2007 EXCWoods Test
from MotorcycleUSA.com 2007 KTM 450 EXC - First Ride - MotorcycleUSA.com "Ever since the introduction of the Racing Four-Stroke (RFS) line, owners have disregarded KTM's pleas to avoid putting these bikes on the street. Due to the limited oil capacity, lack of cush drive rear hub and emissions controls, among other things, the RFS bikes weren't suited to spending lots of time droning down the highway in top gear...... That didn't stop people from converting the new-generation RFS thumpers anyway. That's because they wanted a bike that was truly dirt-worthy - one that was light, responsive, well-suspended and actually fun to ride in the dirt...... Over the years, KTM noticed that converted bikes weren't blowing transmissions or breaking hubs or falling apart as had been originally feared." This is a noteworthy statement, since it is the first time I have seen in the media solid confirmation that the older EXCs won't be damaged by riding them on pavement, using a little common sense of course. I understand KTM's initial warnings about the unsuitability of the older bikes for limited pavement use, but it does appear that their concern has been, so far at least, groundless. In a few years we will have a bigger database, so we can make a solid conclusion about whether everybody's top gears will fall in pieces eventually with moderate pavement use. Caution: with any of these bikes, if you install sticky street rubber and do a lot of street riding, please consider installing a rear wheel with a cush hub to protect your drive train. Updated Dec 1, 2006 |
