Husky/KTM Reliability?

greymachine
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greymachine
Edited Date/Time 3/8/2015 12:35pm
Looking to get back into MX after a 17 year hiatus and trying to decide on a bike. I like the idea of a Husky FC450 but not if the reliability and ongoing costs would be much worse than the Japanese brands. Otherwise I'll probably get a YZ450F.

Can anyone shed some light on the real-world ownership experience of recent year Huskys/KTMs? Reliability, maintenance, parts costs/availability? Here in SoCal I know of at least 3 dealers that carry them nearby; if any locals can recommend one shop over the others I'd appreciate that as well. Leaning toward 3 Brothers in Costa Mesa.

Hope to be hitting the track in the next month or so. Thanks for any info.
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Johnston1
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Johnston1 3/6/2015 8:20am
3/6/2015 8:20am
I had a 2013 ktm 450 that I put a 180 hours on and all I ever did to it was check the valves every 20 hours and never had to adjust them and never had to do a clutch in it and I've always been pretty hard on clutches. I just ran rotella triple T and changed it every 2 hours and as far as parts costs everything but cranks is pretty close in price to the Japanese bikes
Ktm life
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Ktm life 3/6/2015 8:46am
3/6/2015 8:46am Edited Date/Time 3/6/2015 8:46am
I've had lots of KTM's and none of the new generation of four-strokes have let me down. I have a 2012.5 Factory edition now and its never given me any issues. Parts are just as easy to get and cost about the same as any Japanese manufacturer now.
Flex
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Flex 3/6/2015 9:06am
3/6/2015 9:06am
Great bikes
Sixeightone
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Sixeightone 3/6/2015 11:30am
3/6/2015 11:30am
do your regular maintenance and you'll be dialed!! awesome brand! Pick a good dealer that's willing to stand behind you!!

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hylo
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hylo 3/6/2015 12:22pm
3/6/2015 12:22pm
They're pretty reliable.

As long as you do your oil changes and and take care of the bike in general (air filters, lubrication etc...) you'll be fine.
I find them pretty easy working on too. Smile
greymachine
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greymachine 3/6/2015 4:24pm
3/6/2015 4:24pm
Awesome, thanks everyone. Sounds like I'm probably gonna go Euro this time around.
RailinRuts450 3/6/2015 9:54pm
3/6/2015 9:54pm
I've had both late model KTM 450s and currently have a 14 YZ450. Zero issues with either. The suspension on the YZ annihilated the 4CS in every possibly way which is why my garage is now home to a Yamaha. Reliabity speaking, both KTM and Yamaha, and assuming Husky make pretty bullet proof stuff.
markit
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markit 3/7/2015 3:01am
3/7/2015 3:01am
Been racing KTMs sence 2k as if not more reliable than the others. Way easier to work on.
pete24
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Marlborough, MA, USA
pete24 3/7/2015 5:26am
3/7/2015 5:26am
ive had my FC450 for three and a haf months now and it has been super reliable, o ya cuz i havent started it, there is 30 inches on snow on the ground

markit
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markit 3/8/2015 6:03am
3/8/2015 6:03am
Looks like you have room in there to do donuts?Evil Cheerful Dry
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 3/8/2015 10:25am
3/8/2015 10:25am
pete24 wrote:
ive had my FC450 for three and a haf months now and it has been super reliable, o ya cuz i havent started it, there is...
ive had my FC450 for three and a haf months now and it has been super reliable, o ya cuz i havent started it, there is 30 inches on snow on the ground

Move somewhere warm like Canada Pete, we've been riding perfect track conditions the past 3 weekends in a row. It even got a little dusty here this weekend.
pete24
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pete24 3/8/2015 12:35pm
3/8/2015 12:35pm
i got this to hold me over

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