Picking up a 2011 450SX-F

[ktmpegger]

Tried to buy one here locally in Vegas but no luck. Already spoken for or just none on the floor. Picking it up from Walt's in Lake Havasu City, Arizona tomorrow. $8260.00 OTD which I thought was decent... no tax because I'm a Nevada resident. My first KTM so it should be interesting.

My other bikes:

"05" RMZ450
"07" RM250
"08" KX500AF from Service Honda.

My first pumpkin just in time for Halloween!

Just wanted to introduce myself and say hello!

[bajadog]

Welcome.

You are getting a nice bike!

Lucky

[ktmpegger]

Thanks Bajadog! Here's a few pics.

[ktmpegger]

Took it out to Valley of Fire today. Mostly gravely sandy washes with long woop sections with an ocassional "hand stand" set of "G" outs. A lot like Searchlight. Some rocky technical stuff too as we headed up into the mountains.

Best handling out of the box bike I've ever owned. (I weigh 195)
Suspension at first felt a little soft but as I pushed the speed up it was like the forks knew what I was doing and had more compression and rebound as needed.
Very smooth running engine with little or no vibration in the handle bars.
Would lug down in any gear without the usual 4 stroke flame out and then pick right up again.
Didn't go much over half throttle today but the power is there and feels way more responsive than my RMZ450.

I can't wait until she's fully broke in and I can do some 3/4 and full throttle testing.

So far I'm impressed with the bike!

[bajadog]

That is a sweet looking bike.

I am guessing it won't stay that clean for long....

[trowland]

hi just bought a 2011 450 sx myself. havent rode it yet,waiting for better weather here in the seattle wa area. been on honda 450s since 04. any problems or quirks with yours yet? im strictly a motocrosser so i hope its going to be as good as my 08 honda....thanks

[ktmpegger]

Originally Posted by trowland

hi just bought a 2011 450 sx myself. havent rode it yet,waiting for better weather here in the seattle wa area. been on honda 450s since 04. any problems or quirks with yours yet? im strictly a motocrosser so i hope its going to be as good as my 08 honda....thanks

It's been a great bike so far. The only complaint is that the suspension is a little soft. I ride desert and I'm about 215 lbs with my gear on and have bottomed it a couple of times.

The only other issue I've had is an oil leak at the bottom of the left side engine case. KTM keeps that side wet with oil for the electric start gear train.

The reason for the oil leak is not KTM's fault.

I've been riding it with just glide plate protection instead of a full skid plate and it took a rock hit right where the side cover and engine case meet. It dinged the case into the side cover and the side cover into the case. I just need to do some very slight filing to get the mating surfaces flat again and all should be good with a new gasket and sealant. Just letting you know that even for Motocross a glide plate may not be enough.

My riding partner has a 2010 YZ450F running 13/47 which is about the same as 14/50. The KTM stock runs 14/52. We had a drag race and it was even with me just very slightly pulling away. If I had a 50 on the back it wouldn't have been anything close! The pumpkin makes some power!

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Forgot to mention the chain slack adjustment is a little confusing in the KTM manual! The slack adjustment on KTM is referenced from the top of the swingarm where the chain buffer ends and is slightly over 2 inches when the bike is on a stand and the chain is pulled up. The actual chain slack doing it the Japanese way is a little over an inch.

[trowland]

have you had to do any re jetting, i was running mine in my shop and it seemed to pop and backfire alot and shot some flames about three inches out of the silencer. seems to run hot to, boiled over right away. i bought some longer tubing and re routed it to come out away from the pipe. i think its going to be a good bike though, i like the quality componets, havent been able to find a shop manual for it though. do you plan on doing any track riding with yours? i havent been trail riding for about 10 years, im not sure how this bike would be riding slow, might boil all the coolant out of it.

[ktmpegger]

Originally Posted by trowland

have you had to do any re jetting, i was running mine in my shop and it seemed to pop and backfire alot and shot some flames about three inches out of the silencer. seems to run hot to, boiled over right away. i bought some longer tubing and re routed it to come out away from the pipe. i think its going to be a good bike though, i like the quality componets, havent been able to find a shop manual for it though. do you plan on doing any track riding with yours? i havent been trail riding for about 10 years, im not sure how this bike would be riding slow, might boil all the coolant out of it.

Mine will pop a little until it's good and warmed up (2-5 minutes) of riding. After that it's fine.

I rode mine the last part of October here in Vegas and had no overheating issues in plus 100 temps. It never once even puked any coolant. A fellow KTM rider said that a 505 radiator is the same as the 450 radiator but comes with a temperature switch bung on the lower tank. Just buy the the right 505 radiator, fan, a switch and then fuse the hot wire off the battery. KTM sells fan kits but you still need a radiator that can accept the switch. That being said I don't think you should be having any cooling issues. Bike should be able to idle for awhile without getting hot unless you're rapping the throttle.

Flames coming out of the exhaust isn't right and is definately a tuning issue.

You may want to unplug the performance connector under the seat and tame the ignition curve until the bike is broke-in.

I gave up racing a long time ago! I enjoy off-road much more and like dealing with the unknowm around every corner at an alarming rate of speed.

[trowland]

thanks very much for the info. i probly wont have any cooling issues while im riding but unplugging the ignition curve during break in is a good idea. i may get an adjustable leak jet float boal for the carb to make tuning easy. i only race once or twice a year now, i like the practice days at the tracks i get all the riding i can handle. im 53 now and i dont like sitting around all day waiting for my race to start. dont know what its like there but here there isnt any big jumps to hit,i still really like that, im also worried about whats around the next corner, been in a couple of head on crashes and they really suck.