KTM go Kaboom!

[oreo_n2]

My bike made a bad pop sound and stopped running right at the last Tony's Track day... I just talked to the dealer... crank bearing failure... rather greande like.

The pieces of failed and fatigued metal were pumped throughout the motor by the very powerful pair of oil pumps... which then destroyed pretty much everything else. The crank even managed to machine intself into the case in record time when the bearing failed.

The dealer is going to try to get KTM to help out with the parts and labor cause he has never seen or heard of a KTM failing like this... they dont have to though... so my fingers are crossed. I will be very impressed and happy if they do help out cause that might make it possible for me to get back on the track this year.

[a13x]

That's pretty bullshit. Sorry to hear it man.

Talk to Jon Gosselin at the track. He blew up about 5 or 6 KTM motors last season. KTM helped him out everytime or so I recall.

[SVRACER01]

hey california beach boy! no one want to hear you west coast mumbo jumbo

[TheIglu]

Wow, bad year for motards. Sorry man. I hope they come through for ya. Isn't that thing brand new?

Pick up an EX in the meantime!

[KB]

Those fuckin KTM's go boom more than any other bike out there. Doesn't make sense.

Good luck Brent.

KB

[mycirus]

Buy a Honda.....You meet the nicest people on a Honda.

That sucks Brent, I hope they cover it for ya.

Bruce

[OreoGaborio]

uhg, that sucks Brent. Hope KTM helps ya out. Let us know how it goes.

[oreo_n2]

Wow, bad year for motards. Sorry man. I hope they come through for ya. Isn't that thing brand new?

Pick up an EX in the meantime!

its tempting. i have to figure out how much i have to pay for this first.

maybe next year i'll try a cheaper more reliable (EX500) class of bike to ride.

[rebelpacket]

Welcome to the club. Its a fun place. :\

Sucks man. I hope KTM helps with that. The motards sure are taking a beating this season.

[beet]

shit goes when your squeeeeeeeesing every bit of power you can get out of a motor.

[TheIglu]

Problem is, these motards were pretty much stock if I remember correctly. I can't imagine it's the norm for KTM's to pop like that while being pretty much stock.

Remember Brent, Biggity's EX is still fo'sale!

[highsider]

Hey Brent - your bike is now slower than my DRZ!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[TheIglu]

Hey Brent - your bike is now slower than my DRZ!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Unless his starter motor died too, then I doubt it.

[highsider]

Unless his starter motor died too, then I doubt it.

Is his clutch safety wired up? If it isn't, I should still have a 3-4 hp edge.

[rg500]

wow brent sorry to hear this. Good luck with the repairs. I hope ktm does the right thing and helps with the parts/labor. - Mike

[Paul_E_D]

Dirt bikes aren't designed with sustained high RPM in mind... Even stock it will quickly take it's toll. I haven't read too many positive stories about any of the new motoX bikes lasting all that long (despite Alex's insistence ) I'm sticking with 2 strokes for a while longer... They're just so much easier to work on and even tune that it's silly. Much cheaper to repair when they do break, too.

[OreoGaborio]

love my two fiddy two stroke.... kinda wish i could motard it & ride it on the street, that'd be fun.

[a13x]

Hah. Hey I just pass along the info I hear. All the guys with stock CRF's have had little issues.

I have heard QUITE a few stories about KTM's blowing up thou, so point a finger at the Austrians.

Also I don't think some guys are gearing these things right. Buying a 'stock' motard is one thing, having it geared halfway decent for roadracing, and not shorty track supermoto, are two different things.

*shrug* either way sucky.

[rg500]

love my two fiddy two stroke.... kinda wish i could motard it & ride it on the street, that'd be fun.

You should take my 500 for a ride on the 12th..

My experience with my Ktm hasn't been great. It ran well for the first year that I had it, but as soon as I rebuilt it the first time all bets were off. I still really like the bike and it is light years better than my DRZ, and way faster than the cr500.

In any case Brent's bike is nearly new. I really hope that ktm stands behind their products and helps you out.

[akira700]

Hah. Hey I just pass along the info I hear. All the guys with stock CRF's have had little issues.

I have heard QUITE a few stories about KTM's blowing up thou, so point a finger at the Austrians.

Looks like the krauts can't make a bike like the japs either !
;-)
How about a Buell?

[Rye]

XR650R...I went with it as a base for a motard for that very reason. It's not high strung, makes plenty of power and is built for running 80 mph through the desert. i'll let you know in a few K miles, but judging from current xR converts it has held up very well to street tarding use.

Good luck Brent.

[tls25rs]

Brent

Talked to John Gosselin #83 up at the track this weekend. Fast KTM guy, runs silly times on his bike. He was talking about how he wound up sending the crank out to get it welded and hasn't had a problem since. Prior to that I guess he had blown up something like five motors.

I have no idea how to get a hold of him short of waiting untill the next race weekend but he would be the guy to talk to.

Joel

[oreo_n2]

yea thats what i have learned too... as soon as i covince KTM to give me the parts... the new crank is going to Falicon for welding and balancing prior to installation.

[oreo_n2]

well the KTM is home again!

New motor and all.

KTM came through on the motor and while it was apart i had the crank welded and balanced and an oil seal retainter machined in.
It should be good now... but i am going to try to break it in properly this time... and hopefully the grenade nature of this bike willbe a thing of the past!


So... the last race weekend is the only one i knew i couldn't make it too right from the start of the season cause of a family wedding i am going to.

I think my rookie racing season is done... and next year i'll probably pretty much start over... i dont think two race weekends before the bike blew up actually counts as a rookie season... so rookie take 2 will hopefully be this coming spring.

[Paul_E_D]

Sweet that they hooked you up. Welding the crank will help a lot.