Headshake
Yesterday after racing my '01 YZ 125 at Byron (pretty hard packed and rough/bumpy) I had a chance to take an '02 KTM 125 and '02 KX 125 for test rides around the track.
Before getting my YZ suspension dialed in - I had lots of problems with headshake. Now, it been months and months since it was a problem.
WELL, the '02 KTM 125 gave me pretty nasty headshake (on acceleration) in about 4 or 5 spots on the track. The KX and YZ gave me none. So I can say that stock this bike may be prone to headshake.
Other impressions on the '02 KTM 125:
The bike has NO bottom end power, great midrange hit, and keeps making power. The stock bike set-up was very different than your traditional Jap bike set up (especially the front end of the bike). While trying to grip the bike with my knees, the bike was very slick and I was sliding back and forth with my knees and had poor grip. The bike is also very slender and the stock seat is pretty hard (the KX seat was like a fluffy pillow). Turning was pretty nice - comparable to turning my YZ. The KX had much different turning that the KTM and YZ. The KTM brakes were not all that impressive - I really had to grab the front brake hard to slow down. The hydraulic clutch was nice, but I have seen leaks in the hose (by the clutch side of the motor) cause DNF's on the KTM's also (so I guess it has it's positives and negatives). Overall I think the bike had great power for a high-rpm intermediate-expert rider but was not the most beginner friendly bike and was very different that what I have rode in the past (YZ's and RM's).