The KTM300 Thread

[sasrocks]

Originally Posted by DUNDAS

If its main purpose is to enjoy single track ... get a 200 put a heavy flywheel
weight on it if you your a big tall fat guy get a the 250 that shares the 300's larger frame ...

http://ktmworld.com/news_articles/GN...P1/default.asp


I'm a believer in having a motor for what you need it for .. at my local KTM shop I'm told they have to fix countless 300's not because they are bad motors but because the guys that ride them lug the crap out of them in much higher gears needed ..(I think that might be small man syndrome needing the big 300)

if you want a street plate might need to find an older model with the title on it .. or try your luck at the DMV and bat your eyes at the girl working the counter and see if she or he whatever your into .. will street plate it for you ..

haha thats a load of crap piled pretty high, Mr. Troller... My 300 gets its neck rung right proper. As I suspect they all do. what rubbish.

[MeterPig]

I am going to lug my motor all week at Taylor park. I have already alerted Elite KTM to the impending motor rebuild. They have the parts on standby...stat!


I will report back soon with my new 340 kit.

[WARRIORPRINCEJJ]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

I am going to lug my motor all week at Taylor park. I have already alerted Elite KTM to the impending motor rebuild...

That's some funny shit!!!

Obviously, you have learned nothing from the experiences of "countless" others...


.

[MeterPig]

Originally Posted by WARRIORPRINCEJJ

That's some funny shit!!!

Obviously, you have learned nothing from the experiences of "countless" others...


.

Thank you...thank you very much....

On another note, I ran a yz250 all day today. Got to say, great bike, quick steering (really quick!) but she is no KTM300. I look at the YZ like a hammer-a tool. The KTM...well...it is magical.

I did mention in this thread that I have the 2010 xc right?

Anyway, the two bikes are not even comparable. YZ, super close tranny, pipey, low frame...dirt cheap...parts all over ebay...

KTM, high frame, lot's o lo end, farther spaced tranny, not as pipey and pricier.

[DirtJack]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

What it is like to ride the bike with that tank filled over 4 gallons?

Adds about 19 pounds up high (when full) compared to the stock tank. Tank is noticeably wider when forward on the seat.

[WestOzKLX]

Anyone on here running a Rekluse clutch with left hand rear brake. Info' Opines please.

[cRAsH]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

Let's see- "countless"? How many total 300's did KTM import into the states?

So, countless is 100? 200? Sounds like an epidemic.

So lugging a motor at low RPM is worse for it than 14,000 RPM constant?

I guess I am a big fat, tall guy. I like the 300-then again, I live a high altitudes.

Guess you better tell Slavens to check his manhood.

I like this thread. It is getting exciting!

Truly lugging ANY motor is bad for it, much more so than running it at higher rpms.
Wears out the bottom end much faster.

But since you know it all, I'm sure you already knew that.

[cRAsH]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

I highly recommend a skid plate for that pipe.

Why?

[pfb]

Originally Posted by WestOzKLX

Anyone on here running a Rekluse clutch with left hand rear brake. Info' Opines please.

Yes on the Rekluse Pro. Love it.

No so far on the left hand brake. I worry that a left hand brake, as useful as it would be, will screw me up in a panic/instinct situation as I switch back and forth between bikes regularly.

Probably should just man up, install one, and deal with it... Being able to keep my right foot centered on the peg rather than sliding it up to control the rear brake seems like it would be helpful when riding fast and/or highly technical terrain.

[MeterPig]

Originally Posted by cRAsH

Truly lugging ANY motor is bad for it, much more so than running it at higher rpms.
Wears out the bottom end much faster.

But since you know it all, I'm sure you already knew that.

Coming from a know it all, I will take that as a compliment.

The point is, the 300 is often touted as having "low end grunt". So, how would one get that grunt?

I thought so.

If someone were to ride the 300 literally every moment not on the pipe, sure, I could see the motor having issues. But who does that?

Could you define countless 300's in the shop for rebuild due to lugging?

[MeterPig]

Originally Posted by cRAsH

Why?

I assume you are really asking the question.


Ever watch craigslist for bikes with sentences such as "aftermarket pipe-has dent"?

Some people like dealing with dents-I don't.

To the person I mentioned it too, he pointed out that his riding rarely if ever takes him around rocks.

For me, rocks are 99 percent of the riding I see.

Carry on.

[Stu]

My '09 300 XC-W is about 6 lbs lighter without the starter / battery comb. I put a sub 1 lb. battery in it for a legal "on" light when the motor is off. Since it starts so easily I could not see hauling the extra weight and that weight difference is noticeable.

Sicass makes a wiring harness & kit for it to make it "legal" that went on with no hassles. The turn signals are built in the plastic hand guard and are flush mount on the rear. Lots of trees hit, crashes and drops with scratches only. Mine is plated but it is a hassle in KS getting the plate. It is fun honking the electric horn at guys to pass in the woods. They think it is a dual sport bike and that spooks them.

My Clockworks KTM 3.4 gallon tank is the best made tank/cap combination I have ever had. I can play ride all day in the woods with this tank. Highly recommended.

Dick's Racing has a carb mod (36~39mm oval bore and on-demand main jetting) that works at my 850' elevation and that same jetting ran cleanly all the way up American Flag Mountain in Taylor Park (12,400'?). I look at it as cheap FI. My mileage is about like stock: 35mpg or so. I can finish a 2 hour hare scramble with this tank/carb setup easily.

My local dealer has loads of guys riding 300s. He says none of his customers have ever harmed one of these bikes lugging it. "Lugging" is defined as trying to save your butt on an uphill when you temporarily forget that momentum is your friend but you just keep the throttle on and the 300 just tractors on up anyway.

I use the E-line pipe protector. It is heavily scarred. The pipe is unbent.

My 300 wasn't strong enough for me so I milled the head and use VP Racing's U4-2 racing fuel. That combination really perked it up for me. I think the "violent nature" of this bike is over stated. It is very smooth and very strong when, as Lil Bit noted, it is correctly jetted.

Stu

[DireWolf]

Originally Posted by cRAsH

Truly lugging ANY motor is bad for it, much more so than running it at higher rpms.
Wears out the bottom end much faster.

But since you know it all, I'm sure you already knew that.

I knew that.

[cRAsH]

Originally Posted by MeterPig

I assume you are really asking the question.


Ever watch craigslist for bikes with sentences such as "aftermarket pipe-has dent"?

Some people like dealing with dents-I don't.

To the person I mentioned it too, he pointed out that his riding rarely if ever takes him around rocks.

For me, rocks are 99 percent of the riding I see.

Carry on.

Gee, I never ride on rocks.

You'd be better off investing in a dent kit.

By spreading out the impact to the smaller part of the pipe, pipe guards cause more damage than they prevent. A ding in the big part of the pipe is no biggie, a crease up near the port connection makes the bike run like crap.

Wanna know how I know?

Yeah, I thought so.

[MeterPig]

That is the debate-isn't it?

Some say the pipe guards do more harm than good. I have both guards now on two bikes-a metal and carbon fiber.

Personally, I have witnessed the pipe ride up on the guard with the KDX. In fact, I recall getting stuck on the guard. Can you bend a pipe? Sure, can you bend any part of the bike? Uh huh. So, which is worse, big hole or big bend? Either way, if I get either, the pipe is being replaced.

With the KTM, I haven't had that experience. Then again, the KTM is the tallest bike to date I have ridden on...so the rock would have to be quite tall.

The KTM guard is apparently thicker than past years so we shall see.

So, how many 300's do you know that have blown due to lugging?

Originally Posted by cRAsH

Gee, I never ride on rocks.

You'd be better off investing in a dent kit.

By spreading out the impact to the smaller part of the pipe, pipe guards cause more damage than they prevent. A ding in the big part of the pipe is no biggie, a crease up near the port connection makes the bike run like crap.

Wanna know how I know?

Yeah, I thought so.