09 EXC 450 head gasket leaking, come on your kidding me right??????

[franhoser]

yeah ktm still makes a kick ass 2 stroke but their 4 strokes lately have me questioning if i'd get one myself. i'm also starting to hear same grumblings of the husabergs and issues with the top end. maybe 70 deg slant is not the best idea.

 

[flyn]

Sounds like your cylinder has a casting flaw(porus aluminum), lots of car manufacturers have had the same problem in aluminum engine oil pans.It may be a race bike but your concerns are not maintance related.
I'v had very good luck on my 450exc, The only issue i'v had was my own fault( kicked the left rear turn signal off).The jetting and gearing was explained to me when I got the bike and I understood changes had to be made.

Hope you can get this resolved and get back to riding your bike.

 

[zoo]

Sounds like your cylinder has a casting flaw(porus aluminum), lots of car manufacturers have had the same problem in aluminum engine oil pans.It may be a race bike but your concerns are not maintance related.
I'v had very good luck on my 450exc, The only issue i'v had was my own fault( kicked the left rear turn signal off).The jetting and gearing was explained to me when I got the bike and I understood changes had to be made.

Hope you can get this resolved and get back to riding your bike.

I guess you got some knowledge about this stuff. Even the mech. mentioned just that, a flaw in the porus aluminum. So you would think the answer is just replace the $100 head(their cost) after selling me a $10000 bike. The service manager has even requested it from ktm. So hopefully they call me on tuesday and they finally put a head on it. Then I can just do some long earned riding.

 

[flyn]

clean it with brake clean, add engine oil dye, monitor the leak with a black light, this will tell you exactlly where the leak is,

 

[zoo]

clean it with brake clean, add engine oil dye, monitor the leak with a black light, this will tell you exactlly where the leak is,

So if thats possible should and could the dealer not have down that.
Funny listening to the guys at the delearship tell me to just live with, ride it harder and maybe it will seal up with time, try a different oil. Alot of engines do this, its normal and not a concern.

 

[triplenickel]

So if thats possible should and could the dealer not have down that.
Funny listening to the guys at the delearship tell me to just live with, ride it harder and maybe it will seal up with time, try a different oil. Alot of engines do this, its normal and not a concern.

Sorry to hear it's still going on but I think you just nailed it, you need a new dealer. I didn't re-read the whole thread but have you actually heard them call KTM or are they "handling it" themselves? If your dealer is telling you to live with it I'd walk.

 

[Shuswap]

just live with, ride it harder and maybe it will seal up with time, try a different oil. Alot of engines do this, its normal and not a concern.

That's just ridiculous!!

If it's at all possible...Vote With Your Feet (run off to another dealer that shows some respect for your intelligence)

You know, I've been warming to the idea of an orange bike, but it's stuff like this that keeps the dollars in my pocket....I simply can't spend money on orange and then have issues with reliability and fighting with the dealer over simple logic, when so many of them seem to have little-to-none of their own.

So, I buy used....and when / if there is an issue I know who'll do the repair and who will be responsible for the warranty on the repair!!
Just lil ole' ME!
Keeps it simple

 

[zoo]

finally its over, after all this time.

finally its over, after all this time.

Just an update on my last year with this new exc 450. After the 4th visit to the dealer regarding the leaking head, they found the problem. The head has a crack right from the inside out, running along the thickness of the head right on the corner closest to the fuel shut off. It is visible to the human eye with no special light or dye. The crack has been there from day one and all the gasket gop in the world wasnt going to seal it up. Funny how it got by quality control because you really cant miss it when its clean.
So now I get to ride. 1 year later after buying my first new bike(instead of second hands). Ive never had a problem with any of my other 10 bikes. This was my first new one and my first European.
Disappointed to say the least, but hey, I get to ride now.

 

[Shuswap]

Thanks for the update. I'm sure more than a few readers were left wondering and now have some closure to the puzzle. Enjoy your 'new' ride

 

[tomcycle]

mistakes happen, its no ones fault.

Its been a long time but it finally got resolved, so you coming out to ride

Tom

 

[scottbc]

Once you start riding that bike you will quickly forget all your troubles. Mine puts a grin on my face every time I ride it. It's a machine, sometimes they break, sometimes they don't. Good luck, have fun.

Scott

 

[cactusreid]

unfortunately our world is full of companies that seem to do everything in their power to avoid backing up a warranty-given or implied. and i'm not singling out katommie here either. try getting a tv,lawnmower,phone ,automobile or any other purchase replaced or repaired on warranty if it fails prematurely. it's a lot easier said than done.

 

[redpillar]

So, Zoo, after a couple of years, do you still own that bike? Did you finally love the bike?

 

[zoo]

So, Zoo, after a couple of years, do you still own that bike? Did you finally love the bike?

Ya, now that ive gone through that I do like the bike. just did baja on it. 6 gears awesome.
use about 50ml oil every 350km. It is obviously the best dual-sport out there for now so I'll keep it now that Its working...
Got to give vms a clap, as they did treat me very good through it all.