How are KTMs so light?

Tim507
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Tim507 1/19/2018 7:01am
1/19/2018 7:01am
BobPA wrote:
I’ll second this. The “wood screws” are actually awesome in their intended applications. They NEVER back out. Not once, not ever have I lost a screw...Nor...
I’ll second this.

The “wood screws” are actually awesome in their intended applications. They NEVER back out. Not once, not ever have I lost a screw...Nor have I ever had one strip or fail. Squirreldick is just arguing that the sky is green.
JMX82 wrote:
The "wood screws" that KTM actually uses are EJOT fasteners for plastics that are widely used in automotive industry. They are much better than using traditional...
The "wood screws" that KTM actually uses are EJOT fasteners for plastics that are widely used in automotive industry. They are much better than using traditional metal inserts in the plastic parts. Inserts can can break loose in plastic and they add more weight and cost more. I personally newer had any problem with those screws in my KTM's

http://www.ejot.co.uk/Industrial-Fasteners/Applications/Plastics/c/PLAS…
Great information in the link!

Thanks JMX82
theinternetkid 1/19/2018 3:38pm
1/19/2018 3:38pm
I think some old dude is over there at KTM drilling speed holes in everything.



xr70
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xr70 1/19/2018 4:57pm
1/19/2018 4:57pm
theinternetkid wrote:
I think some old dude is over there at KTM drilling speed holes in everything. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/01/19/239046/s1200_Speedholes.jpg[/img]
I think some old dude is over there at KTM drilling speed holes in everything.



Too many holes and this goes down! Lol


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Katoomey
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Katoomey 1/19/2018 5:07pm
1/19/2018 5:07pm Edited Date/Time 1/19/2018 5:08pm
theinternetkid wrote:
I think some old dude is over there at KTM drilling speed holes in everything. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/01/19/239046/s1200_Speedholes.jpg[/img]
I think some old dude is over there at KTM drilling speed holes in everything.



that's pretty funny! good old fashioned drillium. I should have know that was KTM's secret.
Ross_McWatters 1/19/2018 5:26pm
1/19/2018 5:26pm
drt410 wrote:
How are KTMs snd Huskys soooo much lighter than japanese bikes that reeds stock husky was lighter than his factory yzf? They have air forks and...
How are KTMs snd Huskys soooo much lighter than japanese bikes that reeds stock husky was lighter than his factory yzf? They have air forks and a steel frame... where does the rest of it come from? Its a huge difference.
Every part on a new KTM design is Cad designed and their revision of each product every few years they make changes reducing the weight. this and investing in the latest casting methods has payed off.

The Jap bikes for the most part are the same as they were 10 years ago and they haven't pursued the technology like KTM has....that photo of dcg141's with the 4 KTM heads on the bench tells the whole story!
1
reded
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reded 1/19/2018 5:30pm
1/19/2018 5:30pm
reded wrote:
Wait till he has a bolt seize in one of those POS brass inserts and he'll wish his jap bike came with an entire box of...
Wait till he has a bolt seize in one of those POS brass inserts and he'll wish his jap bike came with an entire box of wood screws. KTM has it right with that setup.
Squirrelings wrote:
28 years, never a seized bolt or twisted insert once. If you have that problem then you must be a shitty mechanic. Like I already said...
28 years, never a seized bolt or twisted insert once. If you have that problem then you must be a shitty mechanic. Like I already said, if you guys like overpaying for that janky ass garbage, good for you!
Acidreamer wrote:
The fuck are you guys even talking about? Losing bolts or having them seize is because you dont know how to install them. Squirrel is right...
The fuck are you guys even talking about? Losing bolts or having them seize is because you dont know how to install them. Squirrel is right. Nothining wrong with normal bolts.

Steel bolts into alum/other material gets grease, anti seize, or loctite. & if you torque it to what youre supposed to, theres literally zero chance of having problems.

Get off KTMs dick they arent doing anything but take your money like the rest of the companies you buy from.

Cause everybody that buys a dirtbike knows to lube a bolt or even what a torque wrench is. I've seen too many bolts seized in the tank inserts and it's either half ass a fix for it or buy a new tank. I don't buy new bikes because I'm not fast enough to justify pissing away $2k in depreciation the first year so yeah, I've owned a few that had that shitty brass insert spun out in the tank by the dickhead original owner.
GeorgiePorgie 1/19/2018 6:55pm
1/19/2018 6:55pm
Ok so the way I see it it only cost me 2k to have a brand new bike every year after the initial 7500+ purchase....win.
bturner26x
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bturner26x 1/19/2018 7:48pm
1/19/2018 7:48pm
Indymxer wrote:
I'm starting to think ktm fanboys are kinda like BMW drivers... Too cool for school.
You could say the same for the Jap fan boys too. Whistling
Chains
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Chains 1/19/2018 11:42pm
1/19/2018 11:42pm
100's of hours on my frame and no problems. Many of these hours were lugging fat chicks around the backyard at the farm.

Madmax31
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Madmax31 1/20/2018 12:51am
1/20/2018 12:51am
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never had it apart, and still feels like a newer bike. Bikes been as good if not better than anything I've owned. Not a fanboy just stating facts.
logan_140
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logan_140 1/20/2018 4:17am
1/20/2018 4:17am
I had an interesting convo with an older guy at the track this past week (very fast on the bike too). He thinks that the big 4 aren’t really pushing to catch ktm and husky right now for one reason... and that is because he thinks they are working on an electric Mx bike that is deep into R&D and that’s where the money is going... now this makes a lot of sense to me...
skypig
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skypig 1/20/2018 6:10am
1/20/2018 6:10am
I’d like to know the actual weight of a KTM frame and an alloy frame from one of the Jap MX bikes
JB 19
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JB 19 1/20/2018 6:24am
1/20/2018 6:24am
Madmax31 wrote:
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never...
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never had it apart, and still feels like a newer bike. Bikes been as good if not better than anything I've owned. Not a fanboy just stating facts.
The discussion is about the "light" 16+ bikes though. Some people feel that the 15'and older bikes were more robustly built, but heavier.
H4L
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H4L 1/20/2018 7:03am
1/20/2018 7:03am Edited Date/Time 1/20/2018 1:24pm
Madmax31 wrote:
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never...
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never had it apart, and still feels like a newer bike. Bikes been as good if not better than anything I've owned. Not a fanboy just stating facts.
JB 19 wrote:
The discussion is about the "light" 16+ bikes though. Some people feel that the 15'and older bikes were more robustly built, but heavier.
Yep. This was from 16 or 17 WP forks. It was from a vital member on the same part failing twice if I recall when the bike didn't have many hours.



Markee
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Markee 1/20/2018 7:39am
1/20/2018 7:39am
Chains wrote:
100's of hours on my frame and no problems. Many of these hours were lugging fat chicks around the backyard at the farm.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2018/01/19/239061/s1200_John_Deere.jpg[/img]
100's of hours on my frame and no problems. Many of these hours were lugging fat chicks around the backyard at the farm.

Slam hog magnet
indy_maico
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indy_maico 1/20/2018 10:01am
1/20/2018 10:01am
I've been waiting for years for MXA or some other magazine to take them all apart and weigh them, Maybe not strip the engine down completely, but it would be interesting to just see the weight of the frame, swingarm, wheels (no tires or tubes), forks, triple crowns, axles, discs, calipers, then engine assemblies, total plastics (including airboxes)
Just to get an idea of where the KTM saves weight over the J bikes.
Motofinne
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Motofinne 1/20/2018 10:05am
1/20/2018 10:05am
indy_maico wrote:
I've been waiting for years for MXA or some other magazine to take them all apart and weigh them, Maybe not strip the engine down completely...
I've been waiting for years for MXA or some other magazine to take them all apart and weigh them, Maybe not strip the engine down completely, but it would be interesting to just see the weight of the frame, swingarm, wheels (no tires or tubes), forks, triple crowns, axles, discs, calipers, then engine assemblies, total plastics (including airboxes)
Just to get an idea of where the KTM saves weight over the J bikes.
Yeah.

I'm very surprised that this hasn't happened.

ML, there is your next project!

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Tuna
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Tuna 1/20/2018 11:53am
1/20/2018 11:53am
drt410 wrote:
How are KTMs snd Huskys soooo much lighter than japanese bikes that reeds stock husky was lighter than his factory yzf? They have air forks and...
How are KTMs snd Huskys soooo much lighter than japanese bikes that reeds stock husky was lighter than his factory yzf? They have air forks and a steel frame... where does the rest of it come from? Its a huge difference.
Ross_McWatters wrote:
Every part on a new KTM design is Cad designed and their revision of each product every few years they make changes reducing the weight. this...
Every part on a new KTM design is Cad designed and their revision of each product every few years they make changes reducing the weight. this and investing in the latest casting methods has payed off.

The Jap bikes for the most part are the same as they were 10 years ago and they haven't pursued the technology like KTM has....that photo of dcg141's with the 4 KTM heads on the bench tells the whole story!
Payed off in component failure for a the sake of Weight loss? I can’t remember a time where I have seen so many KTM component failures experienced by friends or people I know or have heard of. I will take the extra 10lbs of weight for the sake of durability.
H4L
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H4L 1/20/2018 1:30pm
1/20/2018 1:30pm
Tuna wrote:
Payed off in component failure for a the sake of Weight loss? I can’t remember a time where I have seen so many KTM component failures...
Payed off in component failure for a the sake of Weight loss? I can’t remember a time where I have seen so many KTM component failures experienced by friends or people I know or have heard of. I will take the extra 10lbs of weight for the sake of durability.
Agree. At my level if I feel like the Japenesse 450 is holding me back I'll loose the extra 10 lbs. myself.
JB 19
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JB 19 1/20/2018 3:10pm
1/20/2018 3:10pm
Madmax31 wrote:
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never...
I have a 13 ktm 450, bought new in 13, w about 85-100 hours on it. Never had one problem, not even a fork seal. Never had it apart, and still feels like a newer bike. Bikes been as good if not better than anything I've owned. Not a fanboy just stating facts.
JB 19 wrote:
The discussion is about the "light" 16+ bikes though. Some people feel that the 15'and older bikes were more robustly built, but heavier.
H4L wrote:
Yep. This was from 16 or 17 WP forks. It was from a vital member on the same part failing twice if I recall when the...
Yep. This was from 16 or 17 WP forks. It was from a vital member on the same part failing twice if I recall when the bike didn't have many hours.



For what it's worth, my dad has a 14 factory edition that has about 100hrs with nearly no issues. Totally rock solid.

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