• Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

    When he passed, I worked with his kids to gather the necessary credentials to keep this site running. Since then (and for however long they worked with Coffee), Woodschick and Dirtdame have been maintaining the site and covering the costs. Without their hard work and financial support, CafeHusky would have been lost.

    Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working to migrate the site to a free cloud compute instance so that Woodschick and Dirtdame no longer have to fund it. At the same time, I’ve updated the site to a current version of XenForo (the discussion software it runs on). The previous version was outdated and no longer supported.

    Unfortunately, the new software version doesn’t support importing the old site’s styles, so for now, you’ll see the XenForo default style. This may change over time.

    Coffee didn’t document the work he did on the site, so I’ve been digging through the old setup to understand how everything was running. There may still be things I’ve missed. One known issue is that email functionality is not yet working on the new site, but I hope to resolve this over time.

    Thanks for your patience and support!

Quick ride report.2013 WR144 2013 KTM 150sx back to back

fletchman45

fletchman45

Husqvarna
Pro Class
Just thought I would toss out a quick ride report. KTM was stock except for exhaust. Husqvarna had different exhaust, revalved fork and a factory lower seat and 12 tooth sprocket. Riding area tight sandy and lots of whoops as well. I will not go to in depth. But this is my honest opinion although I dislike KTM. I rode these two bikes back to back a few times. First thing I noticed was the KTM seat height was lower. Felt like app 1 inch, even with the factory Husqvarna 1/2 lower seat (It does help!) Brakes were very comparable on both bikes as they should be. Surprizingly the cable operated clutch on the Husky to me felt better then the juice clutch! Better feel and not as vague. Both similar pull. In the whoops the stock SX KTM fork was more at home then the revalved unit Otherwise both bikes felt good with the revalved unit better of course in the chop. Ergos on both bikes very good and able to adapt quickly and feel at home on either bike. The gearing may be the part but the Husky engine felt MUCH meatier in the midrange and was more responsive to boot. I will admit in a drag race the bikes were pretty much dead even with the KTM getting the nod on top speed due primarily to the lower gearing. I myself felt more at home and comfortable on the Husky. But will say the KTM handling felt fine and either bike of course very capable. The owner of the KTM said he hadn't done anything and said he never even cleaned the air filter this year. There you have it and honest unbiased opinion on a late model KTM from Fletchman.
 
wallybean said:
Too bad it is such a pain in the arss to get a big bore out of the ktm without just going to the 200.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Just sold my '06 KTM 125 SX for this very reason and picked up a '06 WR125. Loved my 125 SX but wanted more low end grunt without losing the 125 feel. Rode many KTM 200's, they are not what I'm looking for, you lose to much of the 125 feel.

Converting the KTM to a 175 type bike is very expensive, way more then the WB165 conversion.

So here I am, planning a WB165 conversion. I can't wait.
 
Thanks good comparison. I just "feel" and not be based on any facts that the Husky 125 engine is more durable than the KTM 125 engines. It is good to read the ergos aren't bad and the bike handled well. I haven't been on any KTM's with the link so at least the new Huskabergs will have that going for them. Thanks again for the write up :cheers:. It also does look like our grasshopper has progressed a little :lol:. jk fletchman45
 
Ha Ha. Does not mean I am going to fly out and buy one!! The sad part to the story is my friend really believes that KTM has a superior product. While they both have good products from my past experience I do feel the Husqvarna (Italian engine) is more durable then the KTM. Yep the bike had linkage. If forced to ride or race the bike I felt like I could do so with no problem. I must also note where my CR 150 Husky needed a flywheel weight otherwise I would stall it way to easily the SX really felt like it did not really need a flywheel weight and I did not stall the bike at all. Ergos were very neutral on the KTM and like a Yamaha YZ I was able to adapt quickly with no apparent quirks. Not to say I myself don't feel more at home on a HUSQVARNA!!! Headshake was minimal as well with the KTM and I was able to pound thru some whoops with a fair amount of confidence. Weight wise I did not feel any noticeable difference between the bikes. The Husky engine had a more growly exhaust note and was a little louder. The KTM did need lower gearing for the tight woods. My take on it is a WB 165 with a 13 tooth front sprocket may be the ticket for one sweet ride and it would not surprise me if most guys would not be faster on that bike then there current. There were 11 of us riding with myself and the guy on the KTM being the fastest of the group and the only guys on small bores!!! But funny the fastest never the less!!! My buddy's comment of look where KTM is now considering 20 years ago or so both Husky and KTM were in the same situation saddened me. May do a super trick 14 165 CR Husky and make a final attempt at double A status next year with one last Hoorah for the Italian Husqvarna's!!I guess since KTM bought them fair and square I will not run a KTM/Husky over. But if it is Orange....................................:cool:
 
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