The second update for the ADB KTM 350 EXC-F long term test bike as printed in issue #450 - March 2017.
Hours: 5
Mods this month: Topline seatcover
Mods next month: New tyres
FOR THE LAST few weeks I have been thrashing the injured Editor’s KTM long-termer. No point riding your own bikes when the boss has smashed himself up, right? But this month things caught up with me and I had to give it some love.
The first service entails running a spanner over all the Austrian nuts and bolts to make sure everything is secure and then running a spoke spanner over the wheels to nip up any spokes that wiggled lose.
The chain was a little loose and required tightening and lubricating while the air filter needed a wash and re-oil. I checked and adjusted the tyre pressures and tightened the rim locks.
I then topped up the coolant and checked the valve clearances but, as expected, they were well within the manufacturer’s specifications. I changed the oil and oil filter using the KTM oil filter kit.
These kits come with a filter plus an oil screen, all O-rings and copper washers. It is always recommended to change the sump plug washers when changing oil and these kits don’t give you an excuse.
The KTM has been running perfectly but the tyres are well beyond their use-by date. They weren’t the greatest tyres from new but now they hook up like a dog on lino. The front isn’t the worst tyre I have used but the rear would have to be close.
I have been trying to avoid any sand sections or the bike nearly stops dead when you hit the sand. The bike starts revving but it just doesn’t move. I can’t wait to get a decent set of tyres on the KTM to start really feeling how well it handles.
A few weeks back I got a call from Mario at Topline Upholstery asking if I would like a seatcover for the KTM and I said yes, of course. There is no way I will ever refuse a seatcover from Mario.
Apart from looking second to none, his covers are easy to fit and perform perfectly. The added grip from the pleats helps you stay forward on the seat without having to grip so hard with your legs and arms.
Personally I never had a real issue with the standard seatcover. It is good quality and would take a tonne of riding to wear out but we all know that Editor Mitch Lees will need all the pleats he can get to help him stay on board when he returns to the saddle.
Next month I am going to get a new set of tyres on the bike and see how it handles when the rubber actually grips. I have no complaints about the handling so far.
The suspension works well in absorbing the bumps. It can be a little on the soft side when pushing the bike hard across really rough terrain but for general trailriding, the suspension is perfect. Once I get new tyres on the KTM, it’s going to be a dream.
Technical Editor Mat Boyd