Aaron Steinmann rode 140,000 kms around the world on one of these changing oil on average 2,000 kms. He only rebuilt the top end at 90,000 kms as a precaution. Actually if you really want to bring oil changes up to dual sport standards it is NOT by increasing capacity it is by swapping to a 3 ring piston. The myth is that the 500 is in a fantastically high state of tune, it isnt. If you work it out, the 690 at 74 BHP has a slightly higher BHP per litre ratio than the 500 (which trust me, does not make 60 BHP in standard trim much closer to 50BHP and if you did the same level of tuning to reach 60 BHP then the 690 with the same tuning will easily be making 80 BHP+ and still be in a higher state of tune per cc) yet the 690 with only 1.6 litre oil capacity (LESS oil than the standard oil capacity PER Engine CC of the 500 at 1.2 litres, NOT more ) lives with 6000 mile intervals. Why? Simple it has a 3 ring piston. The 2 ring racing piston is used for less friction and weight but lets the harmful carbon deposits through which shorten the oil life. Not a problem on a race bike as it is changed every race but no good for longevity. If you want 690 type 6,000 mile length oil changes, swap to a 3 ring piston. Simple. Only reason no one does it is because very few so called "experts" today understand old school basic engineering principles anymore. It is a sad reflection of our times.
@@marcochavanne Data? data to back up "my claims"? I cannot imagine how little you must understand about engines.What planet do you live on? How about the fact that every single one of the hundreds of millions of 4 stroke engines on the planet apart from off-road race bikes (for the reason I have explained) have 3 piston rings? Is that "Data" enough for you ? Someone else using the single family brain cell today are they?
@@jamesfairmind2247 That makes sense. I've seen that suggested before, but would like to see it tested as well. If 3 piston rings, and Tacomoto's magnetic filter both work as well as suggested it could be a recipe for good 3000+ mile service intervals. We already know once the valves wear in they hardly move. I just wish there was a billet option for the oil pump gears on the 1st gen EXC that I have
690 Enduro has 1,7 litres of oil and change interval is 10 000km. EXC 500 has 1,2 liter of oil and service interval 15h. Engines are different but 690 is very powerful too. On my EXC 500 I change oil somewhere between 2000-4500km, depending on use, travel vs light trail riding.
It was awesome meeting Jason and Lisa at your shop! I'm really looking forward to following their adventures, especially with these gorgeous bikes! I can't wait to see how the "intermediate tower" build comes out!!! 🤓🤓
Nice video, i'm running something similar but with carbon fibre tower. What is this intermediate alternative you mentioned? I'm considering moving to alternatives, for exactly the downsides you mentioned
I have been using it for years. Started with V1. Now a beta tester and helped with some of the newer feature sets. Turned a bunch of guys onto here in the northeast.
Thanks for the very cool walk-around of Jason’s bike, Mike! I’m still having to pinch myself that these are our newly adventurized and meticulously setup machines for the epic ride ahead. So grateful, thank you to England and back. BIG Moto Love, Lisa 👩🏻🦰🧡🏍️ and Jase #tacomotoequipped P.S. Just in case anyone wondered, we’re running Carpe Iter Android tablets as our all-in-one digital hub for GPS and smartphone apps.
@@TheZainJustisFoundation Hey there, we're using a Carpe Iter mount to mount the Carpe Iter tablet directly, and then a Nomad-ADV mount to accommodate the Carpe Iter mount.
My FE 501 MY 2024 is the production mule for Nomad and the development looks beautiful. I have put 45000 miles or around 70000 km on Nomad kitted bikes. The adventure fairings are tough. They are effective at high speed. I also have the same nav system. It is good but mine has had software issues. I'm encouraged that this bike has a lot of the tweaks my bike has but my 501 goes for 3 week trips, in Europe and Maroc. I'm not off round the world on it.
I fitted a tower on my former 701E ( very good from Rade Garage). When I replaced my 701 with a 500EXCF, I decided to keep it without tower, as I don't ride over 90km/h, and have enough room for my 5in cell. Allready 7000km of European TET. I have an extended clutch cover and change oil every 3000km, usually 10days trip. So far so good, but will further investigate a 3 ring piston. I was thinking of the True North rear rack, but as I don't camp, no need for it, just Enduristan soft saddles fit my needs.
Look up Keith Jobson re that excellent study of oil capacity vs oil life. Basic summary is that these larger clutch covers hardly make any difference, as noted by Mike.
I thought about doing something like that with my ktm but decided it's too sketchy on the hwy. Instead of building that bike up, I'm wondering what it would take to light-up the Tenere 700? Their previous GS 800's weighed 505 lbs plus luggage. The Tenere 700 wet is 452 lbs before luggage.
Thanks Mike. Highly useful and informative as always, I hope you know how much these videos influence home builds. (I have an old 2014 500 with your GET ECU, a 3000 hour fuel pump, and PMB endcap. Its a monster, and a lamb.) I couldn't catch the name of the turn signals, which do look like something I might be able to keep and not. destroy on my bike. Also, I'm assuming adding another pair of links wasn't possible, it looked like you could just about manage it, but with no room to adjust the chain tighter once it stretched. p.s. Thanks for all the stickers and candy.
Hi Mike. Let me understand. So with help of Blackstone Labs, you are comfortably pushing the oil interval on these KTM 500 EXC-F adventure builds to 60-70 hours?? That would equal not around 1,800 to 2,100 miles.
I had a warp9 kickstand for my ktm500 that did not last 70 miles. Minimal gear for a BDR and the stand bent, almost snapped in half. I don’t recommend getting Warp 9 gear.
be nice to hear how the MOtoz tyres do with mousse, over here people say the tyres don't like mousse - now i am not sure if that is stupid rumour as it seems like it to me but i have heard due to the tyre height this is where the concerns rise from , amazing how different it looks to my 500 exc - wish them luck from me in little old England - fair play and what a trip -
What type of skid plate is best for a 2023 ktm 500 exc f? Are there any great skid plates that have a good openings to drain the oil without removing the plate?
Really curious about the bag mount on the left side tied into the subframe bolt. I have checked TN mad MM but could not locate it. If you could share I’d appreciate it. Is it stepped to still get the OEM locking force? Respectfully…
Hopefully you can provide some guidance. I currently race a 2023 KTM 300 XC - Love it! I'm wanting a dual sport so I don't know whether to go 500 EXC, 500 XW-F or 450 XCF-W. Get the EXC or one of the others and add a dual sport kit. I'd appreciate your input with respect to initial cost vs conversion/performance. Thanks!
They're not strap mounts. That's the attachment point of the True North rack. It LOOKS like a strap mount because they've tidied the Mosko Moto steps away very well.
Just a q.. why not start with a 690/701 platform? Given the amount of road kms, there would be no need to upgrades hubs/wheels/brakes. Plus it has ABS (lifeasaver) and longer service intervals... You can add towers etc to the 690/701... Just curious to know as I'm tossing up between the 501/701 but will do nowhere near the kms these guys will.
Which direction did you go in? I currently have an "adventurized" 690 (suspension, exhaust/intake/power commander, rack for saddle bags, big skid plate) and it's been a great longer distance bike for motocamping. No real issues except I worry about the subframe strength, but I pack pretty light. I recently bought an 890 Adv for Baja trips so will be selling the 690 and buying a 500 EXC-F. I plan to use it for learning single-track and developing better off-road skills, it seems like a pretty compromised platform for travel purposes.
We’ve had nothing but years of continued success with the dirt tricks Ironman sprocket and have sold many many hundreds without a single warranty claim to date
I went back and looked at the pictures of the event. It was NOT a Dirt Tricks sprocket. drive.google.com/file/d/1CNdBz_LKvCy03PIOpaSU1m8BgDF9KlSW/view?usp=sharing
@@charliestoybox2099 I have gone for Nomad rathrr than Rade (my mate has had 2 Rade systems and he loves them) because the Nomad is essentially simple. It is a giant headstock clamp made out of, basically, 3 CNC'd aluminium sheets. I've properly twatted mine and I straightened it out with a metal pole. The Nomad is seriously robust and fixable by anyone who can manage IKEA flat pack. Carbon is cool but it is fragile.
I have a 690 that I set up for motocamping and it is kind of the worst of both worlds. It's great just off-road, but you add the luggage and it bogs it down. There are racks and other parts made for loading luggage, but you really need the side carriers since the subframes are weak. Overall it's a good package, but I don't feel I'm really getting as much out of the bike as I could. I bought an 890 Adv last year so that is my travel bike. It's obviously way heavier and has other compromises, but was made for travel/adventure. I am also about to buy a 500 EXC-F so I can learn to offroad "properly" and transfer the skills to my bigger bike - it's not going to be adventurized. Not that I am against the idea, I have a Grom with knobbies after all. I think it's great that people use their bikes for different purposes, as that encourages the aftermarket to create a wider variety of parts.
One of the goals the riders have is to keep the bikes as quiet and fuel effluent as possible and maintaining the OEM exhaust and tune accomplished that
IMHO they picked wrong bikes for traveling around the world. 60 hrs oil change interval is nonsense for traveling. That is literally 1 week of riding. You don't want to be searching for high grade motor oil every week in the middle of nowhere. Also the rear sprocket looks very suspicious. 😅
There is a CBR600F4i with 300,000+ miles on it that's been maintained with Shell Rotella. It doesn't NEED high grade oil, it needs frequent changes. The clutch particles will be in the oil regardless of how much oil capacity there is. Rotella is available pretty much anywhere.
Counter to the experience of Belgium engineers, some guy on the internet (named after the slang word for a woman's vagina, Taco) says you can ignore the factory oil change interval.... Hmmm Ok.... Also, anyone rebuilding motors knows the tell-tail signs of twin-air filters... Sand gets through those things and scars the piston. Stick w/ stock. The engineers know what they are doing. Cool bike build, but stock is what you want for serviceability on a RTW trip. These are NOT high performance riders. They are touring riders. Leave it all stock.
He put on PC Racing Skins, sand wont penetrate as you think. Regarding Mike's company name...sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Tacos are a fav food in Baja MX.
They didn't make it through Nevada on their around the world tour. The only way they will make it around the world is by booking flights through United Airlines...
Aaron Steinmann rode 140,000 kms around the world on one of these changing oil on average 2,000 kms. He only rebuilt the top end at 90,000 kms as a precaution. Actually if you really want to bring oil changes up to dual sport standards it is NOT by increasing capacity it is by swapping to a 3 ring piston. The myth is that the 500 is in a fantastically high state of tune, it isnt. If you work it out, the 690 at 74 BHP has a slightly higher BHP per litre ratio than the 500 (which trust me, does not make 60 BHP in standard trim much closer to 50BHP and if you did the same level of tuning to reach 60 BHP then the 690 with the same tuning will easily be making 80 BHP+ and still be in a higher state of tune per cc) yet the 690 with only 1.6 litre oil capacity (LESS oil than the standard oil capacity PER Engine CC of the 500 at 1.2 litres, NOT more ) lives with 6000 mile intervals. Why? Simple it has a 3 ring piston. The 2 ring racing piston is used for less friction and weight but lets the harmful carbon deposits through which shorten the oil life. Not a problem on a race bike as it is changed every race but no good for longevity. If you want 690 type 6,000 mile length oil changes, swap to a 3 ring piston. Simple. Only reason no one does it is because very few so called "experts" today understand old school basic engineering principles anymore. It is a sad reflection of our times.
Thanks for explanation. Please, where do you get a 3 ring piston ?
@@gillesgenete9598 Google for racing/custom piston manufacturers. Plenty around.
Do you have any data to back up your claims or is this just the opinion of an armchair engineer?
@@marcochavanne Data? data to back up "my claims"? I cannot imagine how little you must understand about engines.What planet do you live on? How about the fact that every single one of the hundreds of millions of 4 stroke engines on the planet apart from off-road race bikes (for the reason I have explained) have 3 piston rings? Is that "Data" enough for you ? Someone else using the single family brain cell today are they?
@@jamesfairmind2247 So no, you don't.
Wow. Impressive bike.
Keith Jobson is the Australian who did the oil tests with the increased capacity clutch cover
Oil capacity is not the answer, a 3 ring piston is, see my comment.
@@jamesfairmind2247 That makes sense. I've seen that suggested before, but would like to see it tested as well. If 3 piston rings, and Tacomoto's magnetic filter both work as well as suggested it could be a recipe for good 3000+ mile service intervals. We already know once the valves wear in they hardly move. I just wish there was a billet option for the oil pump gears on the 1st gen EXC that I have
690 Enduro has 1,7 litres of oil and change interval is 10 000km. EXC 500 has 1,2 liter of oil and service interval 15h. Engines are different but 690 is very powerful too. On my EXC 500 I change oil somewhere between 2000-4500km, depending on use, travel vs light trail riding.
Very cool setup!! Looking forward to watching these guys do the tour. Nice work!!
It was awesome meeting Jason and Lisa at your shop! I'm really looking forward to following their adventures, especially with these gorgeous bikes! I can't wait to see how the "intermediate tower" build comes out!!! 🤓🤓
Cheers Michael! Back atcha, chap.
I have the '23 KTM 350 EXC-F....got some ideas from thanks! video, thanks!
Awesome detailed overview as per usual. Always brimming with great info on drool worthy beasts. Thanks! Keep 'em coming
This is the most informative information I've ever been informed of about this subject. I'm actually impressed. Well done, freakin Well done.
Incredible bike!
Big fan of quad lock over the ram mount. They might have their reasons for the ram but I couldn't go back.
Nice video, i'm running something similar but with carbon fibre tower.
What is this intermediate alternative you mentioned? I'm considering moving to alternatives, for exactly the downsides you mentioned
Awesome!
Thanks for the great content.
Thork racing tab, DMD2 app.. love to see that
It’s pretty impressive
I have been using it for years. Started with V1.
Now a beta tester and helped with some of the newer feature sets.
Turned a bunch of guys onto here in the northeast.
Thanks for the very cool walk-around of Jason’s bike, Mike!
I’m still having to pinch myself that these are our newly adventurized and meticulously setup machines for the epic ride ahead. So grateful, thank you to England and back.
BIG Moto Love,
Lisa 👩🏻🦰🧡🏍️ and Jase #tacomotoequipped
P.S. Just in case anyone wondered, we’re running Carpe Iter Android tablets as our all-in-one digital hub for GPS and smartphone apps.
Have the same tower on a 501. What mount are you using for the tablet?
Also did you have to fabricate a bracket for the windshield to tank fairing panels?
@@TheZainJustisFoundation Hey there, we're using a Carpe Iter mount to mount the Carpe Iter tablet directly, and then a Nomad-ADV mount to accommodate the Carpe Iter mount.
@@TheZainJustisFoundation Yes, it's just a simple piece of metal at a right-angle. Cheers Lisa
Did you weigh the bikes after all the modifications, before luggage?
I'm really interested to find out what they weigh!
By KTM standards, they weigh sub 300 pounds. True ready to ride weight is 500...
My FE 501 MY 2024 is the production mule for Nomad and the development looks beautiful. I have put 45000 miles or around 70000 km on Nomad kitted bikes. The adventure fairings are tough. They are effective at high speed. I also have the same nav system. It is good but mine has had software issues. I'm encouraged that this bike has a lot of the tweaks my bike has but my 501 goes for 3 week trips, in Europe and Maroc. I'm not off round the world on it.
I fitted a tower on my former 701E ( very good from Rade Garage). When I replaced my 701 with a 500EXCF, I decided to keep it without tower, as I don't ride over 90km/h, and have enough room for my 5in cell. Allready 7000km of European TET. I have an extended clutch cover and change oil every 3000km, usually 10days trip. So far so good, but will further investigate a 3 ring piston. I was thinking of the True North rear rack, but as I don't camp, no need for it, just Enduristan soft saddles fit my needs.
What's the in-between windscreen/tower you mentioned?? Super interested!
Same. @tacomotoco when might there be some deets?
I just bought a 2022 honda 450.
Its got a TACO MOTO BLACK BOX .
YOUR COOL DUDE!
Look up Keith Jobson re that excellent study of oil capacity vs oil life. Basic summary is that these larger clutch covers hardly make any difference, as noted by Mike.
Standard real wheel: 11,97kg. Haan cush hub with excel rim: 14,75kg. Both include same Mitas tyre.
Good info
Great video. Thank you
I thought about doing something like that with my ktm but decided it's too sketchy on the hwy. Instead of building that bike up, I'm wondering what it would take to light-up the Tenere 700? Their previous GS 800's weighed 505 lbs plus luggage. The Tenere 700 wet is 452 lbs before luggage.
Thanks Mike. Highly useful and informative as always,
I hope you know how much these videos influence home builds. (I have an old 2014 500 with your GET ECU, a 3000 hour fuel pump, and PMB endcap. Its a monster, and a lamb.)
I couldn't catch the name of the turn signals, which do look like something I might be able to keep and not. destroy on my bike.
Also, I'm assuming adding another pair of links wasn't possible, it looked like you could just about manage it, but with no room to adjust the chain tighter once it stretched.
p.s. Thanks for all the stickers and candy.
Hi Mike. Let me understand. So with help of Blackstone Labs, you are comfortably pushing the oil interval on these KTM 500 EXC-F adventure builds to 60-70 hours?? That would equal not around 1,800 to 2,100 miles.
Correct
I had a warp9 kickstand for my ktm500 that did not last 70 miles. Minimal gear for a BDR and the stand bent, almost snapped in half. I don’t recommend getting Warp 9 gear.
Turn signals available on the taco site?
They will be today, hurrah! Aren't they cool? Check around 4pm-ish...
be nice to hear how the MOtoz tyres do with mousse, over here people say the tyres don't like mousse - now i am not sure if that is stupid rumour as it seems like it to me but i have heard due to the tyre height this is where the concerns rise from , amazing how different it looks to my 500 exc - wish them luck from me in little old England - fair play and what a trip -
What type of skid plate is best for a 2023 ktm 500 exc f? Are there any great skid plates that have a good openings to drain the oil without removing the plate?
Really curious about the bag mount on the left side tied into the subframe bolt. I have checked TN mad MM but could not locate it. If you could share I’d appreciate it. Is it stepped to still get the OEM locking force? Respectfully…
Hopefully you can provide some guidance. I currently race a 2023 KTM 300 XC - Love it! I'm wanting a dual sport so I don't know whether to go 500 EXC, 500 XW-F or 450 XCF-W. Get the EXC or one of the others and add a dual sport kit. I'd appreciate your input with respect to initial cost vs conversion/performance. Thanks!
Best to reach out to us at info@tacomoto.co 🤘🏽🤘🏽
What did he ever reccomend
@@brayt31 450 XCF-W, it doesn't require ECU, Pipe and smog removal. If your state allows it...
Are you guys coming around Nepal in Future ?
Does anyone know what the strap mounts on the subframe bolts are?
They're not strap mounts. That's the attachment point of the True North rack. It LOOKS like a strap mount because they've tidied the Mosko Moto steps away very well.
With all these mods and added weight, I think it would be better at this point to get a 701.
dream bike, im aiming for the same but with the 350
Just a q.. why not start with a 690/701 platform? Given the amount of road kms, there would be no need to upgrades hubs/wheels/brakes. Plus it has ABS (lifeasaver) and longer service intervals... You can add towers etc to the 690/701... Just curious to know as I'm tossing up between the 501/701 but will do nowhere near the kms these guys will.
Which direction did you go in? I currently have an "adventurized" 690 (suspension, exhaust/intake/power commander, rack for saddle bags, big skid plate) and it's been a great longer distance bike for motocamping. No real issues except I worry about the subframe strength, but I pack pretty light.
I recently bought an 890 Adv for Baja trips so will be selling the 690 and buying a 500 EXC-F. I plan to use it for learning single-track and developing better off-road skills, it seems like a pretty compromised platform for travel purposes.
@@mattkaymoto I went a 690 just to try something new! Happy so far but sounds like a 500 would he awesome for you as you have the 890
@@Eddie_Turbo Awesome news! Sounds like you made a good choice, if I could only have 1 bike it would be the 690 hands down.
es porque la 501 es casi 40 kg mas liviana
Rear Sprocket choice? Seen that disintegrate in Baja on a KTM 525 piloted by one of your friends in Vegas that you have ridden with. Your thoughts?
It does indeed look very thin. Even the light weight versions from trusted brands like JT aren't that flimsy looking haha.
Dirt Tricks rear sprocket.
We’ve had nothing but years of continued success with the dirt tricks Ironman sprocket and have sold many many hundreds without a single warranty claim to date
I have 900 hours on mine and it’s still like new
I went back and looked at the pictures of the event. It was NOT a Dirt Tricks sprocket.
drive.google.com/file/d/1CNdBz_LKvCy03PIOpaSU1m8BgDF9KlSW/view?usp=sharing
Does the rallye tower limit the turning radius ?
No. I've had 3. It has no effect on turning circle. You can look down the side of it if you really need to see where your front wheel is.
@@TheIdlesurfer thanks, I was worried that the fork tubes would hit the tower before the steering stops.
@@charliestoybox2099 I have gone for Nomad rathrr than Rade (my mate has had 2 Rade systems and he loves them) because the Nomad is essentially simple. It is a giant headstock clamp made out of, basically, 3 CNC'd aluminium sheets. I've properly twatted mine and I straightened it out with a metal pole. The Nomad is seriously robust and fixable by anyone who can manage IKEA flat pack. Carbon is cool but it is fragile.
@@TheIdlesurfer great info. I’m short, so I fall a lot when I come to a stop lol. Sounds like the Nomad would survive me better. Thank you.
Warp 9 goes up to 320mm rotor
Oil service interval is 465miles… is their plan to change the oil everyday?
Oil service life is discussed
@@TACOMOTOCOthanks. 10:30.
I have a 690 that I set up for motocamping and it is kind of the worst of both worlds. It's great just off-road, but you add the luggage and it bogs it down. There are racks and other parts made for loading luggage, but you really need the side carriers since the subframes are weak. Overall it's a good package, but I don't feel I'm really getting as much out of the bike as I could.
I bought an 890 Adv last year so that is my travel bike. It's obviously way heavier and has other compromises, but was made for travel/adventure. I am also about to buy a 500 EXC-F so I can learn to offroad "properly" and transfer the skills to my bigger bike - it's not going to be adventurized.
Not that I am against the idea, I have a Grom with knobbies after all. I think it's great that people use their bikes for different purposes, as that encourages the aftermarket to create a wider variety of parts.
stock muffler??
One of the goals the riders have is to keep the bikes as quiet and fuel effluent as possible and maintaining the OEM exhaust and tune accomplished that
fair enough, good points. at least its not that nuclear reactor of the 690.@@TACOMOTOCO
That nomad deal looks kinda ridiculous on this frame
If I did this the main spare I’d bring is an entire fuel pump assembly
Not necessary w the Taco Moto 3k hour fuel pump motor installed on these bikes
The level of customization is insane. 😢
Two KTM’s and a parts truck 😂
In the past that may have been true but the modern Austrian dirt bikes properly prepared will survive this trip and be amazing
IMHO they picked wrong bikes for traveling around the world. 60 hrs oil change interval is nonsense for traveling. That is literally 1 week of riding. You don't want to be searching for high grade motor oil every week in the middle of nowhere.
Also the rear sprocket looks very suspicious. 😅
Different bikes for different likes.
Those rear sprockets have decades of proven reliability
There is a CBR600F4i with 300,000+ miles on it that's been maintained with Shell Rotella. It doesn't NEED high grade oil, it needs frequent changes. The clutch particles will be in the oil regardless of how much oil capacity there is.
Rotella is available pretty much anywhere.
Counter to the experience of Belgium engineers, some guy on the internet (named after the slang word for a woman's vagina, Taco) says you can ignore the factory oil change interval.... Hmmm Ok.... Also, anyone rebuilding motors knows the tell-tail signs of twin-air filters... Sand gets through those things and scars the piston. Stick w/ stock. The engineers know what they are doing.
Cool bike build, but stock is what you want for serviceability on a RTW trip. These are NOT high performance riders. They are touring riders. Leave it all stock.
He put on PC Racing Skins, sand wont penetrate as you think. Regarding Mike's company name...sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Tacos are a fav food in Baja MX.
They didn't make it through Nevada on their around the world tour. The only way they will make it around the world is by booking flights through United Airlines...
Does the rallye tower limit the turning radius ?
No, fortunately it doesn't.