Bike builds on older 2 strokes but not KTM?

Simply a guess but I'd imagine there's a lot more used inventory from the other manufacturers to choose from.

Then there's the PDS shock issue. Not everyone likes it.

Edit: Forgot to mention that KTM weren't that popular back then. They were more of a niche brand. It's only in the mid to late 2000's that KTM started getting more popular. Now they're everywhere. All that to point out the reason why you don't see many of them. I had an '08 KTM 144sx and loved it.

Probably because they were not the best bikes.
I had a 2001 200 MXC and a 2004 200SX, the engines were good especially the 200SX, other than that I would pass.

I think it's mostly due to the fact that ktm still make 2 strokes. All other brands except yamaha have given up on 2 strokes so if someone was a Honda fan and wanted a cr125 they have to do a build.

There are a few builds on yz's because they haven't improved since 2006 and some people prefer the steel frame from pre 2005.

Ktm keep improving their 2 strokes so anyone doing a build on an older one would be pouring money into a bike that is not as good as a current ktm

Here's few builds that I found:

https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/2003-KTM-125sx-Build,1272921

https://thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/1124116-my-125sx-build/

https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Bike-Builds,46/2003-KTM-125SX-400-Craigslist-Special,1329854

https://thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/1133537-2004-ktm-200-sx-build/

The PDS rear is not that bad what most people think. It is really simple to maintain and if you are not pro supercross racer it will work fine on regular motocross tracks once it's set up for your weigh and speed.

Yeah, if you are looking for an older KTM project, find a 200 and build that.
They frigging rule.

Because you can't polish a turd!

mxgoon wrote:

Because you can't polish a turd!

Tell that to Grant Langston, Ryan Hughes, Tyla Rattray, Steve Ramon, Ben Townley etc.

Plenty of success with 125 KTM's in early 2000's before four strokes took over.

http://www.vintageworksbikes.com/2002KTMTownley.html

How is parts availability on 15+ year old KTM's?

I saw a 2002 Gas Gas on craigslist. I looked on eBay, and there were four parts at that time. SCARY!

Basic motor design had very little changes between 1998 to 2015. Biggest change was 2007 when new smaller cylinder design was introduced. There are plenty of parts available for these motors in eBay.

1997 and older KTM's are complete different story altogether and parts for those might be hard to find

Not many restore a 1997 CR250 either.

Desirable bikes with good memories get restored.

Why do I see so many RMs, then?

The PDS bikes were improved in 2007 and again in 2008 with frame revisions that resulted in a repositioned shock mounting and length change. They also started using the closed chamber forks then. I have a 2008 200XC and I felt it was better out of the box than my 2004 200SX with MX Tech revalved shock with progressive spring (stock was straight rate). And I'd agree that the PDS bikes work pretty well for MX for a lot of people.

The 2004 200SX (the 125 too I think) had three bushings in the forks that some guys felt caused extra stiction. There was a lot of chatter on the KTMTalk forum at the time about removing the middle bushing (search third bushing mod). I never modded mine. In 2007 they started using the closed chamber forks which were better.

I would love to do a build on an '04 200sx. I used to race one..

Most people rebuild bikes that either they had, that they wanted, or that some pro rider made popular. In the early 2000s and prior KTM didn't have much a presence in pro racing (US) and didn't sell much in the US. So nobody has a sentimental connection to them.

15 years from now Dungey edition rebuilds will be all the rage with people talking about how awesome electric starts were when they first came on line.

KTMsc wrote:

Probably because they were not the best bikes.
I had a 2001 200 MXC and a 2004 200SX, the engines were good especially the 200SX, other than that I would pass.

Exactly. KTM = “keep the motor”. Put a 200sx engine in a yz chassis and you have something. Today or course that has changed.

KTMsc wrote:

Probably because they were not the best bikes.
I had a 2001 200 MXC and a 2004 200SX, the engines were good especially the 200SX, other than that I would pass.

resetjet wrote:

Exactly. KTM = “keep the motor”. Put a 200sx engine in a yz chassis and you have something. Today or course that has changed.

The 200 SX is an awesome engine. Really surprised they only made it for what, two years (‘03, ‘04)? would love to have one in a modern chassis.

JMX82 wrote:

Basic motor design had very little changes between 1998 to 2015. Biggest change was 2007 when new smaller cylinder design was introduced. There are plenty of parts available for these motors in eBay.

1997 and older KTM's are complete different story altogether and parts for those might be hard to find

Not hard at all..

Lots of big bore 2 stroke builds that are amazing.

I’m building a Grant Langston 2001 sxs125 atm and a Ben Townley 2004 sxf250 replica and will be doing a 2003 Langston to and a lot more one I find clean enough bikes to build

A) because they were not good. they were fast but not good.
Theres no nostalgia involved you can get a brand new one in 2 different colors.

YZs are everywhere and trick parts are cheap on Ebay. this is a 01 YZ125 with 04 forks and all sorts of new parts like the rear brake master cylinder etc. Lots of fun to build. From this.

To this

Yeah it would be easy to do. Maybe too easy....to me there is a coolness factor to not building another Honda or Yamaha and beating them all on these things..

A 2003 KTM 125sx was my first real mx bike I owned and I’ve had nothing but a great experience with the bike. I spent a lot of time making it look newer than it is and soon plan to go even further but as of now this is what it looks like.
It’s more a slow progress this has been going on since I got it alittle over a year ago. It’s like a small project bike. I always like to see these older years get work done as they aren’t common. I didn’t initially like them Aesthetically which is why I put so much work to make it look more “modern”. It’s definitely grown on me, but performs great on mx tracks for a C class rider like myself. I have done a few Jday events here in New England and did great. I did attempt a custom graphics kit to replicate the best I could to the tld factory team.

I’d do up a 2007 200XC. That was a pretty solid pumpkin

There doesn’t seem to be much demand for older ones, unless it’s an XC of some sort. I built this 200SX swap and can’t get any bites on it, yet a 200XC of the same year or older that’s clapped out will sell almost instantly and for the same price I try to ask.