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Dirt Bike Brands - Other
KTM 530 XCR-W 1st Impression/Ride Report
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[QUOTE="CR Swade, post: 1224238, member: 21423"] First real ride yesterday. Outside temps...started in low 80's initially, ending up around 94 for later rides Place...Super Secret KTM Test Facility ;) Terrain...tight to more open singletrack, loamy dirt, dusty/powdery sections, rock sections, small to moderate log crossings, lots of sections to flow and see how the bike turns as well as how it handles rougher race whooped out straights and turn entrances. First thing, started easy w/ choke. I changed the pilot to the 45 and w/ the fuel screw set at 1.5 turns the bike had great throttle response and never stalled...ok I stalled once initially only after forgetting I was not a on a Rekluse equipped bike. Jetting seemed to be pretty close for the hot temps as the bike never once even hinted at overheating. No steaming in the ragweed jungle, no running hot when grass tracking in the grass track sections w/ WOT. One of the more spot on engines right out of the box. Overall power is torquey right off the bottom, at first you think it is just the same 525 style-power in new cases, but as you get the bike out and rip through the gears it becomes apparent that the bike is more willing to rev and rev much quicker. Mid-range pull and top end is better IMO. The spread of power is very even from way down low to top-end...very linear but very strong. The transmission seemed very well spaced and I never noticed any weird gaps that would hinder me in the woods. It does seem to be geared just a bit tighter (less gappy) than the older RFS EXC's...maybe it works with the gearing better. Stock gearing is 14/50. This is the same trans for the new EXC though, just w/ a lower final drive. I never got room to hit 5th or 6th...it gobbled up the grass track fields pretty quickly! Big props to KTM for designing a S/A for the bike that is keeping the noise down. Close to the bike w/in say 5 ft it doesn't sound any different than any previous S/A from KTM, but as the bike is being ridden in open areas or in the woods, the heavy deep tones seem to really be quieter. I did remove the extra screen on the end cap, redundant as it has the Krizman style insert also. Handling is where this bike made HUGE leaps from the 525. The bike feels like a MXer in terms of weight. N otop heavy feel and real easy to flick around. The bike carves well, holds a line in the turns and generally is head and shoulders above any previous RFS chassis. The bike is twitchy right now...suspension is still breaking in and it tends to get a little nervous but nothing major. As the suspension breaks in and gets revalved (it will need one as the bike feels real stiff on initial damping) I expect that nervousness to go away. In the chopped out sections of trail, the bike is rock solid. No deflection or swapping...reminds me a bunch of a CRF in the rough. The suspension is stiff...the thing is though the bike is ultra stable in the rough and very well balanced front to rear. It shouldn't be hard for tuners to figure out spring rates w/ lighter valving for woods. I'm thinking once it is revalved for rocks and woods, this will be a sweet suspension. Brakes...that is one strong front brake. I have a solid rear rotor...felt fine. Brembo clutch, very nice. Renthal style bars, nice bars. Again, its kind of hard to get to some of the stuff w/ the new bodywork. I'm getting used to it though. Whoever thought up the idea of T45 torx head bolts for sprocket bolts and subframe bolts ought to be smacked around a bit. PITA if you ask me. The little radiator shroud mount w/ the insert nut has already lost the insert nut...another stupid design. I epoxied a spare one in its place...plan on keeping some handy. Check the shroud bolts going into the tank...they loosen up. C'mon EE and get a seat made for this bike! The Metzeler Six Days front tire I put on the bike is sweet! So after day one I'm very stoked w/ the bike. This would make an awesome desert bike w/ the solid chassis and suspension and big power, or in my case part time racer/play bike for torture trips/dual sport. Honestly, the spread and delivery of power makes the bike real easy to take just about anywhere...whereas the harder hitting XC and SXF engines may be a handful in real tight stuff. [/QUOTE]
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Dirt Bike Brands - Other
KTM 530 XCR-W 1st Impression/Ride Report
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