KTM 625 SXC 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

When I got the bike, I felt it was ridiculous of KTM to put such a small tank or a bike that can be comfortably ridden for long distances. I was constantly strategizing fuel fillups. But unlike one another reviewer, I did replace with a 4.5 gallon tank and it makes all the difference. Like another reviewer, I replaced pipes to up performance. Although I have very knobby tires on mine, it doesn't like soft sand but handles most other reasonable offroad situations well. I ride mine a lot on paved mountain roads and it handles perfectly. It gets great gas mileage and it's very inexpensive to maintain. It's a great bike - I love it. Note - I also have a 2004 EXC which I also love. Show less

This bike is absolutely amazing! The cornering abilities are second to none. I have owned various sport bikes and they could never turn like this. Zero to sixty times are impressive, but could be better with a more usable first gear. Second gear is the start of some of the best wheelies imaginable. Stand it up and start running through the rest of the gears. Once she hits the balance point it just stays there. I have touched the pegs down to the pavement on more than one occasion and the traction is great...no worries about sliding it out into a low side. My only complaint is the size of the tank. I don't get more than 70 miles out of a full tank. I have searched the internet for bigger ones to no avail. I guess one more slight annoyance is the vibration...plan on riding numb after about an hour or so. All in all, it is the most fun bike I have ever owned. With just two available in the state of Alaska, it is just too bad that more people won't get to experience the pure joy this bike offers. Show less

After the first day of riding this little (big) wheelie machine, I understand why my European friends have been begging for me to join them in the big thumpin' street moto craze. I live in the Hollywood Hills off Mulholland Drive, with many miles of motard racetrack just off my driveway. I've raced Yamaha R6's for almost three years and a Ducati 996S for a year before that. This KTM 625 is the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle, bar the moped ride I had at about ten years old! There is nothing more fun than absolutely FLYING past ANY super bike or super sport or almost ANYTHING on stunt road or any road in Malibu or wherever on any given Sunday! (Yes, know that was a run-on sentence...but you got my point, eh?!)And you can do it on any part of the track you like. Hopping back on my Ducati after a day on that thing and all of a sudden you can't get that bike you've spent years setting up to turn! GET ONE. Show less

This bike is ridiculous fun. It's suprisingly fast, I mean get you in trouble fast. Then it just calms right down. Stoppies n wheelies are a breeze. Geez I over shot a corner and went in the grass goin round 75, didn't even bobble accelerated right back on the tarmac. So far I can't say much bad other than, it vibrates a bit much and the seats from a dirt bike so I stand a bit to stay comfortable. Show less

The KTM 625 SMC is a nice machine. I was shopping for a large displacement single cylinder motorcycle, something fun to ride and not too expensive, and this is it. After looking at other makes and reading reviews, I placed a down payment for this KTM before it even arrived in the showroom. Needless to say, I felt like I was taking a lot of risk, but those thoughts disappeared after my first day with the bike. At first look, I was impressed. The massive single cylinder engine with water cooling, braided steel hoses (oil and hydraulic lines) and modern suspension with fat tires make for a truly unique looking motorcycle; a Supermotard. The orange and black color scheme, the wide polished wheels, and the twin mufflers exiting the rear fender give an aggressive look. Along with the massive disk brake rotor on the front wheel, this bike attracts curious looks from people. The bike performs very well. The engine has a lot of power and the bike is light and very easy to handle on winding roads. In the hands of an expert rider, this bike is capable of running with bikes of larger displacement. Despite just having said ample power, I'm investigating aftermarket exhaust systems to open it up a bit without making too much racket. The most irritable item is the throttle limiter (homologated why this bike has it is unusual when there are much more powerful bikes on the market that don't have such a restriction. The exceptional agility comes at a price however, as this bike is not meant for long trips. The nine-liter gas tank is small and I make frequent stops for fuel to avoid running dry. The seat is narrow and firm and can become uncomfortable after an hour or so of riding. Another limiting factor is the engine's vibration, which wears on me after a while and I've switched to some thicker bar grips to reduce the buzz on my hands. The bike came with Pirelli MT tires and they appear to be a compromise for riding both on and off road. The have a raised tread to bite in the dirt while having a large lug pattern for pavement. They're Ok, but I don't try to lean aggressively in the turns and they don't work well on rain-grooved roads at 60 to 70 mph. I'll replace these with tires that are more road-worthy in the future. While not perfect, I enjoy riding this KTM and don't regret spending a little extra for this brand. The quality of this machine is impressive and riding a Supermotard is a heck of a lot of 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

I purchased a new '04 KTM 625 SXC after considering the different dual sport bikes available. I've owned XT 600's, XL650's, and KLR 600's as a dual sport reference, and Maico, Yamaha, and Kawasaki open class motocrossers for dirt only. My observations on the KTM:

1. Exceptional low end torque as well as fair to good top end rev-ability.
2. Build quality is top-notch; all high end parts and components. This makes it pretty expensive compared to other dual sport bikes, but the extra performance is well-worth the premium.
3. Quite a bit of vibration; noticeable at freeway speeds as a tingling coming up through the sole of my boots... handlebars not nearly as much.
4. Great multi-use platform for KTM: the use the same basic configuration for the 640 Adventure as well as the 625SMC and the Duke. Excellent and simple parts interchangeability.
5. Swallows bumps and ruts with barely a notice. To go through extremely rutted or broken up terrain, just open the throttle and let the front wheel skim the ground while the rear end powers through.
6. Shifting is buttery smooth; up or down, it almost doesn't require use of the clutch.
7. Electric start is strong and swift.
8. Much better looking than the other dual sport offerings; looks more purposeful and like a dirt-bike.
9. Front brake lever travel is mushy and long; I understand a lot of KTM dirt bikes are that way because of the small reservoir/piston used. I checked others at the dealership, and they were almost universally that way. Bleeding does little to make a difference here.
10. Tall...I stand on my toes at 6' 1".
11. Fuel tank is quite small. Larger tank is a popular upgrade...figure on about 80 to 90 miles before switching over to reserve on mostly street riding.
12. Slides easily and predictably. Judicious use of the throttle on corners will allow the rear to break free easily but controllably. Better to NOT be behind one of these in a race or dual sport get-together; you'll get beat to death by the roost!
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Great bike, good price (considering what you get, and it's ready to rock). Feels a little heavy, needs a little suspension work to carve in corners. Nice power, but it can get quite a bit more with some minor carb and air box adjustments. Show less

This is a GREAT bike as long as you don't take it on tight trails. It is geared to high (100mph)on the road. If you like fireroads though,it can't be beaten. Paved roads are okay if you change the knobbies to something more streetable. The first thousand miles you will experience quite a bit of vibration, but gradually goes away for the most part, but it's still a large single cylinder thumper. Believe me, I have a 1800 gold wing, this will vibrate, expecially at low speeds. It comes with a headlight and a tail light but need to have a brake switch added to be street legal in Missouri. I understand that next year, because of the unfavorable money (dollar/EURO) situation, there will be no LC4's(liquid cooled 4 strokes) imported to the States. Too bad, because this is a GREAT bike. The reason I gave it 3 stars on comfort is because of the vibrations early, and the seat--which is too hard and narrow. My bike will go approx 95 miles on the stock tank, but this is mainly on fireroads. Hope this helps someone's decision. Did I mention this is a Great Bike?!? Show less