Spotted: KTM’s 2011 Linkage-Equipped MXer!
swapmoto
- February 06 2009
- 19,968 views
- 57 comments
Our good friend Claudio Cabrini sent us this spy photo that he snapped of a prototype KTM being tested at a track in Italy. Look closely, and you will see *gasp!* shock linkage under the swingarm!
According to reliable sources, the linkage that was scheduled to find its way into production in 2010 has been put on hold. Initially, the all-new linkage design was set to debut on the 350SX-F that is set to be introduced in 2010. The new rear suspension system, however, will not see production until 2011 at the earliest.
Stay tuned to www.transworldmx.com, as we will post more and photos and information becomes available.
Thank you Claudio!
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February 6th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
what is the *gasp* linkage compaired to a standard linkage thats on stock bikes right now?
February 6th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Although, I still think it wasn’t their linkage-less design that was flawed, but the shock itself.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Uh..brewhaha? KTMs don’t have a linkage currently, and the manufacturer has stood behind the linkage-less design with pride. That’s what the *gasp* is about.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I would love to see a picture of the Intake trac.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
finally KTM realized they would sell more MX bikes if they have linkage. Everybody I know says they would never buy a KTM.The main reason, NO LINKAGE!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
wp suspension is the reason.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
sweet now the bikes should be at least another 1000 dollars more expensive…
February 6th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
yer imagine what the parts will costt :S
February 7th, 2009 at 12:37 am
theres gonna be a 350SX-F? i thought they all dropped the idea of having the 350F
February 7th, 2009 at 1:36 am
Bro I had a Suzuki then I moved to a KTM 125 and ile tell you if you have that bad boy set up mint it is gana work even better than a linkage. All the people that dis KTM for there link-less singarms usually have never seriously raced one set up for them. Frankly I would prefer them to stay link-less. Its less maintenance, easy as pie to take the shock out, and they work awesome.
February 7th, 2009 at 5:09 am
I would never buy a (Kick Till Morning(KTM)as they were known as before electric start) because who wants a old school euro STEEL frame when ALLOY is the Norm, and an OFFset shock that must upset the torsional effects of the swingarm…if it aint JAP it’s CRAP.
February 7th, 2009 at 7:33 am
they are going to still suffer until they get on the Kayaba train…and they do need the link….at least they are listening to the public…then I’ll buy a (kick till morning)!!! haha
February 7th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Ok, english is only my second language but since when did steel stopped be an alloy? Maybe you mean aluminium alloy since steel is an alloy of iron and carbon or maybe it is something in the English language I don’t understand.
Once I’m on it I give you my oppinium. If the manufactures would have put the same amount of money and hours in developing the steel frame as they have done on alu frames the steel frame would be lighter than the alu fram is today. Alu just looks better and it was a good marketing idea. Since everybody has it nobody wanna step out of the line and go “backwards”.
OnT: If it is released I’m gonna have a look at it but I don’t think I gonna by one. I prefer to let somebody else try it out for me.
February 7th, 2009 at 8:17 am
rider on the picture is czech Jan Zaremba racing for LR cosmetic mx team or his team-mate Bucenec (jersey says it), they are now in itali preparing for season, none of them is factory rider or test rider for KTM, the track seems like Crotta
February 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am
you guys that are saying that ktm needs the linkage are wrong ktm has to be the best bike ive very ridden that bike is so fast the wp suspension is awsome and when you have the bike set up for you like james said the bike is the best. iam pissed off that there putting a linkage in i think that it’s still going to be good but i think no linkage is the best thing.
February 7th, 2009 at 9:54 am
http://www.ktm495.mxbikes.com/welcome_data/85-ktm-500mc.jpg
1985 KTM MX500 with linkage!
GASP GASP
February 7th, 2009 at 10:42 am
I can’t wait for that 350sx-f, that will be a perfect stepping stone from a 250f to a 450f.
February 7th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Damn racist suspension!
February 7th, 2009 at 11:17 am
your a smart guy peter! aluminum is brittle and heavier.. BMX frames are seriously light and take major abuse, they are made of heat treated steel.. heat treated steel is the way to go stroger, lighter, and slight flex for awesome durability!
February 7th, 2009 at 11:19 am
is the ama/fim trying to the make big bore class 350cc instead of 450cc eventually.? i heard that somewhere
February 7th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Really aluminum is heavier than steel. Man and all these years as a welder I was taught the complete opposite, guess all those peopl were dumbasses. also aluminum is brittle, actually there are several different ALLOY makeups and heat treatment procedures for aluminum. 6061 aluminum is heat treated and hardened 6063 is very plyable and soft but Im not going to list every detail of all this stuff cause you guys obviously know it all. Keep up the good comments.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
My dream come true: AMA forces manufactures to down grade the 450’s to 350’s … I mean, a 350 must be so nice!! It sounds too good to be real.
February 7th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
yeah because it’s impossible to make a good steel frame…what makes aluminum so much better?
February 7th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
less rigidity, aka more flex
February 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Oxygen you are wrong. Thats Martin Kohut riding for czech team LRcosmetics. Only Martin is wearing FOX wear from this team. Zaremba is wearing UFO and Tomas Bucenec Answer
February 7th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
dude that is just like a 2009 or a 2008 ktm with a linkage on it. cant wait to see if it will be a better ride or what and to see if it can keep up with those jap bikes.
(KICK TIL MORNING)
February 8th, 2009 at 4:30 am
Thank you matooo, I forgot about him totally, he is their team-mate too, sorry
February 8th, 2009 at 5:34 am
they build bikes for 10 years now without shock linkage, and now the will?! this austrian bike bilders are not authentic in my eyes. who ever thinks they build great bikes will buy one anyway.
February 8th, 2009 at 7:10 am
your a dumbass. my KTM will smoke your crap jap bike in a heart beat every day of the week and still not need wrenching. second WP suspension is on the ame level as ohlins so shut it. the only thing that needs to be done with the suspension is change the oil height and its perfect. think before you speak idiot.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:48 am
linkage setup will fit more people and then ktm will sell more bikes… and linkless setup spikes and is very unpredictable..
February 8th, 2009 at 11:00 am
The more complicated things get the more money the corporations make the less control we have over technology - that’s not what MX is about. No linkage, CrMo frames and two strokes. Four strokes suck. WP had been buying technology from Ohlins - and by the way what’s wrong with two shocks? Slaves to fashion….
February 8th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
i actully ride a KTM and i am not so happy they are changing their suspension. i would take no linkage over linkage anyday. i have ridden other bikes and to me, no linkage is better, but it is just my opinion.
February 8th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Steel if used right, is great!! And KTM has proved it. They have succeeded at making a lightweight and flexible steel frame. The only advantages of Aluminum is: weight and it can be forged (you dont have to welled all the tubes and need to bend them, you just make a mold, but its not as strong, and that is why they are bulky, steel are thin tubes and just as strong.
In other words, if used right, Steel is up to par with Aluminum!!
PS: KTM factory bikes look soooo nice!!!
February 8th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
dude its still a KTM who carez get on a honda a real bike and wtf 350 thats stupid grow a sack and gett a 450
February 8th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Yo, i keep it real with my 2 smoker, and i think taking a 450 out of the racing world is dumb, they are so awesome, they fly, they have low end, they are easy to ride, i think the AMA is just scared of how fast people are lol jk, i have no idea what im talking baout, but i love my yamaha 250 two smoker, its amazing, cheap maintnence compared to my old fourstroker.
February 8th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
there aint a thing wrong with linkage less shock quit dissen ktms cause there different go pick yourself out a 2 smoke ktm and get the suspension set for YOU dont ride your freinds thats set for him. itll feel better than any jap bike
February 8th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
To all the KTM haters I thought Nick Weys problem all last year was because he had no linkage you all said, he has linkage now and doing worse. By the way wey is awesome.
February 8th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
wait till outdoors, supercross is not a true test for a rider
February 9th, 2009 at 1:06 am
i love all the people talkin crap about the ktm about the steel frame and how they dont handle worth a crap.
well maby if you actually set te, up right they hadle like a dream and i dont think that linkade will make a big diffrence at all. and alot of the off road enduro gus are going to hte it because they will loose that direct response
February 9th, 2009 at 4:59 am
Come the outdoors KTMs peak power, will show! maybe not the best for SX! but with the riders they have on board theyll be right up there, if you check out the FIM world champs, KTMs rule the roost in the MX2
February 9th, 2009 at 5:02 am
i thought it was the oposit, the the old CRf and yam frames being stiff as they come
February 9th, 2009 at 5:05 am
i also have moved to a 125sx after years of jap bikes, and i agree with everything you say! also the quality of the parts are superb!!
February 9th, 2009 at 5:16 am
you can stay on your 450, but you will have no-one to ride against in a thew years as 450, are slimming down to 350′S as a bid to make the racing better! as only really fast guys like Stewart and RC can get the most out of them of them, and if you were to ask them they’d agree that 450s are abit of a handfull
February 9th, 2009 at 5:21 am
At the end of the day, its the rider not the bike,stewart on a 125 beating guys easily that rode 250’s.
(maybe Aprilia is the exception) imagine stewart on one! that would be interesting! haha
February 9th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
wow im so happy…i might be able to buy a ktm now ha
February 10th, 2009 at 1:30 am
STEEL is not known as ALLOY!!!! (unless ur stupid) alloy is known as aluminium (americans say it alu-mi-num….) and it is lighter and has a mix of cast and forged componets welded together to give “controled flex”. Steel IS OLD SCHOOL witch ever way u look at it … get with the times KTM (and others), one day they will and claim it to be “ALL NEW”.
February 10th, 2009 at 1:37 am
IF IT AINT JAP….IT”S CRAP… how many times have KTM gone broke? 2 - 3 times?……..How about YAMAHA or HONDA?..never
February 11th, 2009 at 10:56 am
yea hahn!!!!!!!
February 12th, 2009 at 1:56 am
and dumbest comment goes to…
steel is an alloy like it or not. it’s a mix of metals. the aluminum used in these frames is an alloy as well. alloy is not referred to as alloy either. by that logic, steel alloy would be referred to as steel aluminum. doesn’t make much sense, does it? steel frames are also built with “controlled flex.” that’s the point behind different tubing profiles, thicknesses, sizes, and shapes.
February 12th, 2009 at 1:57 am
fail
February 13th, 2009 at 11:01 am
The problem is not the linkless on KTM’s. The problem is the brain washing of what people think people need to ride. We ride KTM’s with modified suspension and have let other AA and Pro riders ride our bike and all were very impressed. Motocross riders stick together on linkage…which is fine, but in the offroad community, linkagless is still King and always will be…IMHO.
Rob Browning
February 13th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Linkageless…all the way!
All the bikes these dayz are amazing. Be carefull to jump onto a “band wagon” with one brand. All the brands have very specific characteristics of themselves. So rather than putting down a specific so called problem…go and ride a KTM with modified suspension. I will gaurantee you will be impressed.
Rob Browning, Synergy Seals
May 4th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Get a real bike ……honda……..yeah ok, then I can spend 5 grand on it and make it a KTM. I don’t race MX anymore, but I smoke any jap bike in HS and GNCC racing. Linkage, we don’t need no stinking linkage. Oh, and by the way, my 300XC starts first kick every time….I watch those crf 450’s kick their A$$’s off when they stall them LOL
May 30th, 2009 at 4:09 am
i love the KTM haters. obviously they are C or B motorcross racers who make love to thier dime a dozen jap bike.
ktm absolutely dominates off road racing, and thats without any Japanese BS linkage. its because its a better offroad bike, straight up.
i'm stoked for the 350 as well!! gonna be so sick!
August 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 am
If it test better then fine….. but I have had great success with the pds. I admit that you have to set them up for the rider but jeez… is that so hard? I have 3 sons and I will NOT maintain 4 stroke valve trains for them in the 125/240F class or the 65"s or the 50 SR class. I will not buy EFI cash cow bikes when I can jet and maintain 2 stroke work-horses. I want 2 strokes and carbs that I know and can tune. I like doing and end of season rebuild for $200 instead of 1200 or 1400$. I had a 2001 CR250R frame break in HALF under me at a mild jump and want no part in alloy frames anymore… steel is for real while that craptacular alloy is just bling. Check out that 500 video from England…. Honda has been selling flawed alloy deathtraps for a couple of years. Pity the fools who fall for marketing vs. engineering. Anywaiys… keep it real and keep it steel…….
October 21st, 2009 at 7:21 pm
All of you disliking KTM bikes are probably Jap, used to bikes, I mean come on this on is european made and look they are still in the business, they have more bikes then any Japanese make. wider variety then anyone else, second my brother is a professional mechanic and he set up my KTM 450 sx 2006 with metal frame into a monster. freaking WP suspension way better then any of the Japs put on their bikes, brembo brakes …. etc. bikes are more expensive but you've got to look at what you get, quality. it's like comparing GMC and kia…. peace
November 4th, 2009 at 12:45 am
if you set the suspension for you than it works awesome. you have to put the same amount of money into KYB or Showa that you have to put into WP to make it work right