Share your off-road bike setup

yes @ 0.49

2024 YZ450FX I picked up last November and built it up for hare scrambles. I was at our first race of the year and tripped in my trailer messing up my ankle, I'll be off the bike 6 weeks so wasting more time on the Internet.

Mods: Dremeled the rear axle slot so I could move the rear wheel far enough back to run a 116 link chain. I do this because I prefer stability over agility, I've never had issues turning any bike I've ever had. Antiseize on the adjuster bolts, and some axle blocks that are thicker so the bolts don't have to come out as far. 

Just for looks I also removed casting marks and smoothed the rear brake arm.

Running stock valving with lighter springs, for hare scrambles I run 40% race sag. I also cut down the handlebars to 28.5 inches, brake master cylinder clamp starter button, and one piece handlebar top clamp.

When I get a new bike I also like to look for rub marks on the frame. I had a brake line rub through a chain stay on a MTB back in the day, so I'm more conscience of rubbing these days. I use paint protection film or dense foam tape to prevent it. 

I found with my previous 450fx's, riding above 2nd gear with ambient temps below ~65° and the engine never fully warms up, even in sand. I found a company that sells Thermostats for snow bikes, and I've put them on all 3 of my fx's so far. 

You'll also notice in these pictures a Gizmo mods metal coolant thermistor housing. The stock plastic one was flexy and I didn't like it.

They removed over a pound of rotational mass from the previous FX's to this gen. It does flip from side  o side noticable better, but the engine spools up really fast. This also amplifies the twitchy throttle at low speed. I've ran pro taper grips for years now, but switched to ODI because there's a guy that makes throttle tamer cams for them. Trying it out, currently only have a backyard ride on it due work and now my ankle. 

The bike had 2.5 hours on it when I bought it, was a steal at $5,900! The previous owner put the hand and frame guards on, which are nice. He also installed a cooling fan, but apparently removed it when he traded it in. I found one of the clip on nuts in the skid plate and the connector plug was missing. I ordered a replacement plug from moto connectors for now, I'll probably install a fan at some point. 

He also butchered the seat by removing the frame hooks. I have no idea what he was doing unless there is an aftermarket tank that required it? Anyway a GUTs complete low seat, trying no ribs this year, took care of it.

2024 kx450x - I set this bike up for hare scrambles and some desert racing. Currently racing the omra gp series and the occasional isde.

Precision concepts suspension with one rate stiffer springs front & back

Full Bill’s exhaust system

Acerbis tank and skid plate

Flo levers

Rekluse radius clutch

Swapped start and stop switches for easier dead engine starts

Twin air filter and domed cage

Kenda southwick 2 tires for soft/int terrain. Washougal 3 front and Parker rear for desert.

Showa steering damper

Solid bar mounts

Works Connection radiator braces

13/51 woods - 14/50 desert. Axel stays pretty much in the same spot, so no suspension changes.

The rest of the bike is pretty much stock. I’m running the Chavez map using the app. Just turned 80 hours and it’s been rock solid. Just regular maintenance. 

Sold my CRF250RX the other day and picked up a 21 430RR that I can get plated. Most everyone I ride with has a big bike with a plate and most on Beta’s

Ai helped the background but it looks better than the mess in my garage. It’s sooo freaking quiet. 

Getting my new ride dialed in, smog delete, flush mount lights, FMF ti slip on, factory map switch, guts seat cover, and new tires. Just been following my daughter around for now and a couple shorts rides with friends. Suspension is going ti get done in the next couple months before SoCal desert season starts.

Almost every 500 ktm has this issue: 
ar high altitude. Lower atmospheric pressure causes tiny microscopic air bubbles in a KTM 500 EXC hydraulic clutch to expand. This makes the air bubble large enough to displace fluid and cause lever fade or complete loss of clutch engagement. To fix this, thoroughly bleed or reverse-bleed the clutch system to completely remove any trapped air.