2018.5 factory edition

colintrax
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colintrax 8/26/2017 4:06pm
8/26/2017 4:06pm
Dinosaur Media wrote:
Just noting thst it is common knowledge that steel frames stretch over time. As soneone paying for my bikes thst is a concern! The rate of...
Just noting thst it is common knowledge that steel frames stretch over time. As soneone paying for my bikes thst is a concern! The rate of the stretch is yet undetermined as speed weight and frequency of use will obviously determine this. Would not expect an honest answer from KTM or anyone else with a vested interest...
Every frame stretches. Aluminum doesn't have some kind of magic that helps it avoid creep, or give it infinite elasticity.
Dcross829
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Dcross829 8/26/2017 4:18pm
8/26/2017 4:18pm
Dcross829 wrote:
Will ktm switch to an aluminum frame? What more can they do to the current bike to make it better?
moto0852 wrote:
He said, "Aluminum frame" and "better" in the same sentence. lol
Does a question mark separate sentences? Was just curious what some thoughts are to make the current bike better.
racerxx276
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racerxx276 8/29/2017 4:13pm
8/29/2017 4:13pm
typically they release details in nov-dec. My dealer got theirs last year the end of jan.

I'd like to see it thinner at the gas tank. Its just too wide. They can't loose anymore weight without going under the ama limit. I guess we will just have to wait..
Myke
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Myke 8/29/2017 4:48pm
8/29/2017 4:48pm
Spring forks again maybe? Cone valve copies?

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loftyair
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loftyair 8/29/2017 5:53pm
8/29/2017 5:53pm
If they can go lighter, with not much mark-up, I welcome that. If we got to pour a bit of molten lead in the frame to make it heavier, so be it! Maybe the ama would change that, it is for production. That rule was way back, when euro bikes were the heavy, compared to decosters suzuki125.
BobPA
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BobPA 8/29/2017 6:15pm
8/29/2017 6:15pm
Myke wrote:
Spring forks again maybe? Cone valve copies?
Conve valve AER's would be the ticket...
racerxx276
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racerxx276 8/29/2017 6:59pm
8/29/2017 6:59pm
KYB spring fork suspension....
kott0n
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kott0n 8/29/2017 7:28pm
8/29/2017 7:28pm
So what is the current weight limits? I can only find old values putting a 250 at more than 198 and a 500 no less than 200.
racerxx276
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racerxx276 8/29/2017 7:46pm
8/29/2017 7:46pm
220lbs
es337
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es337 8/29/2017 8:07pm
8/29/2017 8:07pm
2 of the rumors i am hearing

They are going to remove the seat entirely. It is both brave and the obvious next step. Look at seats from the 90s and where we are now.

quad exhausts. If 2 is good then 3 is obviously better but then you are back to upsetting the weight distribution. So 4 is the perfect solution.
sgrimmxdad 8/30/2017 1:45am
8/30/2017 1:45am
In for updates! Maybe ML512 has some new info! I am most interested in the fork design at this point. We plan to buy one and I am hoping no air forks, but sounds like that isn't the case....
mmain62
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mmain62 8/30/2017 4:14am
8/30/2017 4:14am
Dinosaur Media wrote:
Has anyone done a study to monitor the stretch in the steel frame? Is it an issue? Davi was on pulpmx one night talking about how...
Has anyone done a study to monitor the stretch in the steel frame? Is it an issue? Davi was on pulpmx one night talking about how much different his race bike felt compared to his practice bike...
Dirty Points wrote:
How does one even study that? I guarantee a couple things through: (1)it definitely effects Davi more than you, (2) the Japanese engineers absolutely hate that...
How does one even study that? I guarantee a couple things through: (1)it definitely effects Davi more than you, (2) the Japanese engineers absolutely hate that level of unpredictability, whether favorable to riding or not.
They could put Strain Gages on them and run strain test on all of the usual stress points. I worked at CAT in their R&D group we put strain gages on almost everything they make. But due to every bike and rider being different and riding different it would be a never ending test.
vikingBoy
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vikingBoy 8/30/2017 6:47am
8/30/2017 6:47am
One of the reasons Ducati went away from their chromoly trellis frame on their motogp bikes were because Stoner kept complaining about how he could never hit the same exact line from lap to lap, and that no 2 bikes were ever a like. So I could believe Davi saying what he said. Also chromoly 'I believe' has fairly short flex time rate, meaning that after so long is should be replaced. I believe that is one of the things about chromoly roll cages, they need to be changed out after a few years for safety reasons, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
seth505
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seth505 8/30/2017 6:58am
8/30/2017 6:58am
One of the things that has helped propel KTM up the charts is doing things differently (and doing it well) so I don't agree with suggestions like "go back to spring forks" or "go to aluminum frame". Of course it hasn't been without failures (previous forks were not awesome).

As far as frame stretching, think of fatigue cycles. The steel starts to deform or stretch and the aluminum cracks or fails.
Digger29
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Digger29 8/30/2017 6:58am
8/30/2017 6:58am
The rumors that I'm hearing from my buddy (and his rumors have always been spot on) are very interesting and believe him based on the very dodgy replies that I was given by the cpl of KTM connections that I have when I asked them about what I was hearing. It will be awesome if he's right that's for sure.
Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 8/30/2017 7:32am
8/30/2017 7:32am
Digger29 wrote:
The rumors that I'm hearing from my buddy (and his rumors have always been spot on) are very interesting and believe him based on the very...
The rumors that I'm hearing from my buddy (and his rumors have always been spot on) are very interesting and believe him based on the very dodgy replies that I was given by the cpl of KTM connections that I have when I asked them about what I was hearing. It will be awesome if he's right that's for sure.
Wankel rotary engines
gpracer36
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gpracer36 8/30/2017 7:39am
8/30/2017 7:39am
remember KTM had Dungey ride the 2019 after the end of the SX season. I heard he was quite a bit faster than his race bike. They wanted to convince him to stay another year. He was impressed, but had already made up his mind.
Dirty Points 8/30/2017 7:52am
8/30/2017 7:52am
Dinosaur Media wrote:
Has anyone done a study to monitor the stretch in the steel frame? Is it an issue? Davi was on pulpmx one night talking about how...
Has anyone done a study to monitor the stretch in the steel frame? Is it an issue? Davi was on pulpmx one night talking about how much different his race bike felt compared to his practice bike...
Dirty Points wrote:
How does one even study that? I guarantee a couple things through: (1)it definitely effects Davi more than you, (2) the Japanese engineers absolutely hate that...
How does one even study that? I guarantee a couple things through: (1)it definitely effects Davi more than you, (2) the Japanese engineers absolutely hate that level of unpredictability, whether favorable to riding or not.
mmain62 wrote:
They could put Strain Gages on them and run strain test on all of the usual stress points. I worked at CAT in their R&D group...
They could put Strain Gages on them and run strain test on all of the usual stress points. I worked at CAT in their R&D group we put strain gages on almost everything they make. But due to every bike and rider being different and riding different it would be a never ending test.
Which is what I was getting at: the unpredictibility in usage.

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Idp57
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Idp57 8/30/2017 8:39am
8/30/2017 8:39am
Digger29 wrote:
The rumors that I'm hearing from my buddy (and his rumors have always been spot on) are very interesting and believe him based on the very...
The rumors that I'm hearing from my buddy (and his rumors have always been spot on) are very interesting and believe him based on the very dodgy replies that I was given by the cpl of KTM connections that I have when I asked them about what I was hearing. It will be awesome if he's right that's for sure.
Hey,it's OK to tell us,as long as you don't tell yours buddy name Wink
mmain62
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mmain62 8/30/2017 11:03am
8/30/2017 11:03am
Dirty Points wrote:
How does one even study that? I guarantee a couple things through: (1)it definitely effects Davi more than you, (2) the Japanese engineers absolutely hate that...
How does one even study that? I guarantee a couple things through: (1)it definitely effects Davi more than you, (2) the Japanese engineers absolutely hate that level of unpredictability, whether favorable to riding or not.
mmain62 wrote:
They could put Strain Gages on them and run strain test on all of the usual stress points. I worked at CAT in their R&D group...
They could put Strain Gages on them and run strain test on all of the usual stress points. I worked at CAT in their R&D group we put strain gages on almost everything they make. But due to every bike and rider being different and riding different it would be a never ending test.
Dirty Points wrote:
Which is what I was getting at: the unpredictibility in usage.
I knew what you were saying and I agree with you. I was just giving an example of how they can be tested.
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 8/30/2017 12:38pm
8/30/2017 12:38pm
I'm always worried when KTM changes plastics, sometimes they are pretty "new wave". I like what they did with the Husky, getting rid of all the holes for mounting points. It would be hard to make the front fender worse in style.

What would you hope for in a newer engine, frame and swingarm?

I'd expect the engine to get dual injection with an injector on the lower part of the throttle body, maybe even with an elliptical barrel (genius copy) and tuning from wifi. You could see a 4-spd for weight savings (I'd hope you could put a 6-spd in it for XC) and maybe separate chambers for engine and trans oil that hold more capacity( if you add weight make it count). Longer headpipe and tuned for more low end. Direct injection would be a long shot due to cost, but much more practical on a 4t than a 2t. A smaller clutch with more plates (Rekluse copy) and steel basket could add flywheel effect and traction.

PRM31
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PRM31 8/30/2017 1:31pm
8/30/2017 1:31pm
If aluminum is superior, just imagine how fast Dungey, Bagget, Marv, Anderson, Osbourne, Herlings and Cairoli could be with a switch! Hmmm...
endurox
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endurox 8/30/2017 2:47pm
8/30/2017 2:47pm
As minumum weight bike regulations only effect a few hundred racers, KTM should make the 18.5 even lighter. Got an 18 350 model in my shop right now. nice looking bike even with all the plastic and tank off it.
racer495a
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racer495a 8/30/2017 3:46pm
8/30/2017 3:46pm
PRM31 wrote:
If aluminum is superior, just imagine how fast Dungey, Bagget, Marv, Anderson, Osbourne, Herlings and Cairoli could be with a switch! Hmmm...
Seems aluminum being better is fake news? Toss in air forks and twin exhaust also!
smoothies862 8/30/2017 5:56pm
8/30/2017 5:56pm
now I cant buy a ktm. the frame stretches. crap on a stickAngry
for real, I would go buy a 350xcf if I could. awesome machine.
kiwifan
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kiwifan 8/30/2017 6:02pm
8/30/2017 6:02pm
PRM31 wrote:
If aluminum is superior, just imagine how fast Dungey, Bagget, Marv, Anderson, Osbourne, Herlings and Cairoli could be with a switch! Hmmm...
racer495a wrote:
Seems aluminum being better is fake news? Toss in air forks and twin exhaust also!
haha imagine if KTM did come with Dual exhausts, Vital would have a massive meltdown
mxmike42
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mxmike42 8/30/2017 8:18pm
8/30/2017 8:18pm
New frame,new plastic,new top end,lower still the same,6 pounds lighter. Stamp it
Motoman79
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Motoman79 8/31/2017 7:10am
8/31/2017 7:10am
es337 wrote:
2 of the rumors i am hearing They are going to remove the seat entirely. It is both brave and the obvious next step. Look at...
2 of the rumors i am hearing

They are going to remove the seat entirely. It is both brave and the obvious next step. Look at seats from the 90s and where we are now.

quad exhausts. If 2 is good then 3 is obviously better but then you are back to upsetting the weight distribution. So 4 is the perfect solution.
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 9/9/2017 3:10pm
9/9/2017 3:10pm
mxmike42 wrote:
New frame,new plastic,new top end,lower still the same,6 pounds lighter. Stamp it
You may know something...

I could see the top end being made ala TM and Honda with the throttle body way up high in the frame at an angle to get a straighter shot into the intake valves. That would mean re-arranging the airbox, maybe even the top shock mount.

If you are stamping 6lbs AER isn't going away.
Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 9/9/2017 3:42pm
9/9/2017 3:42pm Edited Date/Time 9/9/2017 3:43pm
Downdraft?



Yes, this is a fishing expedition..

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