2012 KTM OFF-ROAD SNEAK PEEK

Could this be what the US XCWs will look like?

250 XCW

These are the 2012 European KTM EXC models, which in the US is usually our XCW models. By the looks of these photos the US may be seeing a 500XCW, which could become a street legal EXC, a 350XCW and the return of the 250XCW. There are always some differences between the US and European models so we can’t guarantee we will get everything you see here.

Things are looking good for 2012, especially for the 450 with an all-new engine that is fuel-injected and six pounds lighter. It will be feed through a 42mm Keihin body. The 450SX-F will still be carbureted for 2012.

450 EXC engine

Because of the new 450EXC engine design the dimensions of the engine cases are drastically reduced, a major advantage of the smaller cases is the higher ground clearance because the frame tubes can be higher without raising the seat and gas tank. The counter balancer is no longer in the center of the engine. It has been moved to the side and doubles as the water pump shaft. The engine cases are now die-cast instead of sand-cast and this allows the wall thicknesses to be much thinner and stay strong. The new 450 engine uses one common oil circuit. The new engine design results in a near six-pound weight savings when compared to last year’s 450 engine. Most EFI engines gain weight due to the magneto system and fuel pump being added, but KTM’s already use a battery to power the electric starter, so they don’t need the KX-F, RM-Z, CRF or YZ-F style magneto. KTM’s fuel pump is half the size of the ones used in Japanese bikes. By the looks of the photos, all the bikes will come with a kick starter as back up. Also upon closer inspection of the photos it looks like the European 250EXC, more than likely our 250XCW will be fuel injected.

450 EXC

500 EXC

Due to improved materials and the creative design, KTM’s engineers managed to reduce the oscillating masses in the 450 engine drastically (15 percent on the 450 engine and 20 percent on the bigger 500EXC engine-actually a 510). This allowed KTM to use a counter balancer that is over one pound lighter than last year. The counterbalancer and the water pump impeller share the same shaft and are located in a much sleeker side case.

A new one-piece clutch basket combined with the primary gear is made of high-strength billet steel. The steel basket guarantees improved reliability and because it is stronger it is made smaller, making the engine even more narrow. The 2012 clutch is rivetless and 6.5mm narrower. KTM will also switch the clutches on its four-stroke engines to a single Bellevile (diaphragm) washer-style spring instead of the old six coil springs. There will be three adjustable pre-load settings. The use of the Belleville washer allowed KTM’s designers to add a rubber damping system guaranteeing more transmission reliability. Clutch actuation is still hydraulic (Brembo) and from what we’ve been told is very easy to pull.

Photos: H. Mitterbauer & Erlmoser Marcus