KTM linkage

Motodork
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Motodork
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 3:24pm
what is the exact reason the KTM doesnt handle well.
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RACEGUY
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RACEGUY 4/28/2010 5:22pm
4/28/2010 5:22pm
Aside from a lot of people who have never ridden them, who says KTMs don't handle well?
newmann
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newmann 4/28/2010 5:26pm
4/28/2010 5:26pm
The winner of MXA's 450 shootout doesn't handle well? The KTM150SX, the most fun bike on the planet doesn't handle well? The KTM250SX 2 stroke that makes damn near as much horsepower and torque as a current 450 and weighs 40 pounds less all at the same time doesn't handle well? You must be smoking too much of that Japanese medicinal marijuana or something. Hope you brought enough for the rest of the class.
Crush
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Crush 4/28/2010 5:37pm
4/28/2010 5:37pm
Travis Preston said most people won't notice it, and he doesn't think it is the linkage that Pros have had some issues with the big bikes... He thinks it may be the flex in the frame on a supercross track, especially with a side mounted shock...

Interesting...

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`ol Ger
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`ol Ger 4/28/2010 5:41pm
4/28/2010 5:41pm
RACEGUY wrote:
Aside from a lot of people who have never ridden them, who says KTMs don't handle well?
Exactly..

Apparently it is trendy to criticize kTM motorcycles and drink tea with two fingers.
sxf138
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sxf138 4/28/2010 5:44pm
4/28/2010 5:44pm
RACEGUY wrote:
Aside from a lot of people who have never ridden them, who says KTMs don't handle well?
`ol Ger wrote:
Exactly..

Apparently it is trendy to criticize kTM motorcycles and drink tea with two fingers.
x10,

dont know where this whole ktm thing started but it sure fires me up
Crush
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Crush 4/28/2010 6:07pm
4/28/2010 6:07pm
Yeah I should have mentioned I'm on a KTM300 EXC and I think it handles great!!!
`ol Ger
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`ol Ger 4/28/2010 6:09pm
4/28/2010 6:09pm
Electric powerband too Crush,,

like butter. real STRONG butter.
staycasted
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staycasted 4/28/2010 6:21pm
4/28/2010 6:21pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2010 7:52pm
after watching herlings last weekend that thing handles a rough track just fine
WhKnuckle
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WhKnuckle 4/28/2010 6:35pm
4/28/2010 6:35pm
In the old days (before 2004), KTMs could be made to handle OK, but they had to be set up perfectly. Othewise they really didn't handle great. I had two of them - an '01 and a '02 250SX - and that's what I found. Also, setting them up is more art than science; for example, if it pushes the front end you'd normally take out sag to make the front bite, but on my bikes you'd put more sag in to make the front end bite. Counterintuitive characteristics aren't good for a bike's reputation.

I understand the new ones handle just like other bikes, but I haven't ridden one.
DrSweden
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DrSweden 4/28/2010 6:54pm
4/28/2010 6:54pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 10:28pm
Has been mentioned earlier, but I'm sure the reason why Katoom went linkage was because many US-consumer where unwilling to accept the fact that no linkage is as good. Much is prolly based on what Knuckle claim, that pre 2004 they handled worse than some Japs according to many? Despite this they have dominated MX2 GPs in Europe for half a decade.


As it looks now, they are winning all over, which they really deserve.
Cigaro
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Cigaro 4/28/2010 7:36pm
4/28/2010 7:36pm
newmann wrote:
The winner of MXA's 450 shootout doesn't handle well? The KTM150SX, the most fun bike on the planet doesn't handle well? The KTM250SX 2 stroke that...
The winner of MXA's 450 shootout doesn't handle well? The KTM150SX, the most fun bike on the planet doesn't handle well? The KTM250SX 2 stroke that makes damn near as much horsepower and torque as a current 450 and weighs 40 pounds less all at the same time doesn't handle well? You must be smoking too much of that Japanese medicinal marijuana or something. Hope you brought enough for the rest of the class.
Trust me,you don't want Japanese marijauna.Most of its garbage.
Crush
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Crush 4/28/2010 7:44pm
4/28/2010 7:44pm
`ol Ger wrote:
Electric powerband too Crush,,

like butter. real STRONG butter.
Yep... It's a nice bike to ride for sure... I never really got comfortable with all the engine breaking on a four stroke, grew up riding two strokes so...

But the bike has a smooth but powerful surge of power all the way through... I've got a PC pipe, silencer and the red powervalve spring in mine and it rips, keeps 450s at bay easily... even with my big ass on it...
CamP
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CamP 4/28/2010 7:46pm
4/28/2010 7:46pm
MXA gave KTM the best handling honors in their 2010 450 shootout.
oldx
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oldx 4/28/2010 9:00pm
4/28/2010 9:00pm
`ol Ger wrote:
Electric powerband too Crush,,

like butter. real STRONG butter.
Crush wrote:
Yep... It's a nice bike to ride for sure... I never really got comfortable with all the engine breaking on a four stroke, grew up riding...
Yep... It's a nice bike to ride for sure... I never really got comfortable with all the engine breaking on a four stroke, grew up riding two strokes so...

But the bike has a smooth but powerful surge of power all the way through... I've got a PC pipe, silencer and the red powervalve spring in mine and it rips, keeps 450s at bay easily... even with my big ass on it...
The KTM 300 is the best all around 2 stroke ever built. Anyone that doesn't think so just hasn't ridden one.
And they keep finding little ways to improve it year after year.
Tiki
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Tiki 4/28/2010 9:09pm
4/28/2010 9:09pm
When I asked some KTM folk this question here was the answer (Paraphrased)
The rear end is more sensitive then a linkage bike. The linkage catches a lot of things like incorrect sag, improper spring height and improper spring weight. The KTM is specific to the rider. If you weigh 160 vs 170 and have a spring for 170 lbs, the reaction is different. Whereas if you had the same scenario with a linkage bike the rear end is less noticeable.

So the way the bike is set up overall is more sensitive to the rider weight. Most people would not notice. Most people don't set sag every time they go to the track either, hell most set it once and forget it. Sag must be set every time the bike comes off the truck because it changes ass the life of the spring changes. This is why you see professional mechanics constantly monitoring it. So if you are riding a bike where the shock hasn't been rebuilt in over six months, sag hasnt been set since the bike was new do you think you would notice the rear end on a KTM that isnt set correctly?
Crush
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Crush 4/28/2010 9:15pm
4/28/2010 9:15pm
oldx wrote:
The KTM 300 is the best all around 2 stroke ever built. Anyone that doesn't think so just hasn't ridden one. And they keep finding little...
The KTM 300 is the best all around 2 stroke ever built. Anyone that doesn't think so just hasn't ridden one.
And they keep finding little ways to improve it year after year.
Yup Yup!

Can't wait for the EFI version... Smile

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need love
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need love 4/28/2010 9:16pm
4/28/2010 9:16pm
My KTM 125 pulls so hard my titts sagged after my last ride
hartebreak
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hartebreak 4/28/2010 9:37pm
4/28/2010 9:37pm
need love wrote:
My KTM 125 pulls so hard my titts sagged after my last ride
my vote for post of the year
oldx
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oldx 4/28/2010 10:37pm
4/28/2010 10:37pm
need love wrote:
My KTM 125 pulls so hard my titts sagged after my last ride
Happens to all of us, you're getting older.
plowboy
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plowboy 4/28/2010 11:15pm
4/28/2010 11:15pm
Crush...I really want a 300. I ride mostly HS now and my only concern is how it handles the really tight woods stuff. Is it "flickable"?
Crush
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Crush 4/29/2010 12:21am
4/29/2010 12:21am
plowboy wrote:
Crush...I really want a 300. I ride mostly HS now and my only concern is how it handles the really tight woods stuff. Is it "flickable"?
Mate, it depends what you are coming off... If you've been on a four stroke it's as light as a feather... I came off a 03 CRF450...

It's not a 125, but i've gotta say it turns great anyways... I had to set up the suspension, get a taller seat and bar risers but it is fine to me...

The thing only weighs 103 kilos... that is 227 pounds... Ready to go...

If it is good enough for Juha/Knighter/Watts then I think it is capable!!!

The thing is dude, the power is just amazing... Lug, rev, whatever... it's a four stroke with no engine breaking and a real exhaust note!!!
WideOpen
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WideOpen 4/29/2010 3:39am
4/29/2010 3:39am
Motodork wrote:
what is the exact reason the KTM doesnt handle well.
The KTM's handle just fine. The haters always had a comment but could never explain why they thought the KTM suspension did not work.
mr_big
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mr_big 4/29/2010 4:06am
4/29/2010 4:06am
Motodork wrote:
what is the exact reason the KTM doesnt handle well.
Living up to your username at least........

Well done, you punter.
Underground 4/29/2010 4:50am
4/29/2010 4:50am Edited Date/Time 4/29/2010 4:51am
Headshake and rear end kicking on decel. They def got beter though
Bulldog
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Bulldog 4/29/2010 4:52am
4/29/2010 4:52am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 10:29pm
plowboy wrote:
Crush...I really want a 300. I ride mostly HS now and my only concern is how it handles the really tight woods stuff. Is it "flickable"?
Absolutely! The 300 is known as the 3-Stroke. Best of the 2-Stroke with fine attributes of the 4-Stroke. Electric start! In the woods it save you many a times. We race a lot of tight woods and it goes through it like a hot knife through butter. Some stuff is cut 30" wide - Flickable? Yes! I have owned 5 - KTM 300s since 2001 and am I am patiently waiting on the Direct Injected models - 2011?





Out east here KTMs hold 44% of the bikes raced. On top of that, across all brands of motorcycles raced, 2-Strokes make up 64% of the bikes raced. Do the math, KTM and 2-Strokes. Yamaha, Husky and Gas Gas have a waiting market for them. Would be nice if the other Japanese brands would import them again for those who still make them.


If you haven't gotten a chance to read it yet pick up the June issue of Dirt Bike and see what got bike of the year. Also interesting to read is the statement by Scott Harden under the "Tear Off" section (PG. 29) on the state of the motorcycle media and 2-Strokes. He is right on IMO.
mccread
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mccread 4/29/2010 5:49am
4/29/2010 5:49am
Crush wrote:
Travis Preston said most people won't notice it, and he doesn't think it is the linkage that Pros have had some issues with the big bikes...
Travis Preston said most people won't notice it, and he doesn't think it is the linkage that Pros have had some issues with the big bikes... He thinks it may be the flex in the frame on a supercross track, especially with a side mounted shock...

Interesting...
KTM have a new frame now.
Crush
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Crush 4/29/2010 6:05am
4/29/2010 6:05am
mccread wrote:
KTM have a new frame now.
Thanks Mccread, you're always helpful...
Kinetic1
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Kinetic1 4/29/2010 6:21am
4/29/2010 6:21am
I had a 99 300 MXC. Great engine but the chassis kinda sucked. I did get the suspension to work properly but that hated to do anything but go straight. You absolutely had to steer 100% with the rear. I tried everything and never could get it to feel like it wanted to turn. My 05 525SX was great though. It turned well and the suspension was pretty good bone stock with just proper set up. I rode an 07 and it is better than my 05 in the handling department. I would love to ride any 2010 model 2 or 4 stroke.

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