KTM axle blocks

Rickyisms
Edited Date/Time 9/2/2020 10:28am
Anyone that's moved to the Honda axle set up or a set of Works Connection blocks on the newer KTMs, was there a difference at all? On hard pack the rear shock feels a little harsh on acceleration bumps or harsh off square edges in harescrambles I run, seems like the seperate axle blocks allow a little the rear end to be free'd up, before I drop the coin, can anyone tell me what they think of this mod?
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mx317
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mx317 6/8/2020 8:50am
6/8/2020 8:50am
I have the ones from Ride Engineering that uses the Honda axle. I really couldn't feel any difference, but it is much easier to adjust and it had a locking axle nut. Keefer swears there is a difference, but he is much better at noticing than me.
seth505
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seth505 6/8/2020 11:45am
6/8/2020 11:45am Edited Date/Time 6/8/2020 11:49am
I don't understand how there would be a difference. It's not like you're introducing a bearing and letting the assembly rotate independent of the swing arm. Honestly, I haven't tested both setups but my background tells me it's not worth spending time or money on.
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brooklynevans 6/8/2020 12:09pm
6/8/2020 12:09pm
Don’t think there’s a noticeable difference, but I got the full setup for around £20. Found an axle on Facebook (find someone breaking a bike), then bought cheap Chinese axle blocks from eBay which have an almost identical design to the yoshimura ones
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TC125
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TC125 6/8/2020 3:31pm
6/8/2020 3:31pm
Rickyisms wrote:
Anyone that's moved to the Honda axle set up or a set of Works Connection blocks on the newer KTMs, was there a difference at all...
Anyone that's moved to the Honda axle set up or a set of Works Connection blocks on the newer KTMs, was there a difference at all? On hard pack the rear shock feels a little harsh on acceleration bumps or harsh off square edges in harescrambles I run, seems like the seperate axle blocks allow a little the rear end to be free'd up, before I drop the coin, can anyone tell me what they think of this mod?
I'm having the same thing with the acceleration bumps on my '17 TC125, talked to a suspension guy that works closely with KTM Canada and he was pretty sure that I needed a heavier spring. Suspension is squatting too low and dropping into the stiffer part of the stroke - I bought a 42 spring from him but haven't really gotten out to try it

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Luxon MX
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Luxon MX 6/8/2020 4:14pm
6/8/2020 4:14pm
Rickyisms wrote:
Anyone that's moved to the Honda axle set up or a set of Works Connection blocks on the newer KTMs, was there a difference at all...
Anyone that's moved to the Honda axle set up or a set of Works Connection blocks on the newer KTMs, was there a difference at all? On hard pack the rear shock feels a little harsh on acceleration bumps or harsh off square edges in harescrambles I run, seems like the seperate axle blocks allow a little the rear end to be free'd up, before I drop the coin, can anyone tell me what they think of this mod?
TC125 wrote:
I'm having the same thing with the acceleration bumps on my '17 TC125, talked to a suspension guy that works closely with KTM Canada and he...
I'm having the same thing with the acceleration bumps on my '17 TC125, talked to a suspension guy that works closely with KTM Canada and he was pretty sure that I needed a heavier spring. Suspension is squatting too low and dropping into the stiffer part of the stroke - I bought a 42 spring from him but haven't really gotten out to try it
That would be due to the rear linkage's oddball motion ratio curve. It's a pretty common complaint, which is why you see so many aftermarket KTM linkages available.

Regarding the "floating" axle vs the stock style axle, it doesn't make any difference. There's nothing floating about it; the rear axle is basically just a big bolt and nut. The KTM style is analogous to a flange bolt while the Honda style is analogous to a standard bolt with a washer under the head. They're both torqued down tight enough so there should be no relative movement and they'll both do the same job (if there is movement, you've got problems!).
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mx317
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mx317 6/8/2020 5:19pm
6/8/2020 5:19pm
Like Luxon said, the linkage makes a huge difference! I had N2D do my shock and along with their link, it is much better. Like I said on the Ride axle blocks and Honda axle I have, it is better to adjust because you can see the marks along with the extended scale off the back. Other than that, save your money.
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Rickyisms 6/8/2020 8:40pm
6/8/2020 8:40pm
Thanks for the responses! Will be looking into links tomorrow!
martin12
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martin12 6/19/2020 6:50am
6/19/2020 6:50am
mx317 wrote:
I have the ones from Ride Engineering that uses the Honda axle. I really couldn't feel any difference, but it is much easier to adjust and...
I have the ones from Ride Engineering that uses the Honda axle. I really couldn't feel any difference, but it is much easier to adjust and it had a locking axle nut. Keefer swears there is a difference, but he is much better at noticing than me.
I too have the ride engineering kit. I bought it mainly to ease adjustment which is a vast improvement over the stock stuff in my eyes. As far as feel goes I agree with Luxon's theory that it shouldn't make a difference. I changed shock springs at the same time so I can't say.
dirtbikemike 6/20/2020 8:05am
6/20/2020 8:05am
Take a chisel to the KTM marks and they are much easier to see.
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Brent
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Brent 9/1/2020 9:05pm
9/1/2020 9:05pm



Here is a photo of the factory KTM from Pit Bits this week, that rear axle is from a CRF, so even the factory guys are doing this.

I did it to mine, and while I can't feel a difference, I can sure get a more precise axle adjustment with the Ride blocks as opposed to the stock POS adjusters...
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