Poniższy tekst miał być sprawdzeniem: czy kilka lat po pracy w korpo gdzie angielski był codziennością mogę dość swobodnie pisać w innym języku? Na WARSZTAT WZIĄŁEM EXC500 CHOĆ NIE MIAŁEM WIELU OKAZJI BY NIM POJEŹDZIĆ. Zachęcam do sprawdzenia i wyrażenia opinii, uwag w komentarzach.

„The Orange Beast” – used KTM EXC 500 EFI

   Text: Jakub Adam Bigora

Nowadays when most of champs ride a 250, 350’s four-stroke at motocross, enduro events or light 250, 300cc two-strokes at hard enduro events anything more become useless exaggeration. Most of amateurs just realized that the power of modern, vicious 450’s make them a little scared, less agile and as a result slower . But the light, big bore bikes are on the market as people who buy them. What for? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a machine? Let’s look at used KTM EXC 500 EFI 2012-2016 as an representative spec of modern big bores.

Look

 

Call a spade a spade and KTM as KTM has very distinctive design. But it is hard to compare 2012-2016 EXC series to the previous 2008-2012 generation because basically 80% of the bike is new. The frame, swingarm and plastics has a new design. Katie M. looks fresh&fruity. Plastics and graphics are more aggressive type. Just above the rear part of sadle engineers have added pits to facilitate pull-outs our bike from mud. The transparent tank is in standard option and has improved weight distribution.The seat is as always – minimalistic and not very comfy but it isn’t a touring bike but a hardcore dual sport. And they finally get rid of 35W front bulb which had been mounted from 2005 and lightly saying was very poor source of light – I got this bulb originally in my Honda XR350RD from 1983 (!), had the previous EXC and due to power it isn’t comparable with new, popular H4 55/60W bulb. Redesigned speedo has mostly the same functions as old but it provides all the needed information and integrates all the warning and indicator lights, except the turn signals. Sumarizing – it looks good even in standard version. But we still can buy a ‘6days’ version with white plastics, orange frame, camel seat, anodized addons like: rear Supersprox Stealth sprocket, and machined orange triple clamps, front axle pull, floating front brake disc with guard, skid plate, radiator guards & fan, clutch saver, fat rear brake disc, 4CS front suspension and outstanding graphic kit in memory of ISDE 6 days event held in a specifying country also indicating the production year of the bike.

 

Wheels, brakes and suspension

 

Rims are lightweight but durable. They was made from 7050 T6 aluminum. Machined hubs and lightweight aluminum niples were combined with reduced in size front axle(from 26mm to 22mm). Everything to get out a few pounds of weight. Brakes are well known and reputable Brembo products. In ‘6 days’ version brake disc have been slightly redesigned: front brake disc is floating type, rear is much more fatty to deal with more hardcore use. Suspension is fully adjustable WP product. It is important to note that 4CS forks in the 6days version are much more friendly due to rebound & compression regulation on top of them but with the standard guts these forks are considered worse than standard 48mm forks especially when you are not a gumby and want to ride fast.

 

The heart – Engine

 

The 500 EXC fuel injected motor is an engine on wheels. As his older brothers with RFS (EXC 525)or XC4 (EXCR 530) engines it has 510cc of capacity but due to contemporary fashion and in the name of sales results KTM decided to rename it ‘down’ . Off course it is a different, fuel injected engine but it HAS THE POWER. What makes this power? A single cylinder, big bore, SOHC motor. Why it’s different? It has been totally redesigned and KTM get rid of all older generation issues making the new engine more reliable. First: new crankshaft and connecting rod with new bearing type. Second: the hydraulic chain tensioner which did bad sound experience after starting the motor has gone. The new one is a standard type tensioner like DirtTricks provide as an replacement for older generation of EXC’s. Third big difference: one oil sump. First bikes from older generation had the dual sump and oil transfer issues. After 2012 we have one oil sump for the gearbox and engine. In 2012 KTM engineers could stand and proudly say: We did our homework! The new EXC engine is also much more efficient and faster than older one. Efficiency is provided by fuel injection system, 9 liter tank can provide nice km coverage (depending on mods and your riding style), however the first 2012 FI models had some serious problems caused by clogging fuel filter. KTM has issued a technical bulletin (TB1202) that directs dealers to replace the 10 micron filter with an updated, larger opening, 20 micron filter. Finally in 2014 model they redesigned fuel line and filter is much more accessible. But if we want to go to places with poor gas quality we recommend to buy and install extra filter mounted just above gas cap. Performance – above 50hp and 111,5kg weight (without fuel), 60hp after some basic performance mods and a lot, a lot of momentum. Front wheel going high with a twist of the throttle. And if you are an amateur do yourself a favor – get or DIY the map switch, set it to soft, polite map or concentrate yourself in terrain as much as you can – one miss twist of the wrist and you’re done. Don’t get me wrong – you can always ride uphill one or two gears higher than your friend s on 350 or even 450 machines but the 510cc powered by FI has some impatient power just under skin and the first rule is not to underestimate the power!

 

Testdrive & Final conclusions

 

  The bike is really sweet for fast, long rides but not for highly technical riding. Standard suspension after some adjustments is really good, front 4CS suspension from '6days’ version is worse which seems to be a big KTM mistake – it is unpredictable at high speeds and without some professional tunning (we recommend itallian DAL SOGGIO cartridge update kit) any pro rider would say that standard forks are beter and more adjustable. There 500 EXC power and momentum is not a benefit if you weigh less than 80kg – howewer you can use soft FI map and throttle tamer by g2 to harness it. Furthermorer smaller capacity bikes have some better handling because they are easier to lean – they just turn down little easier and it’s not only by their weight (EXC 350 is 5kg lighter, EXC 450 is just 0,5kg lighter ) but due to effect of less rotating masses in their engines. So do you need it that kind of motorbike? Propably no. Unless you are a big, experienced rider who ride a lot in all kinds of terrain including long gravel highways or you an uphill conqueror, competitor in long distance rallies or you just want to go for a long journey like Adam Riemann and his friends in Motonomads movies – becauseyou can do a higher mileage without service than is written in the manual (beside oil changes). Otherwise it’s a very good, efficient enduro bike but not an rational choice. But lets leave rationality – it is a real, big bore, street legal, hardcore racer – endangered spec in todays world full of norms and regulations. And it’s power to weight ratio gave us huge fun.