2004 KTM reviews

I am an intermediate level mx rider (C class). I owned an 04 KTM 125sx for 1.5 years. It was the first non-japanese bike that I had owned. Good: Overall quality was second to none. From a quality stand point, I would not hesitate to buy another KTM. The motor was great. Power was very broad for a 125; the KTM would pull turns a gear higher than other 125s. Quality of components was excellent. Bad: The worst trait about the bike was that the front end provided very little feedback in turns. The front end would tuck with no warning on flat turns. Stabillity was also somewhat of an issue, though not as much of a concern as the vague front end. My suspension was stock, perhaps I could have fixed the front end with some suspensin tuning. 06 SX's got new frames. The front ends are much better on the 06's. Show less

First off, out of all the 125's I've ridden (which is all of them this is most definitely the best. I don't care what the magazines say about the suspension or handling, once you get used to it you will like it. Even though the seat is a bit hard, an SDG soft seat takes care of that. Personally, if you don't like the four strokes out there, go with this bike. Show less

From the start, this stock bike is extremely docile and tractable since the bottom end is softer than previous years. The red spring provides some excitement, but is still soft and manageable. The suspension was too soft for me being around 235 pounds with gear, so the stiffer springs >46 really improve the handling. I raised the forks 2 marks for better turning, and was definitively an improvement. Eventually you get used to the soft power, in my opinion, because the higher internal gear, for what I placed a 52 rear sprocked... that made it a bit stronger getting out of the curves, but fast enough you crave for more explosive power. This bike does not lack top-end, despite a smaller diameter carburator. Once I stopped racing at the end of the year, an SX 2005 top-end was installed converting a good bike in a better fire breather. It is still very tractable. It was easy to go faster, but did not cause rider's fatigue. I went more adventurous and got a JD kit, which enriched the areas in the 1/4 of the throttle that the stock needle had. I put a Fatty pipe which enriched the already powerful midrange after the Sx top end. The top-end was "seasoned" with a 38 mm carburator which made it a killer top-ender. I think that this bike can be very versatile for the rookie, as well as the seasoned rider, but for the latter the power is far from "pro-class", specially on races where speed and fast power is needed against MX japanese counterparts. I believe this bike is well made, but I'm more impressed with the tuneability of the machine where you can customize the type of power you want. Having this bike for 2 years makes me realize I want to keep it, specially when for 2006 the concept of the "XC" SX type of engine is the winning ticket. Show less

I bought this bike as an ex-demo with 91km's on the clock. I was naturally in love. Blown away with the power. Learned how to ride all over again. It is very much a racer, rather than a long trail ride bike. It easily rips up motocross tracks, though suspension clickers will need tweaking for that. I've done longer trail rides ~120km's through varying terrain and it get's uncomfortable with all the 2 stroke vibration after a while. Longer transport sections and i'm longing for a 6th gear. However I have my gearing on 13-49 now and I can easily get 100km/hr in 4th gear and up to 140km/hr in 5th. Still very suitable in the tight stuff too. Great all around bike. Show less

This bike is awesome, lots of power, it doesn't need too much money to improve performance ($5 in jets), I couldn't bielive all the good components, KTM knows how to put bikes together. Show less

So far, so good. Seems to be softening up a bit. Real fun to ride, more than a GS. Only up to 6k rpm so far, and that is plenty. Brakes are fine, a bit less lock-up in the front (than say a Multi-Strada) but it was built that way. Even new seat may need an upgrade, but okay for 2 + hours. Took tight corners last night at high speeds, bike tracks well but a bit longer in the tooth than a Multi or GS. Like the mags say, a Ducati will probably lead you thru the tight turns, but... you will over power them coming out. Overall meeting my very high expectations. I turned down a GS, and Multi to get it. Very happy so far. Show less

This is my first 125. I've had 2 other bikes before this and I'll tell you, don't get this if your inexperinced it's really fast I had one problem with the forks and now it's great. In the '04 125 shootout it took the competion by far the only thing I don't like is linkage less suspesion but other than that it is really fast all stock Show less

This bike is a rocket ship. It has great power all through the range except for the top end which it lacks a little, but I ride enduro and don't really use the top end that much. It has much more torque than I would have ever imagined, it has loads more than a 250F. This makes it good at hillclimbing. I find that the bars are a little low when I stand, but I am quite tall. Its handling is the best of any bike I have ever ridden. You can be doing 70km/h and literally lay it flat into a corner. The front end doesn't respond like an enduro bike but the faster you ride, the less you notice it. Show less

I've had mine for about 6 months, and having great fun. It handles highway tar through to quite technical dirt with ease. Build quality is superb. It rides easy in standing and sitting position. Serious fun! Show less

I've RACKED UP OVER A 1,000 MILES SO FAR. I'M VERY IMPRESSED. I've OWNED SEVERAL DUAL SPORTERS: ATK 605, HUSABERG 501, XR650L, XR600'S AND MANY OPEN CLASS MOTOCROSSERS. THIS THING IS READY FOR WHATEVER. HOWEVER, THE SEAT IS TOO FIRM FOR HIGHWAY RIDES OVER AN HOUR. I INSTALLED A BAJA DESIGN KIT AND JUST RECEIVED A CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE. HOW COOL! I LOOKED AT ALL THE CURRENT DUAL SPORT BIKES ON THE MARKET BEFORE PUCHASING THE SXC. THE DEALER WOULD NOT SELL IT AS A STREET LEGAL BIKE, BUT A COUPLE OF TRIPS TO THE DMV RESOLVED THAT. THIS THING WEIGHS THE SAME AS AN XR650, BUT HAS AN ELECTRIC START. NOTHING ELSE ON THE MARKET CAN COMPETE WITH THIS BIKE. BIG POWER. WILL CRUISE ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S GEARED A LITTLE TALL FOR TIGHT TRAILS, BUT that's EASY TO FIX. IT HANDLES VERY WELL FOR A BIG BIKE. THE FORKS don't LIKE BIG LANDINGS. THEY TEND TO SLAP DOWN HARD, AND BOTTOM OUT. I've ADJUSTED SOME OF IT AWAY, BUT I THINK THEY COULD USE A HEAVIER SPRING FOR FASTER DESERT STUFF. THE REAR END WORKS WELL. IT IS A LINKED SYSTEM. HANDLES BIG JUMPS, WHOOPS AND SMALL STUFF LIKE A CHAMP. I SHOCKED MYSELF AT HOW FAST I CAN RIDE THIS BIKE ON SOME OF MY FAVORITE SINGLE TRACKS. HOLY COW! THIS IS A BIG BIKE, YET SURPRISINGLY EASY TO THROW AROUND. THE SMALLISH TANK ALLOWS THE RIDER TO SLIDE WAY UP FOR CORNERS. THIS BIKE RAILS! ALSO, INSURANCE WAS CHEAP. WHAT A DEAL! I've SWITCHED TO AN 80 WATT BAJA DESIGN FRONT LAMP AS I RIDE AT NIGHT TO CLASSES EVERY EVENING. AND REPLACED THE TAIL LAMP WITH AN LED TYPE. OTHER THAN A CARBON FIBER SKID PLATE (E-LINE) AND DOT KNOBBIES, THE BIKE IS STOCK. WITH CLOSE TO 1,300 MILES, I'D BUY THE EXACT SAME BIKE IF I WERE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THERE REALLY IS NO EQUIVALENT COMPETITION. IF you're INTERESTED, YOU BETTER DECIDE QUICK. I UNDERSTAND KTM WILL NOT IMPORT THIS MODEL AFTER 2004. I BOUGHT ONE OF THE LAST MODELS I COULD FIND IN MY AREA (LOS ANGELES). Show less