZ450 is supposed to have a new piston every 12 hours. But who do you know that does that?

And last time I worked at a franchise Suzuki dealer I'm pretty sure the boss was trying to get me to sell them new valves at the same time as the slug was renewed at 12 hours

When I left there was still a nice full box of new ones nestling hopefully in the corner

[gammaguy]

My bad...120hrs. Average of 10hrs awsome riding a month = new piston every year. Ya probably would get lot more out of it but I have this fear of exploding an engine if I'm even late with an oil change so my brain would treat an extended piston replacement like Russian Roulette

So what kind of oil change would that be then?