1981 KTM 495

srobinson
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srobinson
Edited Date/Time 2/15/2019 6:46pm
Got my 1981 KTM 495 out of barn over weekend. Wiped dust off and got fired up.
How much fork oil do theses take?

5
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sandman768
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sandman768 1/7/2019 5:49am
1/7/2019 5:49am
That's a cool bike, don't see too many of those around. Looking like the forks need a rebuild, if you do a search I bet you can find a manual online, maybe Facebook group for older KTM"s.... The only reason I joined Facebook was for the specific bike groups....
ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 1/7/2019 7:38am
1/7/2019 7:38am
Is this the model Dirt Bike magazine got up to 120+ mph back in the day ?
Maicoman07 1/7/2019 11:51am
1/7/2019 11:51am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Is this the model Dirt Bike magazine got up to 120+ mph back in the day ?
It sure is They got over 123 mph out of it





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barnett468
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barnett468 1/7/2019 5:49pm
1/7/2019 5:49pm Edited Date/Time 1/7/2019 5:55pm
srobinson wrote:
Got my 1981 KTM 495 out of barn over weekend. Wiped dust off and got fired up. How much fork oil do theses take? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/01/07/316371/s1200_IMG_2644.jpg[/img]
Got my 1981 KTM 495 out of barn over weekend. Wiped dust off and got fired up.
How much fork oil do theses take?

As long as the oil is 1" above the top of the damper rods when the forks are compressed you will not have too little or too much, and the forks will work, however, the correct level will likely be a bit higher.

As far as 495 info goes, try the link below.

http://www.ktm495.mxbikes.com/


This link from the site above is the 81 service manual.

http://www.ktm495.mxbikes.com/


Here is the fork page with the oil level.

http://www.ktm495.mxbikes.com/


Killer bike by the way, and you should go vintage racing with it.

.

.

srobinson
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srobinson 1/8/2019 3:32am
1/8/2019 3:32am
Thanks for the comments. Disc brakes came a couple tears later and I'm sure fork seals will need changed after 38 years. Bought this new in 1981 from Dirty Harrys in Pittsburgh. Actually went to Lorain OH to pick up at KTM. Everything is original except grips, gas line and a few nuts and bolts. Plastic is yellowing and getting brittle but it is running good.
1
riv187
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riv187 1/10/2019 6:48am
1/10/2019 6:48am
Cool bike. I remember dirty harrys too. I use to live in Butler and collected bikes around the western pa area. Only saw a KTM495 once about 20 years back when I visited a house to give remodeling estimate. Any chance you live East or north east of Pittsburgh?
srobinson
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srobinson 1/11/2019 6:35am
1/11/2019 6:35am
riv187 wrote:
Cool bike. I remember dirty harrys too. I use to live in Butler and collected bikes around the western pa area. Only saw a KTM495 once...
Cool bike. I remember dirty harrys too. I use to live in Butler and collected bikes around the western pa area. Only saw a KTM495 once about 20 years back when I visited a house to give remodeling estimate. Any chance you live East or north east of Pittsburgh?
Cameron WV. Between Wheeling WV and Waynesburg PA. I have only seen a couple others back in the day.
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mxrose3 1/11/2019 12:40pm
1/11/2019 12:40pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Is this the model Dirt Bike magazine got up to 120+ mph back in the day ?
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what I remember they only changed a couple of sprocket teeth..
ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 1/11/2019 2:30pm
1/11/2019 2:30pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Is this the model Dirt Bike magazine got up to 120+ mph back in the day ?
mxrose3 wrote:
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what...
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what I remember they only changed a couple of sprocket teeth..
Yeah they took it out to a dry lake bed somewhere. I had the issue but I don't think I do anymore.
Jeremy_Brown 1/11/2019 2:37pm
1/11/2019 2:37pm
Dang that's a cool bike man. To bad they don't have a video of them getting it to 123 mph. Or maybe just maybe they do
barnett468
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barnett468 1/11/2019 3:41pm
1/11/2019 3:41pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Is this the model Dirt Bike magazine got up to 120+ mph back in the day ?
mxrose3 wrote:
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what...
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what I remember they only changed a couple of sprocket teeth..
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Yeah they took it out to a dry lake bed somewhere. I had the issue but I don't think I do anymore.
They ma have the issue online in the link I posted.

.
srobinson
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srobinson 1/11/2019 5:13pm
1/11/2019 5:13pm
mxrose3 wrote:
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what...
Amazing that I can remember that article in DB... I guess it was memorable, because I never thought a dirtbike would go that fast. From what I remember they only changed a couple of sprocket teeth..
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Yeah they took it out to a dry lake bed somewhere. I had the issue but I don't think I do anymore.
barnett468 wrote:
They ma have the issue online in the link I posted.

.
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link.

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-eve…

They changed gearing, leaned everything out and even went into tuck position with road race leathers.

ATKpilot99
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ATKpilot99 1/11/2019 5:31pm
1/11/2019 5:31pm
srobinson wrote:
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link. http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-ever-built-23650.html They changed gearing, leaned...
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link.

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-eve…

They changed gearing, leaned everything out and even went into tuck position with road race leathers.

Nice . Thanks for posting that.
barnett468
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barnett468 1/11/2019 5:41pm
1/11/2019 5:41pm
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Yeah they took it out to a dry lake bed somewhere. I had the issue but I don't think I do anymore.
barnett468 wrote:
They ma have the issue online in the link I posted.

.
srobinson wrote:
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link. http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-ever-built-23650.html They changed gearing, leaned...
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link.

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-eve…

They changed gearing, leaned everything out and even went into tuck position with road race leathers.

I just read it, very cool. they did do a little engine work though but I'm not sure why they they raised the cylinder, because it really is no longer stock at that point and is similar to porting the engine although the lost compression.


"The deck height was changed to 1.4mm, from a normal height of .8 to .9mm. Intake and exhaust manifolds were carefully matched, but no porting was done."
Maicoman07 1/12/2019 5:49am
1/12/2019 5:49am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Yeah they took it out to a dry lake bed somewhere. I had the issue but I don't think I do anymore.
barnett468 wrote:
They ma have the issue online in the link I posted.

.
srobinson wrote:
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link. http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-ever-built-23650.html They changed gearing, leaned...
barnett468, don't see the speed record story on your link, but found it at below. I don't know how to link.

http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/vintage-the-fastest-stock-dirtbike-eve…

They changed gearing, leaned everything out and even went into tuck position with road race leathers.

Thanks for putting it up willsave me turning my dads house upside down trying to find that Dirt Bike mag
project racer 1/12/2019 2:52pm
1/12/2019 2:52pm
Does a little lower compression let it rev a bit tighter on top ? Bet it dampened the stock power curve.
TTperra
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TTperra 1/12/2019 3:45pm
1/12/2019 3:45pm
I dont know about ktm bigbore, but on high reving small bore engines you keep compression ratio low(or moderate) to get more revs.
Raising cylinder by replace basegasket or add a second one is probably to get more revs, and less heat.
It would also reduce detonation, if the model had problem with it.

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Sprew
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Sprew 1/12/2019 4:29pm
1/12/2019 4:29pm Edited Date/Time 1/12/2019 4:30pm
Ohlins on the rear. Nice.
srobinson
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srobinson 1/13/2019 5:12am
1/13/2019 5:12am
TTperra wrote:
I dont know about ktm bigbore, but on high reving small bore engines you keep compression ratio low(or moderate) to get more revs. Raising cylinder by...
I dont know about ktm bigbore, but on high reving small bore engines you keep compression ratio low(or moderate) to get more revs.
Raising cylinder by replace basegasket or add a second one is probably to get more revs, and less heat.
It would also reduce detonation, if the model had problem with it.
I think you are right on detonation issue as the reason for deck height increase. Air cooled 14:1 compression ratio on extended full throttle run, recipe for detonation. KTM lowered the compression in later years.
WEAL
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WEAL 1/13/2019 11:20am
1/13/2019 11:20am Edited Date/Time 1/13/2019 11:23am
the raised cylinder changes the timing of the transfer ports and exhaust a lot in the direction of higher revs with more power with a little powerloss at lower revs and gives a bit more time due to the lower compression before the engine will start detonating
Tuzzo123
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Tuzzo123 1/18/2019 5:53am
1/18/2019 5:53am
Sweet find, they sure don't make them like that anymore. Congrats!
Kyle_Miller
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Kyle_Miller 1/19/2019 10:33am
1/19/2019 10:33am
Sweet bike, that is very cool!! Bet that left side kicker is a bear though!
srobinson
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srobinson 1/20/2019 1:47pm
1/20/2019 1:47pm
Kyle_Miller wrote:
Sweet bike, that is very cool!! Bet that left side kicker is a bear though!
It is tough to kick with the left hand lever with awkward angle, plus the bike height. Milk crate helps when cold. Got to get the piston in just the right spot to start your kick.
GCBC
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GCBC 2/15/2019 6:43pm
2/15/2019 6:43pm Edited Date/Time 2/15/2019 6:45pm
get it cleaned up and running great and sell it to me. exactly what im looking for! or ill trade my great running good looking 90 yz490 for it

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