KTM500SX

FRST
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FRST
Edited Date/Time 10/25/2019 7:18pm
Emailed KTM today, asking whether they've considered reviving the 500cc 2-stroke market. I think they'd sell like hot cakes.

I had a '97 KX500 and despite the handling, suspension and ergos it was the most fun i've ever had in 27 years of riding moto.

Would you buy one?

Would you buy a KTM500SX two stroke?

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mikec265
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mikec265 10/24/2019 6:32pm
10/24/2019 6:32pm
Give me a smooth power curve, counterbalancer, powervalves, e-start, EFI, and spring forks. Then I'd buy the white one based on my personal color preference.
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mikec265
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mikec265 10/24/2019 6:36pm
10/24/2019 6:36pm
Like it or not, I believe we will see something electric close to an Alta before another 500cc. An updated 380SX would be cool too, but I'm not going to get my hopes up.
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VET176
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VET176 10/24/2019 6:37pm
10/24/2019 6:37pm
100%, must have e-start.
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The Shop

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Forty
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Forty 10/24/2019 6:54pm
10/24/2019 6:54pm
A limited run would be cool.
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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 10/24/2019 7:33pm
10/24/2019 7:33pm Edited Date/Time 10/24/2019 7:33pm
mikec265 wrote:
Give me a smooth power curve, counterbalancer, powervalves, e-start, EFI, and spring forks. Then I'd buy the white one based on my personal color preference.
Please no EFI. It's not a street bike, it's closed course.
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theycallmeebryan 10/24/2019 7:45pm
10/24/2019 7:45pm
Nobody needs a 500cc 2 stroke. A 350 would be perfect.
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gjbruny
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gjbruny 10/24/2019 7:59pm
10/24/2019 7:59pm Edited Date/Time 10/24/2019 8:00pm
For dirt... no

But if they built a FI, counter balanced, Estart 500 smoker, the snowbike market would lose its mind. I’d be first in line
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FWYT
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FWYT 10/24/2019 8:01pm
10/24/2019 8:01pm
There's that Canadian company that is doing a KTM 500cc two-stroke with their own cylinder and head. Or something like that. Sounds awesome and I would love to ride one!

Actually, everyone should ride a 500cc 2-stroke at some point just to scare the living shit out of yourself. But very few should actually own and race one. They are just so freaking gnarly.
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Broseph
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Broseph 10/24/2019 8:31pm
10/24/2019 8:31pm
FWYT wrote:
There's that Canadian company that is doing a KTM 500cc two-stroke with their own cylinder and head. Or something like that. Sounds awesome and I would...
There's that Canadian company that is doing a KTM 500cc two-stroke with their own cylinder and head. Or something like that. Sounds awesome and I would love to ride one!

Actually, everyone should ride a 500cc 2-stroke at some point just to scare the living shit out of yourself. But very few should actually own and race one. They are just so freaking gnarly.
Yeah, it’s a thing. E start and counterbalancer too.

MXA Article Here



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Garage11
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Garage11 10/24/2019 9:25pm
10/24/2019 9:25pm
I think KTM are progressive enough to consider it would be cool to see !!!
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Bearuno
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Bearuno 10/24/2019 11:00pm
10/24/2019 11:00pm Edited Date/Time 10/24/2019 11:27pm
Well, last night I checked the FIMs rules for next years EMX Open class, and it has "175cc to 450cc, of 2 stroke or 4 stroke type engine".

EMX Open already existed in 2019 and years prior, but had the MX3 rules of 500 2t max and 650 4t max, and, were not run with the GPs.

So, is there a chance of it being applied to the MXGP class in the future? I hope that, but I won't hold my breathe on it.

So, there may be a slight incentive for some manufacturer to do something up to 450cc in a 2t. Though, just squaring up a 250 2t to 72 x 72 for 292cc(or, thereabouts) is such an easy money maker for several manufacturers. But, once again, I won't hold my breathe on that. I'd love a 350cc, through to 450cc, modern 2t.

I haven't been able to see if the 250cc 4t and 2t rule still applies to EMX250, for 2020. With the EMX(250)2T class, and the EMX Open class, I fear that equivalency in EMX250 might well be 'disappeared'. Sad
thrillbillie91 10/25/2019 1:25am
10/25/2019 1:25am
while they are at it bring back the sx200!
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Motofinne
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Motofinne 10/25/2019 3:06am
10/25/2019 3:06am Edited Date/Time 10/25/2019 3:10am
Get the fuel injected offroad Husky 300 with linkage and setup the suspension/engine for moto. Problem solved, no need for a bigger engine.
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FRST
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FRST 10/25/2019 3:10am
10/25/2019 3:10am Edited Date/Time 10/25/2019 3:22am
Bearuno wrote:
Well, last night I checked the FIMs rules for next years EMX Open class, and it has "175cc to 450cc, of 2 stroke or 4 stroke...
Well, last night I checked the FIMs rules for next years EMX Open class, and it has "175cc to 450cc, of 2 stroke or 4 stroke type engine".

EMX Open already existed in 2019 and years prior, but had the MX3 rules of 500 2t max and 650 4t max, and, were not run with the GPs.

So, is there a chance of it being applied to the MXGP class in the future? I hope that, but I won't hold my breathe on it.

So, there may be a slight incentive for some manufacturer to do something up to 450cc in a 2t. Though, just squaring up a 250 2t to 72 x 72 for 292cc(or, thereabouts) is such an easy money maker for several manufacturers. But, once again, I won't hold my breathe on that. I'd love a 350cc, through to 450cc, modern 2t.

I haven't been able to see if the 250cc 4t and 2t rule still applies to EMX250, for 2020. With the EMX(250)2T class, and the EMX Open class, I fear that equivalency in EMX250 might well be 'disappeared'. Sad
I can see this bike being used for more than moto. The goal is to sell motorcycles and I don’t think them winning an open class championship would make a huge difference in sales. What appeals is the power to weight ratio. It would be the fastest production mx bike quite easily and could be marketed as such. Apart from moto applications, Dune riders, hill climbers, snowbike, sidecar (in euro) Freeriders even cafe racers (if you follow these builds on Instagram) would all be interested. The amount of people still rebuilding 20 year old KX & CR500’s (McGrath, Pastrana & Bowers included) proves there is a market. Add KTM’s balancing rod in the motor to control the typical 500cc vibration, EFI, electric start and a modern chassis/ergos... what’s not to like!
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just James
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just James 10/25/2019 3:58am
10/25/2019 3:58am
Oh yeah!
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ElliotB16
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ElliotB16 10/25/2019 5:31am
10/25/2019 5:31am
450 would be easier to go fast on. Don’t downvote me...
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Pit Row

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Bramlett321
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Bramlett321 10/25/2019 5:51am
10/25/2019 5:51am
There is a guy on youtube out of New Zealand I believe, I'll look up the name and video that has put a 500cc 2 stroke EFI engine in a newer gen YZF chassis. Per the video they were still trying to perfect the EFI portion but the bike sounded and appeared to rev like no bike I have ever seen. Not the typical jerk your wrists out of socket type pull but just a constant rev to the moon. I can't upload or embed a video here at work but in every photo this guy is pulling a 450 every time from a dead stop and not the usual zig zag holy shit watch out here I come start.



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Forty
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Forty 10/25/2019 7:07am
10/25/2019 7:07am
thrillbillie91 wrote:
while they are at it bring back the sx200!
Even better idea. By far.
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AH387
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AH387 10/25/2019 7:28am
10/25/2019 7:28am
I think a 200sx or a 300-350sx would be cool, for me. I can't see a 500sx being of much use for me. But still it would be cool if they would build it for guys that want them. But for me, personally, I'd like something a little smaller.
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seth505
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seth505 10/25/2019 7:32am
10/25/2019 7:32am
I voted no, I'd be faster and have more fun on my 250sx. Would be a sick project though and very cool if they did it just for the F of it.
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rohleder644
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rohleder644 10/25/2019 8:19am
10/25/2019 8:19am
How many of you guys calling for a 500 have ridden a 300?
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just James
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just James 10/25/2019 8:30am
10/25/2019 8:30am
Some people enjoy that "pull your arms off" hit of a strong running big bore two stroke. Not because it will make them faster around a motocross track, but because it puts a grin on their face.
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AH387
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AH387 10/25/2019 9:25am
10/25/2019 9:25am
just James wrote:
Some people enjoy that "pull your arms off" hit of a strong running big bore two stroke. Not because it will make them faster around a...
Some people enjoy that "pull your arms off" hit of a strong running big bore two stroke. Not because it will make them faster around a motocross track, but because it puts a grin on their face.
For sure. I suppose it would be cool for the novelty and as a 2nd bike. As a primary bike, I just don't think it would be ideal, speaking only for myself. I rode a Service Honda CR500 back in 06ish. The bike was an 04. It was insane how you could lug 3rd gear and then get that thing going in a hurry, even at low rpms. Way too much bike for me. To be fair, I was riding a YZ125 as my primary bike back then, but still.
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kage173
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kage173 10/25/2019 9:41am
10/25/2019 9:41am
I rode a 500 once. Once.
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tttrailhunter 10/25/2019 9:59am
10/25/2019 9:59am
thing aboout it would be, with modern porting and pipes, efi etc, with mapping you could put the power any which way you wanted
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Forty
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Forty 10/25/2019 11:25am
10/25/2019 11:25am
kage173 wrote:
I rode a 500 once. Once.
yeah man. They aren’t for everyone. I raced open in the early 80s and could not gel with them. I dropped into 250 and stayed there until the 4 stroke modernization.

There were guys that could ride a open bike and they were something to see. Incredible.
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VET176
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VET176 10/25/2019 3:22pm
10/25/2019 3:22pm
rohleder644 wrote:
How many of you guys calling for a 500 have ridden a 300?
Me.
WhatchaWant 10/25/2019 3:49pm
10/25/2019 3:49pm
The 360/380 are reliable as daylight.
I'd buy one right now. Cash.
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