KTM 200 EXC or 450 EXC?!

[Nice 'n' Fat]

You can get a genuine 13 ltr tank but I think you need a different seat to get it to fit.

I know that's true because I've seen one on the local lanes. I'm not sure that he'd changed the seat tho but I know that most people who fit the 13 litre tank to the 4T's tend to swap the seat over aswell. Something to do with it being a better fit. To be honest I thought the 300EXC with the big tank was a 525 MXC untill he smoked away ......

If you're buying a new 300 I believe KTM have dropped the kick start version for 08 so it's now leccy start only

 

[ktm_paul]

i bought a new 2006 model without leccy start from bracken for 4k... only 102ish kg... makes a 450 exc look fat at 115kg.

the tank i was thinking of buying clarke tank from cycle buy:

http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/gas_tanks/ktm_mc.htm#KTM_2-Stroke

au natural to show fuel level. more handy than the pretty orange ones.

i bought a tank for my 450 from them and it fit fine with my enduro engineering (comfort) seat i also bought from them...fit with original seat too i imagine.

 

[ktm_paul]

Depends really, I ended up putting an genuine 11.5 ltr tank on it as with the original 9ltr i was running out when my mates on 250's were just hitting reserve. I cane mine though My local dealer said a lot of 300's are fitted with the 11ltr from new for trail riding purposes, the 9ltr's just for racing.
It's always run rich but I've just had the motor rebuilt and have spent a day playing with a box of jets. It's now a lot leaner so I should get more endurance, will find out tonight. Put it this way, with the 11ltr tank I have just a little bit more range than other guy's I ride with on their original tanks (250 2 strokes & a few big thumpers). You can get a genuine 13 ltr tank but I think you need a different seat to get it to fit.
Buzzing a long at 60-70 on the road really kill's the range, bimbling off-road it just sips it.
I did a hare and hounds recently and still had a couple of litres left after brimming it at the start and 3.5 hours riding
Whats the green spring then? You can adjust the exhaust valve via the screw on the R/H side of the engine casing. Wind it in to delay actuation and soften delivery.
I've tried to get as much poke as possible out of mine and it's still easier to ride than a peaky 200. You'll love it

for green spring see page 46 of the pdf on the 2006 model on the www.ktm.co.uk page...

 

[BLUE(UK)]

Hi,i have a 450exc and keep thinking i'd like to go 2 stroke....just to learn a new style of riding i think,weight loss means nothing to me since i am a bit of a gym freak so would barely notice it.
Hmmm....decisions!!

 

[ktm_paul]

Hi,i have a 450exc and keep thinking i'd like to go 2 stroke....just to learn a new style of riding i think,weight loss means nothing to me since i am a bit of a gym freak so would barely notice it.
Hmmm....decisions!!

i think you would notice 13kg in the steering - faster, easier, etc. that is my concern for weight - not lifting it. i also like the 2-stroke for easy maintenance.


if you are a gym freak then i would suggest you get the kick start only version ... less to go wrong

i bought the 2006 300 exc from bracken - well excited to get back to uk and pick it up. might need to commute on it for a few weeks until my 950 SM gets to uk from japan ...

tip for buying bigger tank/nicer seat... try cycle buy and buy a Clarke tank (13.3l) and enduro engineering (read comfort) seat - together cost about 210 quid including postage! Tank does fit with standard seat (and for 4T folks the tank 4T version will fit with fan). Only took the bits a couple days to get to japan from USA.

http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/ktm_access.htm

 

[PIGGLET]

Comuting's going to be interesting good tip about the tank, let us know what it works out with import duty/VAT etc

 

[Flipfly]

might need to commute on it for a few weeks until my 950 SM gets to uk from japan ...

Beware of riding the 300 on the road. Remember that it is only fed oil when gas is being put through it (premix). This means that if you wind it up and then coast for prolonged periods you will seize it. I had this happen on my 300 when over in spain. They are a race bike so are intended to throttle on mainly. Not a critisism of KTM in anyway because all premix bikes will do this. Anyway, you probably know all this so I'll go away

 

[BLUE(UK)]

Thanks for the reply.
What i may do is buy a 2smoke and see how i get on with it since i do like my 450a lot(especially the 5th gear stand up wheelies).
In all honesty i dont have a need to have 2 off road bikes but what the hell....

 

[ktm_paul]

Thanks for the reply.
What i may do is buy a 2smoke and see how i get on with it since i do like my 450a lot(especially the 5th gear stand up wheelies).
In all honesty i dont have a need to have 2 off road bikes but what the hell....

two KTMs better than one

(950 SM and 300 EXC).

Good tip on the coasting - will bear it in mind when commuting thanks!. Mine city only so should be ok.

 

[ktm_paul]

Comuting's going to be interesting good tip about the tank, let us know what it works out with import duty/VAT etc

sure will do. note it CANT be anything close to the cost in the UK (which really takes the ):

http://www.racespec.co.uk/rs_shop_final/enter.html (go to plastics, petrol tanks) ... 246.50 quid vs...

http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/gas_tanks/ktm_mc.htm#KTM_2-Stroke
199 USD. Even with postage, full VAT and assume 10% duty it will come in at less than 150 quid. I reckon more like 125 quid.

UK vendors are naughty sometimes...expecting us to only compare to OEM prices

BTW - where should i buy 2T oil and other bits like air filter cleaner and oil? Racespec seems OK for those.

 

[PIGGLET]

I use leisure trail in nottingham for most of my bits. They're reasonably cheap (for the UK ) but the main advantage for me is if i order before lunchtime the stuff usually turns up the followind day or the day after at the latest. bonus when you bust something on wednesday night and want to play at the weekend
The lads know what they're talking about too and have done me a few deals without being promted. Can't ask for much more IMO.

Re oil, just buy the best synthetic 2st oil available. You can then run a weaker mix (Ie 20ml per ltr as opposed to 25) so less smoke and less frequent exhaust packing changes.
Now I've got my bike set up correctly it barely smokes except from cold and when I opent the throttle fully after pootling at tickover for a while.
Once you get used to the bike, If it's not really crisp with strong acceleration from tickover to full throttle it's well worth gettting the KTM manual on CD, looking at the fueling chart then spending a day on the trail with a screwdrive and a box of jets.
Mine was set up as per charts when i got it but I felt it could pull harder so by playing with the needle position and the main and idle jets it's now a different bike I've wound the exhaust valve out too so it opens much earlier

 

[BLUE(UK)]

two KTMs better than one

(950 SM and 300 EXC).

.

Would be 3!!
(950adv,450exc, 2smoke??!!)

 

[Racer]

KTM every time
Buy the 250 stinkwheel.
I have ridden the 200 stinker (autolube) and the 450 four banger and currently own the 250 stinkwheel.
The 200 was a good competition bike most of the time, but ran out of traction as it would spin out quite easily, the bike made a good trail bike but they are long in the tooth now.
The 450 was a superb trail bike and awesome enduro weapon, loads of traction anywhere and in any gear - costly to maintain, these bikes live on the edge and occasionally go over it - mainly due to owner ignorance/laziness. On tight circuits they can get tiring due to the weight.
The 250 is the best compromise I have found so far. Very low weight, good low down power, and fantastic top end power - cheaper to run than the four strokes too.

Enjoy.

 

[ktm_paul]

KTM every time
Buy the 250 stinkwheel.
I have ridden the 200 stinker (autolube) and the 450 four banger and currently own the 250 stinkwheel.
The 200 was a good competition bike most of the time, but ran out of traction as it would spin out quite easily, the bike made a good trail bike but they are long in the tooth now.
The 450 was a superb trail bike and awesome enduro weapon, loads of traction anywhere and in any gear - costly to maintain, these bikes live on the edge and occasionally go over it - mainly due to owner ignorance/laziness. On tight circuits they can get tiring due to the weight.
The 250 is the best compromise I have found so far. Very low weight, good low down power, and fantastic top end power - cheaper to run than the four strokes too.

Enjoy.

I ended up buying the 300 EXC and done a few miles on-road. can't stop grinning - must get SM kit for it.... and get it DIRTY!

 

[StevieD]

Good choice. Had a 300exc myself and still regret chopping it in for the 525exc. You won't be disappointed!

 

[ktm_paul]

Good choice. Had a 300exc myself and still regret chopping it in for the 525exc. You won't be disappointed!

put SM wheels on the 300 EXC - ultimate traffic weapon... weapon being the key word ...

it is nuts!

:cool