Is this bad? Or normal?

jerry atrick moto 4/3/2015 9:48pm
4/3/2015 9:48pm
I have made it a rule over the years. Any bike i buy new or used gets a complete shack down before i ride it. Just because its new don't mean its right, If its new it goes down to the frame, swingarm, and front forks, Neutralize the motor by loosening all the bolts swingarm pivot included, Tighten swingarm first then bottom to top bolts in that order. Might sound strange but i have reduced some frame to bar vibration on 97 and up crs. Cant count the times i have found nuts bolts and even oil drain plug loose. Even had a master link with the outer lock missing. Used bikes well you just never know whats been maintained and what hasn't. Full disassemble Just because bike is Mint condition,Low hours don't mean its had proper care. Might seem like a lot of work to some but just think what might have happened with the missing master link keeper!!
harescrambled 4/4/2015 1:53pm
4/4/2015 1:53pm
jerry atrick moto wrote:
I have made it a rule over the years. Any bike i buy new or used gets a complete shack down before i ride it. Just...
I have made it a rule over the years. Any bike i buy new or used gets a complete shack down before i ride it. Just because its new don't mean its right, If its new it goes down to the frame, swingarm, and front forks, Neutralize the motor by loosening all the bolts swingarm pivot included, Tighten swingarm first then bottom to top bolts in that order. Might sound strange but i have reduced some frame to bar vibration on 97 and up crs. Cant count the times i have found nuts bolts and even oil drain plug loose. Even had a master link with the outer lock missing. Used bikes well you just never know whats been maintained and what hasn't. Full disassemble Just because bike is Mint condition,Low hours don't mean its had proper care. Might seem like a lot of work to some but just think what might have happened with the missing master link keeper!!
+1. The last two used bikes I bought went down to bare frames and bare cases. Replaced all the bearings in both bikes ('91 RM250 and '04 RMZ 250). It's the only way for me to have peace of mind....didn't hurt that the RMZ was a basket case when I bought it.
moco
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moco 4/4/2015 2:27pm
4/4/2015 2:27pm
Are you trying to say that you never had any of that happen to any other bike?


TKL965
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TKL965 4/4/2015 4:44pm
4/4/2015 4:44pm
I also brought a new 2003 KTM125 sx, was a lemon, constantly having problems.
-On pickup it had a crack in the tank.

-Next issue was counter shaft seal, spat numerous ones of them, always ran correct chain tension.
part wasnt that cheap either.

-constantly blew out the o-ring in the hydro clutch.

-Cracked the case around counter shaft, cracked towards front of motor, had to fight tooth and nail to get that replaced, bike was 3 months old.

many other problems, never buy another orange machine again. although i really like the new 250 sx 2t.

The Shop

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PTECH
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PTECH 4/4/2015 5:13pm
4/4/2015 5:13pm
Just sell it off already.
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:32pm
4/4/2015 5:32pm
BobPA wrote:
My 350 did the same thing with the rear fender bolts....it is caused by the bolts coming loose and the fender vibrating. Chalk that up to...
My 350 did the same thing with the rear fender bolts....it is caused by the bolts coming loose and the fender vibrating. Chalk that up to user error on both our parts.
When I bought the bike I stripped it down, regreased all the bearings and loctited all the bolts, inc the rear fender bolts. I check all bolts every time I ride and the fender bolts have never been loose. It's just a POS design - never had that issue with any other bike.

Simon
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:34pm
4/4/2015 5:34pm
scooter5002 wrote:
Sucks you've had all that bad luck, don't know what else to say. I had a 96 500 Kwacker that was a lemon, and I offed...
Sucks you've had all that bad luck, don't know what else to say. I had a 96 500 Kwacker that was a lemon, and I offed it after 1 season. I had some major issues, but it wasn't near the turd yours is.

I'll offer some advice on the vibration issue, try it, see if it works. Break the lower and front motor mount bolts loose, but leave your swingarm pivot torqued to spec. See what the gaps are on the 4 points where the frame tabs meet the motor mount holes on the cases, and build shims to fit. Make them so they are a snug fit, when you slide them into place. Basically, you want zero tension on those frame rails, after you tighten them up again. Think of the frame rail as a guitar string, and if it's not tight, it won't make a sound. In this case, it wont transfer vibration from the engine into the chassis. It might take a couple of hours, but you have nothing to lose. I remember riding a friends 12 250 KTM, and thought it vibrated a lot too. More than my 500AF, which I did the shim thing to. My AF vibrates less than my steel frame 500 did, and those are notorious shakers.
Thanks, that's a really good idea. I'm going to do a top end next so I'll check this out then. Although, we really shouldn't have to do something like this IMO.

Cheers
Simon
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:36pm
4/4/2015 5:36pm
jeffro503 wrote:
If that bike ever took a hard tumble on it's own ( like a high speed , you bailed off type wreck ) , It is...
If that bike ever took a hard tumble on it's own ( like a high speed , you bailed off type wreck ) , It is totally possible that frame is bent.
I agree, but I've never had a high speed crash on it. I've only dropped it about five times, all low speed, and the misalignment of the silencer was before I had even ridden it.

Cheers
Simon
cable
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cable 4/4/2015 5:38pm
4/4/2015 5:38pm
what hillbilly said
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:38pm
4/4/2015 5:38pm
hillbilly wrote:
I'd say you are about to buy some crank bearings and seals or big end of the rod bearing.. Where is the coolant going? Out the...
I'd say you are about to buy some crank bearings and seals or big end of the rod bearing..

Where is the coolant going? Out the overflow or internal?

I guess you checked the case vent on the tranny that it is clear ,that plugged will push oil thru seals.
Thanks hillbilly. Yeah I checked the breather when I first noticed the problem and it was clear. The coolant gets squirted out of the overflow by the rad cap. I have given up trying to fix it - I just refill it between motos.

Cheers
Simon
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:42pm
4/4/2015 5:42pm
jerry atrick moto wrote:
I have made it a rule over the years. Any bike i buy new or used gets a complete shack down before i ride it. Just...
I have made it a rule over the years. Any bike i buy new or used gets a complete shack down before i ride it. Just because its new don't mean its right, If its new it goes down to the frame, swingarm, and front forks, Neutralize the motor by loosening all the bolts swingarm pivot included, Tighten swingarm first then bottom to top bolts in that order. Might sound strange but i have reduced some frame to bar vibration on 97 and up crs. Cant count the times i have found nuts bolts and even oil drain plug loose. Even had a master link with the outer lock missing. Used bikes well you just never know whats been maintained and what hasn't. Full disassemble Just because bike is Mint condition,Low hours don't mean its had proper care. Might seem like a lot of work to some but just think what might have happened with the missing master link keeper!!
I always strip down new bikes to regrease all the bearings and apply threadlock to all the bolts and check everything is torqued up properly, but I've never known a bike to need checking that the engine is sitting in the frame properly. Well, until this one maybe lol! I'm def going to do this when I do the top end and maybe have to do the shim thing if it's not all true and tight.

Cheers
Simon
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:47pm
4/4/2015 5:47pm
moco wrote:
Are you trying to say that you never had any of that happen to any other bike?


No, I've had many parts fail on previous bikes, but never have I had any of these issues after so few hours on the bike. And most of the things that have gone wrong with previous bikes have been through crashes or just running modified engines that have given out. Plus, most of these issues - like the coolant eating, the rear fender, excessive vibration, pipe falling apart, throttle housing splitting and frame tab falling off I've never had on any bike.

Cheers
Simon
Flex
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Flex 4/4/2015 5:49pm
4/4/2015 5:49pm
I don't understand how you say you are doing everything perfectly and the bike has had all these issues. I had a 2012 and it was flawless, and I now have a 2013 and it is flawless. I know guys with 01's that have never had an issue with their ktm's..
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:51pm
4/4/2015 5:51pm
TKL965 wrote:
I also brought a new 2003 KTM125 sx, was a lemon, constantly having problems. -On pickup it had a crack in the tank. -Next issue was...
I also brought a new 2003 KTM125 sx, was a lemon, constantly having problems.
-On pickup it had a crack in the tank.

-Next issue was counter shaft seal, spat numerous ones of them, always ran correct chain tension.
part wasnt that cheap either.

-constantly blew out the o-ring in the hydro clutch.

-Cracked the case around counter shaft, cracked towards front of motor, had to fight tooth and nail to get that replaced, bike was 3 months old.

many other problems, never buy another orange machine again. although i really like the new 250 sx 2t.
Sorry to hear about your bike issues. At least they replaced the case - not cheap those things. From what I can tell a few of my issues with this bike are known KTM issues (stock pipe falling apart, rear fender and the seals) and the rest I'm hoping are down to my bike just being a bit of a lemon. I say "hoping" cos I really like the look of the FE 450 SX-F but wouldn't want to buy one if I'm likely gonna have a load of problems with it.

Cheers
Simon
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:53pm
4/4/2015 5:53pm
Flex wrote:
I don't understand how you say you are doing everything perfectly and the bike has had all these issues. I had a 2012 and it was...
I don't understand how you say you are doing everything perfectly and the bike has had all these issues. I had a 2012 and it was flawless, and I now have a 2013 and it is flawless. I know guys with 01's that have never had an issue with their ktm's..
Me neither. I've had multiple bikes over the years and all but one KX125 was basically flawless - and the only thing wrong with the KX was the rear shock wasn't machined properly in the factory and they replaced it. That's why I'm pretty sure it's not just me :-)
Flex
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Flex 4/4/2015 5:55pm
4/4/2015 5:55pm
AnimalHungry wrote:
Me neither. I've had multiple bikes over the years and all but one KX125 was basically flawless - and the only thing wrong with the KX...
Me neither. I've had multiple bikes over the years and all but one KX125 was basically flawless - and the only thing wrong with the KX was the rear shock wasn't machined properly in the factory and they replaced it. That's why I'm pretty sure it's not just me :-)
It sucks for you man, just never seen so many issues with a bike. Post some pics of it
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 5:59pm
4/4/2015 5:59pm
PTECH wrote:
Just sell it off already.
I'd love to, but then I need to replace it. When I do I'll probably turn to the dark side and buy a 450F. I like the sound of the FE 450 SX-F but they're all sold and I can get pretty much the same bike (apart from a few shiny parts) by waiting for the 2016 to come out in July. So, until then I'm gonna keep this one and hope it gets me through the season.

Cheers
Simon
AnimalHungry 4/4/2015 6:11pm
4/4/2015 6:11pm
Flex wrote:
It sucks for you man, just never seen so many issues with a bike. Post some pics of it
The only pic I have right now is of the blown out pipe...

Pit Row

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pacetruckdrvr
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pacetruckdrvr 4/4/2015 6:13pm
4/4/2015 6:13pm
Just wait til the frame breaks in half, that happens to all KTM'S is the word on the street.
PTECH
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PTECH 4/4/2015 9:17pm
4/4/2015 9:17pm
PTECH wrote:
Just sell it off already.
AnimalHungry wrote:
I'd love to, but then I need to replace it. When I do I'll probably turn to the dark side and buy a 450F. I like...
I'd love to, but then I need to replace it. When I do I'll probably turn to the dark side and buy a 450F. I like the sound of the FE 450 SX-F but they're all sold and I can get pretty much the same bike (apart from a few shiny parts) by waiting for the 2016 to come out in July. So, until then I'm gonna keep this one and hope it gets me through the season.

Cheers
Simon
Hard to believe you would consider another KTM after the bad experience you've had with this one? I just bought my second KTM this year and I love them. I've had one issue since 2010. I think they're great bikes but seems like the one you bought has some issues.

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