Oil change, other regular checks etc on a KTM 450....

[Patt959]

Hello again guys,

I'm reading a lot of conflicting stories about how frequently one has to do things like:

Change engine oil
Change gear oil
Clean air filter
Bleed fork legs

Should I really be doing these things after 3 hours of riding?? My manual has a long list of ''important maintenance work to be carried out by an authorised ktm workshop' which is making me wonder whether or not this bike is really that high maintenance...

What's the reality? How often do I really need to be changing the oil, cleaning the air filter etc etc??

What are the main things I need to regularly check and how often do I need to be doing it. In a nutshell.

If there are any other ktm riders with experience of this that can fill me in on what I should actually be doing that would be great!

Thanks again

Pat

[Beerbelly]

I used to do my engine oil every other ride.

I used to have fork bleeders on and it's just a press of a button...

Filter after every ride but in reality I am known not to bother for ages lol

Gear oil every other ride too

[John w]

The service intervals are set for when the bikes are being raced. A bit if green laning doesn't come close to the same stress.

3 hours is way too frequent for green laning. 15 hours, which is what most of the newer bikes specify is more appropriate, so closer to every 2 or 3 rides. If you ride gently,, bike doesn't get too hot and the oil doesn't discolour much you can push this out further.
When you change the oil filter and check the screen, if you find metal debris stick to shorter intervals and keep an eye on it (usually only happens with nearly new bikes ).

If you were doing the west on beach race or the natterjack then yes replace oil before & after, but otherwise the above works for me.

Hope that helps.

[coolhand]

I have owned my 2007 450exc for 6 or 7 years now.

Done oil and filter changes every 500-700 miles and air filters even less frequently, the bike has about 9000miles on it and no major engine problems, only replaced the cam chain at about 8000 miles.

Green laning gives these bike a gentle life even with me riding it...

Hope that helps
Luke A

[Patt959]

Really helpful stuff. Thank you!