How long should you keep a bike?

motodad312
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motodad312 5/26/2022 2:00pm
5/26/2022 2:00pm
My '19 SXF 450 has 115 hours on it. Did the top end at 85 hours. Plan to keep it a couple of more years. Will push it toward 200 hours probably. Oil change every 3-4 rides. Clean air filter every ride. Took it to a local mechanic for the top end (top notch guy w/ a good name and reputation) and he said bike/engine is rock solid. I give KTM credit for the durability of their bikes.
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ktmdan
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ktmdan 5/26/2022 3:18pm
5/26/2022 3:18pm
Michael_Stanley wrote:
I currently have a 2019 Ktm 350 sxf. I like to sell a bike a before it loses too much value and get a new one...
I currently have a 2019 Ktm 350 sxf. I like to sell a bike a before it loses too much value and get a new one. However I have 65 hours currently on my bike and thinking about getting suspension done. If I did that I’d keep the bike for the years to come, doing the occasional rebuild on the motor, and other major maintenance intervals that come with owning a higher hour bike. I’ve never owned a bike past 70 hours so just getting everyone’s opinion on the matter.
Sell it when the first oil change and filter change are due, about 45 hours.
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Sr_Vet_Rider 5/26/2022 4:20pm
5/26/2022 4:20pm
DynoDan22 wrote:
KTM needs to buy Monk's 700hr 350 back and place it in the lobby. Haha. That's unreal.
I just did the top end on the 350 that I bought from you. It’s got 104 hrs on it. The piston still looked new, cylinder looked new as well. Valves were carboned up from pump gas, but cleaned right up and valves were in spec too. Been a great bike and I don’t plan on selling it anytime soon. I’ve framed it twice to inspect and grease it up, I love that bike.

I have 105 hours on my ‘19 300, just did a top end and framed that one too. I got a new one coming in October, so I’ll probably sell it when I get the new one dialed in.

I only have about 30 hours on my ‘20 EXC500, it’s still like brand new, but I’m going to sell it here shortly, I just don’t ride it anymore. I put 300 hours on my ‘17 EXC500 and never touched the motor. These KTM’s are built to last, IMO.
My buddy has 530 hours on his ‘16 EXC500 and it still runs great with zero issues.
2
DYE
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DYE 5/26/2022 4:53pm
5/26/2022 4:53pm Edited Date/Time 5/26/2022 4:56pm
This is my first time trying to play the timing game. I bought a new 21 350 in January last year. Put 27 hrs on it before I got hurt in May. Plan is to keep it for this season and try to sell it around 80 hrs (I’m guessing) and get upgrade to a new one if the difference isn't too crazy vs the maintenance cost.

I was on my last bike (250xc) for 6 years as my sole steed until last year. Still have it but will probably sell it soon as it just sits. I’m still not 100% and don’t ride enough to justify 2 bikes this year.

The Shop

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bichwolf
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bichwolf 5/26/2022 5:06pm
5/26/2022 5:06pm
When you finally get it set up perfectly, it's time to start looking
6
dinger212
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dinger212 5/26/2022 5:53pm
5/26/2022 5:53pm
I have an 03 KTM 450EXC…although I’m not for sure but it has at least 500+ hours on her
TbonesPop 5/26/2022 6:46pm
5/26/2022 6:46pm
motodad312 wrote:
My '19 SXF 450 has 115 hours on it. Did the top end at 85 hours. Plan to keep it a couple of more years. Will...
My '19 SXF 450 has 115 hours on it. Did the top end at 85 hours. Plan to keep it a couple of more years. Will push it toward 200 hours probably. Oil change every 3-4 rides. Clean air filter every ride. Took it to a local mechanic for the top end (top notch guy w/ a good name and reputation) and he said bike/engine is rock solid. I give KTM credit for the durability of their bikes.
Honestly, that's true for any of the major manufacturers now days. I just did a top end on my '18 YZ450F and it looked fantastic. Valves were perfectly in spec. Honestly, I didn't need to do a top end on it after looking at it. I change my air filter and oil religiously every 5 hours of ride time, and use quality oil. All of the manufacturers are really good now in terms of reliability for the average rider when it comes to the 350's and 450s. 99.9% of the riders just don't ride them hard enough to beat them up as long as you change the oil and keep the air filter clean. Now, 250Fs can get beat up, so you gotta watch them a little closer. But any big bike class bike that is well taken care of should last a long time.
sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 5/26/2022 7:24pm
5/26/2022 7:24pm Edited Date/Time 5/26/2022 7:24pm
If you ride a Japanese brand, time it with the big updates and do it every 2 or 4 years, depending on how often you ride. At least then you’re getting the latest model.

I do every two. I only upgrade suspension. Don’t even do exhaust. Ride it for 50-60 hours. Don’t touch the motor, replace a clutch at 30 hours. I don’t have the time or skills to rebuild a motor so it’s cheaper and easier for me to sell it at that point.
1
WFO72
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WFO72 5/26/2022 7:57pm
5/26/2022 7:57pm
Being over 60 now I've come to terms I won't go any faster on a new $10k or more bike, nor do I need too. I could easily go get a new bike but why? My 2002 YZ250 that I have owned and raced now for 10-years is perfectly set up for me and I regularly beat guys on their $12k 450FE thumpers. And I chuckle all the way to the checkered flag when I do! Find a bike you enjoy and enjoy the ride, no matter the year or hours on it.
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viking174
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viking174 5/27/2022 8:57am
5/27/2022 8:57am
Ya I don’t know, I ride it until it feels like it’s not performing as good as it could. I tend to get a new bike every year and a half. Tends to be around 140 -160 hours. I only ride tracks. Does anyone hit the kill switch quick when pulling off the track to rest or watch a section? I hardly ever let my bike idol except to warm up on first moto.
1
Lillefty27
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Lillefty27 6/3/2022 8:33am
6/3/2022 8:33am
xrmark wrote:
I’ve had a 17crf 450r since 2017. I didn’t get to ride it as much as I liked in the beginning but have put 110 hours...
I’ve had a 17crf 450r since 2017. I didn’t get to ride it as much as I liked in the beginning but have put 110 hours on it. Just oil, oil filter and air filters every other ride. One payment left on it and then plan to keep it and build it into an X and buy another bike. Sure it’s not the newest of the new but Honda still pumps them out so I feel okay about it
I have thought of this strategy before. Once my primary MX bike starts getting old, maybe it can become more of a trail bike where it's less harsh on the engine and other components. All while saving up for the next shiny new MX bike to add to the stable.
thatguy_13 6/4/2022 10:49pm
6/4/2022 10:49pm
AA off road riding here, but my 2018 350xc-f is around 470 hours currently.
needed to replace the rear rim, and rekluse radius cx clutch plates around 400h, put a piston, rings, and new exhaust valves in at 310h, rekluse exp disk about every 150h, other than that basically all I've done is fuel filters, wheel bearings, oil changes, and air filters.
5
Badoo
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Badoo 6/5/2022 6:32pm
6/5/2022 6:32pm
Had a 1979 Husqvarna 250 cr. Sold it to go to school - regret selling. Wish I had kept it to do a restore and put up as a decoration in my shop. For me now... keep it forever without regret.
mingham97
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mingham97 6/5/2022 7:49pm
6/5/2022 7:49pm Edited Date/Time 6/5/2022 8:33pm
People have lost sight of the true value of money since everything is financed these days. $50k sounds like nothing when it’s $300 a week over 4 years.
kNewc
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kNewc 6/6/2022 8:13am
6/6/2022 8:13am
viking174 wrote:
Ya I don’t know, I ride it until it feels like it’s not performing as good as it could. I tend to get a new bike...
Ya I don’t know, I ride it until it feels like it’s not performing as good as it could. I tend to get a new bike every year and a half. Tends to be around 140 -160 hours. I only ride tracks. Does anyone hit the kill switch quick when pulling off the track to rest or watch a section? I hardly ever let my bike idol except to warm up on first moto.
I was always told that these bikes can't sit idle. I was at a small "club" last weekend and a dude sat his bike on the stand and left it running while he went to sign in...it just idled away for like 15 minutes. A yz450. The owner of the dealership I got my bike from would also just let a bike sit there and idle for awhile too (although not 15 minutes).
Spergen
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Spergen 6/6/2022 2:07pm
6/6/2022 2:07pm
Probably not normal but I've kept every offroad bike I've ever owned, welll apart from my first kX 100. Garage is looking quite full now. Probably end up being a pain in the ass for family when I end up in the ground 😂

Just wish I had kept my tarmack bikes, stupid money now here in the UK.

Pit Row

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