Is the XXXXX better than the KTM 500 EXC?

A new bike for the shed. What is it?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Discounts from this channel:

Nomad Moto soft luggage, panniers & roll bags.
Get 15% off with this link:

Get $50 off with Coupon Code: KEITHJOB

Get 10% off with Coupon Code: keithjob

For 12% off your purchase enter Coupon Code: Keith

See something on the bike you like? There's probably a video.. Check these playlists:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All my KTM 500 EXC videos:

All my Ride Tech and Gear videos:

All my Ride videos:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Build videos:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My camera gear:
- Helmet mount: Sony FDR X3000
- Sony AS300
- Canon G7X II
- Canon 70D
- iPhone 11

[anthonyfox]

Power.. nah....Handling.. nah....Suspension... nah ....Fun.. Shit loads !

[ShadowVonChadwick]

Grew up on a Ts185, unbreakable & as a young teenager I tried. It just did what ever I needed it to do, younger brother eventually saved up for a Honda MT125 Elsinore. And yes I remember drum brakes, spent much time cleaning out mud, sand & shoe dust to keep them working. Switched to a new 77 DT400. It was fun too, but the TS185 still has a place in my past hard to forget.
My much older brother had a Honda SL125, being 4 stroke it was so strange to us young ones even though we had at some stage a Cut down Honda 90 Sport (4 stroke).
Cheers

[MotoWorld]

I've had an XR100, 250, 400 and 500! I loved them all! I still keep the 100 for teaching people to ride and for the kids to ride!

[KaneTerry]

Had a XR250R, XR400RC both great bikes, mate had a XR200RD & he went everywhere that we went. Honda should never dropped the XR range

[jimtitt]

Takes me back! In 1980 I was given an XR 200 to test when it was first launched, the original twin-shock model. (I was the tester for a dirt bike magazine in the UK and normally rode an IT425 for Yamaha). Honda wanted to make a splash in the market and thought of entering a few riders in the clubman scene so I had the thing to see if it could cope.
I rode a one-day event in (unfortunately) deep sand which whooped out horribly and the bike bottomed out on every bump or jump, saved only by the unbelievable flex in everything. It was a ball of fun though, just scream it all the time and crash through everything! I actually won the 250 class but the bike was getting more and more floppy as the day went on. Took it back to Honda for them to strip for inspection, the engine survived (needed new clutch plates) but the frame had five cracks, forks and swing arm bent and the rear shocks had blown out.
But it was fun, kinda like a pit bike is today!
The next gen 200R was a massive improvement but the RFVS system was fragile, at race pace valve problems were normal and Honda went back to the old engine.

[ogasi]

to think we used to trade these things for about 50-75 quid (british pounds) back in the day and now they can sell here in the many thousands easily, god damn it hahaha i wish i kept them all - spent many a happy day on the 250r and 400r 🙂

[hdan]

OMG Keith - We look like twins...but I'm a bit older :-) - Bought my KTM 500EXC new in 2015 and my 1991 Honda XR600 in 2018...
Also absolutely like the Mosko Moto 40 and 80 liter Reckless systems...have both of them as well...
Also have a lot of other "spare" motorcycles...just that I'm sure that I have plenty of spare motorcycles for other occasions🙂
Anyhow - guaranteed a lot of fun with the Honda...PS: I have also the Yamaha WR450F from 2006...rings a bell...

[keepyourdatatoolsafe]

Seen the light up the end of your pipe Master Shifu 🥷

[StuTheFarmer]

I had an XR200 when I was a kid! Blew up the gear box trying to do monos 😂

[johnhewitt]

That 200 R was and still is a brilliant trouble free bike with great simply suspension

[Nikosepitonos]

KTM is a philosophy.... Yes yes I completely agree about the reliability of the Japanese...but in the end you remember the fun!

[DroidHDAL-nc]

Wait till you need to rebuild engine, the cost will shock you as I found out.😢

[terryburnham]

Great bike, the full XR range is great, i had an XR350 .Keep up the fun and all the best for 2025.

[sandrider]

Its a Honda of course it’s better than a KTM……😊

[stephanematis]

If anyone wished to enjoy a modern descendant, grab a Made in Brazil CRF250F. F for Fun. Frankly, it is "just" an XR with EFI.