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2011 KTM 530 EXC – First Test – Dirt Rider Magazine

By: Sean Finley

Monday, February 28, 2011

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<p>For most of us, as we get older our tastes change. The meals that you order at your favorite restaurant today are likely a lot different than the mac and cheese you insisted on in your youth (that was my choice anyway). And for me, I realized the same thing has happened with my choice of dirt bike. Many of you may not yet know this, but you, too, may enjoy sushi or a large-displacement dual-sport bike a lot more than you realize.In the not so distant past, I never would have chosen to ride a large-displacement four-stroke dirt bike, and I certainly did not see much need for a license plate at the places I wanted to ride. But times and my taste have changed as well as the performance of the latest big-bore thumpers. We have fewer legal places to ride off-road these days, having a license plate can open a lot of great riding opportunities closer to home, and you will be amazed at the capabilities of the<br />
KTM EXC models.I got to spend a lot of time aboard a 2010 KTM 450 EXC last year, and that’s when I discovered my taste had definitely changed. Being able to do 100-mile dual-sport rides right from my own garage was great, but the most amazing part was when you get to the good technical trails. This is where I quickly learned that the items necessary to qualify for the license plate take very little out of the fun factor on the EXCs. I had a lot of fun with the 450 and have never liked “big” four-strokes, so I expected the 530 to just feel a little heavier and lazier due more to the circulating mass than the actual weight (since the bikes are so similar in every other way). But somehow, the big 530 still handles incredibly well and I found myself looking for jumps and tight trails just like I did when I was a teenager. Speaking of teenagers, Chris Green, Dirt Rider ‘s new guy, made the “big” KTM look like a 125 MXer when he repeatedly hucked the bike over a large step-up double for our photographer. The 530 certainly provides a little more boost than the 450 but still pulls so smoothly and is so tractable that you will grin every time you twist the throttle.Trying to decide between the 450 and 530? The more you like to rev a bike, the more you’ll get along with the 450. The more you chug, the more sense the 530 makes. If you’ve already been shopping for an EXC, you know used models are very difficult to come by since nearly everybody who bought one keeps it. So you will likely find yourself heading to the dealership looking at a 2011 model. KTM made a few minor updates to the 2011 EXC line including better turn signals (the older ones were much less durable) and a shorter license plate holder. Even that new license plate holder still gets caught in the rear tire, so we used a heat gun to fold it back and up a little.Speaking of modifications, the government emissions standards to get the license plate indirectly require the manufacturers to deliver the bikes with very lean jetting, and the KTM crankcase breather hose is routed into the mouth of the carburetor, both of which hinder throttle response. For off-road use, you can greatly improve the performance by rerouting the breather hose alongside the carb breathers and blocking off the hole in the carb. We also switched the needle to the OBTDR that comes stock in the off-road-only KTM 530 Six Days bike. We started with that in the fourth (middle) position but moved it up to the fifth position from the top and found it ran a little better. Previous experience told us the 530s usually run better with a leaner 42 pilot (48 is stock) and opening up the fuel screw from 1.5 to 2.5 turns out in conjunction with the richer needle. The bike still had an irritating pop on deceleration, and based on some forum chatter and our own experience with a JD jetting kit in our 2010 450 EXC, that too is a great option for solving the carburetion woes.
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<p>Even for light-duty dual-sport use, the stock 15/45 sprockets are too tall for any trail use; you will want to go with a 13/50 ratio (allows you to use the stock chain) or 13/52. Either option is still plenty tall for 60 mph on the road and works well even on tight trails. This is not a bike that you would want to take for extended road use because it is not really “street” comfortable, and like any dual-sport that is built for the dirt, it will get you there but we prefer to use it to connect dirt roads or provide access to riding dirt roads that require a plate. Even the stock Metzeler DOT tires are not very good on the street, but they do hold up decently though they don’t perform as well as top-line dirt tires. Truthfully they’re not that bad for dual-sport and trail riding.Even though EXCs are premium priced bikes, they are among the best performing off-road bikes made and have the added benefit of the license plate. Waiter, I would like a KTM 530 EXC, please!<br />
<h2>What’s Hot!</h2>
<p>Typical KTM easy-access air filter.<br />
Amazing trail manners for any bike, let alone a “big” four-stroke.<br />
Very stable at speed.<br />
Quiet, nice-looking aluminum exhaust.<br />
<h2>What’s Not!</h2>
<p>Standard jetting and tall gearing require some work to make it perform to off-road bike levels.<br />
It’s not cheap but you will likely get every penny’s worth of use out of it over many years.<br />
Not comfortable for long street rides, but shame on you if you waste this bike’s potential on the tarmac.<br />
<h2>Opinions</h2>
<p><strong>Jimmy Lewis<br />
5’10″/185 lb/AA with an S on the end</strong><br />
You cannot go wrong with a KTM EXC if you’re looking for a street-legal dirt bike. They are as durable as anything and perform to such a high level that “dual-sport” riders can’t comprehend it (yes, you XR-L, XT, DR, KLR, BMW GS riders, you can ride your bike on the street all day long and a KTM EXC rider doesn’t care). The layout of the machine fits almost everyone, especially larger riders, and the suspension and chassis parts are right off bikes that are raced off-road week in and week out.<br />
Is there anything wrong with this bike? Yes, one thing. It is not fuel injected. And after riding the Husaberg 570 (or almost any fuel-injected bike that’s set up properly) I just can’t get along with a carbureted bike anymore. It is like tasting really good ice cream then being told I have to eat pudding with dirt in it every time I go back to the inconsistent and finicky carbureted bike. Yes, I can get over it-it really isn’t as bad as I make it out-but I know better. And I’m sure that FI is in the future for the EXC, but being a spoiled magazine editor, I want it now. Waaaa.<br />
Luckily, I fit on and prefer the feel of the Berg, which is a bit of an oddity as well. So for me the problem has already been fixed.<strong>Chris Green<br />
5’9″/160 lb/Intermediate</strong><br />
Riding the KTM 530 back to back with some other street-legal enduro bikes gave me an idea of characteristics that I like and dislike about these bigger machines. The 530 handles great all around on whatever type of trail we threw at it. From a deep, sandy wash to tight single-track on the side of a cliff and even on rocky uphills this dirt bike with a license plate felt sturdy. I was always able to stay in a comfortable stance aboard the bike and never ventured off the trail and ended up in the bushes. Well, one time I did crash and end up in the bush, but it was my fault… The rear brake was a little low for me and I kind of missed it and grabbed all front. I slid out and into a bush. Luckily, the E-start on these bikes works great and I fired it up right away and was back on two black wheels, which look great by the way.</p>
<p>The suspension on this bike felt a little firm when I was on slower technical trails, but as soon as I picked up speed it really loosened up and worked great when down in the stroke. The engine had great torque and it pulled great with the 13/50 gearing. I never felt like I needed power in between gears; there was always plenty of motor to get going. One thing about the chassis is the footpegs. They felt a bit high which I didn’t like at first, but it caused me to stand up more and I was able to control the bike better. For a serious trail rider, this bike is perfect to get you past those tough obstacles on the first try.</p></div>

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