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Edited Date/Time
1/14/2018 8:29am
Anyone know if KTM has ever tested an aluminum frame for the MX bikes?
If they keep pushing for lightweight, it would seem like a logical step.
The 2005 YZ250 aluminum frame was 5 pounds lighter than the 2004 and had similar characteristics. I’m aware that it wasn’t exactly the same and not liked by some, namely Chad Reed, but with more development I think they could have gotten it right.
I always hear about how the Japanese OEM’s use aluminum because it’s cheaper, so I don’t think it’s cost prohibitive. Or, is the cost savings only realized by using the street bike style frames that Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki utilize?
If they keep pushing for lightweight, it would seem like a logical step.
The 2005 YZ250 aluminum frame was 5 pounds lighter than the 2004 and had similar characteristics. I’m aware that it wasn’t exactly the same and not liked by some, namely Chad Reed, but with more development I think they could have gotten it right.
I always hear about how the Japanese OEM’s use aluminum because it’s cheaper, so I don’t think it’s cost prohibitive. Or, is the cost savings only realized by using the street bike style frames that Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki utilize?
The Shop
https://www.cycleworld.com/2015/04/08/on-the-record-phillip-habsburg-kt…
We are 100 percent committed to steel frames. The problem with an aluminum frame is you need much more space, and you want to make an off-road bike as small and light as possible. We have five different off-road models with gas tanks ranging from 6 to 12 liters. If you go to an aluminum frame, it’s almost impossible to create a big fuel tank in a normal shape. Another thing is flex is quite hard to get right. Development of a steel frame is also much easier. With aluminum you have different castings and machined pieces, and with steel you just cut the tube and weld it. You can make many different versions in a short time, which makes it faster to develop new things for production.
Prototype from the article.
KTM uses real chromoly steel, when the Japanese made frames they kind of started out chromoly but over the years the material quality dropped to save money and as suspension improved and riders were hitting larger jumps, their steel frames would not last as long and stretch slightly over time, just ask Chad Reed. Aluminum is easy to work with and cost less to make than a real chromoly steel frame. KTM's sister company or a division owned by one of the principle owners of KTM (WP) makes the frames and other parts for KTM.
Some say aluminum is not a superior material for motorcycle frames, its just easier to make, does not stretch like the older Jap steel frames and cost less to make.
https://www.wp-group.com/oem/
lol
Pit Row
For example, in MotoGP, Casey Stoner used to complain about Ducati's steel frames because even tho built identically, their was still roughly a 15% difference in characteristics. No 2 bikes were ever the same. It made testing a bitch.
Aluminum is said to have about a 5% difference. Ducati just skipped the aluminum and when to carbon for their frames, which are so consistent that it's impossible for just about anyone to tell two frames apart. And with carbon, you have infinite ability to pick where you want stiffness and where you want flex, and how much. That's a topic for another day. But it's sorta relevant here because with aluminum frames, engineers have more options of where they can make a frame stiff and what parts they want to flex.
With the torque & twisting that a modern 4 stroke racing motor can create, aluminum has it's advantages. And yes, it is cheaper to produce. But the frames do last longer. Pro's can wear out a MX frame in a ridiculously fast amount of time. I was told that when Dungey first went to KTM, he was burning thru frames faster than suspension. That's nuts.
But that shows how much the steel frames flex. Which is great for feel. Great for the average consumer who isnt going to wear out the frame anytime soon.
Im no frame expert. That's just my understanding of it all from asking a lot of questions to factory engineers. Im fascinated by this sorta stuff.
I would never expect KTM to produce a aluminum frame. They're too committed to offroad. There's a reason all the Euro brands that focus on building enduro bikes all use steel. Aluminum's best suited for supercross. And KTM is having no problem making steel work there. So I just cant see them going aluminum, what's the incentive? Aluminum isnt necessarily lighter. Some of these aluminum frames are damn heavy (Yamaha for example).
I weigh 140 pounds so im not a very big guy, and my current bike is a -17 Crf450 as i am waiting for my -18, the bike i hade before that was a -16 450sxf.
Many claim to feel a weight difference and all that, i never felt a difference in weight in the pits, but damn did i feel it on the track!
The ktm feels soooo heavy compared to ANY Honda, it was near impossible to throw a whip with the orange POS.
Every individual has it's own preferences and we have 6 different major brands with lots of models. Then we can add TM, Alta and various enduro brands and the result is a bike for everyone!
That is such a good thing about MX/offroad at the moment. There is a perfect bike out there for everyone! Some might not like a KTM, Yamaha, Honda or what ever, guess what? There are so many good bikes out there at the moment that in a 99% certainty there will be one that fits that person like a glove.
There is way too much negativity when it comes to riding and our sport these days. It actually looks pretty good from my view. Especially since electric bikes are coming.
But i have a ton of friends who just love their pumpkin
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