Ktm 450 Exc

Long-Term Wrap-Up

KTM 450 EXC

LIFE WITH A STREET-LEGAL DIRTBIKE

IT’S A FACT: THE CYCLE WORLD EDItorial staff is dual-sport mad. So when we discovered that 2006’s Best Enduro Bike, the KTM 450 EXC, would be street-legal in '07, we knew we needed to add one to our long-term fleet. We also knew that racking up 10,000 miles (our long-term standard) on what is essentially a competition-ready off-roader equipped with lights and turnsignals would be difficult, so we set about piling on as many miles as possible before KTM pried the bike from our hands.

Our first trip took us to Mike’s Sky Ranchero in Baja California. Gearing that helps make the EXC street-worthy ( 15/45) is too tall for “real” off-road riding, especially on tight, soft-terrain single-track. We installed a 14tooth countershaft ($26) from KTM’s PowerParts catalog that dramatically improved low-speed crawling capability. Having toasted the clutch prior to the gearing change, we replaced it with a fresh stocker ($149). We haven't had any problems since.

Bleach bottles strapped to a fanny pack temporarily solved fuel-range issues in Mexico, but a 3.1-gallon IMS fuel tank (www.imsproducts.com; $225) extended average range to nearly 130 miles. Our trip into Mexico's Sierra San Pedro Mártir also highlighted the need for a good set of handguards. Bashing branches in the cold and rain wasn't fun. We tried KTM’s plastic guards ($38) but later fitted a Sunline/ARC OSX handlebar (www.sufdineracing.com; $70) and enduro off-road handguards ($120).

The plastic-topped, full-wrap-aluminum guards greatly improved hand and lever protection.

Associate Editor Blake Conner later hauled the Katoom to Leadville, Colorado, for some high-country exploring. Remembering that he can barely breathe at that city’s 10.200foot elevation, he installed a JD Jetting high-altitude kit (www.jdjetting.com; $76) prior to departure, along with a LeoVince X3 Enduro exhaust system with Ti canister (www.leovinceusa.com; $899) and KTM exhaust guard/heat shield ($35). The pipe gave the bike plenty of bark and improved throttle response while retaining off-road legality with a built-in, screen-type spark arrestor. The jetting was really good up to approximately 13.000 feet. At that point, though, carburetion got a little cantankerous.

We tried lots of different tires on the EXC, which lunched snacked and dined on rubber. After shredding the stock Pirelli Scorpion Pros, the 450 chewed through no fewer than four front and five rear tires. Maxxis M7304 front and M7305 rear Maxxcross Desert ITs (www.mcixxis.com; $155) provided the best mileage. Dunlop's D742FA front and D756 rear (www. dunlop.com; $235) delivered the best off-road traction.

KTM recommends attending to a long list of maintenance items every 15 engine hours. At the rate we racked up miles, the bike would’ve had a permanent home on our local dealer’s hydraulic lift, so we did most of the service ourselves. Z Racing (www.zmc inginc.com) in Orange, California, performed a valve adjustment, fixed an oil leak and repaired a bad starter solenoid.

The biggest problem with my 450 EXC has been waiting for parts from KTM. Two months so far on a skidplate, three weeks and counting on a clutch part. -Michael Mcconaughy, Dubuque, Iowa

Quotes from the logbook

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The EXC is a true duaI~sport. It may not be the most comfortable bike on-road, but it can go anywhere in the mountains that bikes are allowed to go. -Jay Cunagin, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Had we more time, we would have addressed the stock suspension, too. No one who rode the bike was entirely happy with the action of either the fork or shock. Revalving the fork and exploring rear spring options would

likely have helped.

After 4110 miles (80 percent offroad) and 140 engine hours, we reluctantly returned our EXC. It impressed us with its performance, durability and competence on every terrain imaginable. Street legality opened up riding options we hadn’t experienced in years. KTM is at the top of a short list of companies that truly understand dual-sport.

SPECIFICATIONS