This is the quad I have been waiting to see.

Lets talk about the 53 HP stock 525 motor, the linkless rear suspension and so on. It looks like KTM wants to challenge the market.


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They will change the market only if people buy into it and dont let it blow up in KTMs face like the Cannondale did ....

VERY VERY VERY Impressive Quad in stock form ....

That looks really good
aren't they also coming out with a 450

YEP

It looks interesting for sure.

I just wish that oem parts were more widely avail for the orange machines

KTM is making the 525xc and the 450mx. They are pretty much the same bike, but with different motors so they can race in the pro 450 class. The 525 in stock form may be a great desert and GNCC bike. The rumor is KTM is going to make +2 arms (aftermarket) for the 450 mx and desert racers.

The 450 is supposed to have 49 HP stock and the 525 53 HP stock.

I have never ridden a rear no link suspension, and am curious how that is going to work. I know the CT desert bike that was killing it in BAJA used to run the no link and they seemed to be just fine with it.

KTM comes with RAXRs, a reverable bar clamp so you can move to +1 forward or +1 back with the change of four bolts. And it comes with a kill switch all stock.

I still might try to find one to PLAY with but they will be VERY Scarce at first and they are just TOOOO expensive to keep up on and that is even compareing a STOCK KTM to a $20K Race Preped "R" ....

They are going to be VERY nice to the ones that can keep them going in tip top shape ...

I looked at one on friday.I got a call from malcom smith it came in on thur.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/j...07/100_0510.jpg

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb110/j...07/100_0511.jpg

Does anyone have a cost on the 525 or the 450 yet?

I believe the 525 is $8995 and the 450 is a couple hundred less.
I dont know about 53 horse stock. I raced one in a 3/8 mile flattrack last weekend and blew by it on the straightaway. My bike is right at 50 horse. Needless to say the guys ended up like a half lap behind after a 6 lap race. Not fully setup for flattrack though so it will do a little better with a swaybar.

I was thinking of the 525 for my next desert bike. I like the fact of a stock motor with some HP so I dont have to mod it and screw with the reliablity. Also the report is the stock pipe is good and quiet.

I race with Chris and Patty Blais, Chris was the factory KTM rider that got injured in the Vegas to Reno pre run. Patty races quads in D37 so maybe she will have one to test sometime soon and I can get a real world test on it.

I looked at one today at a local dealership. Thats my next quad right there.!!!

whats the difference in performance or feeling or benifit of running a no link compared to a link suspension set up. i know in the past the old 250 aftermarket frames started goin this way but i never learned. im just curious is is just opinion or is it factual?

Yes, I am curious as to how the no link is going to work. According to what I've been told by some suspension experts linkages only change the leverage ratio. The leverage ratio can be altered by other means as well. So I am wondering if the angle of the shock and the valving in the no link make it the same as the ones with linkages.

Maybe someone with some more insight can chime in.

I dont own a ktm, yet, but i am working on getting a older 350 sx bike to play with. Quite a few of my freinds have the linkless rear suspension ktms...I believe a few of the older ATK bikes I have ridden were also linkless.

My experience with the linkless suspension has been quite positive. The newer ktms my friends have work quite well for MX situations. Its simply another way of achieving the same result....suspension. There have been a few other linkless Atv's out there over the years...The scamblers come to mind. If im not mistaken the old Cagiva conversion and Tiger 3 wheelers were also linkless.

Some of the early mono-shock equipped mx bikes were primarily linkless as well. Yamaha's de-carbon (yamahopper!) and Hondas early pro-link designs were some of first linked setups widely available.

First year quads are a risk! They already had a recall on them dealing with the rear brakes! Ill wait a year to see how they hold up and consider one! I do like the idea of it with all the features they have!

A lot of the older 250r's were switched over to no link rears such as the roll design bikes and even leagers had a no link rear end. As far as newer quads having a no link rear end you can look at the DS650, the biggest advantage I can see is that you achieve more travel than you do running a link rear end.

i have a 450xc on order. as far as motors they are the same except the 525 has a bigger piston. other than that the rest of the quad is the same. i paid $8550 out the door for my 450. rumor is they will release the mx version next year. Rath Racing has a 525 and will be building parts for both quads (including mine!) sometime soon. i know they will have nerfs, bumper, grab bar, a-arms and probably steering stem.

I paid $8568.18 OTD for my 525, Well put about 3 hours on it today woods riding and some fire roads, dried up lakebed(hasn't rained here in 3-4 mos.) my first impressions on the rear suspension were off by a little, it's stiff but not overly stiff, after I opened up the compression, and closed off the rebound some, still doesn't seem to be using the full travel though, will try softer springs. Front end is awesome, Turning radius is incredible, it goes where you point it, very responsive to steering input, This thing pulls like a freight train!!!! My honda with full hrc kit, rossier ex. and running oxygenated VP race fuel made 47 hp on the local dyno, and this thing bone stock, without the performance mode(it comes in "soft" mode) feels equal in the midrange, but has a ton more Torque down low, and just keeps pulling strong way past the midrange, the honda was more of a midrange "hit".
This thing starts incredibly fast, i have no excuses on the line anymore for not getting holeshots!!! It flies really neutral. Feels really light, easy to make corrections in the air/setup for corners when landing. you can clutch it and get the frontend to pop over obstacles small water/ditches, and hit them with the rear, almost no bucking, I am sold on the no-link already!!! I already feel comfortable on it enough to race it tomorrow!! Any questions feel free to ask!!!
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CCRIDER

How is the size of the cockpit area. Do you have any trouble with the back end squating when you hit the rear brake only (the 525 bike does this) Also do you know what gear spacing they used (close or wide ratio)

Thanks Mike

Would be nice if the came with nerfs for that price.

Well the Pred has a link less rear suspension, so do the outlaw 450 and 525 straight axles. You must remember that KTM got alot of the engineering for this bike from Polaris. It looks to use the same carrier and axle as the pred also.

The cockpit/riding position is extremely well thought out, fit the machine well, can't comment on you big'uns, I'm 5'10" 200 lbs. Got some springs coming from Ohlins to lower the bike some , and they are in the process of making a kit for the hard parts catalog with crossovers,etc. to do the same. It will be a "race spring" kit , or something to that effect, Lovin' this thing so far!!


CCRIDER

Linkless vs link rear - two different ways of going about the same thing. There's no magic in a linkless rear, in fact, a link rear has advantages if designed properly.

The main thing a link rear has over a linkless is a progressive leverage ratio (really, a link setup gives the engineer more tools to work with than he has with a linkless rear). For instance, a typical Honda rear operates much like a linkless rear until the very end of the travel where the leverage ratio comes up at the very end of the travel in an effort to prevent bottomming (i.e. your suspension gets stiffer at the very end of the travel).

The main thing with the rear suspension is getting the travel in the proper location, nailing the progression curve, lowering the leverage ratio overall (more shaft travel), and setup, setup, setup. Link or linkless setups can work extremely well or extremely poorly.

Linkless rears can be easier to setup because they're more forgiving (fewer variables). A link rear ultimately has potential to perform better - given the guy setting it up knows what he's doing.

So far, at this point, I'm very impressed with the two KTM offerings. They should be strong contenders if people don't balk at the price. I like the looks of the suspension and the chassis and there seems to be a lot of little things that go a long way on this quad (i.e. adj. camber/caster, adj. rear axle, exc. stock suspension potential). I want to ride the 525, I just want it to be 48 / 49 inches wide, not the 45.

I dont see the value of adding the Ohlins shocks for a general rider (except from a marketing stand point).

If there is anything on a bike that is/should be custom...it's the shocks.
My question is what are they valved for...100% xc? What weight?

IMO KTM and Ohlins are missing a opportunity. When a customer buys the bike they get a voucher for half off a custom valve job/spring set up. KTM still has the power of the name on their bike and Ohlins is making addtl money and has a chance to up sell a setup.

What do I know...

with a ktm 525 engine

with a ktm 950 engine (ktm lc 8)




There are also a company who makes quad with KTM engines

Look eatv

That 950 is pretty pricey at almost 31000$

Candidly speaking, I don't think "general" riders will be plunking down $8,500 for these KTM's. Most of their customers will be intermediate to expert level riders looking for a near-race quad out of the box. So far KTM has provided the best platform to get started for budget-minded racers and/or serious weekend warriors. Since the KTM already has a quality shock platform from Ohlins, all they need now is fine-tuning which is hella cheaper than purchasing new shocks all around. Getting a voucher for custom valving/springs is a very slick idea and should provide even more value when considering the purchase price of these quads.

We all spend thousands getting our 450R's to where we want them. KTM owners won't have to do that. It makes me sick that I have to spend $2,000 on aftermarket shocks to get my 450R to handle the way I want it to. Getting the stock shocks rebuilt is "okay" but still not worth the $700 - $800. That's my $.02.

Good God that things oogly!

i went to the dealer today and looked at the 525 looks kick @$$ if you ask me!!! but they retailed there for 9500 he said "because they are in such high demand, that is what they retail for" in the magazine it says 8300...........i wont be buying one from there!!!
cya

I was out at Glamis and it was right after I got my 450r, my buddy had the KTM 450 and that thing was FAST! But as soon as we parked our bikes I looked at the rear end of his and knew something was wrong, something was missing off of the right side of the swingarm.... then I realized his entire rear brake came off and ripped the hose and all out. =/

that must really $uck!! i wonder how that happend, it just ripped off? sounds weird!

cya

i was at moses lake last weekend and the guy parked across from us had the 525. we raced quite a few times from a stop through 5th gear and i won about half of the races, we tied the other half. i have a HCII and DASA exhaust. my friend (06erDJ450) has a stroked 470 and he beat him every time. it was definitely a nice quad though. i would love to get one but just to expensive.

ig 06erdj beat a 525 with a stroker, i need a stroker now too

And my quad was running like sheit! I am getting it tuned this weekend.

i really hope that not you on the avitar, just a little over kill on th photoshop & the 80's hair bit!!! LOL just givin you $hit bro, don't take it personal

no thats not me

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3z_qkbujo

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gfZ4-VFhVmk&feature=related