2004 KTM reviews

I bought the bike w/less than 1k miles on it. I put the rest on over commuting/trials/desert etc. On the road it does well. As a single cylinder 4-stroke it does vibrate, but not more than what you would expect. I have it geared so it cruises around 65 easily and when you roll on the throttle it doesn't hesitate going 95-100. It is all acceleration though and I wouldn't recommend it for cross country type travels. For open trails/fire roads it feels like it's at home. It is comfortable to let the back end hang out around a fast corner on the gravel/dirt. After you break in the suspension and have it set up for your weight/style if flows very nicely. For tight more technical trails it does okay. I had a few times where it overheated in temperatures above 90 when I wasn't getting enough air through the radiator. I'm also running engine ice to offset it, but I still notice some overheating in tight trails. However, after you get used to the weight/balance you can really whip this thing around anything and up any treacherous terrain w/out any problems. Overall, this bike is amazing. I have had it now for six years and don't plan on upgrading anytime soon. Show less

I just got my 2004 KTM 125sx for my 14th birthday off craigslist. I ride in mostly trails and woods and surprisingly the two stoke works, for me, beter that a 4 stroke. All of my friends have 125's either Hondas, Yamahas, or Suzukis but my bike smoked them. This bike is definitely faster that the Japanese manufacturers bikes and comes stock with a lot of nice extras. I would stongly recommend this bike even for a trail rider because it simply is fun and that's what riding is to me. Show less

Thought I'd write something for those considering KTM 300. I am an expert level rider with 30 years riding experience. Been on a 300 for some time now. Let me first state that I love the bike. It is extremely fast - beats my buddies 4-stroke 525 in drag race. It is light and very agile. That said, this is not a bike for a beginner - nor someone who wants an easy ride. The bike begs to be run hard, and is more racer than cruiser. The bike deflects off rocks/roots more than absorbs. Rider must stay on top of it. When racing, this bike has the capability to give you that extra 5% of speed to be faster, but you definitely work for it. For those of you who are advanced riders - suspension is adequate. Forks tend to be a little stiff to initiate movement even at lowest setting. Rear spring sags and increased spring adjustment to reduce sag results in limiting full travel well even at reduced comp. Stock seat should be renamed Rock Seat- brutal. Fuel range about 60 to 85 miles depending. Maintenance has been fair. Seems to chew through piston and rings quicker than other 2stokes I've had - but greatly related to performance. It will overheat / boil radiators. If you buy or own this bike, be very careful to get the air filter fully seated. It's tricky and when not placed leaves a gap in back difficult to see, but tragic to engine. (trust me on this). On the fun side, did I mention it is fast? Wheelies are instant with a twist. I'm running FMF pipe with TC2 silencer and it's reasonably quiet. Its a great stand-up bike - I ride it mostly standing. It turns quite sharp, so navigating tight switchbacks is good. It will bog extremely low and pull out - making power to ground and climbing great. Balance, steering are excellent. Build quality is KTM top notch. Brakes are best in class. I've ridden about all other top end bikes and still get a smile when getting back on this one. Show less

I have had this bike for 3 weeks now and I am amazed. This bike is crazy fast and has a scary powerband. Equipped with all the ktm goodies like vforce 3 reeds, renthal bars, perelli wheels, twin air filters and more. This bike is amazing and I recommend this bike to everyone. Show less

Ok, watch out for this thing when you see it coming up behind you. I weigh 140 pounds, and this thing will haul BUTT with me on it. But, who ever made the suspension for this thing, went way wrong. How wrong? You hit the ground over a 20ft double, and the thing bottoms out so bad that you think it is going to break it in half. If you weigh more than 150 pounds, I will recommend that you turn your suspension 15 clicks out. Also, the front fender hits the front tire when you land. Tightening up the rebound to the suspension will help that. For my last negitive, I would like to give you a tip: get some monkey butt chafing powder BEFORE you ride. You will need this because the seat may feel soft to the touch with your hand, but it is really HARD AS A ROCK. No joke. Ok, and now the positives. Everything else on the bike is awesome. The powerband is easy to control, and the bike has a TON of power down low (for a 2 stroke). Just make sure and watch it coming out of the corners, because it will get away from you. This bike just continues the KTM's dominating history. (Even if they are a little overpriced.) Show less

I got this bike a couple months ago and I ride it every day. This bike is awesome, it has great suspension and a long power band. The only thing I would change is the seat foam. It hurts your butt on jumps and long trail rides. Over all, this bike smokes all 85's through. Thanks KTM. Show less

This bike is the best bike I have ever ridden. I have owned a Honda and a Yamaha and found things wrong with both but not my 04 125SX. The Yamaha didn't have enough traction up front and would lose traction in corners easily. The Honda didn't have enough guts but my 125 SX handles great and has so much more power than any other 125 two stroke. I love this bike and you will too if you buy one. The only thing I dislike is that the seat is too hard but I don't notice it when I'm riding. Show less

Love my KTM. My last ride, a Honda 500 dual sport, feels like I'm dragging a boat anchor after being on the little KaTOOM. Very tuneable bike. Easy to jet and adjust the exhaust valve for power the way I want it. Switch between lots of tractable bottom end grunt with a smooth midrange and flat on top for tight woods; or, a bit of weak 'burble' down low with a bone-jarring midrange 'hit' that begs to pull the front end over in 4th, with lots of top-end and overrev for the more open trails. A handful of jets and small adjustments of the power valve governer is all it takes. She lugs well, with suprising bottom end torque for a small engine (I'm used to a big thumper), doesn't foul plugs (even though I jet a bit on the rich side-I learned early on-the hard way!)and she smashes through or skips over everything I point her at. Very forgiving when taking a jump poorly and landing crossed up, or nose down. A real confidence builder for the novice to intermediate rider like myself. The downsides I found: the seat is as hard as a rock (which forces better standing technique-maybe a good thing? the rear has a tendency to kick out a bit unexpectantly; and the bike I bought was the street-legal EU/AU version which was de-tuned -it took a bit of experimentation to find the carb, power-valve and suspension settings that work best for me. The quality of the bike is obvious just looking at the engineering, machining and attention to detail. I rode a new Husq 250 for a couple of days-and really liked it, but found the 200 KaTOOM virtually the same for power and easier to throw around in the woods. It's like a 125 on steroids! Show less

I already wrote a review so I just wanted to write another to submit a picture. I'm pleased with this bikes performance. Very predictable and easy to ride and it has lots of torque and speed that most of the time can never be totally used, unless you're riding it on the highway. Besides my last complaints that I wrote, on the other review, the only other things negative about this bike is that the hardware tends to stip out easy, due to the fact that most of it is aluminum, and the clutch case leaks a little oil sometimes. Other then that, the 525 is a beast. Show less

I got this bike a couple months ago and can honesly say it rocks. It isn't modded and wheelies in all gears and I can still keep up with my competition. The only complaint I have about this bike is the seat foam. It's too hard and hurts your bottom on big jumps. The engine smokes all other 85s though. Great bike KTM!! Show less