1997 ktm300 exc – OLD Bull Trailriders

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June 29, 2010 at 8:20 am #98658

paul osborne
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g’day guys,

I’m new on here so hopefully my questions won’t be rehashing old stuff.

I’ve picked up a slightly battered 97 300 exc off a mate, that I’m about to start fixing up. Overall the condition isn’t too bad, it needs new bearings, brake pads etc, and the pipe on it is crunched beyond repair.

The forks need new seals, and there’s some sort of water pump leak issue, as there’s a lovely grey ooze happening down there. Although the bike starts and runs well, I won’t be starting it again until I’ve sorted that and had a look at the bore etc.

So, my questions are,

does anyone have a pipe for one of these that is usable and they’re willing to sell?

Are there any manufacturers doing sticker kits for this model? all the usual suspects I could think of seem to start their product range at the 98 models.

Are there any issues or otherwise that you’d look at with this model or are they as good as everyone says they were/are?

Cheers

June 29, 2010 at 10:00 am #182831

scott bocking
Member

Hey Paulo

Welcome to the site.
Get in touch with Tee N Cee for all your decal needs. They will have that old girl looking fresh. As for the grey goo leaking out I think that is the sign of a healthy Euro bike :laugh:

STM

June 29, 2010 at 10:08 am #182832

KTM05
Member

Hi Paulo

First thing to do is double check the model year. As you know with dirtbikes, model years can spread over 2 calendar years. So it is possible that a bike purchased as new in 1997, could in fact be a 1998 model. Check the engine number … I think the 1997 models all started with a “7”.

The 300 model series underwent quite a lot of change from 1997 to 1998.

Next get yourself a KTM repair manual and Spare parts books. The pipe should still be readily available – even if only in an aftermarket version (FMF etc). But first look up the part number and find out if it has been superseded or not.

If you can bring that bike up to spec, you should have a great ride. The 300’s were extremely competitive in those days, on the enduro scene …. and with a couple of shim changes made a great trail ride bike as well.

Good luck and enjoy the bike

June 30, 2010 at 7:34 am #182845

paul osborne
Member

Thanks guys,

I checked out the frame numbers, it’s definately a 97 model. Looks like the 96 was very similar so that’ll give me another avenue when chasing parts.

The pipe may be fixable, but after having a better look this arvo it seem that it’s been melting the bottom corner of the tank Obviously the guy who smashed the pipe thought the rag he’d wrapped around it would be heat-proof.

Cheers
Paul

June 30, 2010 at 8:50 am #182896

drew
Member

hi Paul, dose the compliance plate have 97 stamped on it? if so it was most likely sold as a 98 model. 96 stamped would have been 97 year model.

flannelette it heat proof? right? :pinch: :huh: :woohoo: :silly: :laugh: :laugh:

June 30, 2010 at 10:40 pm #182905

Damo
Member

You should be able to get a parts manual online, do a bit of a search, DBW has a page of them

June 30, 2010 at 11:18 pm #182938

Bruce Curtis
Member

the 96/97/98 300 excs are a very very powerful 300 in the upper midrange and top end, when I had mine a mate had a 97 model and in a straight line it would eat mine up and spit it out, and yet the ’01/02/03 models have a far more agressive engine than the current crop, so I would venture to say possibly the late 90’s model were the most powerful of KTMs 300s.

Good solid bikes too, suspension is easy enough to set up and handle good in the scrub.
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