January 17, 2006

Update on my KTM 525 EXC

The first week in January I finally had enough hours (3.5) on my almost year old 525 to require it's first service. Since I have the 125SX I hadn't put too many miles on the 525. I changed the oil making a huge mess, adjusted the valves (that was fun! finding Top Dead Center was a pain in the ass for a while), and replace the rear sprocket with a 52 (it was a 48). The new sprocket required a new chain due to the MUCH larger size of the 52. However at 14:48 it was just geared too tall for lazy trail riding. The 14:52 is MUCH better for single track and lazy riding.

After the weekend, where I broke a rear blinker in a highspeed swap out on a fire road in Clear Creek, I realized I need hand guards to keep the branches from hitting my front brake when I don't want it. I also need to replace the rear blinkers that are on stalks with flush mount blinkers. Then I won't have to worry about them when I either crash or just lay to bike on it's side (many times the ground doesn't coperate with a kickstand so the only way to step away from you bike is to lay it against a wall, rock, stump on on it's side).

I'm also working on a way to move my tool kit from my 125 to 525 and back again without using tools. I don't like wearing it as a fanny pack since I also wear a camel back. I really like having it mounted to the rear fender. The drawback is that ties it to one bike. I have TWO!

Posted by pqbon at January 17, 2006 6:44 PM | TrackBack