Another blown 250SXF!

[Rotorranch]

My buddy went riding yesterday, and came back with his 250SXF clattering loudly. He said it came on pretty suddenly. It doesn't sound like valves to me. It almost sounds like a rod bearing.

We haven't torn it down yet, so I don't know what the issue is yet. I was just wondering if anyone had a guess as to what might be wrong.

Darn orange bikes are giving me fits!

Rotor
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[pjg351]

How many hours on that bike ? I keep hearing 25 max for a 250sfx 35 if your lucky! What have the experts told you on KTM talk or are they keeping quiet.

[Rotorranch]

Originally Posted by pjg351

How many hours on that bike ? I keep hearing 25 max for a 250sfx 35 if your lucky! What have the experts told you on KTM talk or are they keeping quiet.

Nothing much yet on KTMTalk.

Not sure how many hours on the bike. Would guess about 25-30, maybe less.

What have you heard goes wrong at 25 hours?

Rotor

[Shoei_391]

Sucks that the sxf is supposed to have one hell of a motor but doesnt seem to be to reliable =/

[pjg351]

Originally Posted by Rotorranch

Nothing much yet on KTMTalk.

Not sure how many hours on the bike. Would guess about 25-30, maybe less.

What have you heard goes wrong at 25 hours?

Rotor

Iam still digging up some info for you from a reliable source. A kid we know who has a contract with KTM in Aus has it in writing that he cannot race a bike even at a local meet given to him by the factory with more than 25hrs on it. I have talked to his farther about it and he said they just blow! They just hand them back at 25hrs and get a new one, which does not help you i know!

[Aus_Rider_22]

Originally Posted by pjg351

Iam still digging up some info for you from a reliable source. A kid we know who has a contract with KTM in Aus has it in writing that he cannot race a bike even at a local meet given to him by the factory with more than 25hrs on it. I have talked to his farther about it and he said they just blow! They just hand them back at 25hrs and get a new one, which does not help you i know!

THat doesn't sound good at all. But then when you think about it, it's not that weird.

I bet the Wharton bros or any other amateurs sponsored by a manufacturers don't let there engine's get anywhere near 15 hours let alone 25! They are riding them as fast as anyone and 25 hours on a 250f being ridden at 10k+ revs doesn't sound so bad. With or without the contract, I don't think manufacturer-sponsored riders (or their mechanics) would let such a bike be ridden for that long without rebuilding.

While KTM issuing that contract does sound bad, I bet most serious and sponsored amateurs wouldn't expect or let their bike last 25 hours when racing. Just what I think.

What does everyone else think?

[pjg351]

Originally Posted by Aus_Rider_22

THat doesn't sound good at all. But then when you think about it, it's not that weird.

I bet the Wharton bros or any other amateurs sponsored by a manufacturers don't let there engine's get anywhere near 15 hours let alone 25! They are riding them as fast as anyone and 25 hours on a 250f being ridden at 10k+ revs doesn't sound so bad. With or without the contract, I don't think manufacturer-sponsored riders (or their mechanics) would let such a bike be ridden for that long without rebuilding.

While KTM issuing that contract does sound bad, I bet most serious and sponsored amateurs wouldn't expect or let their bike last 25 hours when racing. Just what I think.

What does everyone else think?

To a certain extent your probably right. but we know 4 other riders who are on the Yamaha development team and they are not told to hand there bikes back every 25 hrs they keep them for a year and both practice and race them. One bike that is! I suspect Ktm are trying to portray a false reliability impression to the general mx public. After all there is no doubt their bikes are quick, and they seem to sponsor the best junior riders here in AUS. But privateer riders are the ones paying the price for repeated failures.

[Rotorranch]

Well I guess we won't know what it was. He decided not to tear it down, and took it to the auction. It's gone.

He's now got an '07 450sxf.

Rotor

[ossagp]

PJ, are the yamahas running a whole year on the same lower end and head? 25 hours for either that are raced competitively even in local pro seems very long to me too.

[The Baron]

Dirt Rider says they are bullet proof, so you must be lying.

Has anyone noticed a trend with Jimmy Lewis and the KTM's. They are always his first choice in shootouts, he's constantly praising them at every opportunity and KTM's David Knight seems to be on the cover of the mag at least every other month. Poor Jimmy gets more predictable every day.

Now I just need to write my letter describing my hatred of loud bikes, the ongoing fight to keep land open and my intense love of orange bikes, send it in and wait for my "Letter of the Month" prize.

Sorry for the rant, the KTM reliability issues just brought up some feelings.