New 520SX for $6,400 or Like-New '01426 for $3,800

[John Buttons]

Have the opportunity to purchase either of the bikes.The SX is a new '01 and the YZ426 belongs to a 52 year-old neighbor that put less than 8 hours on it trail riding. Was going to go KTM as a no-brainer but struggling to spend the extra $$$. $2,400 is a lot of bucks and buys a lot of parts! Is the 520 really worth it? Primarily a 40+class MX and GP weapon with a few HS's. Any KTM riders coming off of 426's? Own a DRZ playbike and love it but know it's limits and race(d) a '01 RM 250 - never on either a KTM or YZ 'banger. Help.

 

[380EXCman]

Oh boy....

Tough decisions. If it were me I would buy the YZ. If it is truly "like new" it would be a good buy and I think you may even walk away with a little equity. The $6400.00 for an 01 does not seem like a real good deal.

 

[Strick]

Buy the 426!!

You may love it like many riders do. If you don't you call easily sell it at a profit and go by a KTM.

$6400 is High for a year old bike that was drastically updated in '02!

Good LucK, and let us know what you do!

 

[Shaw520]

Thats a heck of a deal on the YZ, like excman said, if you want the KTM later, you probaly wont loose much when reselling the YZ. Its kinda like a free ride for a while!

 

[knobbiethrower]

Money-wise the choice should be clear. However I was faced with a similar decision last year and chose the KTM.That worked for me and i have no regrets.I would see if the dealer could be more flexible on his price for the 01.I do not dislike the Yamaha,I feel the KTM is better at all things considered for myself.Good luck:p

 

[Anssi]

I would go for the YZ unless you are a big dude or you ride on expectionally open tracks . The 426 is not quite enough for my 200 lbs. 6'4", either power- or ergonomics-wise.

 

[azcourt]

I had a dilema like this 8 months ago. I needed a rebuild on my 98 YZ 400 that would cost $1500+. Or I could but a new 520 EXC for $7000+. I thought how cool would it be to have the KTM and bought it. After about 6 months I realized what a mistake I had made. The KTM was just too much money. It took too much time and money to maintain. It is a truly awsome motor in the 520, but I was not having any fun changing the oil every ride. The last straw was knowing I needed to get the suspension revalved to ride in the rocks out here in AZ. I finally sold the KTM for a $2000.00 loss and am rebuilding the YZ now. Bt saving $2400 you can have one truly awsome YZ. Aluminum bars and juice clutch can be installed for $450 bucks or so. The e-start is the onlt thing I will miss, but with the SX you don't get it anyway.
IMHO the YZ is a much better buy.

 

[John Buttons]

Thanks for your input. Talked the dealer down to $6,100 but still a big spread between the bikes. My only concerns are the hard hitting power of the YZ vs the KTM (as least as I read) and the weight of the YZ in the woods. With the YZ is the power hit and weight as big a deal as they make it? At 40+ the attraction of the KTM is the softer power and the thought that I could ride it longer, faster - but again the everyone says the YZ has better suspension and needs less maintenance. I also have to admit that as a 40+ intermediate I probably won't tax either bike so am I overthinking this and should it be a matter of price - both bikes exceed my ability! Axcourts comments about money is where I am at. Axcourt - KTM easier to ride? Were you THAT much faster on it? I don't want to repeat your mistake!

Thanks!

 

[Anssi]

I have the 520 SX and it IS awesome. There's plenty of power and it is easy to use, and the bike is lighter than the 426.

However, I tried to ride the 426 like a four-stroke and I sure didn't find the "hit" the mags talk about. Maybe with some more experimentation, but in shallow sand it was nothing to get afraid about.

 

[azcourt]

The desert races here in AZ are usually 3 or 4 lap races, 25 to 40 miles per lap. For me the YZ was easier to ride as the suspension had a thousand bucks worth of work done to it before I bought the bike. I'm sure the KTM would have been just as good with that much in the suspension, but I didn't want my hobby to be that expensive. In the really fast stuff, either bike goes faster than I'll let it. My YZ had some head work done, a 420 kit installed and a big gun pipe also. The KTM had more low torque, but top power was pretty similar. The big gun pipe seems to give the YZ smoother power than other pipes. I did not ever really notice big hit power on my YZ, but I think the engine mods helped smooth things out.

Answers to your questions:
Was I that much faster on the KTM? No, I was faster on the YZ. It turns better and has better suspension.
Is the KTM easier to ride? No, The suspension in the front dives really bad, is way too harsh on small stuff, and way to soft for big hits. The KTM is a lot narrower and lighter feeling. I'm used to big fat 4 strokes (I've been riding for 25 years and never owned a 2 stroke), so that does not matter to me.

The KTM suspension is said to be for 160-170lb riders. If you fall in that catagory it may work well for you out of the box. I'd say for 2000+ extra the KTM is too much. It is a gamble I will not take again. With the 2000 bucks you will save you can have the best suspension around, aluminum bars, steering stabilizer kit, aftermarket pipe and 900 bucks in your pocket.

 

[Boozer]

what are the price differences between a new 426 and 520? over here in Australia, the prices are stuff all difference. About AUS$1000

 

[Anssi]

The -02 has vastly improved suspension, especially the SX with the 48 mm forks (yes, I have tried both). I will have to get some stiffer springs for my 200 lbs, though.

Here in Finland the 426 and 520 cost pretty much the same, at most a 100€ difference and I'm not sure which one costs more.

 

[Mini Me]

That's an interesting one. I personally would go for just about any KTM instead of a Yamaha, but that said I just browsing around the classified's and there are YZ's and WR's for $1000's AU less than retail, which makes them a very tempting purchase. In Australia there are year old KTM RFS's selling for near retail price, so even if you outlay more initially, you may get a lot of it back. I can't compare $3800 to the Australian YZ prices, but as the others said, you could sell it later at near to no loss, or even a profit

 

[wayneo426]

$3800 is a steal for an '01 426. Go for it!

 

[John Buttons]

Thanks and I did (buy the 426)! Rode them both and was very impressed with the KTM, especially the smooth, yet strong, roll-on power - but in the end money and reality talked. I saved big bucks, bike is cherry (bike still has tits on the original tires) and the reality of it is, like I think it is for many of us, that both bikes have more potential than I. So rather than use 40% of a bikes potential I will use 45%, save the money and blame the bike regardless.

Thanks again for your input and happy motoring

 

[wayneo426]

I ran into a guy att the track late last summer that paid $7500 OTD for his '01 YZ426. Looks like you made out great on yours!!!

 

[nikki]

I would say the 426. My fiancé (Red) has an '01 YZ 426F and loves it! He's 6'4", 215 lbs., and races MX in the Open and +25 classes. He rode a buddy's '01 KTM 520 out at our practice track and he didn't care for it at all. He said the power was nice... but that was about it. The KTM "feel" was just way too different and uncomfortable for him. He said he would put the 520 last outta the three big F's (426, 450, and 520) in his opinion. Plus we're talking $2,400 and the same year bike! You can easily turn around and sell the 426F if you decide it's not for you.

wayneo - $7,500 OTD HOLY CRAP!!! He got ripped pretty good! The bike only lists at $5,999!

 

[nikki]

Oops... I see you went with the 426! I should really read *all* of the thread before I post :D

Well have fun with the new 426!!