Investigating KTM 640's and 660's?

[Syris the Indomitable]

Hi!
Does anyone have any extensive knowledge about these bikes in terms of smoothness, practicality and reliability?
I know the 2 strokes and heard the smaller 4 strokes ain't that reliable.

I have been looking at a KTM660 1,000 miles, 3.5G in a shop on the drip, the blokes dropped it in the garage (Def not dropped while riding), only slight cosmetic damage to front brake fluid cap and a slight scrape on the front right handle bar guard. Everything else mint.

Anyway are they bullet proof commuters and are they smooth through the gears?
I mean like do they clunk into first like some gear boxes?
Cheers!
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In Greek mythology Ichor is what immortals have in the place of blood
Those that mind, don't matter...Those that matter, don't mind. Do you agree with this?

[MaybeGuy]

its an LC4 engine.
reliable, yes.
practical? no.

the RFS engines are the highly strung high maintenance engines. nothing to worry about on the LC bikes.

around town they'll be great, but motorways you wont feel your balls after 30 miles.

problems can be big end bearings if its been badly maintained (ie: oil not bled through properly during a filter change.

cam bearings can get noisy. easy to replace
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Syris the Indomitable]

[MaybeGuy]

[Syris the Indomitable]

Arr, K, thanks!
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In Greek mythology Ichor is what immortals have in the place of blood
Those that mind, don't matter...Those that matter, don't mind. Do you agree with this?

[delvey91]

If your doing alot of low speed work might be an idea to either fit a coolant expansion tank or a cooling fan, My freinds 640 sezied after he didnt check the coolant enough.

[Syris the Indomitable]

K, thanks!, yeah those big single pots do have heating issues.
Mine has a seperate oil cooler.
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In Greek mythology Ichor is what immortals have in the place of blood
Those that mind, don't matter...Those that matter, don't mind. Do you agree with this?

[Old Git Racing]

I had a superduke LC4, no issues with it. Mine was used for b road blasts but I could see it being a good commuter, high up riding position, slim, good low down grunt, good view in the mirrors. They're a bit tall though, I could just get toes down when stopped (5.11 tall) so if your vertically challenged it might be a problem.
Gearchange is good but as mentioned above thats down to you although they vibrate a bit and the seat gives you a numb arse after 30 miles (mine had the gel seat too). Cooling isnt an issue, there's a fan and header tank, You've got to be a numpty to sieze one up through lack of coolant.
Suspension is top quality white power and brakes are again top quality Brembo.
As said changing the oil is a bit different to a normal bike as you have to bleed it through the frame but not hard if you have any manual dexterity and the front tappets are a twat to get to.
Fuel economy aint that good, about 45mpg on mine and the tank is small.
I'd have another for the fun factor but I'd look at something else for commuting.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[MaybeGuy]

the problem with the oil change thing is that the manual is pretty much wrong.

it states slacken the bleed bolt, run up engine. wrong.

remove bleed bolt, fill it with oil.

it also has 2 oil filters iirc

how old it is depends on what engine you get. i think the newer ones had the high flow heads, but the older ones didnt.

front tappets are easy enough to get to if you loosen the radiators (4 bolts)
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Syris the Indomitable]

Brilliant, thanks for the information.
I'm assuming they have a dry sump engine then if the oil is kept in the frame which suggests a good quality engine.
____________________
In Greek mythology Ichor is what immortals have in the place of blood
Those that mind, don't matter...Those that matter, don't mind. Do you agree with this?

[MaybeGuy]

you would assume correctly
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith