2013 KTM 450 SXF

Friday
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Friday
Edited Date/Time 10/29/2012 5:37pm
Do any of you have one yet? I'll have mine in about 2 weeks. Just wondering if anyone here has done any testing and adjusting on their own bike yet. I've read the magazine tests and I've ridden the new bike at Hangtown(though I couldn't make ANY adjustments). I'm mostly concerned about the forks and wondering if anyone has done any trouble shooting on the bike overall.I found the power to be plentiful(almost too quick for my fused wrist), and it seemed to steer ok. I felt some deflection in the front but I am so used to my 06 CRF 450's that I've been riding since 07. It is very plush and forgiving. Anyway,any tips from real world riding of the new KTM 450?
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mag23
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mag23 9/25/2012 8:57am
9/25/2012 8:57am
I have one, and I love it... everything is good. There's a couple decent size jumps that I would bottom the forks on, so I stiffened the clickers a bit and it helped. No complaints yet... If you rode on the hangtown track, you're always going to get some deflection because it usually really choppy and hardpack. On a softer track or sand, I like the forks. Awesome bike, so far
Friday
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Friday 9/25/2012 9:25am
9/25/2012 9:25am
mag23 wrote:
I have one, and I love it... everything is good. There's a couple decent size jumps that I would bottom the forks on, so I stiffened...
I have one, and I love it... everything is good. There's a couple decent size jumps that I would bottom the forks on, so I stiffened the clickers a bit and it helped. No complaints yet... If you rode on the hangtown track, you're always going to get some deflection because it usually really choppy and hardpack. On a softer track or sand, I like the forks. Awesome bike, so far
Thanks Mag. Great to hear!
nornevrder
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nornevrder 9/25/2012 12:23pm
9/25/2012 12:23pm
I am waiting for mine still. Since I live in Alaska it isn't supposed to arrive till march. I had a 12 350 and went off if mxactions settings and it helped tremendously. I can't wait to ride it next spring.
jmoto42
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Arlington, TX US
jmoto42 9/25/2012 4:37pm
9/25/2012 4:37pm
Dealer is holding mine as there is a technical bulletin out on this bike for the DLC coating on the intake rocker arm. Would love to know when KTM is planning on coming up with a fix. I've already sold my 2010 CRF450 and the KTM 350 is getting its butt kicked against the 450's on the start.

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Scott167
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Scott167 9/25/2012 6:46pm
9/25/2012 6:46pm
I really like, mine from the little I e got to ride it. It was the best stock suspension I've ever rode from ktm. I sent it away to fc and there was still a noticeable improvement in the rear right away. I didn't really have time to play with the front as I took a digger and have been off the bike since. I've also went with mxa's setting before and have found improvements. Hope you like the bike Smile
RF Motorsports USA 9/25/2012 7:23pm
9/25/2012 7:23pm
Supercross/Motocross Pro rider Mike Horban has been riding one since late July and he loves it. Bike is super competitive right out of the box all he has done so far is the suspension and put a exhaust on it. with no reliabilty problems what so ever.
Friday
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Friday 9/25/2012 9:07pm
9/25/2012 9:07pm
Good news. Thanks guys!
haydos25
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haydos25 9/27/2012 6:24pm
9/27/2012 6:24pm
Has anybody heard what Les Smiths issues with the clutch were. I remember he kept having clutches go on him in the nationals. Just wondering if that was because it was a pre production run bike or if that is going to be an weak issue on all the 13's?
mag23
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mag23 9/28/2012 9:18pm
9/28/2012 9:18pm
jmoto42 wrote:
Dealer is holding mine as there is a technical bulletin out on this bike for the DLC coating on the intake rocker arm. Would love to...
Dealer is holding mine as there is a technical bulletin out on this bike for the DLC coating on the intake rocker arm. Would love to know when KTM is planning on coming up with a fix. I've already sold my 2010 CRF450 and the KTM 350 is getting its butt kicked against the 450's on the start.
New rocker arm just got installed on mine... they said there was no wear issues with original rocker arm. 1 hour fix for the dealer... dropped it off this morning, picked it up after work.
lumpy790
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lumpy790 9/30/2012 10:19am
9/30/2012 10:19am
did the 13 get all of the good stuff (except graphics) that was on the 12 Dungey replica?
Friday
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Friday 10/27/2012 10:39pm
10/27/2012 10:39pm
I have 3 hours on my 2013 KTM 450 SXF. I love it! Just put stiffer springs front and rear and I absolutely love it. Things that stand out? The brakes are amazing! The clutch is butter.Electric start is awesome. The thing loves inside lines and ruts. The thing goes forward if you even think about the throttle. Pulls great and hooks up well. The springs were too soft for me at 197 lbs. I raced it today.Now,at one point after I had just moved into first place, I went into a right turn and the bike felt like it was fouling a plug or running out of gas. It stopped doing that 50 feet later and I babied it for half a lap. Cranked it open going around Talladega at Glen Helen and it seemed fine. I finished the last two laps in first but that was just weird. Anyone had anything like this happen?Other than that,like I said I love this bike. Will check into it more closely and hit the track again Tuesday. More to come.
Scott167
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Scott167 10/28/2012 1:27pm
10/28/2012 1:27pm
There was a recall on the intake rocker arm. It had a poor dlc. Have you had that done? Mine hasn't done that before.
Friday
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Friday 10/29/2012 10:42am
10/29/2012 10:42am
Scott167 wrote:
There was a recall on the intake rocker arm. It had a poor dlc. Have you had that done? Mine hasn't done that before.
Yeah. Mine was replaced before I got it.Thanks.
newmann
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newmann 10/29/2012 11:03am
10/29/2012 11:03am
One thing to keep an eye on would be the subframe where the plastic airbox wraps around and attaches. Dirt and vibration will cause this area to wear thin and eventually may break. Saw one yesterday. Might consider wrapping a piece of clear vinyl background material on these areas if you put a lot of hours on your bike.
Friday
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Friday 10/29/2012 5:37pm
10/29/2012 5:37pm
Will do. Thanks!

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