In a recent issue of Dirtbike, they go through all the factory bikes including the factory enduro guys. They say that shane watts uses the mxc suspension on his 200 exc. I didn't think their was a difference, if so what? Also I was wondering if people have had any transmission trouble with the mxc compared to the exc. Thanx

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KTMRider

01 KTM 520exc
01 KTM 200exc
98 KTM 125exc/sx
96 XR 400

E/XCs have softer off-road type suspensions than M/XCs, and they have wider gear ratios. The average off-road rider will never push the bike hard enough to need suspension as stiff as the top pros run. That's why the Jap bikes come from the factory a little soft. An aggressive rider will push the E/XC suspension to it's limits, but it's livable as long as you don't try to catch too much air!

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Where did you get this information? I'm not saying it's not true, I'm just wondering. Back in 98 and 99, the MXC's had the same suspension as the EXC's according to EE and my owners manuals.


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John Brunsgaard - JEB
01 KTM 400 EXC, 99 KTM 250 EXC, 99 KTM 200 EXC, 98 KTM 125 EXC, 98 KTM 380 MXC (gone), 96 KDX 200

Jeb

They have the same suspension components but different damping rates. The MXCs are stiffer than the EXCs, good for jumps and big bumps, not as good on trail junk.

I find my tranny to be stiff and a little notchy on my '99 250 MXC but I've never had any trouble with it.
____________________________________________

KTM = Killer Trail Machine

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EXC & MXC suspensions are exactly the same front & rear; inside & out.

Mike Kruger
Cycle Zone KTM
Topeka, KS
866-843-7433 toll free
cyclezonktm.com



[This message has been edited by KTMMIKE (edited 04-23-2001).]

Thanks Mike. I hoped you'd jump in and set the record straight. I think the confusion over this is because some rags from time to time report that the MXC is valved stiffer than the EXC. I don't know where they got that information, though. I always wondered if KTM stiffened them up a bit before handing them over to the mags for testing.

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John Brunsgaard - JEB
01 KTM 400 EXC, 99 KTM 250 EXC, 99 KTM 200 EXC, 98 KTM 125 EXC, 98 KTM 380 MXC (gone), 96 KDX 200

Does that mean that the only difference between EXC and MXC is the wide vs. close ratio tranny?

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Jeb, looks like you have many EXC's and HAD one MXC...WHAT was the differences in setup?


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2001 VOR503 V-Cross
1982 husqvarna XC430
1974 Bultaco Frontera 360
6 Kids, Four Ride, 3 race. (cr125, yz80, 2 KX125's)
Case 780, INT 1066, Ford LTL9000...and a Percheron

The EXC does also have the headlight, taillight and odo.

The MXC also has a lighting coil so the above are easily added.

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Setup was similar between the E and M. The thing I didn't like about the MXC was the tranny. My 99 250E was much faster on top end speed than the 98 380M was. Both had the same sprocket ratio. Otherwise, the M was fine. No lights but I never use them anyway. I got a plate for my 01 400E so the light is nice to have for that. I rarely hop on the road with it but it's nice to be able to at least look legal. The bike is far from street legal in current trim, BTW.

On the RFS's, it's a different story. The difference is not all that great in tranny ratios and, with the 6 speed, I'm sure there's plenty of topend on the M.

Harder to say on the suspension. 98 was the first year for the PDS and it wasn't great. 99 was much better. Forks were good both years but they did tweak the valving from 98 to 99, from my understanding, and I like the 99 fork really well.