new 2015 ktm.

PC
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PC 8/13/2014 9:26am
8/13/2014 9:26am
I just got a new 500exc brand new in the crate and didn't grease anything. I was too excited to put it together and ride it.
However, I will strip, clean and grease everything before the winter rain hits.

I'm not really worried about rusting bearings when its 80f, sunny and zero humidity in the air. To each his own though.
JA946
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JA946 8/13/2014 9:52am
8/13/2014 9:52am
It's not rusty bearings that are the problem... It's metal on metal contact that is.
PC
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PC 8/13/2014 10:28am
8/13/2014 10:28am
Is it a known fact that KTM doesn't properly grease from the factory? Or is this old lore from the Japanese era?
I know the last umpteen Japanese bike's I've bought had about a trace element of something that may have resembled grease.

I thought KTM actually sent these bikes out with some grease in their joints!?!?
mxtech1
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mxtech1 8/13/2014 10:29am
8/13/2014 10:29am
The only items you need to be concerned about are the activities that the dealership does during prep. When buying a bike, ALWAYS insist that the service manager gives you a copy of the OEM prep checklist after your bike is setup. Often times, this is your only form of protection if an early-hour issue would arise.

Other than greasing things better, factory assembly is not what it used to be. So much of these posts are built on old tales, most of which are mistaken for dealer setup errors, not manufacturing issues. All of the critical components such as suspension, chassis, motors, and wheels are done by the factory who use sophisticated forms of mistake-proofing during the assembly process. The mistake-proofing systems usually make it very difficult to pass on poor quality work, or work that had a step missed.

The Shop

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FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 8/13/2014 11:00am
8/13/2014 11:00am
Honestly, do as your instinct and work ethic guide you. That, rather than how well OEM's prep bikes, probably has more about what drives people to do whatever degree of preparation they do in anything in life.

If you enjoy working on bikes, it's hard to stop yourself from checking it down when it's new, and that's one of the pleasures of having a new bike. If you don't enjoy working on them, it's not a pleasure, but only an obstacle to riding ASAP. Until it breaks, anyway.

Replace the marshmallow with a new bike, and this pretty much sums up the prepping a new bike dilemma

https://youtu.be/QX_oy9614HQ
peelout
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peelout 8/13/2014 11:15am
8/13/2014 11:15am Edited Date/Time 8/13/2014 11:58am
JA946 wrote:
My KTM came with bone dry head stock bearings from the factory. 20 hours? My KTM manual said I needed to do a top end at...
My KTM came with bone dry head stock bearings from the factory.

20 hours? My KTM manual said I needed to do a top end at 15....

And guess what? It made it 4 hours before eating the piston, ring, and cylinder.

KTM warrantied 6 top ends for me, and 4 for a friend.

My opinion? KTM does have "monkeys" building them - that KTM 144sx did 1 thing great - it ATE top ends.

Recall after recall - no fixes for 2 years.

I want a 350 bad - but not sure I could ever own another KTM after that bike.
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph for the entire trip (400 miles of 70+mph). the STOCK piston/rings i had in it had about 30 hours on them when i switched it out and looked like brand new (motorex oil 'case yer wonderin). the ride after Mexico i did 230 miles in one day, over 10 hours. all on the same top-end.

4 hours? 4 hours, are you serious?

did you fall for a banana in the tailpipe bro?
YZ125H1
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YZ125H1 8/13/2014 11:28am
8/13/2014 11:28am
peelout wrote:
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph...
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph for the entire trip (400 miles of 70+mph). the STOCK piston/rings i had in it had about 30 hours on them when i switched it out and looked like brand new (motorex oil 'case yer wonderin). the ride after Mexico i did 230 miles in one day, over 10 hours. all on the same top-end.

4 hours? 4 hours, are you serious?

did you fall for a banana in the tailpipe bro?
Quoted for truth, there are tons of people who have gotten over 100 hours/Thousands of miles on the original top end on the 300. I think he is just sour that the 07/08 144 was a dud bike. At least KTM stood behind their product and paid for the top ends.

steed 2.0
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steed 2.0 8/13/2014 11:34am
8/13/2014 11:34am
FreshTopEnd wrote:
Honestly, do as your instinct and work ethic guide you. That, rather than how well OEM's prep bikes, probably has more about what drives people to...
Honestly, do as your instinct and work ethic guide you. That, rather than how well OEM's prep bikes, probably has more about what drives people to do whatever degree of preparation they do in anything in life.

If you enjoy working on bikes, it's hard to stop yourself from checking it down when it's new, and that's one of the pleasures of having a new bike. If you don't enjoy working on them, it's not a pleasure, but only an obstacle to riding ASAP. Until it breaks, anyway.

Replace the marshmallow with a new bike, and this pretty much sums up the prepping a new bike dilemma

https://youtu.be/QX_oy9614HQ
Willpower test, children who can resist the temptation will be more successful in life, according to the theory
JA946
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JA946 8/13/2014 11:37am
8/13/2014 11:37am Edited Date/Time 8/13/2014 11:41am
peelout wrote:
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph...
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph for the entire trip (400 miles of 70+mph). the STOCK piston/rings i had in it had about 30 hours on them when i switched it out and looked like brand new (motorex oil 'case yer wonderin). the ride after Mexico i did 230 miles in one day, over 10 hours. all on the same top-end.

4 hours? 4 hours, are you serious?

did you fall for a banana in the tailpipe bro?
YZ125H1 wrote:
Quoted for truth, there are tons of people who have gotten over 100 hours/Thousands of miles on the original top end on the 300. I think...
Quoted for truth, there are tons of people who have gotten over 100 hours/Thousands of miles on the original top end on the 300. I think he is just sour that the 07/08 144 was a dud bike. At least KTM stood behind their product and paid for the top ends.

http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/592000-do-the-ktm-144s-blow-up-alot/

Peely, I don't think you know what havoc the 144 caused - but it SUCKED. Parts back ordered for months - KTM admitted all fault, and I eventually sold the bike because KTM wouldn't take it back. Paying for top ends will never get that time lost when it sat at the KTM dealer.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 8/13/2014 11:53am
8/13/2014 11:53am
JA946 wrote:
My KTM came with bone dry head stock bearings from the factory. 20 hours? My KTM manual said I needed to do a top end at...
My KTM came with bone dry head stock bearings from the factory.

20 hours? My KTM manual said I needed to do a top end at 15....

And guess what? It made it 4 hours before eating the piston, ring, and cylinder.

KTM warrantied 6 top ends for me, and 4 for a friend.

My opinion? KTM does have "monkeys" building them - that KTM 144sx did 1 thing great - it ATE top ends.

Recall after recall - no fixes for 2 years.

I want a 350 bad - but not sure I could ever own another KTM after that bike.
peelout wrote:
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph...
i have over 70hrs on my 300 top end right now, 50 of which were from running Tecate to LaPaz at an average speed of 49mph for the entire trip (400 miles of 70+mph). the STOCK piston/rings i had in it had about 30 hours on them when i switched it out and looked like brand new (motorex oil 'case yer wonderin). the ride after Mexico i did 230 miles in one day, over 10 hours. all on the same top-end.

4 hours? 4 hours, are you serious?

did you fall for a banana in the tailpipe bro?
I alwayys prep my Baja bikes with Water-Proof grease.

I'm jus' sayin'...
peelout
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peelout 8/13/2014 11:57am
8/13/2014 11:57am
TeamGreen wrote:
I alwayys prep my Baja bikes with Water-Proof grease.

I'm jus' sayin'...
Laughing Laughing Laughing

seriously laughing right now, Drip to the Tip! haha!


@ JA946
i clearly had no idea what turds that year KTM was so my bad, i'm just sharing my experience with my KTM and it's a common theme among all the guys i know that own them. as mentioned above, at least KTM was owning up to it and providing warranties.

as for the KTM thing, the group i went with not only gave me shit for doing the Mexico ride on a 2-stroke, but also for being on a KTM. those dudes ate their words when i rolled into LaPaz and cranked open a beer Wink
overthebars39 8/13/2014 2:04pm
8/13/2014 2:04pm
Madmax31 wrote:
This is all BS. Take the damn thing out, put about 5/7 easy laps on it, come in let it cool down, then take it back...
This is all BS. Take the damn thing out, put about 5/7 easy laps on it, come in let it cool down, then take it back out and ride it like you stole it.

Same way I've broke in every bike I've ever bought (many) and I've never had an issue.

"Take it apart and grease it"...you pu##ies. No need too think about that for a year or more with a ktm.
I'm on my 7th KTM. It does not mean a thing if you ride brand X or Y assembly workers or dealerships can still fuck things up.
I prefer the peace of mind and thrust no other then my own eyes. I know enough stories of guys that bought a new bike and had the throttle stuck WFO or had their day ruined because something came lose. I'm not risking that shit for a few hours of 'work' (i like to work on my machines anyway).
overthebars39 8/13/2014 2:05pm
8/13/2014 2:05pm
Forza wrote:
How far apart do u take it?
Until i have a frame with an engine in it.
Ing
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Ing 8/13/2014 2:28pm
8/13/2014 2:28pm
Every KTM I've owned has come well greased from the factory. 4hrs on a top end. Definitely something the matter. All those top ends replaced and no one ever figured out what was wrong with the bike? There has to be a problem. Why just keep putting new top ends on when the original problem hasn't been solved.
JA946
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JA946 8/13/2014 2:33pm
8/13/2014 2:33pm
Ing wrote:
Every KTM I've owned has come well greased from the factory. 4hrs on a top end. Definitely something the matter. All those top ends replaced and...
Every KTM I've owned has come well greased from the factory. 4hrs on a top end. Definitely something the matter. All those top ends replaced and no one ever figured out what was wrong with the bike? There has to be a problem. Why just keep putting new top ends on when the original problem hasn't been solved.
Did you read the link I posted above? KTM had MASSIVE failures with the 144sx being ridden by MX riders...and I'm slow!
overthebars39 8/13/2014 3:19pm
8/13/2014 3:19pm
And all of a sudden they came out with a 150. Wink
machine
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machine 8/13/2014 7:04pm
8/13/2014 7:04pm
peelout wrote:
fuck that shit, take it out to the track and spin some laps. working on shit before you ride it sucks, you can do that after...
fuck that shit, take it out to the track and spin some laps.

working on shit before you ride it sucks, you can do that after a couple rides.

that's like buying a movie and getting home and reading the instructions to the DVD player before you put it in. you know how they work already, open that fucker up and let 'er rip
I used to do that before I had a seat fly of over a jump on the first ride with my 250sx. Embarassing as hell with a brand new bike......haha ....I now do a check of all the bolts before I go out the first time...lol
ando
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ando 8/13/2014 7:40pm
8/13/2014 7:40pm
logan_140 wrote:
What should I do before I ride it? Just got one grease anything? Check any thing?.
Put fuel in it?

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PC
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PC 9/3/2014 10:08am
9/3/2014 10:08am
Sorry to bump and old thread, but I thought I'd let everyone know my 14' 500exc had about ZERO grease in the hemispherical lower shock bearing. The swingarm bearings had a decent amount from the factory, but still got cleaned and filled with waterproof grease.

Haven't gotten to the headset yet, but will in the next few days.

$10k bike and they cant even spare $0.10 worth of grease. Not cool.
ob
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ob 9/3/2014 11:06am
9/3/2014 11:06am
overthebars39 wrote:
And all of a sudden they came out with a 150. Wink
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was broke. All summer in the A class. Changed filter and oil and twisted the throttle. Maybe I'm just lucky.
JerseyFresh
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JerseyFresh 9/3/2014 11:14am
9/3/2014 11:14am
Ugh, new bike 101 fellas. Yes, check everything, grease everything, check all the bolts, why would you not? The bikes the cleanest it's ever gonna be and the easiest to work on......I've seen people get bikes and take em straight to the track, only to blow the thing up the first lap. Why? The air filter was in a cardboard box sitting in the air box. You really would rip a bike that a 14 year old kid working his first job just put together for you? Cause that's where they put the new guys in the shop, putting the bikes together. Fuckin amatuers.....
KTM831
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KTM831 9/3/2014 1:03pm
9/3/2014 1:03pm
ob wrote:
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was...
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was broke. All summer in the A class. Changed filter and oil and twisted the throttle. Maybe I'm just lucky.
There was a 350sxf in 2009?
overthebars39 9/3/2014 3:10pm
9/3/2014 3:10pm
overthebars39 wrote:
And all of a sudden they came out with a 150. Wink
ob wrote:
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was...
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was broke. All summer in the A class. Changed filter and oil and twisted the throttle. Maybe I'm just lucky.
Yeah i know, thus my reply. The 144 was a fiasco and they just changed the model name to be able to skip the bad marketing they got from it. Who would by a new 144 back then after all those horror stories. Your 144 maybe got all the required updates? (ECU and head if i'm correct)
ob
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ob 9/3/2014 6:01pm
9/3/2014 6:01pm Edited Date/Time 9/3/2014 6:24pm
ob wrote:
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was...
The 150 is a 144. They just changed the name. I had a 144 I raced all summer long, back in 2009 because my 350sxf was broke. All summer in the A class. Changed filter and oil and twisted the throttle. Maybe I'm just lucky.
KTM831 wrote:
There was a 350sxf in 2009?
Opps quick response plus bad memory equals wrongl lol. My 144 was a 2009. I bought a 350 when they first came out in 11? Didn't have the recal done and it broke. My bad. Ktm fixed everything.
Radical
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Radical 9/3/2014 6:07pm
9/3/2014 6:07pm
Make sure the bolts are tight, especially the axles, fork mount bolts. Things that could kill you if loose. Make sure the fluid levels are correct and that the oil filter is lubed, then ride the thing!

Tear it down and lube everything when you can, but don't wait a week to ride it!
KTM831
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KTM831 9/3/2014 7:59pm
9/3/2014 7:59pm
ob wrote:
Opps quick response plus bad memory equals wrongl lol. My 144 was a 2009. I bought a 350 when they first came out in 11? Didn't...
Opps quick response plus bad memory equals wrongl lol. My 144 was a 2009. I bought a 350 when they first came out in 11? Didn't have the recal done and it broke. My bad. Ktm fixed everything.
Just had to give you a hard time on my first post Smile
rocketsocks26 9/3/2014 8:01pm
9/3/2014 8:01pm
Ive owned over 50 new bikes. Ive owned every brand except suzuki. None of them came greased we ll. Its annoying when people post " i just bought a new bike and the linkage was bone dry" big deal! When you bring the bike home, take your time, strip the bike down , grease it, lock tite the bolts, torque everything to spec and enjoy your bike! Its a dirtbike, things will get loose no matter what color it is.!
logan_140
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logan_140 9/3/2014 8:25pm
9/3/2014 8:25pm




I did everything everybody said to do. Love this bike

lumpy790
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lumpy790 9/4/2014 2:40pm
9/4/2014 2:40pm
I take it down to the bare frame then reassemble making sure every screw, bolt and nut is loctited. Every bearing gets BelRay grease.
resetjet
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resetjet 9/4/2014 3:16pm
9/4/2014 3:16pm
Common problem is the dork at the shop fills the brake reservoir to the top. You get out and the fluid heats up and your brakes seize up. My friends got so hot trying to make it back at night it was glowing orange. He didn't make it BTW. He came to a stop and the brake line actually exploded from the pressure of the boiling liquid. That is after I let out several pumps on the trail during our ride.

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