Which & Why?

[BlackWidow]

If you had to pick...

"which" and "why" - 3 reasons :)

KTM 450 or the Aprilla 450 (SMs)

[mekrew]

come to the dark side already

[BlackWidow]

come to the dark side already

LOL, I've been on the dark side since I started racing the SM in TMGP.

How about a test ride on your 450 to get a feel of which to go with...:hs:

[GABRIEL]

I rode MJ's KTM450 and that thing was sick.

[mekrew]

LOL, I've been on the dark side since I started racing the SM in TMGP.

How about a test ride on your 450 to get a feel of which to go with...:hs:

let me know you break you buy :thumb:

[jodyhudson]

If you had to pick...

"which" and "why" - 3 reasons :)

KTM 450 or the Aprilla 450 (SMs)

KTM 450... because the Aprilia will always break. the Aprilia is a much more impressive machine & more fun to ride. it just lacks the reliability that the KTM has. you should definately put a slipper clutch in it after you get one.

[BlackWidow]

KTM 450... because the Aprilia will always break. the Aprilia is a much more impressive machine & more fun to ride. it just lacks the reliability that the KTM has. you should definately put a slipper clutch in it after you get one.

Jody,

I thought the motor issues were limited to the 550s only? Are the 450s just as prone to get the issue?

What years are "clean" - I can't afford the 08s. At this point I am looking at 2005-2006 year bikes.

Thanks.

Mekrew - I'll definitly take you up on that offer :thumb:

[mekrew]

what advantages does the slipper clutch have ? for the downshifting and wheel lockup ?

[jodyhudson]

Jody,

I thought the motor issues were limited to the 550s only? Are the 450s just as prone to get the issue?

What years are "clean" - I can't afford the 08s. At this point I am looking at 2005-2006 year bikes.

Thanks.

Mekrew - I'll definitly take you up on that offer :thumb:

they all have that issue 550 & 450. if your smart you'll build a honda. they are bulletproof & fast. ktm's are a definately nice because you dont have to build it. you just buy it and ride it. but you cant beat the speed and reliability of a Honda 450.

[jodyhudson]

what advantages does the slipper clutch have ? for the downshifting and wheel lockup ?

yes, it keeps the rear wheel from hopping & chattering while engine braking into the corners. you can learn to modulate that with the rear brake & clutch lever, but that takes sum time to learn how to do. its much easier with a slipper clutch... u just make your downshifts & dump the clutch, then slide nice and smooth. no chatter or wheel hop :thumb:

[mekrew]

chuy was showing me down shifting and blipping the gas to try and match the revs , i noticed i wasnt getting chatter in the rear that much

[tomLSTD]

chuy was showing me down shifting and blipping the gas to try and match the revs , i noticed i wasnt getting chatter in the rear that much

That's the way we used to do things on the race track before slipper clutches :thumbsup: I still do it with my GSXR because I don't want to spend 8 large on a slipper for it, but our endurance bike (80+hp SV) has one, and it's teh sikness!

Once you ride with a slipper clutch, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

A good clutch technique is crucial to learn to ride (ie downshifting by matching revs and smooth engagement, etc), but when you get faster, it makes the job of downshifting aggressively soooo easy.

[SCRC John]

The "511" bike had one in it, and it was awesome....I've been shopping all day

John

[Hades]

dont know much about either but I do know that the Aprilla is more expensive

[XRCajun]

they all have that issue 550 & 450. if your smart you'll build a honda. they are bulletproof & fast. ktm's are a definately nice because you dont have to build it. you just buy it and ride it. but you cant beat the speed and reliability of a Honda 450.

Jody is right on here! If you have the ability to do the mods going with a Honda is going to give you most dependability and also the least amount of maintenance. I sure like changing the oil every now and then, checking the tires and riding the heck out of it. It won't make the almost perfect setup of the KTM and Aprillia but heck are you really planning compete in Supermoto? We still don't even have a real SM track around here.