ktm faster, oh dear

R

rupecopp

New member
I own a 02 ec200, and I swapped bikes with a guy on a trailride today. he had a ktm200 exc and I was suprised to find it quite a bit faster:confused:

I feel more comfatable on mine, and feel the suspension was better (for me) but wouldn't mine some more power.

Both bikes are stock, my sprokets are 14t - 48t, his are 13t - 48t, which would make it feel quicker reving, but it had more power everywhere.

Is this normal, or should I start looking as to where mine might have a problem????
 
I'm wondering if you want faster or quicker?

I'd say your gearing is way off. Having a 14/48 is like 13/44. I'd recommend switching to 13/52, but that will be a drastic change for you. Maybe start with 13/50. You should notice your bike is quicker right away, but you will lose some top-end speed.
 
what year ktm? the older ones FEEL faster because they act like a light switch,either front end up or spinnig the wheel,Im betting if you put a clock on your lap times around a loop,you would be faster on the gasgas and less tired from holding on!

FWIW I raced an 03 gasser 125 in 2005 and the bike on paper was the worst motor out of any 125 made that year,didnt slow me down a bit nor get me stuck anywhere,won the "B" Bantam class that year and got promoted to "A",Im on a 300 now,but I am thining of downsizing to a 200,less weight at the end of a 100 mile enduro would keep me fresher and allow me to push the pace for the entire event
 
I think fury is right. My friend has a 1998 KTM MXC200 and it felt faster than my stock EC250. But the power was very narrow and un controlable. When it came to ridding anywhere i was faster. My friend on his RM125 was also faster but his bike felt soft compared to the KTM. Its all about how you put it down.

For some more power the 13:52 would be a good idea. I think you could handle the change. Also the LTR powervalve cover is supposed to be a life saver for the little 200 for more bottom end.
 
The KTM200s make more power hand down! However, power dominance doesn't win off-road races. You can get more or different power by doing the things people have been telling you.

First you gotta ask yourself where you are most comfortable on the bike. By this I mean trail type ans conditions. Then ask where you are the least comfortable and followed by where you can improve with more power.

Do you find yourself wishing for more low-end, mid-range, top-end or a combo? Jetting has a big effect on the power and how it's produced. It takes testing on your bike to figure out how it will react. Gearing is also important and even more so on smaller bore bikes as they have less torque to overcome poor gearing.
 
As someone mentioned the gearing makes a big difference. Get the 13t sproket I don't see how a 14 would fit anyways must be almost zero room between the chain and the clutch slave. However if you wanted to smoke him all day long drag racing I could sell you an engine or enough parts to turn your 200 to a 300. For less than a grand you would never loose a drag race to that dude again.

Paul B
 
A while back one of my riding buds bought an 1999 MXC200 and we rode approx. 2hrs in the trails (Florida stuff Tight and sandy:D ) and then we hit the MX Track for the rest of the day and during the day we switched bikes a bunch and the conclusion was hands down GasGas.
The KTM hit hard which felt fast but it was difficult to control I like a bike that goes where you point it and not a bike that just goes.
After numerous drag races on fire roads and holeshots at the MX track I lost once and that was because I cogged 3rd instead of 2nd.
I noticed as the day went on I had to keep prying him off my bike.
At the end we both agreed it is easier to ride the Gasser faster, longer and also at that point he deeply regretted buying orange.
My gearing is 13 / 48 stock what came on my bike and it seems to work fine and has a top speed of 60mph flat out.

I'd recommend switching to 13/52
Click to expand...
,
Curious what will be the effect with 13 / 52 gearing and would it change the top speed? if so more or less speed?

Ron
 
The bike will get on the pipe way quicker with the 13/52, on a 300 i found find it almost unuseable, but maybe it would be allright on a 200. Less top speed for sure.
 
I think before I play with the gearing i'm going to get the squish job from RB first, because I can't afford to give up on the straights what I gained in the tights.
Also I still have some jetting issues to get right still.

Ron
 
I'm looking forward to the head mod because a while back when I rebuilt the motor I used the thinnest base gasket knowing that I was going to get the head mod.
My thought process is that using the thinner base gasket should change the port timing to take away bottom but gain on top and I believe from a little research that the head mod on the 200 gives you more bottom so I am hoping after the squish is adjusted I should reap the benefit of a wider spread of power from bottom to top?

Ron
 
GGRC member jefgil123 had the head mod done on his 300. It was more power than he bargained for so I swapped my stock '05 head for his RB modded head. This head mod on my 300 took away some of my upper RPM range (It doesn't rev out as far), but the gains everywhere else are so huge that I doesn't miss them. I picked up so much low-end power that it was almost brutal. But, taking away power is way easier than making more. I changed my gearing and jetting to make it more friendly again and because it can pull the higher gearing much better than stock, it's faster with even less shifting.
 
I changed my gearing and jetting to make it more friendly again and because it can pull the higher gearing much better than stock, it's faster with even less shifting.
Click to expand...

That makes me think I shouldn't need to change gearing or at the least wait until after head mod to test with different gearing.

Whats up with the RB carb mods? I thought they were more for the 300?
If for the 200 as well has anybody had it done and if so what were the results?

Because right now my biggest headache is the jetting.

Ron
 
If you want another guy who does great motor work check out the link to Jbone Motorworks in CT. He seems to specialize in improving the small bore motors and gets top reviews from KTM Talkers and NEDB (New England Dirt Bike). Tell him what you want and he can probably do it. He does the head mods as well.

http://www.jbonemotorworks.com/about-us.htm


Skidad
 
KTM200's do have a stronger motor than the GasGas 200s, but stronger isn't always better. Same goes for the 250s and 300s. KTM makes hard hitting bikes. Personally, I find the KTM motor too much most of the time. I find I can get the power to the ground better on the GasGas, ultimately making me faster.
 
good, if the ktm should feel quicker then my bike doesn't have a problem. I was just a bit surprised when I rode it, but I think for the trails I like to ride I'd be much slower on the ktm.

However I would like a bit more bottom, but I like being able to hang on to a gear through the lumpy stuff before I get to a corner. Would I notice 2t on the rear, or is there another cheap way.
 
Hi all, first post here.
I havent riden a EC200, but have owned a 200 and 300exc and have just bought a EC300.
The gas gas 200 is a smaller version of the 250cc bike, where as the KTM 200 is a pimped 125, so you would expect the 200exc to feel much more full on than the gasser, in both engine and chassis. As previously said the gasser is probably faster due to improved traction.
 
If you truely have a 14 tooth front sprocket, just purchase a 13 tooth and give it a try. The stock 13/48 sucked on 300s and must really suck on your 200.
 
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