DR-Z 400 SM? Enuff power?
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,689
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RE: .
Geez Brian, this is a family site watch your language would ya?!
Besides, I'm of the opinion that KTM maintenance is a myth/rumor spread by KTM owners so everyone else thinks there is a high price to pay for the fun they are having
Good thing we have Brian to set us straight
......KTM RFS is a **** cat when it comes to......
Besides, I'm of the opinion that KTM maintenance is a myth/rumor spread by KTM owners so everyone else thinks there is a high price to pay for the fun they are having
Good thing we have Brian to set us straight
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RE: .
LOL, Brian once sent me a PM saying he liked the DRZ and thought of buying one once. Guess that doesn't come into the "turning his head" classification. I like you Brian and as I've said before I'd love toride WITH you, but I gotta set the record straight and tell it like it is.
No way in hell a KTM anything is as durable or as easy to maintain as a DRZ/LTZ anything. It's just a bulletproof powerplant capable of producing mid 50's horsepower. It's just too bad they won't modify it with a 6th gear and put it into a slightly newer designed bike. Afterall, the DRZ is dating back to 2000. Not the SM, but the other two.
No way in hell a KTM anything is as durable or as easy to maintain as a DRZ/LTZ anything. It's just a bulletproof powerplant capable of producing mid 50's horsepower. It's just too bad they won't modify it with a 6th gear and put it into a slightly newer designed bike. Afterall, the DRZ is dating back to 2000. Not the SM, but the other two.
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Posts: 7,269
RE: .
Jeez, if you're gonna quote me, at least get it right. I said a DRZ "had kind've grown on me" and would be OK for a daily commuter, but given that my primary purpose is off-road, I'll take the more off-road oriented machine and trade-off road comfort. I'd hardly call that turning my head, more like it is less ugly to me now. But you do always seem to perceive reality through an ultra-high index distortion field, so I guess I'm not surprised at what you think I might have said. I still have a copy in my inbox so I can resend it to you if you want.
But the way you're talking about it on the road now, I'm thinking the DRZ is not even all that comfortable on the road. With the wide ratio tranny on the KTM EXC, 55 MPH is only about 4500 to 5000 RPM so the engine is just loafing along at highway speeds. 75 and higher would be no problem but I don't recommend this bike for the interstate - it's definitely the wrong tool for that job.
But I knew all about that before I bought it - I downloaded the owners manuals for each one and calculated what the RPMs would be for both the KTM EXC as well as the TE450 - the two main bikes I was considering, and compared them to what I knew about the KLX tranny for the various gearing ratios. All the ratios are published all the way down to the primary from the crank to the clutch. The tranny ratios turned out to be one of the deciding factors for me between the KTM and the Husqvarna as the TE had a very narrow gear spacing, even though it has 6 gears. The KTM EXC tranny is actually just a spec more narrow than the KLX. But with the big bore, you don't need as low of a 1st gear which allows you to have much taller gearing up top.
You should have done the same before you bought the DRZ and you would have known that without a 6th gear it would be buzzy on the highway.
But the way you're talking about it on the road now, I'm thinking the DRZ is not even all that comfortable on the road. With the wide ratio tranny on the KTM EXC, 55 MPH is only about 4500 to 5000 RPM so the engine is just loafing along at highway speeds. 75 and higher would be no problem but I don't recommend this bike for the interstate - it's definitely the wrong tool for that job.
But I knew all about that before I bought it - I downloaded the owners manuals for each one and calculated what the RPMs would be for both the KTM EXC as well as the TE450 - the two main bikes I was considering, and compared them to what I knew about the KLX tranny for the various gearing ratios. All the ratios are published all the way down to the primary from the crank to the clutch. The tranny ratios turned out to be one of the deciding factors for me between the KTM and the Husqvarna as the TE had a very narrow gear spacing, even though it has 6 gears. The KTM EXC tranny is actually just a spec more narrow than the KLX. But with the big bore, you don't need as low of a 1st gear which allows you to have much taller gearing up top.
You should have done the same before you bought the DRZ and you would have known that without a 6th gear it would be buzzy on the highway.
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RE: .
ORIGINAL: bryantjt
Geez Brian, this is a family site watch your language would ya?!
Geez Brian, this is a family site watch your language would ya?!
......KTM RFS is a **** cat when it comes to......
Besides, I'm of the opinion that KTM maintenance is a myth/rumor spread by KTM owners so everyone else thinks there is a high price to pay for the fun they are having Good thing we have Brian to set us straight
Good thing we have Brian to set us straight
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Posts: n/a
RE: .
ORIGINAL: Nobrakes
Jeez, if you're gonna quote me, at least get it right. I said a DRZ "had kind've grown on me" and would be OK for a daily commuter, but given that my primary purpose is off-road, I'll take the more off-road oriented machine and trade-off road comfort. I'd hardly call that turning my head, more like it is less ugly to me now. But you do always seem to perceive reality through an ultra-high index distortion field, so I guess I'm not surprised at what you think I might have said. I still have a copy in my inbox so I can resend it to you if you want.
But the way you're talking about it on the road now, I'm thinking the DRZ is not even all that comfortable on the road. With the wide ratio tranny on the KTM EXC, 55 MPH is only about 4500 to 5000 RPM so the engine is just loafing along at highway speeds. 75 and higher would be no problem but I don't recommend this bike for the interstate - it's definitely the wrong tool for that job.
But I knew all about that before I bought it - I downloaded the owners manuals for each one and calculated what the RPMs would be for both the KTM EXC as well as the TE450 - the two main bikes I was considering, and compared them to what I knew about the KLX tranny for the various gearing ratios. All the ratios are published all the way down to the primary from the crank to the clutch. The tranny ratios turned out to be one of the deciding factors for me between the KTM and the Husqvarna as the TE had a very narrow gear spacing, even though it has 6 gears. The KTM EXC tranny is actually just a spec more narrow than the KLX. But with the big bore, you don't need as low of a 1st gear which allows you to have much taller gearing up top.
You should have done the same before you bought the DRZ and you would have known that without a 6th gear it would be buzzy on the highway.
Jeez, if you're gonna quote me, at least get it right. I said a DRZ "had kind've grown on me" and would be OK for a daily commuter, but given that my primary purpose is off-road, I'll take the more off-road oriented machine and trade-off road comfort. I'd hardly call that turning my head, more like it is less ugly to me now. But you do always seem to perceive reality through an ultra-high index distortion field, so I guess I'm not surprised at what you think I might have said. I still have a copy in my inbox so I can resend it to you if you want.
But the way you're talking about it on the road now, I'm thinking the DRZ is not even all that comfortable on the road. With the wide ratio tranny on the KTM EXC, 55 MPH is only about 4500 to 5000 RPM so the engine is just loafing along at highway speeds. 75 and higher would be no problem but I don't recommend this bike for the interstate - it's definitely the wrong tool for that job.
But I knew all about that before I bought it - I downloaded the owners manuals for each one and calculated what the RPMs would be for both the KTM EXC as well as the TE450 - the two main bikes I was considering, and compared them to what I knew about the KLX tranny for the various gearing ratios. All the ratios are published all the way down to the primary from the crank to the clutch. The tranny ratios turned out to be one of the deciding factors for me between the KTM and the Husqvarna as the TE had a very narrow gear spacing, even though it has 6 gears. The KTM EXC tranny is actually just a spec more narrow than the KLX. But with the big bore, you don't need as low of a 1st gear which allows you to have much taller gearing up top.
You should have done the same before you bought the DRZ and you would have known that without a 6th gear it would be buzzy on the highway.
The DRZSM isn't bad on the highway in stock form. Do your little research and I'm sure you'll find out. It comes with 41/15 gearing stock. Obviously it didn't bother me too much or I wouldn't have installed a 44-tooth in the rear. I didn't buy it to tour on so it really didn't bother me too much. Heck, even with my KLX I was searching for a 7th gear. The good thing about not buying $8000 dirt bikes is that once you're bored of them you can sell them and get pretty much all your money back on them like I did with both my KLX and the DRZSM. The DRZSM in some locations is pretty scarce demanding a close to retail if not higher price which is why the buyer of mine drove all the way up from New Mexico to buy it. The buyer saved close to $1000 off a new one and it only cost me $400 to drive it all summer.
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From: cave junction or
RE: .
I like thelooks DRZSM, but being where I live and the kind of riding I do, it wouldnt have work right for me.
I think it would be fun bike to rip around the city with.[8D]
.I think it would be fun bike to rip around the city with.[8D]
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,689
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RE: .
KTM's seem to hold their resale value as well, at least in the Flea Market on advrider they do. Bikes shouldn't be treated like an investment opportunity, they are nothing more than a toy to most of us. I don't think anyone has bought any bike, car, "toy" thinking, "Boy, in a year I bet I can sell this for almost what I paid for it!" While it would be nice to be able to trade up all the time, its not that kind of market. IG managed to make out so well on both sales because A) he seems to be pretty intense when it comes to anything, maintenance or otherwise and B) they were low mileage and in almost show room condition. Now that I'm completely off topic from the original post and still trying to wake up on my lunch hour I guess I'll retire to the shadows and watch this carry on
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From:
RE: DR-Z 400 SM? Enuff power?
ORIGINAL: tennisman
I'd like to go SM model and throw some Distanzias on it for fire roads, moderate trails, etc.
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I'd like to go SM model and throw some Distanzias on it for fire roads, moderate trails, etc.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,269
RE: .
ORIGINAL: Iowaguy
okay, it grew on you but still hadn't turned your head.
okay, it grew on you but still hadn't turned your head.
The DRZSM isn't bad on the highway in stock form. Do your little research and I'm sure you'll find out. It comes with 41/15 gearing stock. Obviously it didn't bother me too much or I wouldn't have installed a 44-tooth in the rear. I didn't buy it to tour on so it really didn't bother me too much. Heck, even with my KLX I was searching for a 7th gear. The good thing about not buying $8000 dirt bikes is that once you're bored of them you can sell them and get pretty much all your money back on them like I did with both my KLX and the DRZSM. The DRZSM in some locations is pretty scarce demanding a close to retail if not higher price which is why the buyer of mine drove all the way up from New Mexico to buy it. The buyer saved close to $1000 off a new one and it only cost me $400 to drive it all summer.
