I still can't believe how good my KTM150 is.

Denn700
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Denn700
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 5:35pm
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned almost every bike over the past few years. I don't think Alessi will have a problem with holeshots on the 350 because my friend Holeshot the 250fA class and the +25A class on the 150 with a gate of 450's and 250 two strokes and checked out in both of the first motos. If it is not the best it is without a doubt the most fun.
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newmann
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newmann 11/23/2009 7:55am
11/23/2009 7:55am
I have to agree on the fun factor. I found a low hour 08 144 for my youngest son and it absolutely rips. What exactly did the DEP pipe do for it?
Denn700
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Denn700 11/23/2009 8:00am
11/23/2009 8:00am
It gave it a little more bottom without losing any top.
R-acer
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R-acer 11/23/2009 8:07am
11/23/2009 8:07am
I thought my son was really fast on his 08 144, then I got him the 09 KX250F and his lap times dropped even more. Just sayin.
CRFracer117
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CRFracer117 11/23/2009 8:16am
11/23/2009 8:16am
His lap times will be even faster when the 250F decides to weld a valve on top of the piston. At the same time will take quite the load off of your wallet.

The Shop

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mxpimp
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mxpimp 11/23/2009 8:27am
11/23/2009 8:27am
I would have one if I didn't have so much tonnage.
R-acer
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R-acer 11/23/2009 8:52am
11/23/2009 8:52am
CRFracer117 wrote:
His lap times will be even faster when the 250F decides to weld a valve on top of the piston. At the same time will take...
His lap times will be even faster when the 250F decides to weld a valve on top of the piston. At the same time will take quite the load off of your wallet.
actually, the KTM blew up twice in 2 months and it was bone stock...KTM gave us a 2009 150SX engine for our troubles, which I thought was pretty cool of them. But I could never trust it again and my son took a 250F for a spin and fell in love with the grunt.
So I got him on 09 KX250F. With the Kawi, we didnt have to as much as change a spark plug all season. Bike was fast and flawless.

But what you like and ride what you want I guess. But I found what works for us.
Devil1nNj
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Devil1nNj 11/23/2009 10:22am
11/23/2009 10:22am
I wish there were actual facts we could compare on where all these 4 strokes are blowing up.
Out of everyone I have ever known personally (not a friend of a friend) I only know one kid that grenaded a Stocker. And, he was an idiot never maintained when he blew it up it had about 3 tablespoons of oil in it.

I have heard of hopped up ones blowing up, but how do you know if the work was done properly, had all the upgrades required for whatever parts were changed. Not jepordising the strength of other parts who were not designed to handle the added load, etc.

I'm willing to bet its more of an exaggerated figure of all these blown up bikes.
You also need to factor in the joey dick necked idiot who takes to the local shop who never broke the bike in and was doing burnouts in the culd-de-sac with out a helmet...just saying. haha
holeshot100
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holeshot100 11/23/2009 11:03am
11/23/2009 11:03am
I would say most four strokes "blow up" from lack of oil. Anything that turns 11-13k RPM's is going to use some oil. Changing oil frequently is your best maintenance, and if you go aftermarket on a piston, change them sooner.
GuyB
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GuyB 11/23/2009 11:22am
11/23/2009 11:22am Edited Date/Time 11/23/2009 11:23am
Denn700 wrote:
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned...
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned almost every bike over the past few years. I don't think Alessi will have a problem with holeshots on the 350 because my friend Holeshot the 250fA class and the +25A class on the 150 with a gate of 450's and 250 two strokes and checked out in both of the first motos. If it is not the best it is without a doubt the most fun.
I'm glad you like your 150.

But how do you make the comparison to how your friend did last weekend on a 150 two-stroke, to how Mike will do on a 350 against the usual field of competitors?

(Not that Mike has ever had a problem getting holeshots, btw.)
R-acer
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R-acer 11/23/2009 11:24am
11/23/2009 11:24am
I dont think I have ever seen a 4 stroke "blow up" at the track.
We put a season on a YZ450F, KX450F and 09 KX250F, and the KX250F got beat on pretty good all summer long. All I did was check the valves, change the oil after every race day and make sure the air filter was good.
At the end of the season, the bikes still started on the first kick and had lots of compression.

I cant say this about the 2 strokes we have had. KTM told me to change the piston every 3 hours to avoid it wearing and blowing up...every 3 HOURS!! Fk THAT!!
you know how much a KTM 144 piston is? And there are no aftermarket companies that makes pistons for that bike.

BTW, here was our 08 144 with 2.5 hours on it. Bone stock.






I should check with the guy who bought it after the 09 engine was installed, and see how that stood up for him. But the above pictures... happened TWICE to us, and everyone else I know with a 144/150
oldx
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oldx 11/23/2009 11:28am
11/23/2009 11:28am
Denn700 wrote:
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned...
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned almost every bike over the past few years. I don't think Alessi will have a problem with holeshots on the 350 because my friend Holeshot the 250fA class and the +25A class on the 150 with a gate of 450's and 250 two strokes and checked out in both of the first motos. If it is not the best it is without a doubt the most fun.
GuyB wrote:
I'm glad you like your 150. But how do you make the comparison to how your friend did last weekend on a 150 two-stroke, to how...
I'm glad you like your 150.

But how do you make the comparison to how your friend did last weekend on a 150 two-stroke, to how Mike will do on a 350 against the usual field of competitors?

(Not that Mike has ever had a problem getting holeshots, btw.)
Your just blind to the factoids.
GuyB
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GuyB 11/23/2009 11:34am
11/23/2009 11:34am
Huh?
Denn700
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Denn700 11/23/2009 11:36am
11/23/2009 11:36am
Denn700 wrote:
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned...
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned almost every bike over the past few years. I don't think Alessi will have a problem with holeshots on the 350 because my friend Holeshot the 250fA class and the +25A class on the 150 with a gate of 450's and 250 two strokes and checked out in both of the first motos. If it is not the best it is without a doubt the most fun.
GuyB wrote:
I'm glad you like your 150. But how do you make the comparison to how your friend did last weekend on a 150 two-stroke, to how...
I'm glad you like your 150.

But how do you make the comparison to how your friend did last weekend on a 150 two-stroke, to how Mike will do on a 350 against the usual field of competitors?

(Not that Mike has ever had a problem getting holeshots, btw.)
My friend usually gets holeshots that is why I was making the comparison. I just think it is more in reaction time than the bike unless it is a long start. This was on Swan's night track.
R-acer
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R-acer 11/23/2009 11:39am
11/23/2009 11:39am
So we changed the piston (on the new engine) at about 3 hours, and it looked like it was running pretty good (still stock bike with stock jetting). Good wash on the piston crown from the fuel coming in through the ports.




Then for no apparent reason, the rings got caught on the exhaust port again (like the first time) and completley self destructed. As I said, KTM did come to the rescue and gave us a brand new 09 engine for our 08 bike... thats great support...BUT... I still dont trust the product.

I cant tell you how many of these 144/150's I have seen blow up right in front of me.
Go do a search on KTMTalk.com
Denn700
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Denn700 11/23/2009 11:41am
11/23/2009 11:41am
I have had an 06,08 and I have an 09 KX250f. I'm not saying you may not be faster but it isn't as fun of a bike to ride but I like two strokes so your opinion may be different. It is all about the rider anyway not the bike. I bet some people are faster on two strokes.
R-acer
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R-acer 11/23/2009 11:46am
11/23/2009 11:46am
Denn700 wrote:
I have had an 06,08 and I have an 09 KX250f. I'm not saying you may not be faster but it isn't as fun of a...
I have had an 06,08 and I have an 09 KX250f. I'm not saying you may not be faster but it isn't as fun of a bike to ride but I like two strokes so your opinion may be different. It is all about the rider anyway not the bike. I bet some people are faster on two strokes.
Im not even talking about how fast anyone is on anything.... Im saying they (144's) are time bombs with a design flaw. They keep blowing up.
My son happend to have faster lap times on the KX250F...but that doesn't mean everyone will. some people my just like the way the 144/150 works more and be faster on it.
One of the kids I know who LOVED his KTM 144, but after several blow ups, sold it this year, picked up a new YZ125 and put a 144 kit on it.
Denn700
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Denn700 11/23/2009 12:00pm
11/23/2009 12:00pm
I've thought about putting the 200 head on their if it blows cause someone said it would fit but don't know f this is true?
ktmracer726
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ktmracer726 11/23/2009 12:03pm
11/23/2009 12:03pm
I've had my KTM 144 for about 3 months. Bought it used with about 1/2 an hour of ride time on it. The rod bearing seized up after another 1/2 an hour. After fixing the rod, I added the 09/10 150 sx CDI and head. I'm at 3 hours right now, and she is still running good. One of the most fun bikes I've every owned. BTW, you can buy a vertex piston on ebay for about $70. Way better than the $190 for an oem KTM piston.

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Deetsmx
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Deetsmx 11/23/2009 12:19pm
11/23/2009 12:19pm
I think ktm changed some things to make the 09 a lot more reliable (I'm assuming that's also why they change the name to a 150, to differentiate). I think they admitted to having problems with the older one and that's probably why they swapped out the engine. They had huge issues with their 450's when they first cam out too, but they seem to be ok now.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 11/23/2009 12:31pm
11/23/2009 12:31pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 7:05pm
Truth be told: This thread is a Great Testament to KTM...they DID stand behind the product.

Nice!

The only thin I don't like about the 150?

Price. It jus' doesn't add up.

In reallity, and against the pricing of Japanese 4t 250s, it's only a $5K bike (Which is what you can get an '09 for v. $5499 for an '09 250SX-F).

However, a new 2010 is gonna cost ya $6500 or so...I think if we're gonna keep sayin', "2-Strokes are cheaper!"...well...

They should be.

At $5K it's a good deal. (This is where EVERYONE reminds me that there are brand-new '08-'09 450s out there for $4-$5K).
Ing
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Ing 11/23/2009 1:24pm
11/23/2009 1:24pm
Denn700 wrote:
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned...
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned almost every bike over the past few years. I don't think Alessi will have a problem with holeshots on the 350 because my friend Holeshot the 250fA class and the +25A class on the 150 with a gate of 450's and 250 two strokes and checked out in both of the first motos. If it is not the best it is without a doubt the most fun.
This don't surprise me at all. Glad you like the Katoom. Their definately my favorite machine. You think any of the Jap factories would send you a new motor if your 250F blew up? I don't. I'd love to ride one of the new 150's. I'll bet their a gas.
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 11/23/2009 1:27pm
11/23/2009 1:27pm
Denn700 wrote:
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned...
All I did was put a DEP Pipe on it and I swear it is the best bike i have ever owned and I have owned almost every bike over the past few years. I don't think Alessi will have a problem with holeshots on the 350 because my friend Holeshot the 250fA class and the +25A class on the 150 with a gate of 450's and 250 two strokes and checked out in both of the first motos. If it is not the best it is without a doubt the most fun.
Ing wrote:
This don't surprise me at all. Glad you like the Katoom. Their definately my favorite machine. You think any of the Jap factories would send you...
This don't surprise me at all. Glad you like the Katoom. Their definately my favorite machine. You think any of the Jap factories would send you a new motor if your 250F blew up? I don't. I'd love to ride one of the new 150's. I'll bet their a gas.
Suzuki replaced more than a few 450s in 2008.

Same for Kawasaki on the early 250F's.
DrSweden
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DrSweden 11/23/2009 1:34pm
11/23/2009 1:34pm
Maybe way to stupid, but many people seems to be scared to use the right amount and the right type of oil in their smokers?

I have owned at least 20 two strokes, mopeds, road and about 8 motocross bikes and I have newer experienced an engine size up like this. I always use synthetic with between 3%-4% (1/30=30:1?) oil in every liter petrol.

Maybe I have been lucky?
newmann
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newmann 11/23/2009 1:37pm
11/23/2009 1:37pm
I don't think cheap and KTM were ever meant to be used together regardless whether 2 stroke or 4 stroke. I had a low hour well maintained yz250F scatter. Valves through the piston and up through the head. Not pretty. Also had a low hour first year CRF250 run dry up top for reasons unknown. Not pretty either. The only two modern thumpers I've bought and both went south in grand fashion. Fixed both of them and still have them. Don't ride them too much anymore either. We just ride for fun and the 2 strokes are a lot more fun than the 4 strokes. Always liked the 125's, the 144's and such are just that much more of a blast to ride.

Post a reply to: I still can't believe how good my KTM150 is.