Keeping a basic maintenance schedule on the KTM is proving to be very easy. The tool-less air-box access makes changing in and out a fresh air filter after each ride a breeze. As we went through in our last article on our KTM 350 SX-F oil changes are a do it yourself job at home that anyone can do in minimal time and the Oil Level window is great for a quick double check on the oil level before you go riding.
As with all new bikes it is advised to check every nut and bolt after early rides. The KTM has been good, I did do a couple of quick checks after the first few rides, as expected the spokes needed to be tightened.
The only other bolts that had started to work loose where the lower fork protector bolts and also the bolt under the chain guide that came loose and fell out while riding.
The stock chain and sprockets are still looking new after nearly three months. The chain has actually surprised me, normally a stock chain is off my bike with in the first few rides due to being annoyed with checking and tightening them every two seconds. So far the chain on our 2013 KTM needed an initial adjustment, then only a couple more since.
Both the Chain and sprockets will be changed in the next few weeks however, I will run a x-Ring chain mainly due to some of the riding I am planning to do this year and the sprockets are only being changed due to the fact I am looking to change the gearing a little.
I have had to replace both the front and rear tube already, the front was due to a nail going through it, while the rear was due to a pinch flat, both have been replaced by heavy duty tubes.
The stock Dunlop MX51 tyres are still hanging in there, though only just for the rear. The MX51 rear has not been to bad of a tyre, though the track surfaces it has been faced with over the summer months probably have not been ideal for it.
After my first ride on a hard pack track I thought the tyre would be lucky to last a month, it has lasted nearly three, however ride time has not been as high as it normally would be.
The front is still looking good, but with a set of the new Pirelli Scorpion MX 554 Mid Hard tyres rolling up, both the front and rear will be changed over in the coming days.
The plastics are holding up well for the most part. The air-box cover and radiator shrouds have taken a bit of punishment, though in saying that the radiator shrouds still look close to new.
Late last week the original plastics came off with a fresh set going on front to rear along with the custom Ringmasters Graphics kit as you can see in a few of the images. Once again the guys at Ringmasters have given us a bike that will be the best looking on track all year.
Check back in a couple of weeks when we will have a look at a full race schedule for the year ahead and run through what we have done to our bike in the lead up to its first race for 2013
Top Image: our 2013 KTM 350 SX-F in stock mode has been a great bike top to bottom.
