2006 KTM 450 EXC

This page updated 2-5-12

I purchased this bike used in December of 2011 with about 2,200 miles on it and it was extremely well taken care of.
I was thankful the previous owner was totally honest about the entire bike and it was as perfect as you can get--not something that you always get.
Honesty---or a perfect bike.

I haven't raced in years---and have no itention of racing this bike---so I will take it a little bit out of it's element---not a lot ---but a little.
If you take a bike very far out of it's element you can be very dissapointed in it's performance for what you want it to do.
That is----don't single track a KLR and don't run a 450EXC down the interstate !!!!!

The GPR steering damper came on the bike----but a few other things I've added.
The Garmin 60CXS gps with touratech mount----I much prefer the garmin 276C and have an extra one but wanted to
keep a smaller unit on this bike.

I installed "Hot Grip" brand heated grips---these are my favorite. They are very well made, work well and are much bigger around
than stock grips. I find the large circumference makes riding much lest fatiquing for me-----and I have these on my other 3 bikes.
It's just so much easier hanging on to the bars---and easier to twist the throttle as they give you a little more leverage---which may seem
trivial---but help on a very long ride.
See that wire coming from the grip to the handlebars ???? That wire has to flex a lot everytime you twist the throttle and you'd think it would break.
Fear not----my KLR has 56,000 miles on it---and the wire has never broken----44,000 on my 950----29,000 on my WR250R.

I made this little bracket to turn them on and off and you can see the switch-----now about the wiring.
I've opted to keep the AC lighting for my headlights and powered the grips off that same AC circuit.
There is about 100 watts of AC available on these bikes---plenty to run the lights and grips.
These grips work equally on AC or DC. I didn't use the resistor so I would have a high and low setting for the grips.
Why ??? you ask. I wanted to keep this bike simple and also the aluminum bars soak up quite a bit of the grips
heat output---I found this out some time ago--they work much better on cheap carbon steel bars.
So----------I don't need the low setting.

The touratech gps mount is made for crossbar mounting, but this bike has no crossbar and I made this
bracket in my shop. You can also see on that bolt in the lower left corner where I grounded my heated grips.

The stock 2.1 gallon tank that came with the bike would take me nowhere---this 3.1 from Clark not much farther--but i have a 6.6
standing by for when it's needed. I marked the opaque tank so I'd no how much gas I have left.
I really wanted a Safari 4.1
But it had a 4 month wait from Austrailia.

The nice sturdy handguards came with the bike---and I put on a cheap folding mirror--which you can't see out of.
For the riding I'll be doing with this bike it will be fine---and it's legal !!!
I put a Wolfman enduro tank bag on it---looks like it's in your way--but it's not.

I don't care if the bike is 100% legal---it's got a headlight and tailight and legal plate.
The rest of the legalities I'll not pursue. I've got some offroad riding planned for this bike and
it will be a well suited when I go back to Baja. This is about all I'll do to it----I do have another
seat coming for it tho.
If and when I travel on it---I'll probably put some very minimal very light luggage on it
such as the stuff made by Giant Loop------or maybe not !!!!

I really wanted a 400---but this nice one became available---the 400 has just the right power for me.
I had a 520 not long ago---but gave it away--yes gave it away--long story---don't ask.

From a suggestion from a helpful AdvRider----I got a Seat Concepts seat.

Which is much wider for your buttocks when sitting---but still narrow at the front for standing---which I do a lot.
No wonder my butt never gets sore !!!!!!
Their seats---or at least this one did not come with a seat pan---I had to take the old seat cover and
foam off and install the new one myself----took about an hour----and you need a very good staple gun.

Got the 6.6 Acerbis tank for when I need it.
It is shown here besided the stock (can't go anywhere) gas tank.