@@D73GT Well, nothing lasts forever. But if I service it well and don’t thrash it I am sure it will survive even me. And yes, I am counting on doing a top and lower rebuild of the engine somewhere along the way. People do ride these bikes ATW, and that says something about the reliability. But of course, I will have to maintain, take good care of it and do an engine rebuild somewhere around 50-70k km.
@@D73GT I’m 49 years old and I’m not riding motocross, doing big jumps, or riding like I’m in my 20’s. If I do the maintenance my bike will last quite awhile. I bought it for me to use, not because of a potential investment.
@@D73GT I have a friend who has ridden his -15 over 1200 hours and 40,000 miles. He changed cylinder and piston at 950 hours. Minimal wear on both of them and the mechanic even jokingly told him he could just replace the rings and keep on riding. The bike was used for gravel roads, long trips through Europe, road book rallying and pure enduro riding. And yes, I know the guy. So it’s not just a tale I’ve heard from someone else. It’s a modern four stroke engine. Built for extreme thrashing. I have no doubt it will hold up very well with an average Joe like me behind the bars. Especially since I love to pamper it with love and service. If it breaks down I’ll be sure to let you know here in the comments. I promise 🤗
I agree with everything you just said, except one. I have so much fun riding and scratching up my 500 that I don’t even think a second about the depreciation value. Mainly that is because I have zero plans on selling the bike, ever…
70,000 km 2000 hrs on my stock 13 KTM 500 xcw ,Best bike I've ever owned. Had two drz400's before that, combined 140,000kms on them. They had big bore kits, hotcams, fcr carb, yosh exhaust. Bullet proof bikes but the stock KTM 500 does everything better.
@bilw1960 I’m catching up. 19,500km on a 14 500EXC. After 3 DRZ’s, two DR650’s & an 02 KTM 400 EXC that started it all, it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned.
@@misterchuck6866 The KTM500 vibrates more than the DRZ so the DRZ wins on that. However it has a 6th gear and the stock 57hp to pull it, which the DRZ does not. Offroad the vibes arent noticeable.
@@bilw1960I find it unbelievable that the drz400 and ktm500 are compared, I have a drz and my dad has a 500, completely different, 500 is better in every way but price and service intervals.
Man! You are STILL the king of dual sport videos! I started watching this on my phone and decided to wait to watch it on a larger screen because your photography is stellar, as always!! Much love to you!
You motivated me to buy a DRZ. Worked well for ADV but definitely not the best woods or single track bike. Hence, I also made the move to a 2020 Six Days. Paid “only” $10k for a used bike with 20 hours on it a year or so ago. It also included stabilizer, rekluse, tubliss and gummies. I thought it was a pretty good deal. I added a tidy tail, enduro plate, lhrb, trail tech, and seat concepts XL. Just like you, my confidence is 2x in the tough stuff on the KTM. Losing >75lbs really helps. Unicorns are not cheap, but damn they are worth it.
I also went from a Drz to KTM, but I only paid $2500 three years ago (06 450exc) original piston and valves, has perfect compression still running strong! Honesty I think I liked the Drz better on the street but the dirt, forget about it!
@@JohnSmith-ws1dp So happens I had the E, pretty decent bike, but not for the trails here in Idaho's mountains, I still stand on original statement, when was the last time you rode an EXC off road?
@@JohnSmith-ws1dp Absolutly. He says his only issue was the weight. Well, you can EASILY drop POUNDS off of a DRZ and get close to that lower weight. Pay half the price for the bike initially and half or even less than half on parts and service over the years. KTM = hype-train to me, that's all. I've ridden MANY and they are NOT worth double the price... Just my opinion...
The true gold standard in narrating TH-cam videos! And that psychological thing is so true - I own a DRZ and a 701. Everytime I’m out on my brand new 701 and scratch it, I’m thinking to myself «oh I should have ridden the DRZ today», and when I ride my DRZ I’m completely worry-free.
I had gone from a 2007 drz to a 2015 KTM 690 and I can echo what you said there for sure. The 690 was amazing but I didn't dare scratch it because it was expensive to replace anything on it, and it's hard to pick up on the trail. So I sold the 690 because I just wasn't riding it and bought a 2015 KTM 500. Every worry I had regarding dropping it or scratching it was gone. I took it home and kicked it over in the yard to get the first scratches in and ever since I have just ridden the snot out of it! When it's a dirt bike it is way easier to let go of those cares.
@@_-frosty-_ I'm back to rewatch this video because it's soooo good! Saw your comment now - I love my 701 (DRZ sold now), but the thought of a 500 is sweet. Too bad there's simply too much tarmac here in northern Europe. Safe rides Adam!
I have a plated, 86 Yamaha TT600 that I bought used, and fixed up for around $2500 total. Love it, no hemroid cream, and only 1 oil filter with two gaskets.
I have a plated, 2006 Honda crf450x that I bought used for $3200 back in 2013. This bike is awesome to ride, and I have no qualms about crashing it or putting on miles. If you are not rich, used bikes are totally the way to go.
@@5tr41ghtGuy That's an outstanding price for that bike if it's in good condition. Here in California where conversions are outlawed, that thing would go for 6-7 grand.
Well said! Yes, the cost, at my age, is prohibitive (still like to ride one, lol). I have found my combo of DRZ400s & and my hair on fire BRP, XR600R, perfect for an old man (62) riding the desert of Calif and AZ. My boat is old my bikes are old and I'm old, but as I told my kids you can have your cake and eat it too if you're willing to compromise a Little and man I'm still smiling!! Great video and perspective!
EVERYTHING you said I felt when buying my '22 exc-f! I currently have 4 bikes, and this is by far my favorite bike! By FAR! Didn't start out that way tho. It's very true you have to almost start over with just the frame and engine as I've replaced/upgraded/modded bars, grips, handguards, mirrors, seat, tires, fuel programmer, exhaust tip, pegs....on and on. I CAN'T KEEP MY HANDS OFF OF IT! Only regret is I wish I got one years ago but was scared away by the maintenance schedule. I don't mind it at all, great trade off for what it does.
This is the main reason I bought a CRF300L. Low entry cost for a new bike, a few mods later and it’s my go to bike (road or otherwise) and I never worry about abusing it.
Great review Tyler. In searching for a lighter, electric start replacement for my incredible XR400R, I first purchased the 2021 KLX300: very nice dual sport, but heavy and lacking that nice 400 power. I made the mistake of stopping by the local Tucson KTM dealer, man that weight, or lack there of in the 2022 KTM500 EXC-F! Like you, at first there was nothing but buyers remorse, I had never spent that much on a bike. Like you, I replaced all the plastics, seat, etc. anything that I didn't want to damage in OEM hardware. Then there's that viby thing you don't get in the Jap bikes, at least not at the level I feel in the KTM. At first I felt the pull to keep riding my 400, but now I just love riding the KTM! It is just an incredible all around bike, fun, powerful and light. Being 61 years old, I don't worry as much about resale as it could very well be the last bike I own. I'll probably keep the KLX300 as well, In fact I have it with me here in Moab this week, for its smooth pavement characteristics, and because it matches up better with my wife's KLX230 when we ride together like we are this week. When riding more challenging of road though, the KTM is my new favorite. In the end though, you'll know I'm absolutely committed to it when I finally sell my XR400R.
Hey, great video. I've spent most of my life riding dirt and road bikes and did enduros in my younger days etc., etc. I''ve been riding all kinds of bikes and then some over the years and always used to laugh at guys who seemed loyal to KTM. Well, I'm 64 now and just bought a 2016 KTM 450 EXC with 3000 easy kilometres. It was immaculate, a bargain and I just could not pass it by. .......God, I wish I'd have made that move years ago!!! All parts seem quality, durable yet light weight material purpose built with no shortcuts anywhere. Its light, yet strong. This KTM 450 is the best handling, most responsive, most fun to ride dirt bike I've ever ridden, period :-) The fact that I got it at a bargain price ($6.5K) has eliminated the dilemma you are having with resell value so I'm riding it like I stole it :-)
I'll never be good enough to out-skill what my Drz has to offer on any trail. If I can't get there on the Drz then odds are I can't get there. God bless Tyler, beautiful film as always, good to hear from you again.
The DRZ will do anything that KTM will. Hell, I’ve done everything on my KLR that my buddies do on their KTMs and had less mechanical issues doing it. Not to mention the 500 mile oil changes and 1000 mile valve checks
@Nathaniel Ojcius that’s what everyone has told me the whole time I’ve been riding but yet I continue to go everywhere KTMs go with no issues. I should probably mention that 1, I’m a fairly big guy so wrangling a bigger bike isn’t a huge deal and 2, I’m a former MX and hare scramble racer who nearly went pro (back injury screwed me) so I’m definitely not your typical rider
I had a DRZ for 6 years & rode it off road, on back roads, and some light competition. I replaced it with a 450 KTM EXC with the RFS engine. It did everything better except for sounding cool.
So Tyler, I am the same guy- I've always bought used, always bought cheap, always kept costs as low as I can. I rode an XR650L for years and years, with an XR600R as my dirtbike. I finally upgraded to a 530 EXC last year and lost my mind at the difference, then shortly thereafter bought a 2016 Husky FE501S. It's unbelievable how much easier everything is- I didn't become a better rider, but my riding got much better instantaneously because the instrument was better, which gave me more confidence and has led to me becoming a better rider. The weight you mentioned is critical. A few things- the 39 hp you quoted is anemic, thank you EPA. Good news is, with an ECU and the endcap drilled out and a few other free mods, you've got yourself a nearly 60 whp bike. You cannot, absolutely cannot compare any DRZ, bored and stroked or anything, to a 500 running a GET ECU and pushing upwards of 60 hp at that rear wheel. KTM's service intervals are for race conditions only. I have 440 hours on my stock Husky piston and 340 on my stock 530 piston and they're healthy as can be. 40-50 hour oil change intervals if you're not racing are pretty normal, especially with the AKT filter for the 500. Upgrading the in-tank fuel filter is kinda a must, because many people have issues with the stock one splitting and losing fuel pressure. The suspension can't really be compared to the DRZ, because while the travel might be similar, the 500 is in a different world of suspension quality, especially with a good revalve. I know that ECU's aren't cheap, though you can get a cheap piggyback programmer to do a fairly good job, and a suspension revalve is $$$, but that's again why I buy used. These motors are incredibly stout. There's a guy who just finished a RTW on a 500 and he didn't do a top end until 40,000 miles and didn't do a full motor rebuild until over 80,000, and even then he said he didn't have to but was heading into the middle of nowhere and wanted the peace of mind. The electronics can give you issues, but mechanically the 500 motor is actually incredible for how light it is. I bought a DRZ400S a while ago as a flip project, put a DRZ400E motor/carb in it with a Yoshi full exhaust, and while it was interesting and had a lot more power than a stock DRZ-S, the suspension was harsher, it had no bottom end compared to my 530, and it was just overall worse in every aspect than my 530 or 501. That 500 will do everything the DRZ can do, but better, period.
"That 500 will do everything the DRZ will do, but better". Haha... I think you just wrote Suzuki's next advertisement. Sure, you could spend twice as much money for a bike that can do what ours already does. Or you could have two of ours... picture of father and son hitting the trail, together. Don't forget to ask Suzuki for your royalty money. It could help you pay for that KTM, that can do what a DRZ does.
@@bmotomo421 what you may not be aware of is that the 500 will also do a helluva lot more than the drz will do, and it will do it more easily. It's a better bike, full stop, and worth the money. I have a DRZ400E and an FE501S and the DRZ leaves me worn out after an hour on moderate trails, but I can go 6+ hours on the same trails with the Husqvarna before hitting the same level of fatigue. You should go ride one and see for yourself.
@@aTuWitty Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware the KTM is a bit more capable than the DRZ. But only in the hands of a rider who is capable of using to that potential. I can assure you, there are plenty of DRZ riders outriding guys on the latest and greatest new bikes, every day. If you can't learn to go fast on a bike, it's not the bikes fault. The DRZ is far more capable than probably 90% of the people who ride them. You and me included. Now, if you want to know how good the Suzuki really is, consider this... It was designed in the late nineties. Over the time between then and now, it has received little more than new colors and new graphics. Yet today, in the year 2022, over twenty years after its introduction. It has continued to be in the conversation with every new bike in its class, that has hit the market since its introduction. And, it's still a lot of bike, even if it did cost as much as your Husquvarna. Yet it doesn't. And here we are, comparing them. Just bold new graphics. Twenty-something years later. Cheers!
@@bmotomo421 you're right and you're wrong. An average rider WILL ride better on a 500 than they will on a DRZ. No question. The 500 is a better off-road machine. The "it's the rider not the bike" argument is not actually accurate. Manny Lettenbichler won the Erzberg this year, but if you put him on a Goldwing and me on a 300 2 stroke, I would smoke him in a hard Enduro race, despite him being thousands of light years ahead of me in skill. Riding a 500 off-road is MUCH easier than riding a DRZ off-road. I'm a decent rider, nothing amazing, but having ridden both extensively, the DRZ lacks suspension, power, and is heavy as hell compared to the 500. The 500 is much easier to maneuver and will wear you out less. Anyone will have an easier time riding it than they would a DRZ. And the whole "it's unchanged so it must be the best" thing is rather tired. My favorite bike I've ever owned was my 99 XR650L, which is still produced unchanged since 1993 and was designed in the 80s. Does that make it a better bike than the 500? The DRZ? No. It's a fine bike, better at some things, worse at others, but the reason the DRZ and DR650 and XR650L are unchanged is because they're grandfathered into the emissions laws and Honda and Suzuki CANNOT change anything on them or they would have to update them to be fully emissions compliant with every other new bike. The reason these bikes are still in the conversation is because they are reasonably capable at what they do, and they're CHEAP because the tooling was paid for years ago. All three are great bikes for people riding street and trails. I wouldn't take ANY of them out to ride hard Enduro. You know what I would take? My 501. My 530. My buddy's 350. A 300 2 stroke. Can Manny take a DRZ anywhere I can get my 501? Yep. No doubt. He's a godlike rider. But would he have an easier time on the 501, and would he be able to get the 501 places where he couldn't get the DRZ? Also no doubt. The 500 is a better off-road bike, period.
@@bmotomo421 Keep in mind that I love my DRZ. I'm not hating on it at all. It's a fantastic bike, and I'll likely be riding it to Canada soon. I am being honest about the bike's abilities. The 500 is VASTLY more capable in the dirt, not just "a bit more capable". It's not even in the same universe. I love the DRZ, but you can love a bike without being delusional about its abilities. It's ok to recognize a shortcoming in a bike. The 500 and 501 have a number of electrical issues that pop up with some regularity, and they transmit bigger vibes into the bars and footpegs than the DRZ does (the DRZ is more buzzy, but the vibes are smaller in magnitude). The fuel pump is known to split open and leave you stranded, the injector can get clogged up, the PDS on the 500 doesn't track nearly as well as the linkage on the 501, the stock headlight and seat are terrible, and while the suspension is good, a revalving by a professional works wonders. It is not a perfect bike, but it's a far better dirtbike than the DRZ could ever hope to be.
That's a great review buddy! I had the chance to do a large group ride with 31 dual sports last weekend and one of the female riders had recently sold her DRZ400 in favor of a KTM 350 the way she talked you would think she died and went to heaven it was very rewarding to hear such a thing and awesome that companies like KTM make such light fast bikes there truly helping riders get better!
The flipside of the depreciation coin is that this is one of the most sought after bikes on the market. Good luck even finding one for sale used - most owners love them too much to let go. And of course, the limited supply means the price goes up. Most of the money you lose on the bike will actually be in the upgrades you do for it.
I think if you're lucky enough go ever get one brand new pulling all oem parts you upgrade off before using it is the best option you can have. Than reselling it the next ow er had the option to have it modded or have it original for show room. Just as the bike ain't too beat up I guess. But who the hell want to have one as a collector when they're so much fun to rip o
If ya can't beat em, join em'. Score a used model for around 10K and ride off into the sunset on one of the best all around bikes in the world. Glad you are honest, it really just depends how much you love riding, what you are doing, and how much you want to go broke.
I literally just bought a 2019 for 10k and feel pretty good about it. Like some others have commented, if you don't plan on reselling this thing then it doesn't matter how much you scuff it up. This and my KLR are staying till they blow up or get totaled.
I found a 2015 KTM XCF-W 350 with only 5 hours on it last year and bought it and converted it to be street legal and couldn’t be happier. Only 7k all in and all the capability off road of the 500 and 90% of its on road manners.
This video is so good I just: - read comments for 10 minutes. - consumed 20 minutes of sleep I needed and woke up pooped. - decided on the DRZ - subscribed Thanks for posting this!!
I had the 690 Enduro and went with the blacked out look like you did on the 500. it kills me that I let that bike go. Your video has me seriously thinking about getting a 500. The 690 was an awesome street biased dual sport, but that street legal moto-style 500 is so appealing.
I bought a 2016 500 EXC as a college graduation gift to myself. It was the very first new vehicle of any kind I'd ever purchased. Within 3 minutes of taking ownership of it from the dealer and riding it home I turned onto a power line trail, blasted through a 2ft deep mud puddle, and wiped out. Nothing but a smile on my face because I'd told myself from the beginning that I was buying a dirt bike to use it as a dirt bike. 300 hours and 10k miles later and I've never once worried about hurting it. That thing will take more of a beating than I could ever give it.
I agree. I've had a ktm 525 and a drz. It all comes down to what kind of riding you do. I want to ride to work, gym and ride offroad. For that I'd pick the drz all day. I will never spend $13,000 + out the door for the ktm. All I ever did to my drz was drop the countershaft sprocket down a tooth and change the tires.
I have a KTM 450 EXC Factory Edition from 2015 and I am loving it. Never had a problem, more torque and power I can handle. Obviously got rid of the emission stuff, so it pull about 50 Horse Powers. Only put in moose, so I dont have to bother about flats.
@@mjnienkemper3699 there is an air restrictor and a metal swamp like thing which is like a catalyst. Important thing is though the air restrictor, since that takes away like 50% of the possible power.
Great to see this review...watched you from early on and always liked your perspectives. I've got a 990 and a WR250R as my dual sport stable but now need to condense down to one bike for the desert. However, with both bikes fully dialed in with upgraded suspensions and such, it is killing me to pull the trigger. You know, that irrational emotional attachment stuff we get for these dam things. I road the EXC in Moab a few years back loved it. It was kinda like a love child of my 2 bikes...but am still on the fence. Thanks for the perspectives, the good, the bad and the ugly. Looks like I might be putting a 2fer on the market this season....or maybe next season. Don't want to jump into these things. Appreciate your contributions.
I contend that the 500exc is the best bike of all time! It’s not particularly good at any one thing, but brilliant at every kind of riding you want to do, on and off road! I’ve put over 10,000 miles on mine without issue. The motor is untouched, aside from valve checks every 5000 miles. I changed oil every 2000 miles. I also have a 690 and a 990 for the longer than 2000 miles or mostly on asphalt. Otherwise, the 500 is the go to bike!
Not only an excellent review, but I love the Utah riding! I also noticed you actually went through Vernal, an extremely underrated, hidden gem. Thanks for all the awesome info!
Another amazing review, and video. There are no TH-camrs I trust more than you. For me the DRZ400, as old and unmodern as it may be, is still the king of dual sports. Affordable, loses next to no value over time, more reliable than the earth's orbit around the sun and a million billion cheap accessories, parts and mods readily available and almost as many tutorials, videos and forums dedicated to it. I might not be able to do those super fun extra 10% I could on the 500 Six Days, but for half the price plus all the other perks listed above I don't even care.
The DRZ is a way better bike than most people think it is. And a lot more capable than most expect it to be. So to spend four time the money, just because you think it will do just 10% more terrain seem pretty silly to me, too. Why not just improve your riding skills by 10 or 20%? That's almost free! And I'm sure there are plenty of riders who could ride a DRZ over that extra 10%. Don't get me wrong, I know the KTM is a more capable bike than a DRZ. But, Only with a rider who can ride it to its capabilities. Riding motorcycles has been and will always be, 90% rider, 10% bike. No up, no extras. That last thing that will make you a better rider is buying a bike that far exceeds your skill level.
Well wouldn't you know, Tyler, I recently ended up with one of these very Dorritos bikes to augment that 10% of trails (around here, maybe more than 10%) I and my DRZ will not be managing together. It's not the DRZ so much as it is me; I'm old and stuff doesn't heal like it once did. Excellent review as always with fun, insight, and unmatched production value in the genre. Carry on, lad.
Thanks again Tyler for another epic video .. I have owned a 1999 Yamaha WR-400F now since 2004 and have 3 friends who went out and bought KTM’’s , A 400 , 510 and 640 ( all over the course of past 18 years). My Yamaha has NEVER been rebuilt engine wise , still runs like a top , and has only cost me around $5600 so far . I’m admittedly a cheap bastard , and while I cannot justify forking over “ My kids college funds “ for a new off road machine , I still would love the opportunity to do so . My WR is a lot like your old DRZ, comfortable, superbly capable , but just a tad on the porky side . But I’ll trade a small amount of “ Extra beef” for the reliability of the engine in this thing any day. A lighter bike may be “ Easier to push home “ after breaking down out in who knows where , but a reliable one means you NEVER have to worry about that day. Enjoyed your video as always , and some day this 62 year old would love to come to your neck of the woods & go on a group ride with you and some buddies 👍. Until then , keep “Em rubber side down”. 🤞. C-ya.
Stock skid plate is fine imo and solid. Idk why everyone says it need to be replaced. Also the factory wrap around handguard extentions are soooooooo much better then some metal ones😂 crash tested on dirt and pavement myself. 288 hours so far. Running great! Enjoy it man!
I had some of the same issues during the break in period after bringing home a new 23 six days. As you also found out that the bike is so good that I will not ruin my rides with my perceived regret from the price tag. Quite the opposite really as I became a customer of TacoMoto and put one of his GET ecu's, a 4.1 fmf, gutted the airbox reeds and stripped every smog part. Worth every penny! First is still a crawler. Second is snappy but very usable. Third and forth gear are absolutely insane while at the same time no one could slap the smile off your face. Fifth and sixth are pavement cruisers but, at full power. I hope you had a change of heart and kept her. College is overrated anyways!
I don't even own a bike, but I love watch all of this dude's videos. He just comes across as a cool guy you'd like to have a beer or a cup of coffee with. Then I remembered he's LDS, so in lieu of alcohol & caffeine, I'll just watch all the ads and click the like button.
Man I love my ktm exc-f 500 2021. It is an amazing bike. My brother in law has a DRZ400. It's just an ok bike honestly. Heavy and under powered. There just not in the same park.
@@berube361 I guess it comes down to how much you value longevity and reliability over performance. Sure it's fun to get on a bike that has the specific power output of a Saturn 5 rocket, and enough suspension to jump into the Grand Canyon without bottoming, but as a True Povo (particularly living where I do, where every second man and his dog is on $150-300/hr) it's longevity and reliability for me......
We visited those falls, we traveled from Michigan, my daughter was jumping into the lower pool, my wife slipped hit her head and we visited st george ER. We love Utah despite the accident. I was able to rent a bike in Hurricane for a day and ride, it was awesome! Great job on the video, your footage is so good!
"And I knew I had to have it .... .... because I needed something street legal with decent range and there was literally nothing else." Great review :)
I enjoy seeing all the comments about high hours on 500s ridden hard but with care and love with no problems. Thanks for making great vids but also, thank you to all who are sharing the true experience in long term. 300 hours isn’t the doom and gloom time to rebuild the top let alone bottom end. It could be if ridden pegged every time you turn on the ignition, but in reality people are riding these bikes pretty “normally” for enduro / easy off road / dirt road / asphalt mix for huge hours no problem.
I bought a 2020 KTM 790 Adventure S brand new for $13,000. I enjoy everything about it. After hearing this review, that $13K seems like a great deal now. I did have to go down the accessory trail with it but I've enjoyed those so much that they don't make me mad anymore. Cruise control, Quick shifter, Heated grips, Rally mode. Couple of reasons I got the KTM over the Africa Twin or the BMW GS 800. Main one was weight. Also the KTM'S tank is under the engine so the CG is lower. Also the BMW is made in China which is a hard stop for me. The bike and I just went past 10,000 miles on the last ride. Zero problems, average 52 to 60 MPG. To me it's great that you have the bandwidth to do this kind of riding when you're so young. I didn't start off road riding till I was 62.
agreed completely,, i had a drz, then also bought a ktm 300. .. sold the drz and got the 500.., best bike ever.. period.. i moto x it, harescrambles, street, best overall bike ever!
Brilliant review of the 500 exc-f. Am in the market for a bike of similar ilk, and so good to get a real world owners review by someone using it for more than a few hours / days. Great content, well written, shot and edited. Legend.
@everide You know I started with a WR250R that was a fantastic first bike. I rode the crap out of it for 3 years and 18,500 miles of exploring and learning. I then upgraded to a Husky FE350S and it truly is a remarkable bike. The weight is amazing, the power is constant and it's made my riding improve far faster than I would have otherwise. that being said I never worried about putting hours/miles on the WR250R, but with the Husky I am always thinking about the future motor rebuild that I really don't have the finances for. That being said, in the almost 5 years I have had the Husky I've ridden over 9k miles and 350 hours on the motor without even a valve adjustment. "knock on wood". I hope it last a little longer. Who knows maybe when the motor goes I'll swap in a WR250R motor just because.
Iv said the same thing. I bought the camo KLX250 when it came out in '18, and it was my first small dual sport. Iv since had 7 different enduro and race bikes since, but I never had as much fun as I did the first 2 years on that bike...not caring about anything. It looked awesome, got u where every U wanted. Im actually considering getting rid of my single track bikes and just going back to one of those bikes just cuz of the simple joy of exploring with a dual sport
Great and honest video as always. I went from (All CA Plated) an XR400 to a 19' KTM 500 and then to a 98' Honda XR600. I still have my XR400. Learned enough from the KTM 500 that i have a 07' KTM 450 (Dirt) and 07' KTM 525 (Sumo) for less than a new KTM 500.
How does the old 525 & 450 RFS compare to a '19 Kato 500? I have a low Milage 525exc that's a Keeper - Now I'm looking @ getting 450 RFS or a 2012-13 Injected 450 exc for off road only - there's no way I could justify buying a newer 500 even a 2nd hand one for +10k I think you have the right idea! - Cheers 👍🇦🇺
@@purebloodheretic4682 For my riding style and skill level i found the 500 was too much like a 2T in it's power delivery. Both my 525 and 450 are tractors and the power curve is very linear. Short of fuel injection that sucks form the factory and needs more $$ to be right, to be honest there wasn't ever a time i said i should have kept my 500 vs my 525 or 450. If i were looking to add another KTM it would be the 14-16. Ive seen motors with good maintenance go well over 750hrs and 10-15k miles. Save your $$ and buy the best used one you can.
I'm still riding my 2009 530 EXC. 13K miles. 400+ hours. Had the engine rebuilt at 250 hours (Thumper Racing). All the 2008-2011 design issues have been resolved. I just ride the crap out of it and do normal maintenance as-needed. Seat Concepts seat kit, Acerbis 3.4 gallon tank and a good skid plate are the only mods (aside from engine rebuild). Great bike. The perfect light adventure bike IMO.
That's not accurate. The 2017+ ECUs have been locked and are not flashable. The 2016 and previous can be reflashed. The 2017+ you can get an aftermarket ECU to get them to near 60 whp, but none of them are 60 stock.
@@aTuWitty Im not saying that they are locked or not I am saying that the 2018+ KTM 4t are very restricted by the air box, ecu, exhaust, engine etc while the ktm bellow 2019 produce more power due to them being less restrictive.
@@legendhvh1239 I think that's true of non-US models, but the 2017+ US 500 EXC-Fs make around 40-41 wheel horsepower before you uncork them. That's all of them from 2017 to today.
I purchased a used 2010-450EXC Champions Edition 4 years ago for 4500.00 (actually a 2009). It had been super motard but the owner had kept all of the original parts. I think he got rid of it because he was more focused on road/track riding/racing and he was having issues with carburetor and electrical. After I purchased it I immediately returned it to it's original intent and got to work on the other issues. I installed a JD jetting kit, anti smogged it, found the air leak on the carb and fixed that. Then I went through the electrical system, replaced the stator, voltage regulator/rectifier (Trail-Tech 100w) and installed a radiator fan. I also sold the Super Motard parts for 900.00. It didn't come easy but she (2010 exc) and I have a great relationship. Multiple adventure rides and single track rides with no issues. She is now bullet proof. It wasn't always that way. It definitely was a love hate relationship at first but with my mechanical background and a lot of patience it has become my favorite do it all machine. And I'm sure I can get my money back if I would decide to sell her. I do agree with you that the 500 is the perfect do all bike for guys and gals like us. And yes it is as close to perfect as we can get for now. Just my 2 cents worth.
Excellent video as always my friend. Thanks for taking the time to share this information with us. I hope you heal up nicely from the surgery. Keep up the fun videos and know what you do is appreciated. Thanks again and have a blessed weekend. Dale
'20 500 EXC-F 6days - I hear you on the price. def a kick to 'inseam valley', but after the necessary mods, this is the only dual sport that I can take to 13,000 ft in Colorado, over gnarly rocky scree and not be afraid to do it solo. After the mods (emissions, pwr cmdr, exhaust) and a motoz desert HT, this bike will go anywhere and faster than any other bike on the market. Hands down, the single best dual sport a person can own (so long as they have good credit). From the LAB2V to 13k ft...this bike is stunning....just stunning. you should consider un-braking up. we all make mistakes. :)
I'll solve your issues with the cost with two of my favorite sayings - Hey, it's a hobby, it doesn't have to make sense. And - You can't put a price on good time! I tell my buddies every time we go out on an epic ride that if I had to put a value on that experience, I'd pay $1000! With that in mind, your expensive moto doesn't owe you a thing! Ride, enjoy and quit thinking about resale. Thanks for the great review. I have a new 500 XCW and agree, it's great on single track, dual sport, Baja - you name it.
Lots of respect for you for making this video and just saying it as you see it. I wish I could hit like at least a dozen times. Not because of what you said about the bike, but for being true to who you are and why and how you want to ride. Nice work!
I haven't had a drz400 in a decade, I've covered MANY miles on a DRZ, great bikes. I've been riding lots of the KTM 500s (525, 530, 500 and the 501), love them. I'm more into plush suspension with good bottom resistance now a days, so a Good tuned suspension on a 501 is how I roll now(from Dicks or Stillwell). I'm to cheap to buy new, lol. I buy 3 year old bikes, put 4000 to 6000 T1 miles on them and sell, then repeat(was harder during covid), it still cost $$s to ride, but I avoid rebuilds, and I'm always setting up a bike to ride(which is GOOD garage time). Thanks for the video, and I think I'm always looking for a unicorn lightly used E model DRZ400 :) Currently have a KTM 350xcf dual sport too, different but fun, 450 exc or xc-w works for me too.
This is not a dual sport bike, this is a dedicated Enduro race bike. It even says ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) which is the oldest motorbike off-road race event in the world held since 1913. You might want to compare it to a Beta RR Racing 4T 480 which weighs about the same but costs around £2000 less or a GasGas.
I just picked up a slightly used and nicely upgraded (Scott's steering damper, Pirelli tires, full hand guards, more power) 2021 Husqvarna FE501s, the slightly heavier but trickier suspension wielding KTM 500 cousin. The couple of rides I've been on have blown my mind, so much better than the WR250R that I really enjoyed that I have a hard time believing it. And this is even before I've set it up for me... Once I get it dialed, I can't imagine a better machine for going out exploring and ripping the trails. Oh, and surprisingly good ripping the twisty paved roads, even with those knobs.
Funny how you say there is a lack of old ktms on the trails. I don't have a KTM but In Australia it's seems like the opposite. Old ktms are the bikes you see the most of and when you talk to the owners ( not the internet) they're rock solid!
Mine has been as reliable as my drz was. I have 275 hours on it, 2017 model, and it runs like it did when it was new. It easily has twice the performance of the drz so it's worth every penny. No way I could go back to a drz.
I don’t get it? I’m lost in translation perhaps…You complain about financials, but in the end of the movie thank for fundings? And you broke up with the best dual bike you ever ridden, so what did you recommend in the end? What do you ride then?
I have a 2018 FE 501 basically the same as the KTM however the newer models may offer more but I doubt it. As for maintenance I haven't experienced any real problems basic oil changes and tires and brakes. I did upgrade the ECU with a vortex model which makes a huge difference.Haven't found a good seat yet but I have tried LOL!! Good Luck have fun as it seems you are !!
I bought the most expensive dual sport in the world. Was it worth it? "NO" i can give u the answer instantly... lol and now i enjoy your wonderfull video like every time i do 🙂
Love the honesty in this , 'Do I regret buying it, yes. It's the best dualsport ever, but it's the depreciation rate which is why i'm selling it.' An interesting video, keep posting.
If it the best dirt bike for you and it's only the depreciation that concerns you then obviously you need to keep it longer!!! I got mine new in 2018 and there is absolutely no reason to replace it. On the depreciation schedule I'm winning big time because there is no reason to replace my bike due to no advancements being worthwhile replacing fore.
Another great video and review. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into producing these. Also…. dirt bikes may have become a better investment than sending your kids to college these days. Just say’n
I have a heavily modded DRZ. It's not perfect by todays modern standards, but the funfactor vs. money spent, is just hard to beat.. Having a family, I could never justify buying a bike for 14 grand, that in essence is a toy. A toy that will at some point be low-sided in gravel, or have branches scraping up paint😅..it's just the nature of off-roading. Great racing drone pilot btw! I have tinkered with that a bit as well, and flying like that, is much harder than it looks. Takes ALOT of practice👍👍
Started on a KLR650, went to a DRZ400s, went to a Vstrom 1100 and am now going back to a DRZ.living in VA , riding in Shenadoah Mountains, some fire roads and country roads i will NEVER need that 10%..and if Im lucky I have enough money for a second one so my son can ride with me when he comes home from college on breaks !
May I ask where you got the figure for 220lb dry? That would put it in the exact same weight as the 450 sx-f motocross bike. And close to some 250s. The closest figures I found for the 500 six days were 233-247 dry.
I bought the 2017 excf 450 6 days. $12,000 out the door. Maintenance costs can be kept much cheaper if you learn how to do your own work and I mean learn to rebuild things. As for reliability it is a high preformance dirtbike with plates so it really depends on your maintainance schedule. Oil and filter change every 15 hours. Same with the air filter. I checked my valves every 100 hours. My valves never went out of spec. I would also rebuild or repair things as needed. That is my maintenance schedule. At 12,000 miles or 500 hours I rebuilt the top end with a high comp pistion, new cam chain and valve seals. It started burning some oil. When I rebuilt her I powdercoated the frame it was all sorts of nicked up and finally got new grey plastics. My bike doesn't even look like a 6 days anymore lol. It's such a great bike. It was my only bike for 3 years. Still have it. Still love it. I will never sell it. My 17 never left me stranded!!! And I'm not easy on it either. I ride supermoto, light adv use, hard enduro, commuting, harescrambles, road racing, trail riding, racing you name it this bike has done it. When I took my head to my local machinist he said the valves looked fantastic and were reuseable for another 500 hours easy! Keep in mind this bike is always geared very low and really does see redline quite a bit. Right away I got a vortex ecu, gutted the pipe, and ripped out the reeds in the airbox that's where your horsepower is going. I stopped worrying about scratching it a long time ago. Started being proud of the battle scars. My airbox lid popped a hole in it and was repaired with a white 5 gal bucket, a razor, and some rivits stayed like that until i rebuilt the chassis at 500 hours. In my expert opinion these bikes are tough as nails and very reliable for a high preformance dual sport bike. Just have to maintain them.
A couple of corrections on the horsepower figures. Dirt rider dynoed both bikes on the same Dyno. The drz400s made 31.8 horsepower and 24.3 foot pounds of torque. The KTM made 39.4 horsepower and 27.7 foot pounds of torque just as was stated. If my calculations are correct then the KTM makes 7.6 horsepower more and 3.4 more foot pounds of torque. When you ride them back to back like I have, the KTM feels like it makes double the power.
Does anyone know where this terrain is? I've been all over the southwest and I don't recognize it...looks kinda like Moab but it's not. I take a lot of road trips and would like to know where this is.
I love that you went crazy with the FPV drone footage nearly hitting your buddy in the face with it lol! I also give mad respect to you for showing the footage of you hitting the deck with the drone behind the bike. I love drones and dirt bikes and this video has both. You got my like and sub!
You are 100% right on the $price$!!! I had a very hard time beating on my KTM 500 because the thought of it just like you said at the end of the video!
I couldnt agree with you more on the ktm 500 excf being the best dual sport. I have a 2019 and it is the best riding experience ive ever had on a dirtbike.
I felt the same way when I picked up my 2015 Tiger Explorer from the original owner. It was/is a spotless garage kept gem. I still keep it in a garage. It took me MONTHS to actually take it off of a paved road.... and I babied it. However. The first time I disabled the traction control and rear ABS... ooooooohhhhh yes. Too heavy to really beat on. While its no dual sport, bit has gotten pretty dirty and I now have zero shame. Still cleans up pretty nicely.
Ride it, love it, don't sell it. If you do, you'll regret it more; and, you'll replace it costing even more. Remember, depreciation only exists when you sell. I once stood in awe as a guy paid $12,000 for a trek Malone road bike (bicycle). After some thought, I commended the guy for buying a dream bike since he only had to buy it once. After that, there it is any time he wants it. Fun video.
I have been riding 70's/80's Yamaha's for years, my favorites being a 76 TY175 for woods & rocks and a 1980 XT500 for gravel road tours. I have wanted a dual sport for some time, almost owning a KLR once or twice. Browsing the internet last winter I can across the KTM website - I like the fact that KTM calls their lineup of street legal dirt bikes enduros. Whomever writes the copy for KTM deserves some sort of an award (go ahead and the first paragraph of the description for the 500 EXC-F Six Days on their website - I wanted one immediately). My local AD had one in stock on their web page so I stopped in to look - didn't see it on the floor and nobody around to ask so I left. I was driving between job sites one cold early January morning the following week and got a wild hair to call - turns out they had another one crated so I bought it, sight unseen. I think it was sometime in March before I could actually ride the bike (the winter here in flyover country was long and cold this year). I am a gravel rider mixed with short pavement runs. The bike is everything I hoped for, super responsive, quick & nimble. I will change out the seat and add a larger tank. Every review I read / watch disses the tires - so far so good for my style of riding. I am swapping out other items such as mirrors & grips as I go, but I think the bike was good right out of the crate. I am a 60+ year old rider that still gets a thrill riding something so responsive. I plan on taking it for runs on the TAT in the near future. I didn't balk at the price and I am pleased the review justified my purchase, not that it needs any justification. Plus the bike gets a ton of looks - I like the Dorito's analogy.
How much does it weigh? Love my $6995 OTD Kawasaki KLR. Rode to Canada and it ran great and got 50 mpg. The problem is it weighs 500 lbs and at 76 years old, I'm not comfortable leaving the pavement.
I love my 500 EXC-f. I plan on riding it until I can’t ride anymore. Resale price doesn’t bite you too hard if you don’t plan on re-selling it.
Same here!
Same as my 22 FE501.... I'll never sell it !
@@D73GT Well, nothing lasts forever. But if I service it well and don’t thrash it I am sure it will survive even me. And yes, I am counting on doing a top and lower rebuild of the engine somewhere along the way. People do ride these bikes ATW, and that says something about the reliability. But of course, I will have to maintain, take good care of it and do an engine rebuild somewhere around 50-70k km.
@@D73GT I’m 49 years old and I’m not riding motocross, doing big jumps, or riding like I’m in my 20’s. If I do the maintenance my bike will last quite awhile. I bought it for me to use, not because of a potential investment.
@@D73GT I have a friend who has ridden his -15 over 1200 hours and 40,000 miles. He changed cylinder and piston at 950 hours. Minimal wear on both of them and the mechanic even jokingly told him he could just replace the rings and keep on riding. The bike was used for gravel roads, long trips through Europe, road book rallying and pure enduro riding. And yes, I know the guy. So it’s not just a tale I’ve heard from someone else.
It’s a modern four stroke engine. Built for extreme thrashing. I have no doubt it will hold up very well with an average Joe like me behind the bars. Especially since I love to pamper it with love and service.
If it breaks down I’ll be sure to let you know here in the comments. I promise 🤗
I agree with everything you just said, except one. I have so much fun riding and scratching up my 500 that I don’t even think a second about the depreciation value. Mainly that is because I have zero plans on selling the bike, ever…
here they hold the value very well...resale shemesale hahahahaaaa
You got that right! I'm picking up a new 350 EXC-F on Sat. and will hopefully have many years of fun on it, regardless of aesthetic damage.
70,000 km 2000 hrs on my stock 13 KTM 500 xcw ,Best bike I've ever owned. Had two drz400's before that, combined 140,000kms on them. They had big bore kits, hotcams, fcr carb, yosh exhaust. Bullet proof bikes but the stock KTM 500 does everything better.
@bilw1960 I’m catching up. 19,500km on a 14 500EXC. After 3 DRZ’s, two DR650’s & an 02 KTM 400 EXC that started it all, it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned.
is it better on the road than the DRZ as well?
@@misterchuck6866 The KTM500 vibrates more than the DRZ so the DRZ wins on that. However it has a 6th gear and the stock 57hp to pull it, which the DRZ does not. Offroad the vibes arent noticeable.
@@bilw1960I find it unbelievable that the drz400 and ktm500 are compared, I have a drz and my dad has a 500, completely different, 500 is better in every way but price and service intervals.
@@rileyvosper411and reliability?!?
Man! You are STILL the king of dual sport videos! I started watching this on my phone and decided to wait to watch it on a larger screen because your photography is stellar, as always!! Much love to you!
You motivated me to buy a DRZ. Worked well for ADV but definitely not the best woods or single track bike. Hence, I also made the move to a 2020 Six Days. Paid “only” $10k for a used bike with 20 hours on it a year or so ago. It also included stabilizer, rekluse, tubliss and gummies. I thought it was a pretty good deal. I added a tidy tail, enduro plate, lhrb, trail tech, and seat concepts XL. Just like you, my confidence is 2x in the tough stuff on the KTM. Losing >75lbs really helps. Unicorns are not cheap, but damn they are worth it.
I also went from a Drz to KTM, but I only paid $2500 three years ago
(06 450exc) original piston and valves, has perfect compression still running strong!
Honesty I think I liked the Drz better on the street but the dirt, forget about it!
If you had a drz E you would’ve thought different mines is brilliant off road
@@JohnSmith-ws1dp So happens I had the E, pretty decent bike, but not for the trails here in Idaho's mountains, I still stand on original statement, when was the last time you rode an EXC off road?
Only? ten grand 😆
@@JohnSmith-ws1dp Absolutly. He says his only issue was the weight. Well, you can EASILY drop POUNDS off of a DRZ and get close to that lower weight. Pay half the price for the bike initially and half or even less than half on parts and service over the years. KTM = hype-train to me, that's all. I've ridden MANY and they are NOT worth double the price...
Just my opinion...
The true gold standard in narrating TH-cam videos!
And that psychological thing is so true - I own a DRZ and a 701. Everytime I’m out on my brand new 701 and scratch it, I’m thinking to myself «oh I should have ridden the DRZ today», and when I ride my DRZ I’m completely worry-free.
I had gone from a 2007 drz to a 2015 KTM 690 and I can echo what you said there for sure. The 690 was amazing but I didn't dare scratch it because it was expensive to replace anything on it, and it's hard to pick up on the trail. So I sold the 690 because I just wasn't riding it and bought a 2015 KTM 500.
Every worry I had regarding dropping it or scratching it was gone. I took it home and kicked it over in the yard to get the first scratches in and ever since I have just ridden the snot out of it!
When it's a dirt bike it is way easier to let go of those cares.
@@_-frosty-_ I'm back to rewatch this video because it's soooo good! Saw your comment now - I love my 701 (DRZ sold now), but the thought of a 500 is sweet. Too bad there's simply too much tarmac here in northern Europe. Safe rides Adam!
I have a plated, 86 Yamaha TT600 that I bought used, and fixed up for around $2500 total. Love it, no hemroid cream, and only 1 oil filter with two gaskets.
I have a plated, 2006 Honda crf450x that I bought used for $3200 back in 2013. This bike is awesome to ride, and I have no qualms about crashing it or putting on miles. If you are not rich, used bikes are totally the way to go.
@@5tr41ghtGuy That's an outstanding price for that bike if it's in good condition. Here in California where conversions are outlawed, that thing would go for 6-7 grand.
Well said! Yes, the cost, at my age, is prohibitive (still like to ride one, lol). I have found my combo of DRZ400s & and my hair on fire BRP, XR600R, perfect for an old man (62) riding the desert of Calif and AZ. My boat is old my bikes are old and I'm old, but as I told my kids you can have your cake and eat it too if you're willing to compromise a Little and man I'm still smiling!! Great video and perspective!
EVERYTHING you said I felt when buying my '22 exc-f! I currently have 4 bikes, and this is by far my favorite bike! By FAR! Didn't start out that way tho. It's very true you have to almost start over with just the frame and engine as I've replaced/upgraded/modded bars, grips, handguards, mirrors, seat, tires, fuel programmer, exhaust tip, pegs....on and on. I CAN'T KEEP MY HANDS OFF OF IT! Only regret is I wish I got one years ago but was scared away by the maintenance schedule. I don't mind it at all, great trade off for what it does.
This is the main reason I bought a CRF300L. Low entry cost for a new bike, a few mods later and it’s my go to bike (road or otherwise) and I never worry about abusing it.
I have a KLX300 and love it, but damn, I wish it was a 450/500 so I could have an easier time on the freeway
@@andrewanderson1988 500 bros do not like the highway. Hand and feet vibes are through the roof
@@chasp_0784 I am not expecting it to be an amazing freeway/highway ride. I just think it will be better than on my KLX300
Same! Picked up a crf300l a few weeks ago and love it
The suspension is garbage on the 300L unless you weigh under 110 pounds
Love all of your brutally honest reviews!!!!
Great review Tyler. In searching for a lighter, electric start replacement for my incredible XR400R, I first purchased the 2021 KLX300: very nice dual sport, but heavy and lacking that nice 400 power. I made the mistake of stopping by the local Tucson KTM dealer, man that weight, or lack there of in the 2022 KTM500 EXC-F! Like you, at first there was nothing but buyers remorse, I had never spent that much on a bike. Like you, I replaced all the plastics, seat, etc. anything that I didn't want to damage in OEM hardware. Then there's that viby thing you don't get in the Jap bikes, at least not at the level I feel in the KTM. At first I felt the pull to keep riding my 400, but now I just love riding the KTM! It is just an incredible all around bike, fun, powerful and light. Being 61 years old, I don't worry as much about resale as it could very well be the last bike I own. I'll probably keep the KLX300 as well, In fact I have it with me here in Moab this week, for its smooth pavement characteristics, and because it matches up better with my wife's KLX230 when we ride together like we are this week. When riding more challenging of road though, the KTM is my new favorite. In the end though, you'll know I'm absolutely committed to it when I finally sell my XR400R.
Hey, great video. I've spent most of my life riding dirt and road bikes and did enduros in my younger days etc., etc. I''ve been riding all kinds of bikes and then some over the years and always used to laugh at guys who seemed loyal to KTM. Well, I'm 64 now and just bought a 2016 KTM 450 EXC with 3000 easy kilometres. It was immaculate, a bargain and I just could not pass it by. .......God, I wish I'd have made that move years ago!!! All parts seem quality, durable yet light weight material purpose built with no shortcuts anywhere. Its light, yet strong. This KTM 450 is the best handling, most responsive, most fun to ride dirt bike I've ever ridden, period :-)
The fact that I got it at a bargain price ($6.5K) has eliminated the dilemma you are having with resell value so I'm riding it like I stole it :-)
I'll never be good enough to out-skill what my Drz has to offer on any trail. If I can't get there on the Drz then odds are I can't get there. God bless Tyler, beautiful film as always, good to hear from you again.
The DRZ will do anything that KTM will. Hell, I’ve done everything on my KLR that my buddies do on their KTMs and had less mechanical issues doing it. Not to mention the 500 mile oil changes and 1000 mile valve checks
Hear that with a couple exceptions. I have a DR350, have no friends with KTMs but I probably couldn't keep up with them on my KLR anyway
@Nathaniel Ojcius that’s what everyone has told me the whole time I’ve been riding but yet I continue to go everywhere KTMs go with no issues. I should probably mention that 1, I’m a fairly big guy so wrangling a bigger bike isn’t a huge deal and 2, I’m a former MX and hare scramble racer who nearly went pro (back injury screwed me) so I’m definitely not your typical rider
I had a DRZ for 6 years & rode it off road, on back roads, and some light competition. I replaced it with a 450 KTM EXC with the RFS engine. It did everything better except for sounding cool.
Out of all the bikes that I've ridden I've crashed the DRZ400 the most
So Tyler, I am the same guy- I've always bought used, always bought cheap, always kept costs as low as I can. I rode an XR650L for years and years, with an XR600R as my dirtbike. I finally upgraded to a 530 EXC last year and lost my mind at the difference, then shortly thereafter bought a 2016 Husky FE501S. It's unbelievable how much easier everything is- I didn't become a better rider, but my riding got much better instantaneously because the instrument was better, which gave me more confidence and has led to me becoming a better rider. The weight you mentioned is critical.
A few things- the 39 hp you quoted is anemic, thank you EPA. Good news is, with an ECU and the endcap drilled out and a few other free mods, you've got yourself a nearly 60 whp bike. You cannot, absolutely cannot compare any DRZ, bored and stroked or anything, to a 500 running a GET ECU and pushing upwards of 60 hp at that rear wheel. KTM's service intervals are for race conditions only. I have 440 hours on my stock Husky piston and 340 on my stock 530 piston and they're healthy as can be. 40-50 hour oil change intervals if you're not racing are pretty normal, especially with the AKT filter for the 500. Upgrading the in-tank fuel filter is kinda a must, because many people have issues with the stock one splitting and losing fuel pressure. The suspension can't really be compared to the DRZ, because while the travel might be similar, the 500 is in a different world of suspension quality, especially with a good revalve.
I know that ECU's aren't cheap, though you can get a cheap piggyback programmer to do a fairly good job, and a suspension revalve is $$$, but that's again why I buy used. These motors are incredibly stout. There's a guy who just finished a RTW on a 500 and he didn't do a top end until 40,000 miles and didn't do a full motor rebuild until over 80,000, and even then he said he didn't have to but was heading into the middle of nowhere and wanted the peace of mind. The electronics can give you issues, but mechanically the 500 motor is actually incredible for how light it is. I bought a DRZ400S a while ago as a flip project, put a DRZ400E motor/carb in it with a Yoshi full exhaust, and while it was interesting and had a lot more power than a stock DRZ-S, the suspension was harsher, it had no bottom end compared to my 530, and it was just overall worse in every aspect than my 530 or 501. That 500 will do everything the DRZ can do, but better, period.
"That 500 will do everything the DRZ will do, but better". Haha... I think you just wrote Suzuki's next advertisement. Sure, you could spend twice as much money for a bike that can do what ours already does. Or you could have two of ours... picture of father and son hitting the trail, together. Don't forget to ask Suzuki for your royalty money. It could help you pay for that KTM, that can do what a DRZ does.
@@bmotomo421 what you may not be aware of is that the 500 will also do a helluva lot more than the drz will do, and it will do it more easily. It's a better bike, full stop, and worth the money. I have a DRZ400E and an FE501S and the DRZ leaves me worn out after an hour on moderate trails, but I can go 6+ hours on the same trails with the Husqvarna before hitting the same level of fatigue. You should go ride one and see for yourself.
@@aTuWitty Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware the KTM is a bit more capable than the DRZ. But only in the hands of a rider who is capable of using to that potential. I can assure you, there are plenty of DRZ riders outriding guys on the latest and greatest new bikes, every day. If you can't learn to go fast on a bike, it's not the bikes fault. The DRZ is far more capable than probably 90% of the people who ride them. You and me included. Now, if you want to know how good the Suzuki really is, consider this... It was designed in the late nineties. Over the time between then and now, it has received little more than new colors and new graphics. Yet today, in the year 2022, over twenty years after its introduction. It has continued to be in the conversation with every new bike in its class, that has hit the market since its introduction. And, it's still a lot of bike, even if it did cost as much as your Husquvarna. Yet it doesn't. And here we are, comparing them. Just bold new graphics. Twenty-something years later. Cheers!
@@bmotomo421 you're right and you're wrong. An average rider WILL ride better on a 500 than they will on a DRZ. No question. The 500 is a better off-road machine. The "it's the rider not the bike" argument is not actually accurate. Manny Lettenbichler won the Erzberg this year, but if you put him on a Goldwing and me on a 300 2 stroke, I would smoke him in a hard Enduro race, despite him being thousands of light years ahead of me in skill.
Riding a 500 off-road is MUCH easier than riding a DRZ off-road. I'm a decent rider, nothing amazing, but having ridden both extensively, the DRZ lacks suspension, power, and is heavy as hell compared to the 500. The 500 is much easier to maneuver and will wear you out less. Anyone will have an easier time riding it than they would a DRZ.
And the whole "it's unchanged so it must be the best" thing is rather tired. My favorite bike I've ever owned was my 99 XR650L, which is still produced unchanged since 1993 and was designed in the 80s. Does that make it a better bike than the 500? The DRZ? No. It's a fine bike, better at some things, worse at others, but the reason the DRZ and DR650 and XR650L are unchanged is because they're grandfathered into the emissions laws and Honda and Suzuki CANNOT change anything on them or they would have to update them to be fully emissions compliant with every other new bike. The reason these bikes are still in the conversation is because they are reasonably capable at what they do, and they're CHEAP because the tooling was paid for years ago. All three are great bikes for people riding street and trails. I wouldn't take ANY of them out to ride hard Enduro. You know what I would take? My 501. My 530. My buddy's 350. A 300 2 stroke.
Can Manny take a DRZ anywhere I can get my 501? Yep. No doubt. He's a godlike rider. But would he have an easier time on the 501, and would he be able to get the 501 places where he couldn't get the DRZ? Also no doubt.
The 500 is a better off-road bike, period.
@@bmotomo421 Keep in mind that I love my DRZ. I'm not hating on it at all. It's a fantastic bike, and I'll likely be riding it to Canada soon. I am being honest about the bike's abilities. The 500 is VASTLY more capable in the dirt, not just "a bit more capable". It's not even in the same universe. I love the DRZ, but you can love a bike without being delusional about its abilities. It's ok to recognize a shortcoming in a bike. The 500 and 501 have a number of electrical issues that pop up with some regularity, and they transmit bigger vibes into the bars and footpegs than the DRZ does (the DRZ is more buzzy, but the vibes are smaller in magnitude). The fuel pump is known to split open and leave you stranded, the injector can get clogged up, the PDS on the 500 doesn't track nearly as well as the linkage on the 501, the stock headlight and seat are terrible, and while the suspension is good, a revalving by a professional works wonders. It is not a perfect bike, but it's a far better dirtbike than the DRZ could ever hope to be.
That's a great review buddy! I had the chance to do a large group ride with 31 dual sports last weekend and one of the female riders had recently sold her DRZ400 in favor of a KTM 350 the way she talked you would think she died and went to heaven it was very rewarding to hear such a thing and awesome that companies like KTM make such light fast bikes there truly helping riders get better!
10 minutes into the video - "It's the best Dual Sport I've ever owned - and best I've ever ridden". I totally agree. End of story.
plot twist.....
Love me a good plot twist!
The flipside of the depreciation coin is that this is one of the most sought after bikes on the market. Good luck even finding one for sale used - most owners love them too much to let go. And of course, the limited supply means the price goes up. Most of the money you lose on the bike will actually be in the upgrades you do for it.
yea i have this same bike and i love it its a ton of fun
I think if you're lucky enough go ever get one brand new pulling all oem parts you upgrade off before using it is the best option you can have. Than reselling it the next ow er had the option to have it modded or have it original for show room. Just as the bike ain't too beat up I guess. But who the hell want to have one as a collector when they're so much fun to rip o
If ya can't beat em, join em'. Score a used model for around 10K and ride off into the sunset on one of the best all around bikes in the world. Glad you are honest, it really just depends how much you love riding, what you are doing, and how much you want to go broke.
I literally just bought a 2019 for 10k and feel pretty good about it. Like some others have commented, if you don't plan on reselling this thing then it doesn't matter how much you scuff it up. This and my KLR are staying till they blow up or get totaled.
I found a 2015 KTM XCF-W 350 with only 5 hours on it last year and bought it and converted it to be street legal and couldn’t be happier. Only 7k all in and all the capability off road of the 500 and 90% of its on road manners.
This video was a brilliant roller coaster of emotions xD
One of the best reviews I've ever seen... dude!
This video is so good I just:
- read comments for 10 minutes.
- consumed 20 minutes of sleep I needed and woke up pooped.
- decided on the DRZ
- subscribed
Thanks for posting this!!
I had the 690 Enduro and went with the blacked out look like you did on the 500. it kills me that I let that bike go. Your video has me seriously thinking about getting a 500. The 690 was an awesome street biased dual sport, but that street legal moto-style 500 is so appealing.
I bought a 2016 500 EXC as a college graduation gift to myself. It was the very first new vehicle of any kind I'd ever purchased.
Within 3 minutes of taking ownership of it from the dealer and riding it home I turned onto a power line trail, blasted through a 2ft deep mud puddle, and wiped out. Nothing but a smile on my face because I'd told myself from the beginning that I was buying a dirt bike to use it as a dirt bike.
300 hours and 10k miles later and I've never once worried about hurting it. That thing will take more of a beating than I could ever give it.
I’ve always wanted that bike but went with the drz for the maintenance, reliability, and price.
You missed out , besides on the price factor
We used to have that. It was called a 625 sxc
Thats a crf450rl my friend.
I agree. I've had a ktm 525 and a drz. It all comes down to what kind of riding you do. I want to ride to work, gym and ride offroad. For that I'd pick the drz all day. I will never spend $13,000 + out the door for the ktm. All I ever did to my drz was drop the countershaft sprocket down a tooth and change the tires.
I have a KTM 450 EXC Factory Edition from 2015 and I am loving it. Never had a problem, more torque and power I can handle. Obviously got rid of the emission stuff, so it pull about 50 Horse Powers. Only put in moose, so I dont have to bother about flats.
How do you take out the “emissions stuff”??
@@mjnienkemper3699 there is an air restrictor and a metal swamp like thing which is like a catalyst. Important thing is though the air restrictor, since that takes away like 50% of the possible power.
@@TheKmpec thank you🔥💯
@@TheKmpec I hope you tuned it lol. otherwise your engine is going to hate you
Great to see this review...watched you from early on and always liked your perspectives. I've got a 990 and a WR250R as my dual sport stable but now need to condense down to one bike for the desert. However, with both bikes fully dialed in with upgraded suspensions and such, it is killing me to pull the trigger. You know, that irrational emotional attachment stuff we get for these dam things. I road the EXC in Moab a few years back loved it. It was kinda like a love child of my 2 bikes...but am still on the fence. Thanks for the perspectives, the good, the bad and the ugly. Looks like I might be putting a 2fer on the market this season....or maybe next season. Don't want to jump into these things. Appreciate your contributions.
I contend that the 500exc is the best bike of all time! It’s not particularly good at any one thing, but brilliant at every kind of riding you want to do, on and off road! I’ve put over 10,000 miles on mine without issue. The motor is untouched, aside from valve checks every 5000 miles. I changed oil every 2000 miles. I also have a 690 and a 990 for the longer than 2000 miles or mostly on asphalt. Otherwise, the 500 is the go to bike!
I added a Rekluse clutch, 4 gallon tank and a Seat Concepts XL seat and I could not be happier with my 500 EXC
Not only an excellent review, but I love the Utah riding! I also noticed you actually went through Vernal, an extremely underrated, hidden gem. Thanks for all the awesome info!
Another amazing review, and video. There are no TH-camrs I trust more than you.
For me the DRZ400, as old and unmodern as it may be, is still the king of dual sports. Affordable, loses next to no value over time, more reliable than the earth's orbit around the sun and a million billion cheap accessories, parts and mods readily available and almost as many tutorials, videos and forums dedicated to it. I might not be able to do those super fun extra 10% I could on the 500 Six Days, but for half the price plus all the other perks listed above I don't even care.
The DRZ is a way better bike than most people think it is. And a lot more capable than most expect it to be. So to spend four time the money, just because you think it will do just 10% more terrain seem pretty silly to me, too. Why not just improve your riding skills by 10 or 20%? That's almost free! And I'm sure there are plenty of riders who could ride a DRZ over that extra 10%. Don't get me wrong, I know the KTM is a more capable bike than a DRZ. But, Only with a rider who can ride it to its capabilities. Riding motorcycles has been and will always be, 90% rider, 10% bike. No up, no extras. That last thing that will make you a better rider is buying a bike that far exceeds your skill level.
Drz is now over $7k new. Not the.value it used to be.
Well wouldn't you know, Tyler, I recently ended up with one of these very Dorritos bikes to augment that 10% of trails (around here, maybe more than 10%) I and my DRZ will not be managing together. It's not the DRZ so much as it is me; I'm old and stuff doesn't heal like it once did. Excellent review as always with fun, insight, and unmatched production value in the genre. Carry on, lad.
Thanks again Tyler for another epic video .. I have owned a 1999 Yamaha WR-400F now since 2004 and have 3 friends who went out and bought KTM’’s , A 400 , 510 and 640 ( all over the course of past 18 years). My Yamaha has NEVER been rebuilt engine wise , still runs like a top , and has only cost me around $5600 so far . I’m admittedly a cheap bastard , and while I cannot justify forking over “ My kids college funds “ for a new off road machine , I still would love the opportunity to do so . My WR is a lot like your old DRZ, comfortable, superbly capable , but just a tad on the porky side . But I’ll trade a small amount of “ Extra beef” for the reliability of the engine in this thing any day. A lighter bike may be “ Easier to push home “ after breaking down out in who knows where , but a reliable one means you NEVER have to worry about that day. Enjoyed your video as always , and some day this 62 year old would love to come to your neck of the woods & go on a group ride with you and some buddies 👍. Until then , keep “Em rubber side down”. 🤞. C-ya.
Stock skid plate is fine imo and solid. Idk why everyone says it need to be replaced. Also the factory wrap around handguard extentions are soooooooo much better then some metal ones😂 crash tested on dirt and pavement myself. 288 hours so far. Running great! Enjoy it man!
I had some of the same issues during the break in period after bringing home a new 23 six days. As you also found out that the bike is so good that I will not ruin my rides with my perceived regret from the price tag. Quite the opposite really as I became a customer of TacoMoto and put one of his GET ecu's, a 4.1 fmf, gutted the airbox reeds and stripped every smog part. Worth every penny! First is still a crawler. Second is snappy but very usable. Third and forth gear are absolutely insane while at the same time no one could slap the smile off your face. Fifth and sixth are pavement cruisers but, at full power.
I hope you had a change of heart and kept her. College is overrated anyways!
I don't even own a bike, but I love watch all of this dude's videos. He just comes across as a cool guy you'd like to have a beer or a cup of coffee with. Then I remembered he's LDS, so in lieu of alcohol & caffeine, I'll just watch all the ads and click the like button.
Ty is definitely a guy you'd like to have a coffee with...even if he isn't drinking!
The absolute best dual sport channel on the internet. Thank you so much.
Man I love my ktm exc-f 500 2021. It is an amazing bike. My brother in law has a DRZ400. It's just an ok bike honestly. Heavy and under powered. There just not in the same park.
But the DR-Z will still be going after you've rebuilt the engine 5 times on the KTM....
@@davidnobular9220 Yeah going slow and can't get out of its own way lol. They are absolute dogs without a number of upgrades.
@@berube361 I guess it comes down to how much you value longevity and reliability over performance. Sure it's fun to get on a bike that has the specific power output of a Saturn 5 rocket, and enough suspension to jump into the Grand Canyon without bottoming, but as a True Povo (particularly living where I do, where every second man and his dog is on $150-300/hr) it's longevity and reliability for me......
We visited those falls, we traveled from Michigan, my daughter was jumping into the lower pool, my wife slipped hit her head and we visited st george ER. We love Utah despite the accident. I was able to rent a bike in Hurricane for a day and ride, it was awesome! Great job on the video, your footage is so good!
"And I knew I had to have it .... .... because I needed something street legal with decent range and there was literally nothing else." Great review :)
I enjoy seeing all the comments about high hours on 500s ridden hard but with care and love with no problems. Thanks for making great vids but also, thank you to all who are sharing the true experience in long term. 300 hours isn’t the doom and gloom time to rebuild the top let alone bottom end. It could be if ridden pegged every time you turn on the ignition, but in reality people are riding these bikes pretty “normally” for enduro / easy off road / dirt road / asphalt mix for huge hours no problem.
I bought a 2020 KTM 790 Adventure S brand new for $13,000. I enjoy everything about it. After hearing this review, that $13K seems like a great deal now. I did have to go down the accessory trail with it but I've enjoyed those so much that they don't make me mad anymore. Cruise control, Quick shifter, Heated grips, Rally mode. Couple of reasons I got the KTM over the Africa Twin or the BMW GS 800. Main one was weight. Also the KTM'S tank is under the engine so the CG is lower. Also the BMW is made in China which is a hard stop for me. The bike and I just went past 10,000 miles on the last ride. Zero problems, average 52 to 60 MPG. To me it's great that you have the bandwidth to do this kind of riding when you're so young. I didn't start off road riding till I was 62.
agreed completely,, i had a drz, then also bought a ktm 300. .. sold the drz and got the 500.., best bike ever.. period.. i moto x it, harescrambles, street, best overall bike ever!
Glad to see u getting vids out again mate well done 👏
The lack of resale regrets is exactly why DRZ’s are the perfect dual sport bikes for guys like me. Bravo for an outstanding review!
Would you rather have the KTM or a 22' CRF300L and a 22' KX250X?
Brilliant review of the 500 exc-f. Am in the market for a bike of similar ilk, and so good to get a real world owners review by someone using it for more than a few hours / days. Great content, well written, shot and edited. Legend.
I have a 2017 KTM 500 EXC-F with over 5k miles. Still going strong :)
How does it compare to beta's rr480?
I love the 2T that's why I stick with Sherco, carbureted, oil-mixed, and so essential.
How does this bike compare to the betas you’ve ridden?
@everide You know I started with a WR250R that was a fantastic first bike. I rode the crap out of it for 3 years and 18,500 miles of exploring and learning. I then upgraded to a Husky FE350S and it truly is a remarkable bike. The weight is amazing, the power is constant and it's made my riding improve far faster than I would have otherwise. that being said I never worried about putting hours/miles on the WR250R, but with the Husky I am always thinking about the future motor rebuild that I really don't have the finances for. That being said, in the almost 5 years I have had the Husky I've ridden over 9k miles and 350 hours on the motor without even a valve adjustment. "knock on wood". I hope it last a little longer. Who knows maybe when the motor goes I'll swap in a WR250R motor just because.
Iv said the same thing. I bought the camo KLX250 when it came out in '18, and it was my first small dual sport. Iv since had 7 different enduro and race bikes since, but I never had as much fun as I did the first 2 years on that bike...not caring about anything. It looked awesome, got u where every U wanted. Im actually considering getting rid of my single track bikes and just going back to one of those bikes just cuz of the simple joy of exploring with a dual sport
The only channel I always look forward to receiving a notification from. Love the new monster!
Nice review I think I will keep riding my DRZ400S. Enjoy.
Great and honest video as always. I went from (All CA Plated) an XR400 to a 19' KTM 500 and then to a 98' Honda XR600. I still have my XR400. Learned enough from the KTM 500 that i have a 07' KTM 450 (Dirt) and 07' KTM 525 (Sumo) for less than a new KTM 500.
How does the old 525 & 450 RFS compare to a '19 Kato 500?
I have a low Milage 525exc that's a Keeper - Now I'm looking @ getting 450 RFS or a 2012-13 Injected 450 exc for off road only - there's no way I could justify buying a newer 500 even a 2nd hand one for +10k
I think you have the right idea! - Cheers 👍🇦🇺
@@purebloodheretic4682 For my riding style and skill level i found the 500 was too much like a 2T in it's power delivery. Both my 525 and 450 are tractors and the power curve is very linear. Short of fuel injection that sucks form the factory and needs more $$ to be right, to be honest there wasn't ever a time i said i should have kept my 500 vs my 525 or 450. If i were looking to add another KTM it would be the 14-16. Ive seen motors with good maintenance go well over 750hrs and 10-15k miles. Save your $$ and buy the best used one you can.
I had a 2017 500 and bar none was my favorite dirt bike ever. Powerful, light and never had 1 single issue with it. Now I ride a Husky FE 450.
I'm still riding my 2009 530 EXC. 13K miles. 400+ hours. Had the engine rebuilt at 250 hours (Thumper Racing). All the 2008-2011 design issues have been resolved. I just ride the crap out of it and do normal maintenance as-needed. Seat Concepts seat kit, Acerbis 3.4 gallon tank and a good skid plate are the only mods (aside from engine rebuild). Great bike. The perfect light adventure bike IMO.
TIP FOR YOU GUYS IF YOU SEARCH A KTM 500 GET AT MAX THE 2018 VERSION IT PRODUCES ABOUT 60HP WHILE THE 2019-2023 PRODUCE 40 HP DUE TO EMISSIONS.
That's not accurate. The 2017+ ECUs have been locked and are not flashable. The 2016 and previous can be reflashed. The 2017+ you can get an aftermarket ECU to get them to near 60 whp, but none of them are 60 stock.
@@aTuWitty Im not saying that they are locked or not I am saying that the 2018+ KTM 4t are very restricted by the air box, ecu, exhaust, engine etc while the ktm bellow 2019 produce more power due to them being less restrictive.
@@legendhvh1239 I think that's true of non-US models, but the 2017+ US 500 EXC-Fs make around 40-41 wheel horsepower before you uncork them. That's all of them from 2017 to today.
I purchased a used 2010-450EXC Champions Edition 4 years ago for 4500.00 (actually a 2009). It had been super motard but the owner had kept all of the original parts. I think he got rid of it because he was more focused on road/track riding/racing and he was having issues with carburetor and electrical. After I purchased it I immediately returned it to it's original intent and got to work on the other issues. I installed a JD jetting kit, anti smogged it, found the air leak on the carb and fixed that. Then I went through the electrical system, replaced the stator, voltage regulator/rectifier (Trail-Tech 100w) and installed a radiator fan. I also sold the Super Motard parts for 900.00. It didn't come easy but she (2010 exc) and I have a great relationship. Multiple adventure rides and single track rides with no issues. She is now bullet proof. It wasn't always that way. It definitely was a love hate relationship at first but with my mechanical background and a lot of patience it has become my favorite do it all machine. And I'm sure I can get my money back if I would decide to sell her. I do agree with you that the 500 is the perfect do all bike for guys and gals like us. And yes it is as close to perfect as we can get for now. Just my 2 cents worth.
Excellent video as always my friend. Thanks for taking the time to share this information with us. I hope you heal up nicely from the surgery. Keep up the fun videos and know what you do is appreciated. Thanks again and have a blessed weekend.
Dale
'20 500 EXC-F 6days - I hear you on the price. def a kick to 'inseam valley', but after the necessary mods, this is the only dual sport that I can take to 13,000 ft in Colorado, over gnarly rocky scree and not be afraid to do it solo. After the mods (emissions, pwr cmdr, exhaust) and a motoz desert HT, this bike will go anywhere and faster than any other bike on the market. Hands down, the single best dual sport a person can own (so long as they have good credit). From the LAB2V to 13k ft...this bike is stunning....just stunning. you should consider un-braking up. we all make mistakes. :)
I'll solve your issues with the cost with two of my favorite sayings - Hey, it's a hobby, it doesn't have to make sense. And - You can't put a price on good time! I tell my buddies every time we go out on an epic ride that if I had to put a value on that experience, I'd pay $1000! With that in mind, your expensive moto doesn't owe you a thing! Ride, enjoy and quit thinking about resale. Thanks for the great review. I have a new 500 XCW and agree, it's great on single track, dual sport, Baja - you name it.
Lots of respect for you for making this video and just saying it as you see it. I wish I could hit like at least a dozen times. Not because of what you said about the bike, but for being true to who you are and why and how you want to ride. Nice work!
I haven't had a drz400 in a decade, I've covered MANY miles on a DRZ, great bikes. I've been riding lots of the KTM 500s (525, 530, 500 and the 501), love them. I'm more into plush suspension with good bottom resistance now a days, so a Good tuned suspension on a 501 is how I roll now(from Dicks or Stillwell).
I'm to cheap to buy new, lol. I buy 3 year old bikes, put 4000 to 6000 T1 miles on them and sell, then repeat(was harder during covid), it still cost $$s to ride, but I avoid rebuilds, and I'm always setting up a bike to ride(which is GOOD garage time).
Thanks for the video, and I think I'm always looking for a unicorn lightly used E model DRZ400 :)
Currently have a KTM 350xcf dual sport too, different but fun, 450 exc or xc-w works for me too.
This is not a dual sport bike, this is a dedicated Enduro race bike.
It even says ISDE (International Six Days Enduro) which is the oldest motorbike off-road race event in the world held since 1913.
You might want to compare it to a Beta RR Racing 4T 480 which weighs about the same but costs around £2000 less or a GasGas.
I just picked up a slightly used and nicely upgraded (Scott's steering damper, Pirelli tires, full hand guards, more power) 2021 Husqvarna FE501s, the slightly heavier but trickier suspension wielding KTM 500 cousin. The couple of rides I've been on have blown my mind, so much better than the WR250R that I really enjoyed that I have a hard time believing it. And this is even before I've set it up for me... Once I get it dialed, I can't imagine a better machine for going out exploring and ripping the trails. Oh, and surprisingly good ripping the twisty paved roads, even with those knobs.
Funny how you say there is a lack of old ktms on the trails. I don't have a KTM but In Australia it's seems like the opposite. Old ktms are the bikes you see the most of and when you talk to the owners ( not the internet) they're rock solid!
Mine has been as reliable as my drz was. I have 275 hours on it, 2017 model, and it runs like it did when it was new. It easily has twice the performance of the drz so it's worth every penny. No way I could go back to a drz.
So excited for this review. Can you please compare it to a 701 or 690?
I don’t get it? I’m lost in translation perhaps…You complain about financials, but in the end of the movie thank for fundings? And you broke up with the best dual bike you ever ridden, so what did you recommend in the end? What do you ride then?
I have a 2018 FE 501 basically the same as the KTM however the newer models may offer more but I doubt it. As for maintenance I haven't experienced any real problems basic oil changes and tires and brakes. I did upgrade the ECU with a vortex model which makes a huge difference.Haven't found a good seat yet but I have tried LOL!! Good Luck have fun as it seems you are !!
Seat Concepts! I've got one on my 500 and I love it. I've done a number of pretty lengthy days in the saddle and my bony butt never complains.
How long did your rear brakes ? Cause mines going out in less than a year
I bought the most expensive dual sport in the world. Was it worth it? "NO" i can give u the answer instantly... lol
and now i enjoy your wonderfull video like every time i do 🙂
I had lots of fun watching this video, thank you. You always keep my attention and take me on a rollercoaster 🎢
Love the honesty in this , 'Do I regret buying it, yes. It's the best dualsport ever, but it's the depreciation rate which is why i'm selling it.' An interesting video, keep posting.
If it the best dirt bike for you and it's only the depreciation that concerns you then obviously you need to keep it longer!!! I got mine new in 2018 and there is absolutely no reason to replace it. On the depreciation schedule I'm winning big time because there is no reason to replace my bike due to no advancements being worthwhile replacing fore.
Anyone know What part/piece did you use to mount tusk hand guards to pivot point of flexx bars?!
What do you think if I purchased dtracker 250 x?... Cause I only like to rode on the road and light offroad... Is it worth it?...
Another great video and review.
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into producing these.
Also…. dirt bikes may have become a better investment than sending your kids to college these days.
Just say’n
I have a heavily modded DRZ. It's not perfect by todays modern standards, but the funfactor vs. money spent, is just hard to beat.. Having a family, I could never justify buying a bike for 14 grand, that in essence is a toy. A toy that will at some point be low-sided in gravel, or have branches scraping up paint😅..it's just the nature of off-roading.
Great racing drone pilot btw! I have tinkered with that a bit as well, and flying like that, is much harder than it looks. Takes ALOT of practice👍👍
Started on a KLR650, went to a DRZ400s, went to a Vstrom 1100 and am now going back to a DRZ.living in VA , riding in Shenadoah Mountains, some fire roads and country roads i will NEVER need that 10%..and if Im lucky I have enough money for a second one so my son can ride with me when he comes home from college on breaks !
What about the beta dual sports?
I’m 170 miles into mine and so far, so good. It’s handled every pot hole the Chicago streets have thrown at it.
May I ask where you got the figure for 220lb dry? That would put it in the exact same weight as the 450 sx-f motocross bike. And close to some 250s. The closest figures I found for the 500 six days were 233-247 dry.
I bought a 2008 KTM 530 EXC-R for about 3400 bucks a few years ago. It's an amazing bike and has been a blast!
I bought the 2017 excf 450 6 days. $12,000 out the door. Maintenance costs can be kept much cheaper if you learn how to do your own work and I mean learn to rebuild things.
As for reliability it is a high preformance dirtbike with plates so it really depends on your maintainance schedule. Oil and filter change every 15 hours. Same with the air filter. I checked my valves every 100 hours. My valves never went out of spec. I would also rebuild or repair things as needed. That is my maintenance schedule.
At 12,000 miles or 500 hours I rebuilt the top end with a high comp pistion, new cam chain and valve seals. It started burning some oil. When I rebuilt her I powdercoated the frame it was all sorts of nicked up and finally got new grey plastics. My bike doesn't even look like a 6 days anymore lol. It's such a great bike. It was my only bike for 3 years. Still have it. Still love it. I will never sell it.
My 17 never left me stranded!!! And I'm not easy on it either. I ride supermoto, light adv use, hard enduro, commuting, harescrambles, road racing, trail riding, racing you name it this bike has done it.
When I took my head to my local machinist he said the valves looked fantastic and were reuseable for another 500 hours easy! Keep in mind this bike is always geared very low and really does see redline quite a bit.
Right away I got a vortex ecu, gutted the pipe, and ripped out the reeds in the airbox that's where your horsepower is going.
I stopped worrying about scratching it a long time ago. Started being proud of the battle scars. My airbox lid popped a hole in it and was repaired with a white 5 gal bucket, a razor, and some rivits stayed like that until i rebuilt the chassis at 500 hours.
In my expert opinion these bikes are tough as nails and very reliable for a high preformance dual sport bike. Just have to maintain them.
A couple of corrections on the horsepower figures. Dirt rider dynoed both bikes on the same Dyno. The drz400s made 31.8 horsepower and 24.3 foot pounds of torque. The KTM made 39.4 horsepower and 27.7 foot pounds of torque just as was stated. If my calculations are correct then the KTM makes 7.6 horsepower more and 3.4 more foot pounds of torque. When you ride them back to back like I have, the KTM feels like it makes double the power.
Does anyone know where this terrain is? I've been all over the southwest and I don't recognize it...looks kinda like Moab but it's not. I take a lot of road trips and would like to know where this is.
I love that you went crazy with the FPV drone footage nearly hitting your buddy in the face with it lol! I also give mad respect to you for showing the footage of you hitting the deck with the drone behind the bike. I love drones and dirt bikes and this video has both. You got my like and sub!
I still have my 2019 KTM 350 EXC-F I brought to your rally in fall/2020. Have had no issues with it since buying it new.
You are 100% right on the $price$!!! I had a very hard time beating on my KTM 500 because the thought of it just like you said at the end of the video!
Doesn’t the Six Day version have significantly upgraded forks? I thought they came with the MX type…..
I couldnt agree with you more on the ktm 500 excf being the best dual sport. I have a 2019 and it is the best riding experience ive ever had on a dirtbike.
would you recommend the ktm 300 exc-f for a beginner? my goal would be riding area like you are.
thanks
Just upgraded from my XR650 to a 500 XCF-W. No regrets!
The vibe and the videography are steller
just wondering, have you checked out the new honda african twin?
Hi. This is in first position to change my wr250r. You don't say nothing about manteinance schedule you are doing can you?
I felt the same way when I picked up my 2015 Tiger Explorer from the original owner. It was/is a spotless garage kept gem. I still keep it in a garage. It took me MONTHS to actually take it off of a paved road.... and I babied it. However. The first time I disabled the traction control and rear ABS... ooooooohhhhh yes. Too heavy to really beat on. While its no dual sport, bit has gotten pretty dirty and I now have zero shame. Still cleans up pretty nicely.
Ride it, love it, don't sell it. If you do, you'll regret it more; and, you'll replace it costing even more. Remember, depreciation only exists when you sell.
I once stood in awe as a guy paid $12,000 for a trek Malone road bike (bicycle).
After some thought, I commended the guy for buying a dream bike since he only had to buy it once. After that, there it is any time he wants it.
Fun video.
I have been riding 70's/80's Yamaha's for years, my favorites being a 76 TY175 for woods & rocks and a 1980 XT500 for gravel road tours. I have wanted a dual sport for some time, almost owning a KLR once or twice. Browsing the internet last winter I can across the KTM website - I like the fact that KTM calls their lineup of street legal dirt bikes enduros. Whomever writes the copy for KTM deserves some sort of an award (go ahead and the first paragraph of the description for the 500 EXC-F Six Days on their website - I wanted one immediately). My local AD had one in stock on their web page so I stopped in to look - didn't see it on the floor and nobody around to ask so I left. I was driving between job sites one cold early January morning the following week and got a wild hair to call - turns out they had another one crated so I bought it, sight unseen. I think it was sometime in March before I could actually ride the bike (the winter here in flyover country was long and cold this year). I am a gravel rider mixed with short pavement runs. The bike is everything I hoped for, super responsive, quick & nimble. I will change out the seat and add a larger tank. Every review I read / watch disses the tires - so far so good for my style of riding. I am swapping out other items such as mirrors & grips as I go, but I think the bike was good right out of the crate. I am a 60+ year old rider that still gets a thrill riding something so responsive. I plan on taking it for runs on the TAT in the near future. I didn't balk at the price and I am pleased the review justified my purchase, not that it needs any justification. Plus the bike gets a ton of looks - I like the Dorito's analogy.
How much does it weigh?
Love my $6995 OTD Kawasaki KLR. Rode to Canada and it ran great and got 50 mpg. The problem is it weighs 500 lbs and at 76 years old, I'm not comfortable leaving the pavement.