RACE TEAM BIKES

2008 KTM 530 EXC-R

Bought from NCY in February 2008, road registered in California.

Thought needed a road legal dual sport bike and magazine tests

Comfort Upgrades

Renthal twin wall bars moved forward

KTM hard parts step seat

Protection Upgrades

Enduro Engineering shark fin/rear disk protector, clutch saver and exhaust guard

Hard parts quick release plastic skid plate replaced by hard parts alloy skid plate replaced by EE alloy skid plate

Hard parts / Cycra pro bend handguards and Bonz mounts

Michelin mousses

Performance Upgrades

JD jetting kit

De-smog including muffler de restriction

14/48 gearing with hard parts / supersprox rear sprocket

Hard Parts fuel screw

F2 scram manifold and bulls eye carb divider

Removed final screen from silencer

Suspension Upgrades

Enduro Engineering stiffer fork and shock springs (.48 and 8.4 respectively)

Trail Tricks stage 1 suspension revalve

F2 un-shocks front and rear

Hard Parts fork bleeders

Other Changes/Upgrades

Baja Designs rear light with shorter modified plate holder

Sicass rear LED blinkers and smaller light switch

Dirt Tricks cam chain tensioner

F2 magnetic oil fillers and float bowl plug

Hard Parts rear brake reservoir extender and quick release rear brake pin

Enduro Engineering axle pullers

Good Points

Chain, sprockets, Brake pads, Bearings, Reliability

Strong engine

Good handling when suspension sorted out

With few changes it is a real dual sport legal off road racer

Bad Points

Oil consumption

Cam chain tensioner (fixed 2010)

Starting (Cam/ADC fixed later)

Suspension (2009 much better)

Rear blinkers and light/number plate mount

Airbox sealing (improved 2010 a little)

Handlebar clutter, big light switch

Gearbox drops out of gear sometimes

With stock high gearing, lean jetting and EPA stuff not really ride-able off road

XC4 Evolution

More information on XC4 evolution of 2008 and onwards range of KTM models can be found here.