Check the forums on thumpertalk.com
I found a used '04 WR450 on there at a killer price.
They also have great prices on accessories.
I've already got a set of 17" tires, and I'm waiting on wheels and a brake rotor. Can't wait to get it streetable! :thumbup

 

Check out this new KTM Duke 990... :rock

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/firstrides/ktmduke9901st/

 

I am using an 02 520 sx which I am very happy with, my best friend has the Duke II. Mine came with the off road tires and track tires, If you are going to do combination type riding you can't beat it.
We did 230 miles of back roads, fast sweepers tight technicals and dirt roads and goat paths all in the same day. I think mine was the hot set up, Jim may disagree with me. I know if you were to do street only I would look at the Duke, if you were doing off road stuff or were going to race the KTM is the only way to go. The second day we did about 180 miles most of it paved. My ass was pretty sore from the narrow seat

 

What about the gearing? I will be doing mostly on road since I haven't yet found a place to off road here in Florida. But I will find my way off road at least once every ride:sneaky . I heard that if you aren;t going to race it go for a more enduro style.

To be honest I have no clue what I'm looking for. I started out riding dirt when I was young and have been dying to get back into it. This way I can do both and ride the R1 also.

I was looking at a 2001 426 also. I'm not too familiar with the enduro style bikes so I'm kinda lost. I'm pretty sure that I will go either KTM or Yamaha. I heard that if you ride them mostly on the street you can kill them pretty fast.

Any input you have would be great, I haven't gotten much.


Thanks!

 

I have mine geared 14 in the front 44 in the back, top speed is 105mph, I may be geared to high if anything. I have more fun on the Motard than on the R1. I can run a back road at fast speeds were I would never see a cop verses runing the R1 on faster roads were there are more people. Up here we have lots of places to ride off road and tons of back roads that are a racers dream for the motard. I have ridden for years and I get tired of looking for cops behind every tree or corner, it has become one of the more physically draining parts of sport bike riding. I can rip up the roads all day long with about half of the exposer. On tight stuff the KTM is more fun, it is faster and will out brake my R1, On fast sweepers it is a bore to ride, down in Florida I am not sure how happy you will be with a motard unless you can also do back roads and dirt. If I could have only one bike here it would be the motard, If I was down there where you are I would have the just the R1.. better to have one of each and be safe about it:yesnod

 

I hear ya. There are mainly straigth roads here and not much woods at all. I came here for a job and to get away from the snow. I'll be happier come December.

What type of motard would you recommend for my situation? Mostly road riding and messing around on back roads. Stunt practicing and draggin knee in parking lots. Just something to tool around on. Something that won't require a lot of maintenence since I work a lot, but something that there are a lot of motard aftermarket parts available. I'm not board of the R but am looking for a new way to have fun. (Boats are too expensive)


I know its a pretty broad question, but anyone who knows anything about supermotards knows more than I do,

 

I would go with a Duke, they are a little more money, they make great stunt bikes and can still be driven a decent distance. If I had to fault the 520 or 525 in any way for motard use it would be the small amount of engine oil they hold, a quart and a third. I change mine every time I ride and the filters every 1000 miles. The Duke is less maintainace than mine. Justforme who posts on here a lot can tell you more, he has both a 04 R1 and a Duke and a 520 and can give you more info than me for making comparisons I have had tons of fun with mine.

 

i went with the duke, i think it's the ultimate hooligan bike.

if you want to be able to switch between motard and dirt bike get the 520exc.

the only time i wasn't happy on the duke is when a dirt road we were on turned into a goat path down the side of a mountain.

 

An XR-650R makes a great Supermot. You can find some at a decent price since Honda I've been making them forever.

 

pretty much every japanese off-roader is a good basis for a motard.
european brands are performance wise the best way to go though...
Husqvarna are the fastest but freakin' unreliable when pushed (copression was a bit pushed though...).
Husaberg are the best looking :boobies but need some fine tuning to get to the level of performance of Ktm and Husqy
Ktm makes probably the best package for the non-competition rider.
Vertemati, Vor, CCM, and others are great lookin bikes, but just not worth the $$$ for on the road.

Be sure to check out the Husqvarna NOX as well... *droool*

cheers,
J.S.

 

I liek the KTMs a lot and since I'm just riding it for fun I think it would be my best bet. There are a lot of used ones at a local shop but I'm not sure which style would make the best motard. Some people say dont go with the sx and some say it would be ok.

What do you think? Would an sx be ok on the road if I regeared it? And I know it would be expensive to put lights and stuff on it.

 

The light kits are not expensive, the only draw back to the SX is the oil capacity. I like mine and would not get anything different if I could it over, hard to beat a 247 pound bike with 50 hp, all of the other bikes out there weigh quite a bit more. The Honda 600 R which I had before this was a tank compared to the Ktm

 

I just got back from the dealership and he said that none of the KTMs can be registered and that the DRZ would be the best choice.

Does anyone know anyone that has registered a KTM for the street?

 

The KTM 625 SMC is street legal. Of course, it is a little heavier than the big japanese 450's.

 

Mine and Jim's are both street legal both are sx models, the only bike you have trouble with are 2 strokes or something that lists it as competion only, if New York will let me put it on the road any other state should be easy

 

Here's my KTM Duke. This bike is loads of fun on the street & with some mods mine makes 63 RWHP on the Dyno. I have 2,800 miles on mine & I'm on my 4th rear tire.

 

bob our bikes are exc's

for a turn key motard you can't beat a duke

 

when you go to the registry with the proper paper work, never use the word motard or dirtbike. after all it's just another motorcycle.

the reason we can register the ktm's is they come with the paper work you need to register them. in the peoples republic of ma they call it a rmv-1 form

 

You guys have some sick bikes. I want to go and buy one but if I can't register it I'll be pissed.

Plasticweld do you have your title, and if you do can you look at it and see if anywhere on it it says "off road use only" I think that will be the defining factor in registering here in Florida.

Thanks for all your help guys, hopefully I'll get some pics up here of a new bike.

Keep the input coming everyone

 

Go for a CCM R30 or Suzuki DRZ400E with optional excel rims. I've had both and there excellent!

ElementR1

 

I think I read in another motard thread on this forum that the Yamaha dirtbikes have "for off road use only" on their titles... but the KTMs don't.

I have a friend who has a KTM 450 motard that he is converting to street use... but he just recently bought a KTM 625 LC4. The 625 LC4 is street legal straight from the dealership floor... but they are also very hard to find.

Look around in Orlando, he told me last night that there is a used 625 LC4 for sale there!

 

Element, I liked the DRZ 400E but the dealer said that I wouldn't be able to register it


Does anyone have a KTM title at their disposal so they can set the record straight about whether or not they say "for off road use only" I'm not doubting anyone, just want to be sure that if I spend 5 grand on a bike I can use it for what I want to.



Thanks

 

Strange, I registered mine. Might be a difference in the laws of the country, I'm in the UK and had no problems. Good bike though.

 

Here is one for sale. It did not meet reserve on ebay, so he still has it. I know him, if you are interested I will get you his info

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...aymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2486103473&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MESE:IT

 

Looks nice man. Hey I have to leave work since this hurricane is coming but I will get back to you monday.