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This topic contains 15 replies, has 0 voices, and was last updated by  Cris 9 years, 12 months ago.

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  • March 17, 2015 at 9:43 am #104393

    Cris
    Member

    2015 KTM 500 EXC review

    Compared to the 2008 KTM 530 EXC-R

    The first thing I noticed was it felt about 10kg’s liter when you throw your leg over it and the same when riding.

    The power seems to be smoother than the 08 and not as much inertia and arm ripping raw power. I found the power & weight pretty dam good through the single line and the open stuff, well you just stay in the right hand lane passing everything. The gearing is 14/50 and the 08 I had running was 13/50, think I will leave this and see.

    The suspension for me (85kg with gear) straight out of the box I think is good. It was setup half way between standard & sports so I left it alone and wrote down the settings. The bike sag was/is 5mm over spec but I have left it alone for now.

    The tyres are not my choice but are ok. I ran a Scorpion extra on the front & Dunlop 952 on the rear of the 08 and I was happy with that so I will see how that goes later on.

    The seat feels a bit more flat and seems longer, as in more room when up on the tank if that makes sense.

    [attachment=4638]IMAG0656.jpg[/attachment]

    I have added some extras to this already great bike which are:

    Bark Busters
    Force Radiator Bracers
    Force Sump Guard
    Force Clutch saver
    STR Clutch Cover Guard
    20mm Bar Raisers
    Trail Tech Map Switch 3 settings
    FMF Pipe
    Carbon Pipe Guard
    Stegz
    Dust Cover for the air filter

    Made up a short wire loom, drilled the mounting whole a little bigger and placed the horn on the top chain slider bolt to hide it.

    Now for the dislikes

    I have got aftermarket air box covers on it and they seem not to fit as well as the standard one’s that came with it. The left side was not popping on properly on the bottom but I have fixed it with a 6mm tank type screw.

    The wiring under the seat in the air box to me is a little messy.

    The wire loom that hold the number plate light & the blinkers are in one but can’t be separated so you have to split the loom and remove the tail light wires and tape it back up with the blinker wires in it. Tape up the tail light wires in a bundle and place them in top of the air box at the back, neat spot there for them. Then you need to silicon up the hole that it all came through to go on the number plate holder that you have just removed.

    Over all I find it a better balanced bike with smoother power. It’s my first new bike and I’m stoked.

    March 17, 2015 at 9:52 am #261416

    Cris
    Member

    Some knew I was tossing up between the 350 and the 500. But I think the 500 is as lite as the 350 but with power.

    something that I found the other day.

    March 17, 2015 at 9:54 am #261417

    Matt Baker
    Member

    Great write up Boze.

    In relation to the gearing. When I got my 13 450 Berg it had 14/52 (which is standard on a 450) my 10 Berg was 13/52, so I changed the new bike to 13/52 straight away but it was too snappy in 1st and 2nd gear.

    Turns out the newer Bergs and KTMs have different gearbox ratios to the earlier models.

    March 17, 2015 at 10:40 am #261420

    Cris
    Member
    LC4skin wrote:
    Great write up Boze.

    In relation to the gearing. When I got my 13 450 Berg it had 14/52 (which is standard on a 450) my 10 Berg was 13/52, so I changed the new bike to 13/52 straight away but it was too snappy in 1st and 2nd gear.

    Turns out the newer Bergs and KTMs have different gearbox ratios to the earlier models.

    Yeh ok. I may make it 14/52 which I think is between 13/50 & 14/50. 14 better wear than 13’s.

    13/50 on the 08 was snappy but less clutch work through the pines = less eng temp

    March 17, 2015 at 11:15 am #261421

    Shane Cosgrove
    Member

    Nice boze, they go forever, Adam and Murph both getting fantastic life. Enjoy and try and stay off the gas if I’m behind you :)

    March 17, 2015 at 8:32 pm #261424

    murph the surf
    Member

    Niiiice one, Boze
    I stayed with the 14/50 gearing, and we do heaps of technical stuff. The thermo fan looks after the added clutch heat. I did have some issues with the fuse on the thermo but I upgraded it to a 10amp instead of the 7.5 that I think was original. Also changed the thermostat switch in the bottom of the RH radiator to an 85 degree one, as the original didn’t allow the fan to cut in until it was already too hot. They may of rectified these small issues as mine was the first of the 500’s 2012.
    Will tick over 10000kms this weekend and I really haven’t had to touch anything. V/v clearances still in spec and the only thing I have had to do is keep up the tyres, chain and sprockets and brakes to it. ;) 👿 :woohoo: :woohoo:
    You should have many years of trouble riding B)
    They do throw heaps of rocks from the rear wheel but that’s not really an issue when you are sitting on it.
    Just have to remember to try and be polite when being chased ;) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
    Looks the goods with all of the extras
    Enjoy
    Cheers
    Murph

    March 18, 2015 at 6:07 am #261426

    Cris
    Member
    Murph the surf wrote:
    Niiiice one, Boze
    I stayed with the 14/50 gearing, and we do heaps of technical stuff. The thermo fan looks after the added clutch heat. I did have some issues with the fuse on the thermo but I upgraded it to a 10amp instead of the 7.5 that I think was original. Also changed the thermostat switch in the bottom of the RH radiator to an 85 degree one, as the original didn’t allow the fan to cut in until it was already too hot. They may of rectified these small issues as mine was the first of the 500’s 2012.
    Will tick over 10000kms this weekend and I really haven’t had to touch anything. V/v clearances still in spec and the only thing I have had to do is keep up the tyres, chain and sprockets and brakes to it. ;) 👿 :woohoo: :woohoo:
    You should have many years of trouble riding B)
    They do throw heaps of rocks from the rear wheel but that’s not really an issue when you are sitting on it.
    Just have to remember to try and be polite when being chased ;) :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
    Looks the goods with all of the extras
    Enjoy
    Cheers
    Murph

    10000kms time for a new one too Murph. :whistle:

    7.5amp fuse, that would explain it then. Mine has 10amp fuse and 100 degree cut in fan sensor. I did think it was on more than it should of been, but not that often. Could be a sticky thermostat but will keep an eye on it. 85 dose sound better but fan would be on more often.

    Easy on the gas, not sure what you mean by this :pinch: :whistle: Funny you say that, I was going to get a sticker that said ROCKS and put it on the inner rear guard :laugh: :laugh:

    March 18, 2015 at 8:58 am #261433

    Adrian Snowden
    Member

    You need one that says weirdo to put on the seat

    Are you going to own up to being to scared to take it up a hill in case you dropped it and scratched the plastic?

    March 18, 2015 at 9:04 am #261435

    Cris
    Member
    snowy09 wrote:
    You need one that says weirdo to put on the seat

    Are you going to own up to being to scared to take it up a hill in case you dropped it and scratched the plastic?

    Ha Ha Ha Don’t need the sticker on the seat, I’m on it isn’t that enough 😆

    And yes I did not want to do that erzburg hill in fear that I might of dropped it on the first ride. But the next ride I will follow you up not a problem :P

    March 18, 2015 at 10:10 pm #261436

    murph the surf
    Member

    Fan cutting in early and more often is far better than too late, Boze.
    Sounds like KTM have sorted it.

    Whats this about not taking on a hill because it might get scratched ;) :blink:
    Get over it, Boze :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
    We’ll be doing more rides as the weather cools.
    You should come down and throw it at a few of our testing hills :woohoo: :woohoo:
    Cheers
    Murph

    March 18, 2015 at 11:38 pm #261440

    Alex
    Member

    Good video that. I agree with it. I rode both that time up at Barrington and the 350 is less snappy off the bottom which makes things easier on the body. The 500 is a fast ride for me. I end up in the rough all the time or spending all the time on the back wheel! Enjoy the new bike!

    March 19, 2015 at 1:33 am #261418

    simon burke
    Member

    nice ride Boze :cheer:
    all you need now is a race number ;)
    Bol :woohoo:

    March 19, 2015 at 5:10 am #261419

    Jeffrey Smith
    Member
    Boze wrote:
    Some knew I was tossing up between the 350 and the 500. But I think the 500 is as lite as the 350 but with power.

    something that I found the other day.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9ZNEa-2SBU

    Best quote from the video, “I would definitely recommend the 350 to my girlfirends”. Hahahah.

    Who rides the 350 here? 😆 😆 😆 :P

    March 20, 2015 at 3:44 am #261427

    Aaron Wilde
    Member
    Murph the surf wrote:
    You should have many years of trouble riding B)

    Enjoy
    Cheers
    Murph

    I removed most of what murph said and left the most important bit for you Bose!!!!!
    I agree with this 100% why should you have it any easier than the rest of us. Just because you ride the best brand of bike that God himself breathed life into. Sorry I have been hanging around scotty too much. :P
    Enjoy your Honda oh I mean KTM.

    March 20, 2015 at 5:29 am #261442

    Adrian Snowden
    Member

    I thought best quote was
    Best dual sport bike you can buy

    Doesn’t that make them both adventure bikes????

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