99 EXC200 Bike Review
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Please sticky me in a product/review sub-forum!
Having ridden one for the past 2 years after I got my 2B, and being exposed to other make of dirt bikes, and
owning a EXC 200, here's a totally unbiased no bullshit Team Blue is great nosense no nosense review.
Ergo
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Can't really complain much about the ergo. With the EXC tank, it was slim and I could grip the tank.
With the SX tank, it was just too slim and offers no grip at all. Perhaps the reason why specially fabricated alum.
fuel tank was fabricated on Grant Langston and Jeremy McGrath's SX bike.
Aluminium subframe and a slim rear section.
And the hydraulic clutch is hard and causes frequent arm pump. Read that can be alleviated by using a longer
lever which is true, i've tried it. But in my quest for light clutch action, read that it can be further reducede by using 5W
fork oil, use a bigger bore piston in the hydraulic master pump. 4 stroke has lighter clutch action than the 2 strokes by
this virtue.
Suspension
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The stock 45mm Marzocchi fork was well....quite bad. I think it was undersprung.Dived excessively whenever I hit the front brake. After reviewing ktmtalk.com, looks like the 50mm White Power forks was the best option other than spending extra dough on the 48mm USD forks which could have bought anyone another bike.
As for the rear shock, well, it sat well so I reckon should be okay and since I haven't really been kicked by it. I'm not really a suspension specialist nor do I have the capabilities to stress it out, so well..... I just prefer my shock to be stiff.
Can't really comment much on the suspension just that you might have to do something abt the front fork.
Brakes
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Front brake was okay. As I've gotten used to my WR200 setup, I brought over the Akebono pump over to the KTM
so I can't really comment much on the Brembo master pump.
Front disc brake is a 260mm so kind of a downgrade from my EBC 280mm on the WR200 but no complains..
As for the rear, good brake action. Just look out for the rubber hose on the rear pump to the brake fluid container as it's
dangerously close to the hot pipe.
Power
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Good power and coupled with it's lightweight, 125 chasis, it's really a play bike.
Stock power is more on low to mid range and thus my search for a PC system to boost it's top end.
Stock jetting is also problematic as it's jetted rich off the factory if I'm not wrong. And the fact that it has a NOZx triple tapered needle makes it a bike that you cannot cruise smoothly in 1/8 - 1/4 throttle without experiencing jerkiness or richness as it's rich in that throttle range. Anyway, depending on the kind of power you favour, it can be from hit-free smooth to hand pulling power surge.
Pretty much nothing that you need to do. Just make it premix and ditch the auto-lube mechanism and jet
it correctly. And depending on the kind of powerband you prefer, just slap on the relevant exhaust system of your
choice.
But it's no revver. To make it rev, I think a PC system and a SX CDI would be required but a Vortex multimap CDI
I think would be a better choice and cheaper as well.
Vibrations from the bike can cause impotency in the long run I suspect....
Takes some time to get used to the unnatural vibration.
Turning
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First think I noticed was the amount of left to right handle bar movement it had... practically none....
To increase the handlebar radius, just relocate the CDI on the steerer tube to say underneath the fuel tank as
the fork will hit the CDI. Applied Racing has spacers to push back the radiator to allow full range of handlebar movement
but I haven't tried using stacks of spacers to replicate it.
Then on the bike, I noticed that it doesn't carve turns very well. which means it will hold a line more stable than a bike
which turns very well. Anyway, the handling of the bike can be changed by changing triple clamps, fork height, race sag, tire pressure etc etc...... which means money.... which I don't have.... so I guess the human body will rise to the great
tragedy and triumph over it unless I strike 4D or Toto.
Anyway, that's the stock handling of a stock bike. So once again, really depends on your preference.
Fuel Consumption
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Never really had a chance to gauge as I never had the speedometer working nor the time to calculate it.....
Just top up full tank whenever I have the chance......
But it definitely consume more petrol than a WR200.
Durability
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Well, engine condition,clutch basket was great when I got it.
I've had the bike for about 6 months and only used the bike for weekend rides and so far, so good.
Due to that fact, I supposed the top end is holding up well. So I can't really vouch for it's
durability but so far so good to my surprise.
Cost of Maintainance
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It's Keep Throwing Money when it comes to replacement parts.
They are not cheap when you compare to a WR200. It's a competition race ready bike they say.... but
I'm only a weekend warrior.... Any internal work will be costly being the cheapskate that I am and coming from a
WR200.
Overall Value
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Since I still have this bike, I will refrain from rating it....
Anyway... it's another 5/5 stars as all my ratings are....
It's an excellent trail bike. Good power, lightweight, more like a play bike!
With some work, it can be transformed to a real SX bike. Something obtainable.
Transport bike? i dun even want to go there.....
Designed to be a competition/enduro bike, it's really top notch.
It's a high maintainance babe that demands Louis Vuitton bags, high dine/wine/lifestyle that fulfils all your fantasy.....
"Bad" things that people can think about of this bike.
- it was never a transport bike to begin with
- costly replacement parts
- stock form, doesn't turn quite well. require different style of riding if coming off a Jap bike.
- stock form, jetting is excessively rich and hard to jet.
One of the best 2 strokes you can buy in the Singapore market.RMX/WR/CRM/KDX are quite outdated.
Gas Gas is another good alternative but besieged by other problem.
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