To make a stock new KTM run better without buying the over priced ECU upgrade, is raising the idle, these bikes come with a very low idle from the factory, open the yellow screw (Choke) and your red screw (Idle) all the way and go from there, the bikes are choked but it won't stall on you, if you do what I said. The only time I had the stalling issues was when I first got the bike then I found out the bike wasn't coming back to rpm properly because the idle was way too low, it was practically almost dying on me after letting off the throttle giving me excessive engine brake.
I love my 2020, definitely gotta uncork these things and get a seat concepts seat at the minimum. Good thing modifying these bikes is half the fun for me.
I’m seriously thinking about buying a excf 500. I’m a C class rider. Race 40+c at IXCR. Do you guys think the excf will be racable in stock trim? What riding level would you guys consider yourselves? My current bike is a 300xc which I plan to keep as my main race bike but I kind miss my old 525 sx. I plan on doing the GET ecu but getting the 500 Tacomotoed out will be a work in process
@@Kylep73 damn so the back order on them has gotten worse. I had to wait almost 3 weeks for mine. I Love it, solid difference between it being stock. I’ve had no issues with it either.
Thanks, Never checked exactly, but with fairly aggressive off road riding you can expect about 80 miles safely on a tank. I believe the tanks size is just under 2.5 gallons. Riding more conservative you could probably squeak out 100 miles. The less aggressive MAP setting will allow for better milage.
Hey guys. I moved to Ridgecrest back in December and brought a new 2022 KTM EXC 500. I ride it to work daily but want to do some off road riding. I am a motocrosser in my younger days so miss riding off road. Any suggestions on where to ride and with any guys or groups? Thanks
How’s it going, you have a ton of great riding out by you, check out the jawbone / dove springs area. Anywhere around Ransburg and Red Mountain is great too. As far as meeting people you may want to join up with some of the District 37 guys. They put on lots of races out there and a great way to meet people in the area. There are a few other groups as well. Typically some buddy is hosting a race in Spangler hills area most weekends.
Thanks for the review. I will say the suspension aspect is kind of pointless to talk about if you haven’t re-sprung for your weight. Proper rear spring, and proper front fork set up (upgrade to spring conversion)
Thank you for the comment, I totally agree. I re-sprung it shortly after the review. It is much better now. Still can’t find the sweet spot between nice and plush over the small stuff while firm enough to handle the bigger hits. Seems to get unsettled over longer sections of rough faster terrain. I think valving is the only way to get there. But the heavier springs were a big improvement. Was planing on doing a review update soon.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 appreciate the time to make the video. I’m sure it will be getting a lot of traffic. I had a question about the gearing. I’ve heard some say they felt 4-5 were too close together and that you had to be tapping 5th before 6 would pull. Do you find that to be true? …I’m guessing that was stock form. did you find that the GET ECU was able to fix that and make the bike be able to pull 6th easier?
@@haitzyice I haven't found that to be true at all. I can shift from mid 4th or bottom of 5th to 6th and still pulls decent. In fact when were just cruising I will kick it up to 6th just to relax the motor. You can still roll the throttle on even when lugging it and it will pull right through the gear . I do fell like 4th gear is pretty short though. The GET ecu with the TM tunes for sure helps but it still pulled 6th in stock form pretty easily. For the mix riding I do , I'm happy with the stock final drive gearing as well. My old "05" 525 EXC I geared down one tooth in the front, with this new 500 I don't feel like its needed. With stock gearing bike maxes out right at 100mph +- , depending conditions. The older 525exc would pull 110 stock.
Hello, we are still running the stock quick connector. It is sometimes pretty hard to pull apart. We carry extra o rings with us as well. I know its only a matter of time before its damaged. Thank You
Thank you, it really depends on what kind of riding you will be doing, more single track, enduro type stuff I would go 350 for sure. They weigh about the same but the 350 just will feel lighter in the slow stuff. I went 500 because I seem to ride more desert. Also wanted something that could put down some hwy miles with a little less effort. At the time I was shopping between the 690 and 500. Now I’m looking to get a 300 too for the single track. You will have fun on either of them.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 Thanks for the feedback. I live in SoCal so I will do all sorts of riding, Single track, desert, exploring, moto camping, etc. Think a 350 is a good fit for me since I’m a beginner but don’t want to regret it later not getting the 500.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 You guys ever try glamis on her? I was thinking of getting a 500 for trails like you guys & keeping my 450 just for the sand dunes. Dont really want to take a 14k bike to glamis but a part of me doesnt want to leave a nice bike like that at home lmao.
Haven’t had it in Glamis yet, but used to ride there a lot on my 525exc and other bikes back in the day. It would be a blast with a good tune. I personally wouldn’t take it out all the time though. If possible I would just leave the 450 set up for Glamis and rip that!
Such a vibe this video. Love the casual red solos just chillin with some bikes relaxing at camp talking about bikes! Love it!
To make a stock new KTM run better without buying the over priced ECU upgrade, is raising the idle, these bikes come with a very low idle from the factory, open the yellow screw (Choke) and your red screw (Idle) all the way and go from there, the bikes are choked but it won't stall on you, if you do what I said. The only time I had the stalling issues was when I first got the bike then I found out the bike wasn't coming back to rpm properly because the idle was way too low, it was practically almost dying on me after letting off the throttle giving me excessive engine brake.
I love my 2020, definitely gotta uncork these things and get a seat concepts seat at the minimum. Good thing modifying these bikes is half the fun for me.
I’m seriously thinking about buying a excf 500. I’m a C class rider. Race 40+c at IXCR. Do you guys think the excf will be racable in stock trim? What riding level would you guys consider yourselves? My current bike is a 300xc which I plan to keep as my main race bike but I kind miss my old 525 sx. I plan on doing the GET ecu but getting the 500 Tacomotoed out will be a work in process
Got a little over 40hours on my 2022 🙌🏽 just waiting on my vortex Ecu to install the Fmf pipe.
Sweet, its a great bike for sure. That ECU upgrade will be a huge improvement.
I just ordered my Vortex yesterday, 12 week wait time. How do you like it?
@@Kylep73 damn so the back order on them has gotten worse. I had to wait almost 3 weeks for mine. I Love it, solid difference between it being stock. I’ve had no issues with it either.
@@fadedjerry6952 That's great to hear, hopefully it doesn't take the whole 12 weeks but I cant wait regardless lol.
Great review and over view! Do you know what kind of mpg you are getting with the ECU mod ?
Thanks, Never checked exactly, but with fairly aggressive off road riding you can expect about 80 miles safely on a tank. I believe the tanks size is just under 2.5 gallons. Riding more conservative you could probably squeak out 100 miles. The less aggressive MAP setting will allow for better milage.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 thanks for your response 👍
Here in sweden uncorked and used as a competition bike,a torque monster!
America nothing is left stock
Hey guys. I moved to Ridgecrest back in December and brought a new 2022 KTM EXC 500. I ride it to work daily but want to do some off road riding. I am a motocrosser in my younger days so miss riding off road. Any suggestions on where to ride and with any guys or groups? Thanks
How’s it going, you have a ton of great riding out by you, check out the jawbone / dove springs area. Anywhere around Ransburg and Red Mountain is great too. As far as meeting people you may want to join up with some of the District 37 guys. They put on lots of races out there and a great way to meet people in the area. There are a few other groups as well. Typically some buddy is hosting a race in Spangler hills area most weekends.
Thanks for the review. I will say the suspension aspect is kind of pointless to talk about if you haven’t re-sprung for your weight.
Proper rear spring, and proper front fork set up (upgrade to spring conversion)
Thank you for the comment, I totally agree. I re-sprung it shortly after the review. It is much better now. Still can’t find the sweet spot between nice and plush over the small stuff while firm enough to handle the bigger hits. Seems to get unsettled over longer sections of rough faster terrain.
I think valving is the only way to get there. But the heavier springs were a big improvement. Was planing on doing a review update soon.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 appreciate the time to make the video. I’m sure it will be getting a lot of traffic.
I had a question about the gearing. I’ve heard some say they felt 4-5 were too close together and that you had to be tapping 5th before 6 would pull.
Do you find that to be true? …I’m guessing that was stock form.
did you find that the GET ECU was able to fix that and make the bike be able to pull 6th easier?
@@haitzyice I haven't found that to be true at all. I can shift from mid 4th or bottom of 5th to 6th and still pulls decent. In fact when were just cruising I will kick it up to 6th just to relax the motor. You can still roll the throttle on even when lugging it and it will pull right through the gear . I do fell like 4th gear is pretty short though. The GET ecu with the TM tunes for sure helps but it still pulled 6th in stock form pretty easily. For the mix riding I do , I'm happy with the stock final drive gearing as well. My old "05" 525 EXC I geared down one tooth in the front, with this new 500 I don't feel like its needed. With stock gearing bike maxes out right at 100mph +- , depending conditions. The older 525exc would pull 110 stock.
Hi from Wales 🏴 what quick fuel connector are you using please? Thank you
Hello, we are still running the stock quick connector. It is sometimes pretty hard to pull apart. We carry extra o rings with us as well. I know its only a matter of time before its damaged.
Thank You
Nice video. I am a beginner and I am thinking of getting a ktm 350 exc. I am 6.1 and 175 lbs. not sure if a 500 would be too much for me.
Thank you, it really depends on what kind of riding you will be doing, more single track, enduro type stuff I would go 350 for sure. They weigh about the same but the 350 just will feel lighter in the slow stuff. I went 500 because I seem to ride more desert. Also wanted something that could put down some hwy miles with a little less effort. At the time I was shopping between the 690 and 500.
Now I’m looking to get a 300 too for the single track. You will have fun on either of them.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 Thanks for the feedback. I live in SoCal so I will do all sorts of riding, Single track, desert, exploring, moto camping, etc. Think a 350 is a good fit for me since I’m a beginner but don’t want to regret it later not getting the 500.
There is no difference between the euro intake and the reeves removed.
Hoping to pick up one soon
You won’t be disappointed! They rip! Brings a ear to ear grin every time I ride it.
@@buckledupoffroad5937 You guys ever try glamis on her? I was thinking of getting a 500 for trails like you guys & keeping my 450 just for the sand dunes. Dont really want to take a 14k bike to glamis but a part of me doesnt want to leave a nice bike like that at home lmao.
Haven’t had it in Glamis yet, but used to ride there a lot on my 525exc and other bikes back in the day. It would be a blast with a good tune. I personally wouldn’t take it out all the time though. If possible I would just leave the 450 set up for Glamis and rip that!
dude why does the bike on the right look like it's made for a giant?
Its got the Seat Concepts tall seat on it. Its about 2 inches taller than mine with the stock height.
Stock suspension is Donkey balls Bad. An insult to the $12k KTM asks for these bikes.
🔥👊🔥🏍🏍🏍
Buy a Beta good right out of the box