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How do you like the KTM (in comparison to the KDX)?

So, here's my situation:
-I own a 2001 CR250 and a 97 KDX220 with '02 KX125 forks. I like the CR, but the KDX is really the much better woods bike. (I pretty much ride woods exclusively.) The KDX is more of a low/mid power and the CR has mostly mid/upper with a HUGE hit in the midrange. It (CR) honestly doesn't work that well for me in the woods.
-I'm thinking of selling the CR and buying an early 2000s KTM with the money. I'd probably buy something like a 250EXC. (Whatever I'd buy, I'd definitely get a 2 stroke). I wouldn't sell the KDX unless/until I decided that the "new" bike was an improvement over the KDX for the type of riding I do.
-I REALLY like the KDX, but I tend to think a newer bike might work better in terms of suspension and handling. The one glaring "flaw" with the KDX is that it's a bit lacking in top end power. Not horrible, but I'd like something that has low/mid AND top end power.

Jim B wrote:How do you like the KTM (in comparison to the KDX)?

So, here's my situation:
-I own a 2001 CR250 and a 97 KDX220 with '02 KX125 forks. I like the CR, but the KDX is really the much better woods bike. (I pretty much ride woods exclusively.) The KDX is more of a low/mid power and the CR has mostly mid/upper with a HUGE hit in the midrange. It (CR) honestly doesn't work that well for me in the woods.
-I'm thinking of selling the CR and buying an early 2000s KTM with the money. I'd probably buy something like a 250EXC. (Whatever I'd buy, I'd definitely get a 2 stroke). I wouldn't sell the KDX unless/until I decided that the "new" bike was an improvement over the KDX for the type of riding I do.
-I REALLY like the KDX, but I tend to think a newer bike might work better in terms of suspension and handling. The one glaring "flaw" with the KDX is that it's a bit lacking in terms of top end power. Not horrible, but I'd like something that has low/mid AND top end power.

te310

just don't hate me when you want two of them !

The exc would definitely be the way to go theyre supposed to be fantastic woods bikes but parts are very expensive

ohgood wrote:te310

I think that's out of my price range; I'm looking to spend about $1,500 to $2,000. (I'm seeing the early 2000s KTM 2Ts down in that range nowadays.) I'm also much more interested in a 2T than a 4T.

KDXohio wrote:The exc would definitely be the way to go theyre supposed to be fantastic woods bikes but parts are very expensive

I like the XCWs, but I think (KTM's naming system is very strange to me) they're all newer and out of my price range. (In other words, I think you're correct about the EXC being a good choice for my needs/budget.)

if you wan't more top end power you could always modify your 220. Have your head and carb modified from RB designs that will give you a lot of extra top end power, reeds and exhaust also really wake up the 220

Here's my story. I have a 2003 KTM 250sx that I rode in the woods here and also did some desert riding as well. Great bike super fast. I raced it in a yearly local event here called the VCGP. I totally tricked it out as well as did some gearing changes to it to make it more ridable in the tight stuff. This year the top-end gave out just before that race due to the powervalve clipping the piston . At the time I just did a top-end job and got the KIPS working on wifes '96 KDX so I thought I may as well race her bike. OMG what a bike ! I was actually faster on it due to the more manageable powerband, six-speed tranny, plusher suspension (less harsh than the KTM) so I stayed fresher longer in the race and it's well .....just a more stable ride. I was so impressed with the bike that I adopted it as mine and scored a 2000 KDX220 for my wife. Since then I've done some mods to my dearly adopted steed: RB Designs carb and head, FMF Gnarly desert pipe (it had the woods pipe originally) VForce 3 reeds, jetted it, and did some other tasty mods. I LOVE this bike! Don't get me wrong the KTM is no slouch but when I want a steed that will laugh at woods, single track and tight technical stuff I'll go green When I want an eye-watering unbridled horsepower and moon shoot jumping steed I"ll go pumpkin

Corey wrote:Here's my story. I have a 2003 KTM 250sx that I rode in the woods here and also did some desert riding as well. Great bike super fast.

At the time I just did a top-end job and got the KIPS working on wifes '96 KDX so I thought I may as well race her bike. OMG what a bike ! I was actually faster on it due to the more manageable powerband, six-speed tranny, plusher suspension (less harsh than the KTM) so I stayed fresher longer in the race and it's well .....just a more stable ride.

Well, that's why I'm thinking of getting rid of my CR - I've realized motocross bikes don't work so great in the woods. They can be modified to work (a lot) better, but why not just start with a bike that was designed for the woods? If I was to buy a KTM, I definitely wouldn't get the SX (MX bike). The reason you like your KDX vs. your SX is exactly the same reason I like my KDX vs. my CR. I guess I'm wondering if the KTMs are more modern/better, Austrian-made, orange "KDXs."

spl383 wrote:if you wan't more top end power you could always modify your 220. Have your head and carb modified from RB designs that will give you a lot of extra top end power, reeds and exhaust also really wake up the 220

That's a great idea, and I'm thinking of doing that regardless of whether or not I buy a KTM. However, I still have to wonder how much better a more up-to-date suspension/chassis would work. (I do have the '02 KX125 forks on the KDX, and that's been a huge improvement.) I guess it's a question of how much money/effort to put into a bike that's a little older, versus just buying something newer. I don't care how much money you put into a '91 YZ250, it's not going to be as good as an '06 or newer.

HERESY!!

Jason wrote:HERESY!!

Well, if Kawasaki had kept developing the KDX beyond mid-'90s technology...

And remember, it's really "sell CR, buy KTM," not "sell KDX, buy KTM." (At least at first, until I got a chance to do an extended comparison of the two bikes (KTM/KDX) to each other.)

from about 99 to 2006 KTm front forks sucked. Earlier forks were better. 2001cr250 has a nice motor but frame is to stiff and the front forks were a little hard to get right for woods. Getting rid of the mikuni carb and putting keihn carb on it makes it a lot smoother power delivery but with mods Kdx is hard to beat in the woods

I have a kdx and bought a really nice low hour 2001 300 exc a couple of years back for $1400 I really liked it the power is very manageable but it wil go if you crank it open. In the tight woods the kdx is king if your riding a course with many whoops and a few jumps the exc is better. I did sell the exc but kind of miss it.

Jim B wrote:

ohgood wrote:te310

I think that's out of my price range; I'm looking to spend about $1,500 to $2,000. (I'm seeing the early 2000s KTM 2Ts down in that range nowadays.) I'm also much more interested in a 2T than a 4T.

Understood. The 310 would be now like the cr, very powerful, very fast to get there.

The KTM is really good stuff. Maybe consider a 300 and tag it ?

ohgood wrote:The KTM is really good stuff. Maybe consider a 300 and tag it ?

Yeah, the 200s, 250s and 300s all seem to have their good points. I'm thinking a 250 might be the best compromise between power and weight. That said, I'd probably look for the bike in the best shape for the money (whether it's a 200, 250, or 300). A 300cc two stroke does sound like it would be A LOT of fun to ride.

Tag it? Like put a plate on it? I probably wouldn't bother, as I don't really plan on doing any riding on the street.

Jim B wrote:and weight.

The weight is almost the same for 200/250/300, between 101 and 102kg.

Rode a 300 last year, the experience hasn't left my mind. The second a fair priced one comes along in the famous words of Wayne Campbell "It will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine"

Electric start 2 stroke, amazing suspension, unreal power across the band, huge aftermarket support....just doesn't have the la-z-boy of dirt bike seats the kdx has.

I have a nicely set up '05 KDX200 (PC pipe, v-force reeds, Revloc and a KX500 front end), and a re-sprung '14 Husaberg TE300 (basically a blue KTM). The 300 is defiantly more fun to ride slow than the KDX is to ride fast, and just more fun overall. That said, if I had to sell one it would likely be the Berg because the KDX is about 90% as fun to ride, but would only sell for about 1/3 of what I could get for the Berg, and I'm riding slower and slower these days.

bcdonyo wrote:I have a nicely set up '05 KDX200 (PC pipe, v-force reeds, Revloc and a KX500 front end), and a re-sprung '14 Husaberg TE300 (basically a blue KTM). The 300 is defiantly more fun to ride slow than the KDX is to ride fast, and just more fun overall.

...the KDX is about 90% as fun to ride...

Great info - thanks for posting!

I owned and raced a 2007 KTM 200 XCW and a 2005 KDX 200. Both are great, but the KTM was far superior IMO. Handling, braking, suspension and power all better. I don't think that's a big shocker. However, price wise the KDX is a bargain and while the KTM is the better bike, I'm not sure it's better for everyone all the time.


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