Picked up a KTM 250 exc 2009

[Luke CharlesworthMember]

After many discussions with the wife, I was able to pinch $4,200 from the house reno funds to buy a 2009 KTM 250 exc (2t) and get back to riding on the weekends instead of trying to convince myself that an accountant can also be a handy man. (the bike was advertised on bikesales)
Just looking for some input into these bikes from anyone that has had one etc. The bike came with a receipt that listed $3180 in rebuild (Piston and Crank + few little things) at 158 hours. It now has 186 hours. But one thing I notice is it is easy to kick over – as in, I can turn it over with my had with not a great amount of effort (the GASGAS 300 I road at Upper Horton didn’t seem as easy). Would it be best to simply do a a new top end? I only paid $4200 for it so I was more than ready to put some shed time and $ into it to start with. Other than that I am very happy with the purchase and the quick blat I did up the lookout was very different from my prior experience on the KLX400. Cheers

[AlexMember]

Hard to tell. There’s heaps of tricks and opinions. It is good to know however that 2T bikes are pretty tough and very forgiving with worn rings. Some 300 KTMs run up to 100 – 120 hrs or more on a top end – is that a good thing depends on opinion.
30 legit trail-riding hours on a top end is not much. 30hrs for a race season and drowned twice in a muddy boghole is not so good see.
I personally pull the pipe off and take a look at the piston/rings up the exhaust port. If you don’t know what your looking for it’s a useless 20min.
When you say “turn over by hand” you mean run the full stroke of the kickstart – not actually start the engine hopefully…

[Luke CharlesworthMember]

Thanks Axel.
Yes, by turn over I mean just running the full stroke not actually starting the motor. I guess I was just expecting more resistance but as this will be the first 2 stroke I have had in the shed it will all be a learning curve. The bike started after 3 Kicks on choke after being in the back of my ute from Sydney to Tamworth. I will look down the exhaust port. I assume I am looking for wear marks on the piston, the rings move freely and not a lot of blow by on the piston???. The reason I went 2 stroke is I wanted to have a go at the maintenance (and an excuse to have a heap of beers in the shed), but, at the end of the day I am happy to send it of to the people that actually know what they are doing and just make sure I am riding. Cheers

[ianMember]

i just picked up a 2010 250 exc with 47 hours on it , i have to say this is one of the best bikes i have ridden , a new topend kit will i.e piston , rings ,gaskets, circlips , topend bearing , gudgeon pin will set you back roughly $280.00 , check the exhaust port is the first thing just to see blowby even take some photos and post them up on here

[andrewMember]

Another orange bike! Enjoy buddy

[Matt BakerMember]

I would suggest getting your jetting sorted out for optimum power delivery and fuel consumption.

[AlexMember]

Well HB and LC make an excellent point. Not that it’s fun spending money so early in the story but $300 for a top end kit nice and fresh with sane jetting will get you rolling with peace of mind.
You don’t sound like one to jet it yourself however if you try some combos that people use and just enjoy the riding. Top end first then jetting second. In time you’ll know when it’s time for a new top end when you notice the bottom end power drop off. For me about 70-90hrs.
If you do pull the pipe do take some photos and the more experienced can help. You can also check the cylinder wall condition (to some degree) this way. Deep scratches in the piston or cylinder are not what you want to see although never the end of the world. I’ve seen the worst case scenario myself and it was $1500 – pretty unlikely.
Good on you for wanting to look after it yourself. Plenty here do so and have done for years so there is good advise here to step you through preparation and any problems you find.

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

About time you got back to riding. Look forward to seeing how it goes in the singles

[LoganMember]

Hey Luke

Congrats on the new stead and welcome to the orange family !

Look forward to catching up with you on a ride soon.

[CrisMember]

Cool You gotta love orange.

No stopping ya now

Nundle is nearly all Orange now.

[Adrian SnowdenMember]

NEVER – Some of us have taste!

[CrisMember]

snowy09 wrote:

NEVER – Some of us have taste!

Nearly.

[Ron BirrellMember]

Boze wrote:

snowy09 wrote:

NEVER – Some of us have taste!

Nearly.

Like Snowy said Boze NEVER

BUZZ

[Author]

Posts