Damaraland
Race Dog
I started the "Adventurising a EXC 500" thread over here: https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=219441.0
Saw a bunch of people harping on about how the 500 is actually not perfect for everyone and also not the end-all or be-all of adventure riding (utter blasphemy :dousing
, so thought I'd start this topic to give them a place to vent. Having done about 6000-odd km on mine I think I am also a bit qualified to weigh in on the topic.
So here's Damaraland's list of why the 500 is a crap bike:
1. Two fourth gears (if you ride one you'll know)
2. Every 2000 km's or so I have to do a 5 minute service
3. The flicker indicator bulb is useless. Mine stopped working after 50 hours. Shit bike.
4. What the f*ck is up with the seat
5. KTM forgot to tighten the ground wire (if the bike ever stalls as soon as you stand up you'll understand :imaposer
6. Fuel injection. F*ck sake KTM. Everyone *knows* that it's unreliable and that carbs is best.
7. Too much vibration on Tar. In my heart I know I should've bought a BMW F650GS but it doesn't look as cool on the trailer.
Rules of this thread is simple:
1. You don't need to have owned or ridden one, in fact probably best that you have zero experience with these bikes - it encourages robust discussion.
2. Repeating hearsay is encouraged (e.g. if you sit too far back the subframe - which incidentally is made out of spaghetti - will explode, killing you instantly).
3. You're not allowed to mention fuel pump issues, as that is considered low-effort and too easy a target. I'm thinking mine must be a knockoff because it hasn't broken yet.
4. Bonus points if you mention Japanese reliability. You win the Internet if you actually know of someone doing adventure riding on a 450 rice burner.
Saw a bunch of people harping on about how the 500 is actually not perfect for everyone and also not the end-all or be-all of adventure riding (utter blasphemy :dousing
, so thought I'd start this topic to give them a place to vent. Having done about 6000-odd km on mine I think I am also a bit qualified to weigh in on the topic. So here's Damaraland's list of why the 500 is a crap bike:
1. Two fourth gears (if you ride one you'll know)
2. Every 2000 km's or so I have to do a 5 minute service
3. The flicker indicator bulb is useless. Mine stopped working after 50 hours. Shit bike.
4. What the f*ck is up with the seat
5. KTM forgot to tighten the ground wire (if the bike ever stalls as soon as you stand up you'll understand :imaposer
6. Fuel injection. F*ck sake KTM. Everyone *knows* that it's unreliable and that carbs is best.
7. Too much vibration on Tar. In my heart I know I should've bought a BMW F650GS but it doesn't look as cool on the trailer.
Rules of this thread is simple:
1. You don't need to have owned or ridden one, in fact probably best that you have zero experience with these bikes - it encourages robust discussion.
2. Repeating hearsay is encouraged (e.g. if you sit too far back the subframe - which incidentally is made out of spaghetti - will explode, killing you instantly).
3. You're not allowed to mention fuel pump issues, as that is considered low-effort and too easy a target. I'm thinking mine must be a knockoff because it hasn't broken yet.
4. Bonus points if you mention Japanese reliability. You win the Internet if you actually know of someone doing adventure riding on a 450 rice burner.
