Ok,so I sold the 380.Loooooost my a**!Now I have an 01 400EXC and am just a little concerned about these motor issues.I don't go for that blown motor crap.Am I correct in assuming that I need to:change the cam bearings,change the water pump seal so it won't spray the bearing and damage it if it fails,change the valve springs to which type I am not sure and possibly having the head machined to accept the new springs and change the valve adjuster bolt.I hope I didn't leave anything out.Maybe these are semi-rare occurances but I haven't seen any recurring posts of these types of failures on jap bike forums.If anyone has found any high quality substitutes for these substandard components,I'd appreciate the part #s and sources.That way I can stop this complaining and start going riding.Thanks.
Bulletproofing 400 RFS engine
- Thread starter jw380
- Start date
I have a 01 400 and have at LEAST 2500 miles on it with no problems at all. I changed my cam bearings (1200 miles) after reading all the post but they looked good as new. You have to remenber you hear about the few problems but not about the many thousands of guys like me with no problems at all. In regards to the jap bikes I would disagree with them not having any problems.
I'm not sure there is such a thing as "bulletproofing" when you consider the mechanics of an internal combustion motorcycle engine. Let's get real here. Explosions, sparks, temps of 800+ deg. F, 9K+ RPM's, it all sounds like a pretty good formula for disaster to me! :D It's a wonder more bikes of any brand name don't implode and grenade on us!
I have an 01' 400EXC that, as of last weekend, has over 3,700 miles on it. I mainly trail ride and I don't think the bike has every seen the rev-limiter. That doesn't mean I don't ride it hard though. I'm a maintenance freak and take very good care of my pumpkin. I have never had the cam bearings changed, I've adjusted the valves twice since new, changed the oil religiously every 200-300 miles (5 or 6 rides) and have just recently noticed a very slight coolant seep from the weep hole under the water pump cover. Am I concerned, NO. The bike still runs fine and it does what I need it to do (transport my fat rear end around the Idaho mountains!).
Don't get me wrong, I always read the postings on this board, and others, regarding maintenance. If nothing else I want to make sure that there isn't some "gremlin" out there about to turn my bike's motor inside out. However, I don't get into "The Sky is Falling" mentality that some people seem to have. Just because there were a few KTM RFS cam bearing failures doesn't mean it is an epidemic, just because your CRF450R went through 3 sets of valves in 3 months doesn't mean everyone's valves are going to go at that rate, just because your YZ250F's crank failed doesn't mean everyone else's YZ250F crank failed. See the pattern?
My dear old grandpa always said, "If it works, don't fix it". That is how I will continue to treat my good old KTM because it works.
If you learn to make judgment decisions based on facts, and not conjecture, especially regarding your new bike, and you'll sleep a lot better at night and you'll have a lot more fun riding than worrying!
Go ride and enjoy your new bike!
Jeff
I have an 01' 400EXC that, as of last weekend, has over 3,700 miles on it. I mainly trail ride and I don't think the bike has every seen the rev-limiter. That doesn't mean I don't ride it hard though. I'm a maintenance freak and take very good care of my pumpkin. I have never had the cam bearings changed, I've adjusted the valves twice since new, changed the oil religiously every 200-300 miles (5 or 6 rides) and have just recently noticed a very slight coolant seep from the weep hole under the water pump cover. Am I concerned, NO. The bike still runs fine and it does what I need it to do (transport my fat rear end around the Idaho mountains!).
Don't get me wrong, I always read the postings on this board, and others, regarding maintenance. If nothing else I want to make sure that there isn't some "gremlin" out there about to turn my bike's motor inside out. However, I don't get into "The Sky is Falling" mentality that some people seem to have. Just because there were a few KTM RFS cam bearing failures doesn't mean it is an epidemic, just because your CRF450R went through 3 sets of valves in 3 months doesn't mean everyone's valves are going to go at that rate, just because your YZ250F's crank failed doesn't mean everyone else's YZ250F crank failed. See the pattern?
My dear old grandpa always said, "If it works, don't fix it". That is how I will continue to treat my good old KTM because it works.
If you learn to make judgment decisions based on facts, and not conjecture, especially regarding your new bike, and you'll sleep a lot better at night and you'll have a lot more fun riding than worrying!
Go ride and enjoy your new bike!
Jeff
- Dec 26, 1999
- 19,765
- 1
You want bullet proof go buy an Honda XR. The KTM RFS bikes are high performance racing machines just like the YZF's that puke rods through the cases if the crank assy is not "maintained" (i.e. replaced as needed), just like a 2T bike needs regular top ends, reed replacements, etc... Just because you choose to use the bike in a non-racing manner does not negate the fact it needs more service. There is a reason that these bikes pump out gobs of power and the Honda XR series doesn't but are heavier just the same.
