To KTM or not to KTM. That is the question.

[Aero165]

Hey guys,

I've said it once and I'll say it again. There should be a motard forum!


I'd like to hear from KTM owners about reliability issues. Are there any?

Some people I know wouldn't touch them with a ten foot stick and others swear by them. This leaves me a little confused as I was raised on Jap bikes and have only ever owned Jap bikes.

I've been bitten by the motard bug (again) and I'm rather keen on a 525EXC. My last motard was a 04 WR450. I loved it, despite the fact it missed that 'Ooph' the 525 did and also lacked a 6th gear.

The Yamaha XT660 has caught my eye a few times but I think that would fall under the same category as the XR650. Heavy. I was raised on dirt bikes and I just love the idea of a "Dirt bike with road wheels on it".



Any INTELLIGENT comments would be appreciated.



Thanks,

Aero

[barty5]

my sisters partner went for a kx450f over the ktm cost wise and wernt goig to be here for a while in motard form.

[clint640]

Depends what yer gunna do with it. A 525 would make a good race bike, XT660X a good street-tour motard but porky, XR650R's ain't that heavy for a 650, in fact they're one of the lightest. The 625/640/660 KTMs weigh in a bit heavier than the 525 but offer a bit more comfort & reliability, while still much lighter than the XT. The Husabergs are pretty animal, more of a race bike & good value.

Cheers
Clint

[Aero165]

my sisters partner went for a kx450f over the ktm cost wise and wernt goig to be here for a while in motard form.

Sorry, what? lol

[Aero165]

Depends what yer gunna do with it. A 525 would make a good race bike, XT660X a good street-tour motard but porky, XR650R's ain't that heavy for a 650, in fact they're one of the lightest. The 625/640/660 KTMs weigh in a bit heavier than the 525 but offer a bit more comfort & reliability, while still much lighter than the XT. The Husabergs are pretty animal, more of a race bike & good value.

Cheers
Clint

How do you find your 640? What are the service intervals like? Would it have a similar feel to 525?

[clint640]

How do you find your 640? What are the service intervals like? Would it have a similar feel to 525?

I love the 640 for what I do, which is pretty much everything, with an emphasis on touring tar & gravel backroads. It's comfortable enough to think nothing of riding to Wellington in an afternoon, light enough to do 4x4 tracks & easy trail rides on & the handling & brakes are more than up to chasing down sprotsbikes on a twisty road. It's a compromise bike, but it's a compromise that works for me.

Service intervals are 5000km per oil+filter change & valve clearance check/adjust. She's been very reliable. I've just clicked over 50 000km so I chucked in a new camchain & did all the bearings in the head as a preventive maintenance thing, about $300 worth of parts.

I haven't ridden a 525, but I've had a blast on a 450EXC, my bike feels a lot heavier than that sort of thing, outright power was similar but the 450 had more snap. The lighter 625 version of my bike (same LC4 motor but with a pumper carb) sits half way in between mine & the full on MX/Enduro rigs.

Cheers
Clint

[Aero165]

Thanks for your help! After doing some more research on the interwebs I think i've narrowed my search down to the KTM 640, 625 or 525.

[kiwifruit]

I'm telling Chris Mitchell

[Ewan Oozarmy]

Hey guys,

I've said it once and I'll say it again. There should be a motard forum!


I'd like to hear from KTM owners about reliability issues. Are there any?

Some people I know wouldn't touch them with a ten foot stick and others swear by them. This leaves me a little confused as I was raised on Jap bikes and have only ever owned Jap bikes.

I've been bitten by the motard bug (again) and I'm rather keen on a 525EXC. My last motard was a 04 WR450. I loved it, despite the fact it missed that 'Ooph' the 525 did and also lacked a 6th gear.

The Yamaha XT660 has caught my eye a few times but I think that would fall under the same category as the XR650. Heavy. I was raised on dirt bikes and I just love the idea of a "Dirt bike with road wheels on it".



Any INTELLIGENT comments would be appreciated.



Thanks,

Aero

Hey mate, I've had 3 KTM's - an LC4 660 and a couple of 950 SMs (one in London and one here).

The only trouble I've ever had (now, here's tempting fate) was a failed clutch slave cylinder on my previous 950 (2005 model had issues) which was replaced under warranty on the same day!

The 660 was mad! Very vibey, but mad.

[barty5]

Sorry, what? lol

sorry should have said they are only to race it hence the kx450f

[clint640]

Thanks for your help! After doing some more research on the interwebs I think i've narrowed my search down to the KTM 640, 625 or 525.

No worries, as you've no doubt discovered the 640 & 625 are both available in dirt & supermoto versions. Be aware that it's easier to convert a dirt model to supermoto on these machines than vice-versa.

The 660SMC that Ewan mentioned is worth a look too, there are some in NZ. Get your kicking leg trained up though, no e-start on that monster.

Cheers
Clint

[Aero165]

I'm telling Chris Mitchell

OOOOH, I sense a spanking coming!

[notch]

My $0.02c. KTM's have excellent build quality, reliability, and parts cost is not too bad either. I've never had a problem getting parts for my 10 year old model.