06-08-2018, 11:26 PM
Added another one to the stable. I have been searching for a dirt bike/dual sport for quite some time now and I think my diligence has paid off. Passed up a CRF250L, WR450F, and a XR650L for this bad boy. The ergos, fit and finish, performance, weight, looks, and overall "vibe" of the KTM won me over. And I think I got a good deal on her for $3900. 1700 miles on the odo. Loads of upgrades including:
Flexx Bars ($350 alone)
Cycra Handguards
KTM Radiator Fan
KTM Bash Plate
KTM Rear Rack
New Continental TKC80s
Wider footpegs
SW Motech Sidestand
Sleeker, more simple graphics
Aftermarket muffler (don't know what brand yet, no sticker)
If you know anything about this old LC4 bikes you know that they are getting hard to find and quite coveted now. Anyway here she is:
2003 KTM 625 SXC
![[Image: 374683e4dd7fd155cba6f5a294339992.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201806/374683e4dd7fd155cba6f5a294339992.jpg)
![[Image: e6af9f1d1cc9d8108f62399f658edf6d.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201806/e6af9f1d1cc9d8108f62399f658edf6d.jpg)
![[Image: 538e55eb2251e27aed70511f5d3c9bbf.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201806/538e55eb2251e27aed70511f5d3c9bbf.jpg)
We had quite an adventure on it's first outing, that is for sure. Meaning not all went as planned.
Basically I hauled it to a remote lake about an hour west of Little Rock that I have been wanting to explore for a long time. It's mostly single lane dirt/gravel road with occasional washed out and off camber sections here and there with a few car swallowing mud pits thrown in the middle. There is a large network of these roads that snake through the Ouachita National Forrest which is VERY scenic and VERY isolated. I set off and was amazed how quickly I became comfortable with the bike and started building confidence. I had grown up riding offroad and it was like I had just done it yesterday. I had no real plan as far as route, just kinda went exploring. I was having the absoulute time of my life on the bike and soaking up all the gorgeous scenery. This bike is a BEAST. For those that don't know, it packs a walloping 52 bhp in a 290 lb package, so yeah. You do the math.
Suspension is amazing, brakes are amazing, tranny is butter smooth, snarls like a wild panther when you give it the berries. Totally addictive.
Ended up going about 30 miles west and hit Scenic Highway 7 near Jessieville. It was a bit after 7 pm at this point so I knew I had to turn around and start getting back. Had a wonderful time on the way back, until I took a wrong turn. No big deal, I immediately realized my error, and went to turn around. This is where it all went wrong. I had turned around several times on the narrow road, but this time I goofed up and tipped the bike over. Easy to do with a 38" seat height. No big deal, it's a dirt bike. Getting her up was a big deal though. This was my first time having to lift a heavy bike off the ground and boy was it difficult for me. I weigh 160 pounds and it took everything I had to get that 290 pounds up. I will be able to do it more effeciently next time I am sure as I finally figured out you have to lift in small increments, scooting your butt down each time to get a better bite on the seat. I was trying to do it all in one big bite with poor results.
Anyway, finally got it up huffing and puffing. I thought, great, time to go home now. Got geared back up, went to pull in the clutch to take off, and realized the handguard had been bent in. It was impeding the clutch lever. S&@T!!
I tried everything I could to fix it. I didn't have the right tools for any of the fasteners, and they were all very tight and not budging. Even hammered on the guard with a rock. No luck. I could get the clutch lever to work its way around the guard, but then it was stuck there between disengaged and halfway open. I knew riding the bike like this would burn up the clutch in no time, I was really in a pickle now. My truck was about 12-13 miles away, and it was just after 8pm at this point. No way I was walking there in the dark. I had seen no one all evening out here, so a passing car or bike was unlikely. My best hope was to walk 4-5 miles to the Warden station at the end of the lake where I knew there would be someone. I could ask them for some tools and a ride back to the bike, or a ride to my truck. Better start walking. 
As fate would have it, I didn't make it to the Warden station. Not even 1/8th mile down the road I came across an old abandoned semi truck and trailer sitting by the road. Pretty strange sight for the middle of the woods, no doubt. I decided to check inside to see if it had any tools laying around, which was very creepy indeed. It had a sleeper cab in the back and someone had defininely been in there not too long ago, but it was vacant at the moment. Rumaged around in the center console which was full of junk and one heavenly crescent wrench.
Hoofed it back to the bike and got the handguard off with the wrench. Back in business!!! Rode back to the semi with hand guard in my bag, returned the wrench to its rightful spot, and got the heck out of dodge. Words cannot describe how lucky and grateful I was to be riding out of the woods and back to my truck. Fate was on my side that day. Valuable lessons were learned, main one being BRING APPROPRIATE TOOLS. I knew this already, but now i REALLY know. Can't wait to get back out on the trail more prepared next time and enjoy this wonderful machine.
Cheers y'all.
Flexx Bars ($350 alone)
Cycra Handguards
KTM Radiator Fan
KTM Bash Plate
KTM Rear Rack
New Continental TKC80s
Wider footpegs
SW Motech Sidestand
Sleeker, more simple graphics
Aftermarket muffler (don't know what brand yet, no sticker)
If you know anything about this old LC4 bikes you know that they are getting hard to find and quite coveted now. Anyway here she is:
2003 KTM 625 SXC
We had quite an adventure on it's first outing, that is for sure. Meaning not all went as planned.
Basically I hauled it to a remote lake about an hour west of Little Rock that I have been wanting to explore for a long time. It's mostly single lane dirt/gravel road with occasional washed out and off camber sections here and there with a few car swallowing mud pits thrown in the middle. There is a large network of these roads that snake through the Ouachita National Forrest which is VERY scenic and VERY isolated. I set off and was amazed how quickly I became comfortable with the bike and started building confidence. I had grown up riding offroad and it was like I had just done it yesterday. I had no real plan as far as route, just kinda went exploring. I was having the absoulute time of my life on the bike and soaking up all the gorgeous scenery. This bike is a BEAST. For those that don't know, it packs a walloping 52 bhp in a 290 lb package, so yeah. You do the math.
Suspension is amazing, brakes are amazing, tranny is butter smooth, snarls like a wild panther when you give it the berries. Totally addictive. Ended up going about 30 miles west and hit Scenic Highway 7 near Jessieville. It was a bit after 7 pm at this point so I knew I had to turn around and start getting back. Had a wonderful time on the way back, until I took a wrong turn. No big deal, I immediately realized my error, and went to turn around. This is where it all went wrong. I had turned around several times on the narrow road, but this time I goofed up and tipped the bike over. Easy to do with a 38" seat height. No big deal, it's a dirt bike. Getting her up was a big deal though. This was my first time having to lift a heavy bike off the ground and boy was it difficult for me. I weigh 160 pounds and it took everything I had to get that 290 pounds up. I will be able to do it more effeciently next time I am sure as I finally figured out you have to lift in small increments, scooting your butt down each time to get a better bite on the seat. I was trying to do it all in one big bite with poor results.
Anyway, finally got it up huffing and puffing. I thought, great, time to go home now. Got geared back up, went to pull in the clutch to take off, and realized the handguard had been bent in. It was impeding the clutch lever. S&@T!!
I tried everything I could to fix it. I didn't have the right tools for any of the fasteners, and they were all very tight and not budging. Even hammered on the guard with a rock. No luck. I could get the clutch lever to work its way around the guard, but then it was stuck there between disengaged and halfway open. I knew riding the bike like this would burn up the clutch in no time, I was really in a pickle now. My truck was about 12-13 miles away, and it was just after 8pm at this point. No way I was walking there in the dark. I had seen no one all evening out here, so a passing car or bike was unlikely. My best hope was to walk 4-5 miles to the Warden station at the end of the lake where I knew there would be someone. I could ask them for some tools and a ride back to the bike, or a ride to my truck. Better start walking. As fate would have it, I didn't make it to the Warden station. Not even 1/8th mile down the road I came across an old abandoned semi truck and trailer sitting by the road. Pretty strange sight for the middle of the woods, no doubt. I decided to check inside to see if it had any tools laying around, which was very creepy indeed. It had a sleeper cab in the back and someone had defininely been in there not too long ago, but it was vacant at the moment. Rumaged around in the center console which was full of junk and one heavenly crescent wrench.
Hoofed it back to the bike and got the handguard off with the wrench. Back in business!!! Rode back to the semi with hand guard in my bag, returned the wrench to its rightful spot, and got the heck out of dodge. Words cannot describe how lucky and grateful I was to be riding out of the woods and back to my truck. Fate was on my side that day. Valuable lessons were learned, main one being BRING APPROPRIATE TOOLS. I knew this already, but now i REALLY know. Can't wait to get back out on the trail more prepared next time and enjoy this wonderful machine.
Cheers y'all.
