how can I make 400/exc turn better?


mike rasponi

Member
May 20, 2001
23
0
I have a really bad left leg from crash many years ago. This prevents me from getting forward in turns,because leg only bends 40% of what it should. Any help on what will make bike turn better?
 

KDXfile

~SPONSOR~
Dec 6, 1999
366
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18 mm offset clamps

Installing a set of 18mm offset triple clamps should help a lot.
I had a set of Applied Racing clamps and I think there are some others.
The topic has been discussed many times in the past.
Do a search and you'll get more info.
Otherwise, try raising the fork legs up in the stock clamps 5-10mm and see if that helps.
 

Coach in ND

Member
Mar 19, 2001
212
0
Slide the forks up in the clamps until they hit the bottom of the handlebars. This helps out the turning. Not sure if it's as good as 18mm clamps but it's cheap. :D
 

Strick

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Nov 8, 1999
1,782
2
What the 2 posts above said, and shorten the wheelbase. I went to a M12 rear tire which has a low profile, and allowed me to shorten the chain and move the rear axle forward. This I combined with sliding the forks up in the triple clamps 3-4mm, and I achieved a noticeable improvement.
 

Bob Brooks

Member
Jan 6, 2001
367
0
I believe a lot of it is riding style. True, KTM's don't turn razor sharp like the newer Japanese MX bikes. I rode a YZ400 last year and this year I'm riding an '01 KTM 300 MXC and for sure the YZ cornered sharper than the KTM. The KTM is a bit lazy in the corners, but I've found that riding style plays a big part in that. My experience has shown that KTM's like a lot of throttle in the corners. I steer with the throttle a lot. The KTM's have such a smooth power delivery that you're able to get on the gas very quick in the corners and when you do that, the motorcycle will corner with anything out there.

But certainly, you can improve the handling by shortening the wheelbase and lowering the front end, as has been suggested here. I haven't tried the 18mm offset clamps, but everyone raves about them and claims that if you're willing to spend the money, that the handling will pretty much mimick a Japanese MX bike. I can't afford to buy those this year, but I've found that tweaking my riding style a hair has improved things a great deal. Good luck!
 

Bob Brooks

Member
Jan 6, 2001
367
0
One other suggestion: you might want to play with the sag setting on the rear end. Most people run 95-100mm of sag. When I had my bike set up that way, the rear end felt too high to me, (the stink bug effect as the magazines call it). I run about four and a half inches of sag on my bike and that seemed to improve the handling as well. You suffer a little trade off with the softer preload setting, but I feel the bike corners better and the rear tire hooks up better with that much sag.
 

jeb

Member
Jul 21, 1999
633
0
Originally posted by squid
Take it down to Town And Country and trade it in on a GASGAS, because KTM'S DON'T turn,they are too long.

My KTM's sure turn. Although the 18mm clamps I have on my 01 400E make it turn better, any KTM will turn quite well. They just take a LITTLE getting used to.
 

RetSenior

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Dec 15, 2000
264
0
I ride with 2 YZ426's and 2 WR426's and they all say my KTM 520 EXC turns better. I have the 16mm offset clamps that make the KTM RFS turn better and they work.
 

quasimoto

Member
Jan 23, 2001
5
0
:cool: I have been riding my 400 exc since March '00, and here is what I found: per these other posts, raise your forks 7mm in the tripple clamps, set your sag at 95mm, regear to 13/50 so you can use all that marvelous power IN the turn, and then just ride your heart out, not worrying whether or not you left some iota of performance possibility untapped. The beauty of this sport is still, as it has always been, that the rider is what matters. See ya at the finish line. Good luck.
 

WR-Rider

Member
Nov 20, 2000
5
0
i don't think anyone mentioned changing the stock front tire, and adjusting the tire pressure according to the terrain your ridding on. I'm using the Dunlop 756 right now and it alone made a big difference. i'd also have to agree with raising the forks and the gearing as well.
shorten that wheelbase!
-Chuck
 

mike rasponi

Member
May 20, 2001
23
0
how can I make 400/exc turn better

I just want to say thanks to all of you for your help. I'm working on it all. I think i'll go for the tripple clamp change first, doing reaserch now. Any advice?
 


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