New KTMer

[Z-Rider86]

Hey guys, Lookin at gettin an 08 450XC. Is there anything you guys have had problems with that i should look out for?

[Quadevil]

Don't have one but can give some help.
In 08's, look at your headers and see if there'll be any leaks. That was a frequent bug.
Please buy a JDJetting Kit for the carb, it comes too lean from factory.
It's possible that the nuts in the gas thank could strip out.
Also some loctite should help.

Almost all of these problems were solved in 09's i think...

People who have it, can help you more.

[patrickj75]

Change the throttle spring the carb to help the stiff throttle. Toykyo Mods has them. Replace the thumb throttle with a '09 KTM or a Honda 450R.

[chad6713]

steering stem bushings wear out rather quickly if ridden hard. Will last much longer if you install a grease fitting into the aluminum bushing cover and remove the lower o-ring. Lower outer ball joints wear, wouldn't hurt to have a couple extra sitting around. DO NOT loctite the fender bolts into the gas tank, use anti-seize or a dab of grease. This keeps bolts from sticking into the tank thread inserts and stripping out. Left rear hubs seem to come loose frequently. I would loctite the nut to the axle when it is still new if you can. Other than that you will love the bike!!

[JGlaze]

Another common item to check for is the rubber boot between the carb and motor. I have heard of them pop[ing off or cracking, can't remember exactly but this will make it run like crap.

-If you install a twist throttle, the bypass button that you mount too the fender somehow triggers a throttle limiter like effect on the bike and it dies when you hit the gas. Just push the button a bunch of times until it works (I'm going to try to figure out how to get rid of the button if possible). Once it starts working your good until you run it again. This issue started about 4 months after installing the twist throttle.

-Oh and don't do what I did about a week and a half ago, one of the studs on the left front hub broke free and was just spinning when I tried taking the lug nut off! We ended up cutting off the nut and jammed a bigger stud in and it's working good. Don't use an impact wrench when installing your wheels to save time on these!

-Clean your brakes after every ride. They will pack up with dirt/mud fast.

-A nice little ring of grease on the part of the air filter that touches the air box will help prevent any dust from passing through.

-The bar that holds the lower part of the front fenders on breaks alot, just keep welding it back together. (I think new ones are about 50 bucks from KTM)

-Stock heel guards snap on the upper mounting point and get sucked under the rear wheels. This happened twice to me most recently at the rattlesnake ridge Hare Scramble race in North Carolina last week and it sounded like a baseball card in the spokes of a kid's bike for most of the race lol

These are mostly the kind of things you'll do to any Quad by riding/racing it really hard and it's held up pretty good so far. Just trying to give you some things to expect/look out for.

[ADTR14]

Originally posted by chad6713
steering stem bushings wear out rather quickly if ridden hard. Will last much longer if you install a grease fitting into the aluminum bushing cover and remove the lower o-ring. Lower outer ball joints wear, wouldn't hurt to have a couple extra sitting around. DO NOT loctite the fender bolts into the gas tank, use anti-seize or a dab of grease. This keeps bolts from sticking into the tank thread inserts and stripping out. Left rear hubs seem to come loose frequently. I would loctite the nut to the axle when it is still new if you can. Other than that you will love the bike!!

Did they fix any of these problems for 09?

[chad6713]

Originally posted by ADTR14
Did they fix any of these problems for 09?

The steering stem bushing is fixed, I know they were sourcing new ball joints. If you are just trail riding they will probably last you a LONG time. The tank issues are fixed, probably still a good idea to use some grease though. Rear hub I'm not sure about, and the brake issues have been addressed as well and are fixed on the'09.