KTM 50 SR - what to watch for, or best mods

Johndeere506
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Johndeere506
Edited Date/Time 5/8/2020 7:05pm
Just upgraded my oldest son from a PW50 to a 2015 KTM 50 sx or senior whatever its called now. The bigger one. First impressions, the noise and revving scared him lol. After 5 mins, he was loving it. He isnt fast, but has good confidence from his BMX bike and the PW50. He is loving the snappy power, and better handling, this bike is sweet!
Anything to watch out for? I bought from original owner, no hour meter but all original, rear tire is half worn for reference. Seems very clean, all KTM oils run since new. Sounds like the newer years are pretty solid, but looking for people w experience on these for what to watch for. I plan to let both my boys ride it so will have it 4-5 years probably.
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AngryBear
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AngryBear 4/27/2020 7:11am
4/27/2020 7:11am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2020 7:12am
- put an hour meter on it now

- you are correct, the new generation of these are worlds better than the older ones.

- change trans oil every 5hrs. clutch issues are prob the #1 most common on these things.

- careful with pressure washer on it, ecsp around the ignition cover. stators are bad about going bad, and i think most of those are due to water getting in the cover

- if you need to slow him down till he gets the hang of the 4-5x power increase over the PW50, look into either an exhaust restrictor ( https://www.ktm-parts.com/ER56598B.html just reduces exhuast hole, will slow it WAY down) or a carb spacer ( https://www.ktm-parts.com/10500111.html , you can put in 1/2, 3/4, etc, just restricts how much you can open it up. and that auto clutch will never build much speed if you cant get over 1/2 throttle)

- have fun and dont do crazy moto dad things :-)

3
Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 5/7/2020 12:26pm
5/7/2020 12:26pm
AngryBear wrote:
- put an hour meter on it now - you are correct, the new generation of these are worlds better than the older ones. - change...
- put an hour meter on it now

- you are correct, the new generation of these are worlds better than the older ones.

- change trans oil every 5hrs. clutch issues are prob the #1 most common on these things.

- careful with pressure washer on it, ecsp around the ignition cover. stators are bad about going bad, and i think most of those are due to water getting in the cover

- if you need to slow him down till he gets the hang of the 4-5x power increase over the PW50, look into either an exhaust restrictor ( https://www.ktm-parts.com/ER56598B.html just reduces exhuast hole, will slow it WAY down) or a carb spacer ( https://www.ktm-parts.com/10500111.html , you can put in 1/2, 3/4, etc, just restricts how much you can open it up. and that auto clutch will never build much speed if you cant get over 1/2 throttle)

- have fun and dont do crazy moto dad things :-)

Thanks good info here. I started changing the oil frequently while i wait for the hour meter. Stuff gets dirty fast it seems.

Those links are helpful. Thanks!
1
Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 5/7/2020 2:55pm
5/7/2020 2:55pm
KTM Talk has a 50 section with everything you will ever want to know. Lots of very experienced mini owners there. Was a goldmine when my kid was on a 50 SR. So glad we are past those days.

Hammer
1981 yz60 5/7/2020 3:42pm
5/7/2020 3:42pm
Johndeere506 wrote:
Just upgraded my oldest son from a PW50 to a 2015 KTM 50 sx or senior whatever its called now. The bigger one. First impressions, the...
Just upgraded my oldest son from a PW50 to a 2015 KTM 50 sx or senior whatever its called now. The bigger one. First impressions, the noise and revving scared him lol. After 5 mins, he was loving it. He isnt fast, but has good confidence from his BMX bike and the PW50. He is loving the snappy power, and better handling, this bike is sweet!
Anything to watch out for? I bought from original owner, no hour meter but all original, rear tire is half worn for reference. Seems very clean, all KTM oils run since new. Sounds like the newer years are pretty solid, but looking for people w experience on these for what to watch for. I plan to let both my boys ride it so will have it 4-5 years probably.
We had a 2015 and the stators were bad. We went through 3 of them.
Went in to get a new stator and walked out with a new 65, bike has sat ever since.
I believe from 16 onwards stators weren’t an issue
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defeatist45
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defeatist45 5/7/2020 6:00pm
5/7/2020 6:00pm
My boy is on an '11 mini. Buy an extra stator, and don't let him blip the throttle constantly
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JohnnyD13
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JohnnyD13 5/7/2020 6:06pm
5/7/2020 6:06pm
defeatist45 wrote:
My boy is on an '11 mini. Buy an extra stator, and don't let him blip the throttle constantly
I just got my son a 16 sx. All he does is blep the throttle. The guy I bought it from said he’s put over 8000 in trying to keep it running. Kinda scary but my sons 6 and I don’t want to go to a 65.
Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 5/8/2020 6:03am
5/8/2020 6:03am
defeatist45 wrote:
My boy is on an '11 mini. Buy an extra stator, and don't let him blip the throttle constantly
Ill look into the stator issues, thanks

Can you explain not blipping the throttle constantly? I assumed you meant for repeated clutch engagement/wear, but didnt know if you were somehow relating that to the stator. In 30-40 dirtbikes over 25 years, Ive never had to replace a stator.
phatfi20
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phatfi20 5/8/2020 6:24am
5/8/2020 6:24am
defeatist45 wrote:
My boy is on an '11 mini. Buy an extra stator, and don't let him blip the throttle constantly
JohnnyD13 wrote:
I just got my son a 16 sx. All he does is blep the throttle. The guy I bought it from said he’s put over 8000...
I just got my son a 16 sx. All he does is blep the throttle. The guy I bought it from said he’s put over 8000 in trying to keep it running. Kinda scary but my sons 6 and I don’t want to go to a 65.
8K?! Wow.

I am looking at one for my son.

What was wrong with it that took that much work? That seems a bit much for any standard.
109
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109 5/8/2020 7:05am
5/8/2020 7:05am
Sell it and get a cobra would be the best mod.
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alphado
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alphado 5/8/2020 7:48am
5/8/2020 7:48am
Worst year of my life was when my son had one of those.
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JohnnyD13
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JohnnyD13 5/8/2020 12:21pm
5/8/2020 12:21pm
defeatist45 wrote:
My boy is on an '11 mini. Buy an extra stator, and don't let him blip the throttle constantly
JohnnyD13 wrote:
I just got my son a 16 sx. All he does is blep the throttle. The guy I bought it from said he’s put over 8000...
I just got my son a 16 sx. All he does is blep the throttle. The guy I bought it from said he’s put over 8000 in trying to keep it running. Kinda scary but my sons 6 and I don’t want to go to a 65.
phatfi20 wrote:
8K?! Wow. I am looking at one for my son. What was wrong with it that took that much work? That seems a bit much for...
8K?! Wow.

I am looking at one for my son.

What was wrong with it that took that much work? That seems a bit much for any standard.
There was issues with the hubs, and the clutch. Stator went out a bunch. The kick start gear breaks. Something with the forks. It was a long list. Some people say buy a new cobra and some say ktm is better. I bought this cause it seemed like he had everything figured out. Who knows. No one says it’s easy
simpson335
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simpson335 5/8/2020 12:30pm
5/8/2020 12:30pm
I went Cobra during my boy's stint on 50's a couple years ago. Daughter is riding now, and I went Husky because the Cobra was nothing but a headache. Stock radiators were bent without any big crashes, so upgraded those. All we've had to do to ours. When she started, I backed out the clutch "engagement rpm" bolts to 5 I think to mellow out the delivery. They've since slowly gone back in so there's a little more hit now but the top end pulls farther. Good Luck!
JohnnyD13
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JohnnyD13 5/8/2020 12:33pm
5/8/2020 12:33pm
It seems like my clutch engagement is too loose. My son has to rev it quarter throttle to get it to go.
Johndeere506
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Johndeere506 5/8/2020 7:04pm
5/8/2020 7:04pm
Quarter throttle? This one we picked up seems like it revs to the moon and engages quick and solid. Reminds me of the carbon twin disc clutch I had in a modded vette, like engages NOW.
I didnt realize they may be adjustable, ill have to look into it. This will be a learning experience w this bike. They dont ride that much or hard so well see. If the current low performance air cooled bikes didnt seems to suck so much in comparison, id have went for that.Time will tell.

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