OFF-ROAD TESTING: KTM 500 DUAL SPORT MODS • KREFT SUSPENSION

With this week's Off-Road Testing and Tales from the Trail we're diving deeper into our 
KTM500EXC Dual Sport build. Kreft revalved and sprung the WP suspension, we coaxed some
 more juice out of the stealthy power plant, and continued testing tire/tube 
combinations for our high desert terrain.

 

Our 500EXC is a bit of a Frankenstein right now, with mis-matched wheels, fender colors and a lack of polish. It’s all about testing now, dolling her up comes later.
For dual sport we like the Tubliss setup which replaces conventional inner tubes with a small red 100 psi insert that creates two different pressure zones inside the tire itself. This gives 100 PSI of rim protection, increased tire stability and eliminates pinch flats. In turn, this allows you to run very low tire pressure for good gains in traction. We’re testing a Motoz Xtreme Hybrid (non-gummy) which has a trials tire type stature. Right now everything is skatey in So Cal so running 7-8 PSI in the rear dramatically helps find traction in technical terrain.
Kreft Moto went through our stock suspension. For our needs it’s way soft, and under sprung for the riders tonnage. The fork gets resprung and revalved with their Revalve Control which gives far greater adjustability, plusher action, reduced brake dive and independent adjustment circuits. More on this later, but after one ride we were blown away. Good stuff!
Kreft takes the stock shock and replaces the reservoir with a larger Kreft Moto Centrifuge XL unit. It’s Kashima coated, has cooling fins and reduces temperature and friction. They Kashima coat  the shock body, fit up an X-Trig preload adjuster and…revalve the damping to work in unison with the new fork settings.
Ryan Koch, Mike Webb and Tip Webb are part of our testing/riding partners. Mike and Tip own KTM 300s, Wolf’s ride is the 500 EXC and Ryan is slamming around on a HQV FC250.

 

ODI grips are superb. TWebb fits Nihilo lever grips on all his machines and swears by the burly SXS hand shields.

 

This little device protects the swingarm from premature wear from the mud flap on PDS KTMs. It comes from Slavens Racing.
Wolf fits on a tall Seat Concepts comfort saddle which he builds up another 10mm. He switched out the rear fender from one that Jeff Slavens sent him that has the smaller rear enduro extension, which works nice to house the license plate. SAR turn signals are fit to the fender and are well out of harms way. An FMF Q saves big weight, makes for a serious power improvement and is very quiet. You can also see the tread pattern on the Motoz Xtreme hybrid tire.
Wolf, on the trail with the KTM 500EXC.
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