Last call

[HadesOmega]

Just borrow one of Butch's Altas he's got like 5 of them now =P

I did get to ride a KTM 500 in Moab and it sure got up the hill much easier than my KLX140.

[onto1wheel]

Yes! come on over to the dirty side!
Safer than street. That should be enough to get her on board with this decision.

[OaklandF4i]

Can't really go wrong with any of the new KTM/Huskies and now Gas Gas bikes. Three colors, one company.

The 500 sounds like a great choice. It will be LIGHT years ahead of what you remember your Italian 510 being (I had an Italian TE450.)

Biggest decision is often between the 350 and 500.

I chose a plated FE350 to compliment the YZ250 and TE300 two strokes offroad. While the specs are nearly the same for size and weight with the 500, the 350 rides much smaller, took less energy, closer to the two stroke offroad on tight single track in my experience. But I wouldn't want to spend an afternoon on it riding pavement. That is something the 500 can do much better. Might say the 500 is more versatile and certainly less maintenance intensive. Perhaps the better true dual sport, the 350 being more of a dirt focused bike.

Before the KTM Kool Aid brigade show up in their clogs, speedos, and techno colored capes to burn the Chateau de Redneck down. A lot of folks do ride the 500 just like a 300 smoker, just not me.

[augustiron]

Funny that so many people make the ktm 350 vs 500 comparison, and jump right over considering the 450. ( And even the 250f if looking for the small, light, easy to ride bike)

[budman]

@ CJ.

The bigger bike with more grunt makes sense to me.
A little less weight is nice but for what I think I will be doing torque over rules flick it.

Getting kind of stoked

[banshee01]

Up

Originally Posted by budman

@ CJ.

The bigger bike with more grunt makes sense to me.
A little less weight is nice but for what I think I will be doing torque over rules flick it.

Getting kind of stoked

I bought both of mine used. Both already had all those good mods ecu, exhaust, dirt tires, reeds removed plus other small goodies. I never had the chance to ride a stock 500 but buying 2 bikes with less than 30 hours on each saved me $8k over buying new and adding the mods.

There are great deals on low hour used 500 out there. If you want to ride my 501 at Hollister Hills on a weekday come on down! I would offer you the 500 but that is my wife's

On paper the 350 is only a little less weight but when riding you can tell the unsprung weight is very noticeable in the slower stuff. Both are great bikes

[augustiron]

Go 500. eff it.

Get the mods I listed and wheelie your cares away.

I first rode a 500 back in 13 or 14, i nicknamed it the "velvet hammer" because it was so smooth and so powerful at the same time.

the owner of the bike loved the description so much he kept it as his IG handle.

And he is a 60+ racer as well...fyi

[N4teTheGreat]

This thread makes me want a dirt bike.

[augustiron]

Originally Posted by N4teTheGreat

This thread makes me want a dirt bike.

Yes, you should.

[budman]

Growing up in the dirt and racing MX in my early 20’s put two stoke dirt bikes in my DNA. Dad would not let me race so had to wait until out of college.

Last DB was the first Yamaha 400 first gen 4 smoke. Compared to my RMs from the 80’s it sucked other than suspension and was the hardest starting bike I ever owned and.... I had a CZ 250 that needed the points aligned every other ride.

I was still riding OK and enjoyed it. Sup Butch... Danny

Flash forward 20 years with only some off-road minutes on a motard and I should properly suck compared to what my mind will think it is capable of.
I am prepared to be an old dork on a nice bike.

Just riding on some trails at Holister, Forest stuff. etc. will be awesome moments and hanging with some of you guys is worth every penny.

Those opportunities honestly are waining and I want to grab them.

So considering the financial cost vs the opportunity to do it means the dollars spent for me now is a “get want ya want now and let my kids can suck it up with less inheritance” kind of moment.

[banshee01]

So 500 it is?

[mightslip]

My wife and I have both been riding EXC 500's for the last 7 years. All I can say is...You will be happy. Great bike for all levels. Chug it-whip it- or ride the highway.

[WFO]

Sometimes I wish my Husaberg FE570 was lighter and more nimble. But when I get it out in the desert or a place like Clear Creek, it sure is a blast just grabbing a handful and letting it rip.

[Dmitriy]

Not too late for a 300 TPI either yet, want me to get one for you today? 😂

Originally Posted by budman

Growing up in the dirt and racing MX in my early 20’s put two stoke dirt bikes in my DNA. Dad would not let me race so had to wait until out of college.

Last DB was the first Yamaha 400 first gen 4 smoke. Compared to my RMs from the 80’s it sucked other than suspension and was the hardest starting bike I ever owned and.... I had a CZ 250 that needed the points aligned every other ride.

I was still riding OK and enjoyed it. Sup Butch... Danny

Flash forward 20 years with only some off-road minutes on a motard and I should properly suck compared to what my mind will think it is capable of.
I am prepared to be an old dork on a nice bike.

Just riding on some trails at Holister, Forest stuff. etc. will be awesome moments and hanging with some of you guys is worth every penny.

Those opportunities honestly are waining and I want to grab them.

So considering the financial cost vs the opportunity to do it means the dollars spent for me now is a “get want ya want now and let my kids can suck it up with less inheritance” kind of moment.

[budman]

Originally Posted by banshee01

So 500 it is?

At this point yes... but a trigger needs to be pulled. It is probably wise to go ride with friends once to see how it goes before I drop coin.