Does hydro clutch makes KTM worth buying (instead of yamaha)

You had problems with a first year bike. Everyone knows first year bikes often have issues so you are a dumbass as well as a jackass.

i would say them willing to fix things means they stand by their product and dont expect it to happen.

Thought of this thread yesterday while at the races.

There was a 2009 KTM 250SX (the only 2 stroke in the expert class). Came over the finish line jump, landed and on a bit of a straight away.... the Engine locked up solid and the rider skidded off the track to the side. He went to kick it over and the kick starter didnt even budge.

At the end of the day when I was leaving, they had it torn down, looks like the head cracked and coolant got into the cylinder/piston and it seized.

This happend twice to us on our ktm ...... I see they still have this problem.

I want to share this with everyone, true story. In 1987 I bought 2 KTM's from Barry Higgins a 125 & 250. The 125 was the slowest bike I have ever owned. So I just raced the 250 the whole year. At the end of the year I received a box USP, inside was a crank and most of a topend for the 125 along with a letter from KTM saying how sorry they were that the bike was so slow. Also they said that they would pay my dealer to install all the parts. Barry offered to port and blueprint my motor to the same specs as Bobby Moores for 100.00 dollars. He also sold me a Dynoport pipe. After all this was done the 125 could run circles around the 250! In all my 25 years of racing this was the only bike I ever owned that felt like I was cheating when I raced it! It was the only bike I ever owned that I could pass guys down straightaways on! I don't think I have ever heard of this kind of support from any of the bike 4, and I never complained are asked KTM to do anything about the bike! KTM will always get my business.

i was confused before buying my 1st bike . but this is great
XT660X - King of the urban jungle.
Yamaha XT660X is a super motard bike from the house of Yamaha. It is a powerful member of XT series. It is titled as “King of the urban jungle” by Yamaha. It delivers dazzling street performance. It has got dynamic and bold looks with saddlebags. Its’ performance is a result of its fine engineering. It is bundled with modern Supermotard technology. Its single cylinder, four-stroke, fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 660 cc engine generates the power of 35.3 kW@ 6,000 RPM and the torque of 60 nm @ 5250 RPM. The compression ratio is 10.0:1. The engine is aggressive and ultra responsive at throttle.
Its features are as explained below:

Features:
Engine and transmission:
Displacement: 660 cc
Engine type: Single cylinder, four-stroke, liquid-cooled,
Power: 35.3 kW@ 6,000 RPM
Torque: 60 nm @ 5250 RPM
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Bore x stroke: 100.0 x 84.0 mm
Fuel system: Injection
Fuel control: SOHC
Ignition: TCI
Lubrication system: Dry sump
Gearbox: 5-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiple-disc coil spring

Dimensions:
Height: 1,170 mm
Length: 2,175 mm
Width: 860 mm
Seat height: 865 mm
Ground clearance: 205 mm
Wheelbase: 1,490 mm




Brakes and wheels:
Frame type: Steel tube, diamond shaped
Front suspension: Telescopic forks 43mm
Rear suspension: Mono-cross
Tires:
Front: 120/70-R17
Rear: 160/60-R17
Brakes:
Front: Single disc
Rear: Single disc

Physical capacities:
Gross weight: 189 kg
Fuel capacity: 15 L
Color: Red, white, blue

It has advanced diamond shaped steel frame. XT660X is equipped with full-floating 320 mm front disc that delivers incredible stopping power.
It ensures the rider’s comfort by its front 43 mm Telescopic forks and swing-arm mono-cross rear suspension. The bike is capable of taking you to new extremes; so you should always use helmets.
Get this bike and spoil yourself!

I love the AJP juice clutch on my 2001 Gas Gas - bulletproof and I've never even bled the thing.

That said, a Rekluse (a.k.a. cheater clutch) would have saved me the indignity that occured at the recent Stimilon MX Challenge race.

I rode a 2006 cheater clutch KTM 200 exc for a day in the awesome Sawtooth Mountains, and it made technical terrain child's play. It was only weird on the downhills, but they've sorted that action out in the years since. It has to do with ball mass. Really. The guys from Rekluse were camping with us, riding with better riders than me. They are the real thing.

As others have noted, there's a lot of dollars worth of other high end components on the orange bikes.

Dealer support is critical, especially if you get on an urgent race schedule. Proximity is not the only consideration when selecting a dealer. That could be a discussion all by itself.

Good Luck!