Are Ktm the best bikes?

Tomoss
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Tomoss
Edited Date/Time 4/29/2017 6:54am
Im looking at buying a new dirt bike! I have decided upon 4 stroke but now im looking at brands! Everyone always tells me to buy ktm and everyone in the uk seems to be on ktm. Are they really that good? Ive also heard a lot of people say They are unreliable. Watching pros ride most seem to be on kawasaki! Surely if ktms were so go good all pros would ride them but i dont see many pro fmx/sx/mx riders on them! Thanks for the help.
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newmann
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newmann 4/27/2017 7:18am
4/27/2017 7:18am
Would be a little hard cashing those checks from Kawasaki when you roll up to the line on a KTM!
walleyeguy
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walleyeguy 4/27/2017 7:31am
4/27/2017 7:31am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 7:32am
250F? Yamaha! 450? pick a color

EDIT. Although electric start would be nice.
Tomoss
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Tomoss 4/27/2017 7:33am
4/27/2017 7:33am
newmann wrote:
Would be a little hard cashing those checks from Kawasaki when you roll up to the line on a KTM!
What do you mean?
TheOriginalPancakee 4/27/2017 7:57am
4/27/2017 7:57am
Well for me..I'd say Honda. I've owned nothing but hondas and put 150+ hours on all of them and never had an issue. All I did was oil and air filter. Super reliable. I've heard mixed things about other bikes not being super reliable. Picking up a 16 in a few days.

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BobPA
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BobPA 4/27/2017 7:59am
4/27/2017 7:59am
You realize pros are paid to ride a color right?

Pick a color, it really does not matter anymore. Yamaha's are the goofiest feeling, but some love them.
newmann
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newmann 4/27/2017 8:37am
4/27/2017 8:37am
newmann wrote:
Would be a little hard cashing those checks from Kawasaki when you roll up to the line on a KTM!
Tomoss wrote:
What do you mean?
Are you a pro fmx/sx/mx racer?
TJMX947
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TJMX947 4/27/2017 8:37am
4/27/2017 8:37am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 8:38am
IMO you can't go wrong with a Yamaha, Honda, Kawi, or KTM 250F. I can get on just about any 250F and feel comfortable, although I haven't ridden the current generation Yamaha.

Concerning 450s I would test ride some before I put the cash down. To me they are all very different in the way they feel as well as how the weight is distributed and the power totally exacerbates any type of quirk you might feel in the geometry or the ergo package.

I would have no problem asking someone at the track to let me ride a few laps for $20 - $30.
ob
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ob 4/27/2017 8:40am
4/27/2017 8:40am
Yes
usafwx
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usafwx 4/27/2017 8:42am
4/27/2017 8:42am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 8:43am
I've seen a few issues with new KTMs, they shaved a ton of weight to make a compact engine kinda makes sense there's durability issues (power valves getting stuck, cases cracking, etc.), but they are the fastest and come with the most factory nifties. I never had an issue on any of my yamaha's and my new honda well let's just say I'll be riding red for awhile. Really any bike will do fine with routine maintenance, pick your favorite color.
Marc_Honda 4/27/2017 8:47am
4/27/2017 8:47am
The best bike is what you think is the best.

i like Honda because of influence from my dad.

Most people follow trends and see something popular, winning and cool. this means they buy it.
JBecker 72
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JBecker 72 4/27/2017 8:53am
4/27/2017 8:53am Edited Date/Time 4/27/2017 8:54am
I prefer riding Japanese bikes after owning two KTMs. But I would have loved to get a new Husky 450 or maybe even a 350 had I not gotten the KX450F. Price was a significant factor in my purchase.
Tomoss
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Tomoss 4/27/2017 9:19am
4/27/2017 9:19am
JBecker 72 wrote:
I prefer riding Japanese bikes after owning two KTMs. But I would have loved to get a new Husky 450 or maybe even a 350 had...
I prefer riding Japanese bikes after owning two KTMs. But I would have loved to get a new Husky 450 or maybe even a 350 had I not gotten the KX450F. Price was a significant factor in my purchase.
What do you prefer about the jap bikes?
usafwx
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usafwx 4/27/2017 9:36am
4/27/2017 9:36am
Tomoss wrote:
What do you prefer about the jap bikes?
QDR (quality, dependability and reliability) just think Toyota and Honda vs. BMW and Volkswagen, the Toyota and Honda may not have the all the cool features and looks but they'll outlast the BMW and Volkswagen ten times over.
JBecker 72
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JBecker 72 4/27/2017 9:52am
4/27/2017 9:52am
Tomoss wrote:
What do you prefer about the jap bikes?
usafwx wrote:
QDR (quality, dependability and reliability) just think Toyota and Honda vs. BMW and Volkswagen, the Toyota and Honda may not have the all the cool features...
QDR (quality, dependability and reliability) just think Toyota and Honda vs. BMW and Volkswagen, the Toyota and Honda may not have the all the cool features and looks but they'll outlast the BMW and Volkswagen ten times over.
Pretty much. Plus I have a good relationship with a Honda Kawasaki dealer 5 minutes from home. Not saying that KTM is bad. I've owned a 05.5 250SX-F, 09 250SX, and had an 09 Husky SM450R. All of them were great bikes. I just prefer Japanese I guess.
moto0852
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moto0852 4/27/2017 9:54am
4/27/2017 9:54am
By asking the question it means you already know the answer!

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Acidreamer
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Acidreamer 4/27/2017 9:57am
4/27/2017 9:57am
Ktms arent worth the extra money. With the money you spend on a ktm you can get a kawi or honda and a suspension setup. Im a huge advocate for kawi or hondas
F.B
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F.B 4/27/2017 10:16am
4/27/2017 10:16am
Tyler just took his shirt off.
kwenske321
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kwenske321 4/27/2017 10:16am
4/27/2017 10:16am
TheOriginalPancakee wrote:
Well for me..I'd say Honda. I've owned nothing but hondas and put 150+ hours on all of them and never had an issue. All I did...
Well for me..I'd say Honda. I've owned nothing but hondas and put 150+ hours on all of them and never had an issue. All I did was oil and air filter. Super reliable. I've heard mixed things about other bikes not being super reliable. Picking up a 16 in a few days.
What kind of oil do you use?
MX Guy
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MX Guy 4/27/2017 10:22am
4/27/2017 10:22am
Kawi 250f hits like a champ and has top end for days. Love mine.
Lastander
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Lastander 4/27/2017 10:38am
4/27/2017 10:38am
Choose the bike that you get the best deal on and spend a few bucks setting it up for you. But after my last year with a KTM i would recommend you trying something else, i blew up my -16 forks countless times, and zero help from KTM themselfs Sad

MX Guy
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MX Guy 4/27/2017 10:44am
4/27/2017 10:44am
Lastander wrote:
Choose the bike that you get the best deal on and spend a few bucks setting it up for you. But after my last year with...
Choose the bike that you get the best deal on and spend a few bucks setting it up for you. But after my last year with a KTM i would recommend you trying something else, i blew up my -16 forks countless times, and zero help from KTM themselfs Sad

The hell did you do, man? Jump the thing off a skyscraper?
xnationalwrench 4/27/2017 10:47am
4/27/2017 10:47am
For years and years people always wanted racers that are close as possible to "WORKS" as possible but have no idea how much work goes into maintaining and keep the bike going including buying spare parts. Unless your getting a bike for free go with what fits you the best and the best deal you can get.
Lastander
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Lastander 4/27/2017 11:06am
4/27/2017 11:06am
MX Guy wrote:
The hell did you do, man? Jump the thing off a skyscraper?
Sadly, no...
I weigh 70kg (145 pounds isch?), race the swedish nationals,and this kept happening...
Seriously our jumps here in sweden are smaller than the ones at palas vet track, so i litterally havent got a clue how my clusterfuck of a fork kept doing this.
Sold the bike after 40 hours, and somewhat of 30 fork-breakdowns...
BobPA
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BobPA 4/27/2017 11:14am
4/27/2017 11:14am
You need to hire a new mechanic lol. I would have sold the bike after 5 fork failures
Lastander
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Lastander 4/27/2017 11:25am
4/27/2017 11:25am
BobPA wrote:
You need to hire a new mechanic lol. I would have sold the bike after 5 fork failures
Sadly, my dad really is one of the greatest mechanics in sweden and has over 30 years of experience in automotive and motorcycle repair and rebuilds, he is also a former swedish motocross champion so he actually know a few things himself.
So both him and a company that specializes in suspension tried but couldnt get it fixed, and after a couple of breakdowns the fork was thrashed inside, actually dont know what they did to be able to sell it, but i havent heard anything from the buyer, yet...
brimx153
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brimx153 4/27/2017 11:26am
4/27/2017 11:26am
xnationalwrench wrote:
For years and years people always wanted racers that are close as possible to "WORKS" as possible but have no idea how much work goes into...
For years and years people always wanted racers that are close as possible to "WORKS" as possible but have no idea how much work goes into maintaining and keep the bike going including buying spare parts. Unless your getting a bike for free go with what fits you the best and the best deal you can get.
I tottally agree ,and i hate the way bike s are going ,lighter and lighter engine parts that are wearing out twice as quick . the latest ktm gearbox s are crap , i know people going through 3 a year .Is the KTM a great bike .Id say it is .as long as you can afford to run it

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