KTM Enduro 450 EXC

Great potential, but the glaring design fault on 08-11 models is not worth the risk – I owned a 450 EXC-R for a year and despite my best efforts it was always troublesome. The riding experience itself was fine, if a little on the heavy side. I found it a handful in tight and technical trails of which I ride regularly, however must say on an open track it really came into it's own and was a very capable high speed cross country enduro bike. There is a reason these things win the Finke desert race and Dakar year on year.

Now the issues with mine:

- Constant transfer of oil from gearbox to engine compartment. The 2008-2011 models run a seperate sump arrangement (not disimilar to Honda's CRF line) which should be fine, however the seals in my 08 constantly leaked and allowed transfer of oil from the box to the engine. After a 30 min ride the gearbox was left dry, and the engine overfilled and dumping oil through the crankcase breather and into the engine. It was quite the smoke machine.

- To fix the above the motor was stripped and seals replaced twice. Never managed to fix the issues.

- Additionally, one of the intake valves (Titanium) sheared where the collet retaines it to the valve spring, dropping the valve into the combustion chamber and damaging the piston and cylinder head. Valves were regularly checked and fully in spec at the time of failure, this is not a common KTM issue but has been known to occur with Titanium valves. Stainless Steel is a better bet unless racing.

The seperate oil design was clearly very troublesome for me, but must have been for KTM in general as they dropped it for the 2012 model year and went back to a shared oil circuit, along with injection and a raft of other updates.

My advice is to buy a newer (2012 onwards) injected model to avoid the oiling issues. Alternatively buy the older (2007 and earlier) RFS engined 450/500 as this is a very reliable engine design, if a little dated and agricultural. Avoid the 2008-2011 450 and 530 EXC-R.

This experience, sour though it was, has not put me off KTM as a brand and I have subsequently owned several of their bikes without issue. I replaced this 450 with a Husaberg TE250 2-Stroke (KTM engine) which has been frankly amazing to ride and maintain.

Excellent – Great bike 2009 model, suspension smooth and for giving. Ktm has some great standard features which japanese bikes don't have. Quality bike, ready to race out of the box Ummm none yet! Bike feeling jumping over large dozer mounds

Awsome – Real quality components. Hydraulic clutch that is as smooooth as. Every bike should have one. Every KTM does. Button start is dead easy and even the kick start is generally only two kicks. Gear box is spot on (i think we went down 1 tooth on the front when I bought it). Engine power is just amazing....just go and change when you feel like it. I'm a shirt shift fan and it just loves it. Brakes are very powerful yet the feel is nice and progressive. Suspension was set up by my dealer and he done a great job, ride height too was set just right. The Metzler 6 Day tires are crap. No grip when sliding down big hills. I hadn't given the tires too much thought untilI changed to a Dunlop on the rear. WOW. The amount of extra (as it should be) control down hills is fantastic. More drive up hill too. I will change the front to, soon and expect it to improve the steering, which at the moment is Ok. On a 450 KTM you can use the power to help change your direction anyway. This is a bike that just never runs out of power. It is also very forgiving, I've done a couple of dumb things and it saved me, no question. But the power can get you into to trouble....it is a beast. Would I buy another KTM... you betcha. Build quality is excellent. KTM service was terrific (Bairnsdale KTM) .Quality components. Great handling. Very adjustable high quality suspension. Suspension set up for you as a part of the service. service manuals to die for. Crap tyres (get Dunlops). I tad overpriced. Too much black in the 2009 model.