Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126511
(Continued/rom page J8) Specifications Engine Single cylinder two-stroke with magnesium cases Displacement 495cc Bore-stroke ................•....•................ 92.25 x 74mm Carburetor 40mm Bing with power jet Transmission 5 speed with primary kickstart Ignition extemal rotor Motoplat Lubrication pre-mix Frame chrome moly tubing Front suspension 38mm Marzocchi. 12 in. travel Rear suspension Heat treated aluminum swingarm. Ohlins shocks, 12.8 in. travel Front wheel/tire 3.00 x 21/Metzeler Rear wheel/tire 4.50 x 181Metzeler Seat height 36.4 in. Wheelbase 59.75 in. Ground clearance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . • •• 13.2 In. Weight 228lbs. (claimed) Suggested retail price $2690 ..-- 40 its brakes will slow you down. Yes, if you a~ expaienced enough. you can take the 495 into the woods for enduros or hare scrambles. Changing the magneto in order to install lighting is the only modification. Tight shifting matched with gobs of power keeps the KTM competitive in such situations. Example: You're headed up a banzai hill in an enduro with a pile-up in the middle of it. With the 495 you could slow down on mid·hill, pick a new line around the trouble, downshift a gear - if needed - and use the 495's tractor power to start churning again. If you approached a big muddy ditch after the hill you could once again use the 495's blast to pull an instant wheeJie across. Don't consider this application of the 495 unless you are truly an experienced rider. If you' re not. the 495 will eat you alive in the trees. A novice rider would be better matched with KTM's 390 for a mellower application of Open class power. Frank Gallo ...,.••• After a year stint with Husqvarna, lSDT veteran and previously pro ranked motocrosser Frank Gallo has returned to KTM. During our encounter with the 495 Gallo made these remarks. "Don't get' me wrong, there's nothing aL aH wrong with a Husky. I just like bikes like the KTM 495 because I know what limits I can take it to. Like when I stand it on the front wheel after going over something I didn't know was there, I know how far I can go and still bring the bike back on two wheels. "I like the 495 power because once you get it jetted and get it dialed in it's really nice, It's got a nice blast. The components and power are good quaJity. It all depends on how a guy adapts to it. It's sure not outclassed by anything, and everyone should be able to ride it. "A couple times I got sideways and just turned the gas on to straighten it out. The suspension is tuned. Nothing radicaJ happens if you make mistakes. The front end sticks but has a nimble, loose feeling. The faster you go the more stable it is. "It was scarey at first. I'd touch the throttle and it would wheeJie. Second gear was the lowest needed. If you concentrate, riding it is no problem. You can use the clutch in the sand for a blast, but you don't need to break the rear wheel loose. The clutch is really easy to use, not like the earlier KTM s. It's stable in the air. "Only a few people would want to go with the 495 in the woods. Maybe only a big guy could handle it. The 495 is more for open land riding. It's a MX bike when you get down to it." Wrapping it up An MX bike it is. The fastest one to date we have ridden, yet one that retains good low end power without reed valves or power boosters. Its advantage in the Open class comes as a package: Good horsepower, good weight, neutral handling. and rideability. What comes after a holeshot? The lead, and that's a bunch easier than fighting from the back of the pack. for the win. If you've been around for a bit and have mastered the talents required of a successful motocrosser, you and the KTM 495 might make a fine pair. Some folks might even be referring to you as white lightning in no time. •