Nathan's motorcycles.....

[flyingbrick]

Wanted a reliable wof/reg do anything dualsport adventure bike. Kinda wanted a dr650 but totally failed and bought an 04 ktm 525exc instead.

Its pretty much as per standard except for ohlins steering dampener.

Hopefully can get it road legal but even If that fails I'll still be super happy. It's probably gutless to some, but for me it's just intoxicating- and now that I know how great the current knobbies are, it seems a shame to put road legal rubber on.

61hp and 112kg dry, so goes a bit better than a dr650 at 37hp and 160kg (from memory)

So far I have bought a cool dual sport helmet,  some decent boots, handle bar control switches, a cush rear sprocket, factory indicators from a ktm Duke, some t6 aluminium to make a new side stand, a folding aluminium ramp, a center stand lift thing and a pair of pirelli mt21 tires (road legal)

Here's some pics from the past week, thanks to @64valiant for assisting with pickup, driving and providing clear and correct directional information. 

 

 

 

[HighLUX]

Lush

I hope the ktm gods smile upon you and your ktm is a reliable one

[johnnyfive]

Lush

[flyingbrick]

2 hours ago, HighLUX said:

Lush

I hope the ktm gods smile upon you and your ktm is a reliable one

Everyone seems to think these older motors are pretty reliable.  We both know it ain't going to be as easy going as the farmers drz, dr or dr but since when have I done things the easy way, lol.

This turned up, 

 

[HighLUX]

As said by everyone I talked to when looking at bikes

KTMs are awesome 

 

 

 

 

 

When they run

[tortron]

Does it have a built in starter capacitor for when the battery dies?

The new ones do, I lold at it being factory 

[flyingbrick]

13 minutes ago, HighLUX said:

As said by everyone I talked to when looking at bikes

KTMs are awesome 

 

 

 

 

 

When they run

You can mock me when he breaks. Lol

[flyingbrick]

9 minutes ago, tortron said:

Does it have a built in starter capacitor for when the battery dies?

The new ones do, I lold at it being factory 

??? It has a kick starter?

[Willdat?]

12 minutes ago, HighLUX said:

As said by everyone I talked to when looking at bikes

KTMs are awesome 

When they run

Seems like a religion of a kind. First ride with an old mate who lives KTM, has an 1190, a 640 Adventure and a 200EXC. 

What did he ride on Sunday you ask? His mrs's xt225 as the KTMs all needed work. 

[tortron]

Just now, flyingbrick said:

??? It has a kick starter?

They have them for other reasons than just starting, but some have no battery no start even with kickstart. You would probably want one to help with the horn/lights

[Raizer]

Just now, tortron said:

They have them for other reasons than just starting, but some have no battery no start even with kickstart. You would probably want one to help with the horn/lights

Makes sure the DC ignition system has enough power to keep running

[flyingbrick]

9 hours ago, Willdat? said:

Seems like a religion of a kind. First ride with an old mate who lives KTM, has an 1190, a 640 Adventure and a 200EXC. 

What did he ride on Sunday you ask? His mrs's xt225 as the KTMs all needed work. 

He needs a 525, that's his problem. Lol

[Vintage Grumble]

I have customers who have done shit tons of k's on KTMs and had no trouble at all, and then others who have endless trouble, so it seems to be luck of the draw. I loved riding my 640SM, but the electrical problem that me and the previous owner couldn't sort, drove me nuts, SUCH AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.  

[tortron]

It's the classic English bike for those who don't want oil stains

 

 

Very looking forward to see your take on dual sport/adv kit out

[flyingbrick]

YOU GUYS STOP IT RIGHT NOW I DONT WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE.

 

[flyingbrick]

2016 Duke indicators arrived and bought some writing stuff to Get it all together.  I have everything I need now to get it physically ready to go.  

I went with factory ktm indicators because they have all the correct legal markings on lenses and body - required for compliance I think.  

Also,  these are so much higher quality than anything iv seen yet available aftermarket. Though this isn't saying much because I usually buy on Ali Express ( and when I don't,  I'm usually buying from a place like Supercheap that probably also buys from AE)

Tires arrived.  Look great.  

Went in to bike shop and ran vin to get deets. Bike is actually an import from southafrica. This explains why the bike has its light switch located to right of speedo- this is usa spec according to Haynes manual.

The whole SA thing might be a problem.  I have now written to KTM nz and KTM South Africa for a Statement Of Compliance...which I may or may not need. 

Have no idea because vtnz in Hamilton is fucking useless. 

 

[Transom]

Buy a spare set of wheels and discs and  sprocket to make knobblie to road tyre swaps so fast and easy 

[flyingbrick]

I have thought about this,  but Id never use the road wheels. My new mt21s are NEARLY as aggressive as the current mx tires. 

 

[TimShadboltfan27]

30 minutes ago, flyingbrick said:

I have thought about this,  but Id never use the road wheels. My new mt21s are NEARLY as aggressive as the current mx tires. 

 

+1 for mt21s, we run em on our vmx bikes and I have the “rally cross” edition on my XL250R. 
they have a thick edge on the knobblies, you won’t be knee dropping like valentino but man they are so good in gravel and shit terrain

[flyingbrick]

Good to hear!! 

Pretty hard to find bad comments about them- unlike other dualsport tires