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09 EXC 450 head gasket leaking, come on your kidding me right??????
- Thread starter zoo
- Start date
triplenickel
New member
Bad news, you're screwed, they're notorious for blowing head gaskets every 15 hours, count yourself lucky. I'll give you $1000 for it though as is, or you could just sell it for scrap.
Seriously though the above is pretty unlikely, more likely somebody had a bad day at work, anything built, operated, and maintained by humans will have issues at some point. I'm sure you've made a mistake at work at some point. It shouldn't have happened so soon but really it's not that big of a deal and shouldn't put you out any more than going to your dealer once to drop it off on Monday and once to pick it up again before the weekend. Sorry about your luck but don't get so worked up.
Seriously though the above is pretty unlikely, more likely somebody had a bad day at work, anything built, operated, and maintained by humans will have issues at some point. I'm sure you've made a mistake at work at some point. It shouldn't have happened so soon but really it's not that big of a deal and shouldn't put you out any more than going to your dealer once to drop it off on Monday and once to pick it up again before the weekend. Sorry about your luck but don't get so worked up.
Just an up-date for anyone interested. The bike did have a weeping head gasket with 20 hours on it. They did honor the warrenty so I am glad it happened now. No it should not happen to any bike built to todays standards, spec's and engineering, but it did. Makes one wonder what else can sneek through the gaps when building a state of the art race bike??????
I only hope is that I get years of riding out of it now.
I only hope is that I get years of riding out of it now.
motorambler
New member
I love all the comments about these bikes being race bikes. All these "bikes" are motorcycles with the latest tech and equipment. Crf's, wr's, exc, etc, etc.
They are not the most wicked built motors known to man. Running on race fuel and Nitro. Our bikes are just that, a well equiped machine with good fast engines and other components. Not an incredible piece of delicate machinery that sometimes can run for 10hrs and sometimes 1000hrs. When we all start believing the myth they have sold us that any motorcycle built for speed and acceleration must lack reliablity then were screwed. How about your new tv only lasting 100hrs and then the rep. tells you that because its the lastest tech. and a plasma thats to be expected. Every thing else we buy is now built as cheaply as possible with the cheapest parts and materials. Why is your ktm any different.You name it, tv's, dishwashers, cordless phones right. Then why do we some how all fall for the "this bike is a race bike and therefore cannot be built to last" line. Its crap, they are building bikes with cheaper and cheaper materials and parts and finding new ways every day to save a buck. There is no way a bike engine cannot be produced with reliablity/power/lite weight etc, etc. I have a porsche in my garage that can do 160mph. I have a 10 yr old ninja that can almost break the sound barrier. I have a husky chain saw that can run at 10000rpm for the last 10 yrs. None of these items have every needed a engine rebuild after 100 hrs. Take a stock CRF, run it on race fuel, bore it, carb it, put another 25 horse into the motor and now that would be expected.
Funny how everyone one this site would agree that most items we now have offered to us are built cheaper and not made to last, but when it comes to our dirt bikes we have all fallen for the "oh, yah, its a high performance engine and could not possible be expected to be reliable and last anything more than 100 hrs.
My bro. has a mid 80's KX 500 that could eat and spit out a ktm 450 for breakfast and the motor has never once been opened up for anything. When we hear of a motocross bike being rebuilt after every race remember that is a bike that was only stock for 1 day. Those motors are pushed with very high performance parts, they are not stock bikes. The bikes we ride should be able to with stand years of our normal type of everyday riding.
I for one believe the reason these bikes are not lasting and needing so many repairs is because they are built cheap, cheap parts, low grade materials etc. etc. Not because of a major marketing, hypnosis cheap sell job that ours bikes are just to fast and light to expect reliablitly and need to be maintained daily to function.
Nice try.
They are not the most wicked built motors known to man. Running on race fuel and Nitro. Our bikes are just that, a well equiped machine with good fast engines and other components. Not an incredible piece of delicate machinery that sometimes can run for 10hrs and sometimes 1000hrs. When we all start believing the myth they have sold us that any motorcycle built for speed and acceleration must lack reliablity then were screwed. How about your new tv only lasting 100hrs and then the rep. tells you that because its the lastest tech. and a plasma thats to be expected. Every thing else we buy is now built as cheaply as possible with the cheapest parts and materials. Why is your ktm any different.You name it, tv's, dishwashers, cordless phones right. Then why do we some how all fall for the "this bike is a race bike and therefore cannot be built to last" line. Its crap, they are building bikes with cheaper and cheaper materials and parts and finding new ways every day to save a buck. There is no way a bike engine cannot be produced with reliablity/power/lite weight etc, etc. I have a porsche in my garage that can do 160mph. I have a 10 yr old ninja that can almost break the sound barrier. I have a husky chain saw that can run at 10000rpm for the last 10 yrs. None of these items have every needed a engine rebuild after 100 hrs. Take a stock CRF, run it on race fuel, bore it, carb it, put another 25 horse into the motor and now that would be expected.
Funny how everyone one this site would agree that most items we now have offered to us are built cheaper and not made to last, but when it comes to our dirt bikes we have all fallen for the "oh, yah, its a high performance engine and could not possible be expected to be reliable and last anything more than 100 hrs.
My bro. has a mid 80's KX 500 that could eat and spit out a ktm 450 for breakfast and the motor has never once been opened up for anything. When we hear of a motocross bike being rebuilt after every race remember that is a bike that was only stock for 1 day. Those motors are pushed with very high performance parts, they are not stock bikes. The bikes we ride should be able to with stand years of our normal type of everyday riding.
I for one believe the reason these bikes are not lasting and needing so many repairs is because they are built cheap, cheap parts, low grade materials etc. etc. Not because of a major marketing, hypnosis cheap sell job that ours bikes are just to fast and light to expect reliablitly and need to be maintained daily to function.
Nice try.
Yet again. this thing is a piece of junk.
Yet again. this thing is a piece of junk.
Well after 4 hrs and a new head gasket, its leaking again. Yep, what an incredible built machine. lets see.
-a rear turn signal that melts off.
-a chain guard that got chewed up after 10 hrs.
-a rear license holder that cant handle a full bottom out of the rear suspension.
-2 head gaskets in 24 hrs.
-a new frame cause a small crack in the steering tube.
-a bike that doesnt come with a fan and is quarenteed to overheat.
-bolts that strip out very, very easily.
-a constant warning about having to rebuild the motor regularly.
You know what, This thing isnt capable of a race cause its not even capable of running more than 2 hrs. Its junk.
for sale another poorly built KTM.
oh yah, my neighbour just blew his 09 250 ktm sx motor. as well. If you got one that hasnt given you any trouble then your just lucky.
Yet again. this thing is a piece of junk.
Well after 4 hrs and a new head gasket, its leaking again. Yep, what an incredible built machine. lets see.
-a rear turn signal that melts off.
-a chain guard that got chewed up after 10 hrs.
-a rear license holder that cant handle a full bottom out of the rear suspension.
-2 head gaskets in 24 hrs.
-a new frame cause a small crack in the steering tube.
-a bike that doesnt come with a fan and is quarenteed to overheat.
-bolts that strip out very, very easily.
-a constant warning about having to rebuild the motor regularly.
You know what, This thing isnt capable of a race cause its not even capable of running more than 2 hrs. Its junk.
for sale another poorly built KTM.
oh yah, my neighbour just blew his 09 250 ktm sx motor. as well. If you got one that hasnt given you any trouble then your just lucky.
F
franhoser
Guest
how much you want for the piece of crap?
Nothin like rubbin some salt into a wound, eh?
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F
franhoser
Guest
There may be nothing wrong with your gasket and could be an imperfection on the case or cylinder. May have to look carefully and file down or replace.
Pretty rare but not uncommon.
Pretty rare but not uncommon.
Grumpy KTM
New member
How many hours on your bike zoo? I haven't had any of the issues that you are having...not one. The bike is getting better all the time. It was stiff and ran crappy at the start but she is running like a top now. Hope you have better luck down the road!
20 hrs on the bike. The bike has good potental, however not the race bike they say. I find if I could get it to be reliable, it would be a awesome dualsport dirt adventure bike. Im keeping my crf cause on the trials it eats my new exc. However the exc is fun to run when it runs. Its not a power beast by no means. In fact even with all my mod's my old wr and crf can eat it in a race.
Getting out for a good ride is 50 % and the other 50% for me is feeling trust with the bike. I dont get that with this thing. Yet.
Getting out for a good ride is 50 % and the other 50% for me is feeling trust with the bike. I dont get that with this thing. Yet.
shevthump914
New member
Odd.....I raced MX for years an years plus harescrambles an enduros....I have had over 25 bikes to date...3 KTM's now. All my bikes have had lil glitches....But My KTM bikes have been the same as the others, small glitches ..some bikes however had recalls from the factory..Could this engine be a recall....All other bikes have had recalls....All of them...just the way bike technology goes...Still feel for ya though Zoo...Good luck ..PAul.S
so, 30hrs and now the 4th time its been attempted to fix this problem and here I go again. KTM has not wanted to replace any part of the head except for the head gasket. The last time they added some extra gasket sealer to the gasket in hopes of stopping the weeping. So a brand new $10000 machine needs a build up of gasket sealer added to the gasket to stop it from leaking. Come on what a joke.
The last time ktm to Valley motor sports to put a ruler along my head to see if it is warpped. They said it wasnt so with a new gasket and some goop hopefully its done. Well it didnt work. KTM is too cheap to replaced the head and cyclinder which would fix the problem. I have had this bike for 6 months and have gotten to ride it about 6 times. The dealer trys their best to fix but its like everyone would rather do a short fix on this thing. I actually been told to try a different oil, go ride it hard to see if it will stop itself and the best one is "we'll these are race bikes and made light etc. so its to be expected that they are not perfect"
Funny if any of the guys involved with this thing would be happy to live with there new car leaking or maybe their new plasma tv missing a few channels.
Ya, I guess their right. its not that bad. no one else will ever care. it'll run fine. Bottom line is in my new experience, KTM's are complete crap and the company's a joke.
View attachment 4169
The last time ktm to Valley motor sports to put a ruler along my head to see if it is warpped. They said it wasnt so with a new gasket and some goop hopefully its done. Well it didnt work. KTM is too cheap to replaced the head and cyclinder which would fix the problem. I have had this bike for 6 months and have gotten to ride it about 6 times. The dealer trys their best to fix but its like everyone would rather do a short fix on this thing. I actually been told to try a different oil, go ride it hard to see if it will stop itself and the best one is "we'll these are race bikes and made light etc. so its to be expected that they are not perfect"
Funny if any of the guys involved with this thing would be happy to live with there new car leaking or maybe their new plasma tv missing a few channels.
Ya, I guess their right. its not that bad. no one else will ever care. it'll run fine. Bottom line is in my new experience, KTM's are complete crap and the company's a joke.
View attachment 4169
O
old trials guy
Guest
I sympathize with you and would say you have been more than patient with KTM. It is interesting that you cannot find any contact information for KTM Canada on their corporate website. I wonder why they are loathe to disclose their address or phone number?
My opinion is if the first repair didn't solve the problem then the second attempt should be more thorough in establishing the root cause of the failure and if anything should "overkill" the problem and remove all potentials for recurrence so you can receive the full benefits of your investment.
Either you have a dealer who is incompetent or KTM is flooded with warranties and attempting to minimize warranty expenses as company policy. Either situation doesn't speak well for the customer who unknowingly spends considerable dollars and doesn't get to use the product he invested in.
I don't want to flame KTM or any dealer but if either values their reputation they should fix problems before customers feel compelled to vent on the internet. I remember a fellow who bought a Renault many years ago and when it failed for the umpteenth time he used to drive it around with a big sign attached to a ski rack on the roof with a picture of a lemon and parked it across from the dealership on Saturdays. Finally, the Canadian distributor begged him to sell them back the car for what he paid. Seen any Renault dealers lately?
otg
My opinion is if the first repair didn't solve the problem then the second attempt should be more thorough in establishing the root cause of the failure and if anything should "overkill" the problem and remove all potentials for recurrence so you can receive the full benefits of your investment.
Either you have a dealer who is incompetent or KTM is flooded with warranties and attempting to minimize warranty expenses as company policy. Either situation doesn't speak well for the customer who unknowingly spends considerable dollars and doesn't get to use the product he invested in.
I don't want to flame KTM or any dealer but if either values their reputation they should fix problems before customers feel compelled to vent on the internet. I remember a fellow who bought a Renault many years ago and when it failed for the umpteenth time he used to drive it around with a big sign attached to a ski rack on the roof with a picture of a lemon and parked it across from the dealership on Saturdays. Finally, the Canadian distributor begged him to sell them back the car for what he paid. Seen any Renault dealers lately?
otg