When it comes to motocross/ dirt bikes, what makes Ktm so much better?

Question

Why are ktm dirt bikes so much "better" than, say a honda? What makes them faster, better, and more racable? Between a 4 stroke ktm 250 and the honda crf250r what are the specific differences that make the ktm more of a mx bike?

Answer 1

KTM uses higher quality components stock than other makes.  The engineering is not necesarily better, but the little things like hyrdraulic clutches, and doing away with suspension linkages in favor of dual rate springs makes KTMs slightly better in my opinion, I own a kawasaki btw, its all about what you want in a bike

Answer 2

what makes a ducati any better then a kawasaki?

what makes a mercedes any better then a bmw....

why are lamborghini any better then a ferrari?

Answer 3

its orange and has less letters.  that means your logo can be bigger. thats what racing is about, advertisement

Answer 4

Some of the things that people feel make a KTM so much better are things like KTM's come stock with a hydraulic clutch, aluminum bars (which used to be a big deal now they all do), and KTM really works hard to specialize each of the models for a group of racers. Like KTM has the SX, EX, XC, and XC-W each group of models has different things that are special about them, gearing and suspension tuning mainly that allow the bike to be race ready for the average racer right out of the crate.

KTM consistently had the most powerful 2-stroke engines but they didn't always have to most usable power as sometimes the power band hit on them would make them difficult to ride (mainly the 125SX). Also KTM has a linkage-less suspension (rumored to have linkage in 2009) which offers a really different feel and has been specualted to be one of the reasons the Alessi brothers left KTM because no one could really figure out the set up on the shock.

KTM's also have very very good brakes, they are strong, and offer very good feel

Now between the two, it depends on which KTM 250 you want. The SX is a full MX race model, XC, XC-W, and EXC models are all geared in various ways towards the offroad crowd. The KTM will have linkage-less suspension, the Honda will have a linkage. KTM has hydraulic clutch, Honda doesn't. Honda, depending on the year, will have a dual exhaust (be ready to drop somewhere around a $1000 for a full system after market exhaust) KTM will have the typical one sided exhaust.

They are both easy to find parts for, great rides, and very reliable motors from my experience so go sit on both, if possible ride both, and pick the one that feels better to you.

Answer 5

KTM, would be my last choice of the top 5.

Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki handle better and have superior suspensions. The no link rear sucks.

Answer 6

They are not better MX bikes. When is the last time KTM won an AMA title. KTM's are more expensive because they use some higher quality components like, better handlebars, tires, brakes, chains, sprockets, etc. KTM is the only one of the big 5 that uses a no-linkage rear suspension. This is a fairly big disadvantage in motocross/supercross. KTM suspension for MX/SX is harder to dial in, needs to be changed more often for varying track conditions and tends to be too "busy" in the rough stuff. It does however work well in the woods. KTM pretty much dominates woods racing because they spend tons of R&D time and money on developing the best woods bike in the world. KTM is known for having a very fast power plant, but it takes more than a fast engine to win at motocross.