Brand new to AZ and starting a similar ‘16 500 build myself! What’s the suspension setup cost? You said $6500 to go cone valves etc but what about your setup?
Oh yeah! Good point, you can check out Endurspec's current build sheet here (these prices may change in the future): www.endurospec.com/uploads/9/3/6/9/93697948/2021_service_form.pdf Basically right now as it sits for the Lucky conversion -- includes springs and specific valving -- ($1450) and works rear shock ($850) you are looking at $2300 plus the cost of new rear spring if you need it. So way less than half the cost of trax/cone valve for the full setup, but you can also go with some less expensive options too that will drastically improve the suspension. Lucky is definitely the way to go on the fork if you can swing it. Just know that it comes really stiff and needs to break in for about 5-6 riding hours and its ok to turn down the settings a couple clicks too. And If you are running Bib Mousses you will want to speed up the rebound two clicks front and rear to compensate for the extra weight. The owner of EnduroSpec is a real racer himself too, Warren Healy, 2019 Best in the Desert Ironman and Motorcycle Grand Champion. So he really knows his stuff! Let me know if you have any other questions!
So the oil in my buddy's bike is tested by Blackstone Laboratories, they basically see how the oil is doing at a molecular level and determine whether it still has its lubricity. He's sent it in about 3-4 times now at high 30 hours (in adventure style riding, not single track or racing) and they keep saying the oil can go at least 50, maybe even 60 hours in this style of riding. www.blackstone-labs.com/ I will be sending in my oil to them on this bike once I do a long adventure on it and will report back to RUclips the findings. For single track riding on this bike I always do my oil at 10 hours and it is black by the time it comes out because Im super heavy on the clutch in single track riding. Cheers!
Me, and two buddies, all built 500 EXC’s last year for trail and adventure overnight trips around New England and beyond. Can’t say enough about my 2016 Six Days. Love it. Looking forward to you ripping this thing
Heck yah man!! Check out my other videos, I did a 2016 rally/adventure build on a 500EXC, such a cool Bike! What part of New England, I’m from CT originally.
#1, huge thanks for the video, such a kick ass build. Last couple of years I strayed from my 500 roots(520, 525, 530, 500s) and ran with a 350xcf(trail, desert racing, little dual sport, T1). It took lots of work to make me smile, after a vortex(from Jamie) and exhaust, it still took a rekluse to help with stalling. It's a great bike, but I miss the torque of a 500 for single-track. Your video, wow that suspension sounds sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be coming off polished spheres from Stillwell(I'm spoiled now), it's good to here that the mx tech inserts ROCK. I'm rocking flexx bars, super sweet on a 350, on a 500 they do well with the buzz, but I'm going to try a mako360(w/ scotts) on my next 500, loved the undermount 360 setup your rocking. Your bike, a perfect build for the Tour of Idaho T1!!!!!!!!!! Going to look now if your vortex vs get is out. Oil, I've gone 40 hours on 7100 before in a 500, not harsh conditions, I've not done that with Rotella, lol. I haven't done my own lab testing though. Enjoy that BIKE!! subbed to see further content.
Thanks brad! I broke my foot on not long after this video, the GET Vs. Vortex is still in the works, but I can tell you there is no contest. The GET is a far better unit that especially shines if you change elevation a bunch, the barometric pressure sensor makes it run perfectly everywhere. Also, with the Taco Moto maps the bike is like two totally different bikes on the Map switch, you basically have a fully uncorked 450XCF on the power map and a much easier to ride on single track bike on the Enduro map that chugs super low for a big bore 4T if needed. I can't speak for the stock GET maps, because I bought it through Taco Moto and trust Mike's work. Luckys are great and I am running the national rear shock from MXT too... Both amazing for racing the luckys are a little stiff for super slow speed, but Im ok with that because "just go faster." Assuming they are up to snuff, I will be picking up a 23 350XCF factory edition for next years racing season. The 500 is still a little too heavy in the corners to be competitive in my class, but I have had a blast racing it.. Its always fun to give a rev-limiter pass indication with the FMF pipe on this beast in the enduros, people move to the side real fast ahha. Take care!
@@bradl45 Thanks man! Taco Moto all the way for the GET, total game-changer for the 500. I am healed at this point, just raced the ISDE qualifier in the AMRA series here a couple weekends back. 2 days, 128 miles of pretty rough stuff, and got 4th again in 30B. Wasn't mad about it because it was my third time back on the bike after the foot brake. Cheers!
my 2013 500 xcw is used for everything from racing the baja 1000, lots of utah single track and tons of time on the road with supermoto wheels. Not the best bike for anything but no bike is more versatile.
In Az it’s really easy to street legal bikes. I didn’t want the turn signals, horn or handlebar multi switch the exc has… plus I got a crazy deal on this bike. Cheers!
Awesome video series. My question to you is this. I have the opportunity to purchase an 890 Adventure R. I live on the East Coast. I currently have a 2019 KTM 300xc. I still want to do single track but add adventure riding & camping from the bike. What are your thoughts between the 500 and the 790/890?
Thanks man!! It all depends man… I think it’s a 90/10 question… the 500s and the 790/890 and even the 1090 are 90/10 bikes on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to actual singletrack/trail riding. Meaning the 500 is unmatchable if you want to do 90 percent of your riding on actual trails with 10% of dirt road or paved road transfers. The big bikes are incredible on paved roads and dirt roads and 99% of two track forest service road but aren’t going to do super rough two track as well as the 500 and are a total handful on real singletrack. (I rode my 1090 on CO singletrack and it does pretty well until you have to turn it around or pick it up -LOL). But the big bikes are shockingly capable on 99% of two track and insanely fast and smooth on dirt roads… I found myself accidentally doing over a 100 on my 1090 when I was fully loaded on the CO BDR trip a couple times. That will not happen on the 500 when it is loaded up LOL. No matter which way you cut it the big bikes will carry your gear better if you have anything more than 60 liters of gear. I think if you have the ability to own a single track bike like your 300 and the 890, that you won’t be mad about having both in your garage. The 500 is great as an adv if you are someone that can’t have multiple bikes and really want to do both adv and single track, but it is definitely easier to have both styles of bike. It’s pretty rare on adv/touring trips to actually find a scenario where you NEED the 500 to get yourself somewhere when you have camping gear. Hope that helps!
Hi there Mark. It all depends on your comfort level. I will tell you the spring choice is going to be the most important. Load it down for traveling and choose springs accordingly. My 2012 Beta was a pain to get dialed in. It's a compromise of comfort and stiffness.
Very true! The suspension thats on the bike now is perfect for fast rocky 2-3rd gear single track, it will be interesting to see how it does racing and then going over to adventure riding. Luckily its so responsive with the clickers that I think it will do great.
I think the 350 tends to be a little bit harder on the oil because it needs to rev more to make power.. that would be my guess. But it would be pretty straightforward to test. Just go to 15 hours, catch your oil and have it tested by Blackstone Labs and keep doing the same up every 5 hours and see what they say. Cheers!
Probably a dumb question but what is the difference between the XCW and the EXC, is the smog crap just removed? I have a 2020 500 EXC plated from the factory with GET ECU and in the tight single track its almost as good as my 300 two stroke but it will still stall on some occasions. I sold my street bike because the 500 is that good in the dirt and on the street. Looking forward to the content on the 500.
Just the brake lights, turn signals, horn, mirrors and the exc comes with different tires. The XCW has a different ECU and muffler too, but its still fairly constricted in stock form. The XCW still has the smog stuff in stock form to. I've had 3 500EXC's of various years and I have to say the GET ECU is INCREDIBLE right!? Do you have Taco Moto's maps?? Check out the Lucky Swap from Enduro Spec, incredible for Single Track after it breaks in. At the end of the day, the 500's are unbelievable bikes! Looking forward to chatting more!
I’m in Florida on a 14’ with one in it, being able to fly into a sandy turn in 3rd gear, grab the brakes and roll back on the throttle without it stalling is amazing and unbelievable. 🤯
I hear you, but I won't put one on because we have a lot of technical rocky uphills here and in Southern Colorado where I ride and I want the bike to be locked up if it stalls versus having to hold a brake.
A lot of times in Southern Colorado the climbs are so steep that just holding the front brake wont do it, and Im not into the idea of adding a handlebar rear brake too.
Ohhh you’re referring to my 500EXC build I was talking about. That was an ADV/rally style build with a full tower and rally fairing. That 500 you can no longer run fast on wooded single track because the tower will catch on trees… believe me 😂😂. Click on the link in the top right corner of the video when You see the picture of that bike to see that build then you’ll get it.
Brand new to AZ and starting a similar ‘16 500 build myself! What’s the suspension setup cost? You said $6500 to go cone valves etc but what about your setup?
Oh yeah! Good point, you can check out Endurspec's current build sheet here (these prices may change in the future): www.endurospec.com/uploads/9/3/6/9/93697948/2021_service_form.pdf
Basically right now as it sits for the Lucky conversion -- includes springs and specific valving -- ($1450) and works rear shock ($850) you are looking at $2300 plus the cost of new rear spring if you need it. So way less than half the cost of trax/cone valve for the full setup, but you can also go with some less expensive options too that will drastically improve the suspension.
Lucky is definitely the way to go on the fork if you can swing it. Just know that it comes really stiff and needs to break in for about 5-6 riding hours and its ok to turn down the settings a couple clicks too. And If you are running Bib Mousses you will want to speed up the rebound two clicks front and rear to compensate for the extra weight.
The owner of EnduroSpec is a real racer himself too, Warren Healy, 2019 Best in the Desert Ironman and Motorcycle Grand Champion. So he really knows his stuff!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
2019 ktm 500 SD here, 35000km & 680hours and still rocking but oil change every 20 hours max (60 is crazy)
good video
So the oil in my buddy's bike is tested by Blackstone Laboratories, they basically see how the oil is doing at a molecular level and determine whether it still has its lubricity. He's sent it in about 3-4 times now at high 30 hours (in adventure style riding, not single track or racing) and they keep saying the oil can go at least 50, maybe even 60 hours in this style of riding.
www.blackstone-labs.com/
I will be sending in my oil to them on this bike once I do a long adventure on it and will report back to RUclips the findings.
For single track riding on this bike I always do my oil at 10 hours and it is black by the time it comes out because Im super heavy on the clutch in single track riding.
Cheers!
Any rebuilds or piston replacements?
Nope
Me, and two buddies, all built 500 EXC’s last year for trail and adventure overnight trips around New England and beyond. Can’t say enough about my 2016 Six Days. Love it. Looking forward to you ripping this thing
Heck yah man!! Check out my other videos, I did a 2016 rally/adventure build on a 500EXC, such a cool
Bike! What part of New England, I’m from CT originally.
@@SourceADV haha. Watched them all a couple years ago, you informed many of our purchases
Hahaha!!! Epic! I raced this thing a couple weekends ago, such a sick bike, video coming out soon. Cheers!!
I had a ktm 350 exc and loved it .
Now I like the way you set your bike up I want one just like it .👍
That would be a fun bike with the GET ecu, it’s a total game changer for the EXC/XCF-w bikes
Had an older 530excr, lovely machine
Great bikes!
#1, huge thanks for the video, such a kick ass build.
Last couple of years I strayed from my 500 roots(520, 525, 530, 500s) and ran with a 350xcf(trail, desert racing, little dual sport, T1). It took lots of work to make me smile, after a vortex(from Jamie) and exhaust, it still took a rekluse to help with stalling. It's a great bike, but I miss the torque of a 500 for single-track.
Your video, wow that suspension sounds sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll be coming off polished spheres from Stillwell(I'm spoiled now), it's good to here that the mx tech inserts ROCK.
I'm rocking flexx bars, super sweet on a 350, on a 500 they do well with the buzz, but I'm going to try a mako360(w/ scotts) on my next 500, loved the undermount 360 setup your rocking.
Your bike, a perfect build for the Tour of Idaho T1!!!!!!!!!!
Going to look now if your vortex vs get is out.
Oil, I've gone 40 hours on 7100 before in a 500, not harsh conditions, I've not done that with Rotella, lol. I haven't done my own lab testing though.
Enjoy that BIKE!! subbed to see further content.
Thanks brad! I broke my foot on not long after this video, the GET Vs. Vortex is still in the works, but I can tell you there is no contest. The GET is a far better unit that especially shines if you change elevation a bunch, the barometric pressure sensor makes it run perfectly everywhere. Also, with the Taco Moto maps the bike is like two totally different bikes on the Map switch, you basically have a fully uncorked 450XCF on the power map and a much easier to ride on single track bike on the Enduro map that chugs super low for a big bore 4T if needed. I can't speak for the stock GET maps, because I bought it through Taco Moto and trust Mike's work.
Luckys are great and I am running the national rear shock from MXT too... Both amazing for racing the luckys are a little stiff for super slow speed, but Im ok with that because "just go faster."
Assuming they are up to snuff, I will be picking up a 23 350XCF factory edition for next years racing season. The 500 is still a little too heavy in the corners to be competitive in my class, but I have had a blast racing it.. Its always fun to give a rev-limiter pass indication with the FMF pipe on this beast in the enduros, people move to the side real fast ahha.
Take care!
@@SourceADV Go 350xcf
thanks for the get info, I like the way taco mike thinks as well!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope your healed, or close to it!
@@bradl45 Thanks man! Taco Moto all the way for the GET, total game-changer for the 500.
I am healed at this point, just raced the ISDE qualifier in the AMRA series here a couple weekends back. 2 days, 128 miles of pretty rough stuff, and got 4th again in 30B. Wasn't mad about it because it was my third time back on the bike after the foot brake.
Cheers!
Love the way you have the bike set up👍
Thanks Craig! She rips!
my 2013 500 xcw is used for everything from racing the baja 1000, lots of utah single track and tons of time on the road with supermoto wheels. Not the best bike for anything but no bike is more versatile.
Haha! So true! Can do it all, not the best, but you’ll still have a blast and be almost as fast as the best option.
new subscriber I love this content deffenitly watching you
Cheers!
Nice bike!
Thanks dude!
DRZ400 can do singletrack. It's not the best for it but it definitely can do it.
It can do it, but the 500 xcfw is a bike that can do it fast. The suspension and weight of the DRZ are the big limiters
Good video
Thanks!
The only difference with the exc is the tune and exhaust. Throw a tuner and full system on it and your street legal already.
In Az it’s really easy to street legal bikes. I didn’t want the turn signals, horn or handlebar multi switch the exc has… plus I got a crazy deal on this bike. Cheers!
Awesome video series. My question to you is this. I have the opportunity to purchase an 890 Adventure R. I live on the East Coast. I currently have a 2019 KTM 300xc. I still want to do single track but add adventure riding & camping from the bike. What are your thoughts between the 500 and the 790/890?
Thanks man!! It all depends man… I think it’s a 90/10 question… the 500s and the 790/890 and even the 1090 are 90/10 bikes on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to actual singletrack/trail riding.
Meaning the 500 is unmatchable if you want to do 90 percent of your riding on actual trails with 10% of dirt road or paved road transfers. The big bikes are incredible on paved roads and dirt roads and 99% of two track forest service road but aren’t going to do super rough two track as well as the 500 and are a total handful on real singletrack. (I rode my 1090 on CO singletrack and it does pretty well until you have to turn it around or pick it up -LOL). But the big bikes are shockingly capable on 99% of two track and insanely fast and smooth on dirt roads… I found myself accidentally doing over a 100 on my 1090 when I was fully loaded on the CO BDR trip a couple times. That will not happen on the 500 when it is loaded up LOL.
No matter which way you cut it the big bikes will carry your gear better if you have anything more than 60 liters of gear.
I think if you have the ability to own a single track bike like your 300 and the 890, that you won’t be mad about having both in your garage. The 500 is great as an adv if you are someone that can’t have multiple bikes and really want to do both adv and single track, but it is definitely easier to have both styles of bike. It’s pretty rare on adv/touring trips to actually find a scenario where you NEED the 500 to get yourself somewhere when you have camping gear.
Hope that helps!
Hi there Mark. It all depends on your comfort level. I will tell you the spring choice is going to be the most important. Load it down for traveling and choose springs accordingly. My 2012 Beta was a pain to get dialed in. It's a compromise of comfort and stiffness.
Very true! The suspension thats on the bike now is perfect for fast rocky 2-3rd gear single track, it will be interesting to see how it does racing and then going over to adventure riding. Luckily its so responsive with the clickers that I think it will do great.
Thank you. Very nice and inspiring. Do you think the considerations about oil changes 40/50h apply also to EXCF, explicitly the 350? Cheers
I think the 350 tends to be a little bit harder on the oil because it needs to rev more to make power.. that would be my guess. But it would be pretty straightforward to test. Just go to 15 hours, catch your oil and have it tested by Blackstone Labs and keep doing the same up every 5 hours and see what they say. Cheers!
Can i have a link for your friend RUclips channel who made the oil change tests? Thanks!
He does not have a RUclips channel, he just sends me the results from the lab.
holy shit I also have a tundra 2008 half door cab 5.7 I force with 570k on it
Dang!!! That’s some miles dude, that’s awesome!
i dont think i could ride 100 miles on the stock seat. its so hard
Definitely more of a stand up seat than a sit down seat haha
Is gearing 14/50 now?
That’s right! Holds 65 on the road pretty darn well and works great in singletrack
Probably a dumb question but what is the difference between the XCW and the EXC, is the smog crap just removed? I have a 2020 500 EXC plated from the factory with GET ECU and in the tight single track its almost as good as my 300 two stroke but it will still stall on some occasions. I sold my street bike because the 500 is that good in the dirt and on the street. Looking forward to the content on the 500.
Just the brake lights, turn signals, horn, mirrors and the exc comes with different tires. The XCW has a different ECU and muffler too, but its still fairly constricted in stock form. The XCW still has the smog stuff in stock form to. I've had 3 500EXC's of various years and I have to say the GET ECU is INCREDIBLE right!? Do you have Taco Moto's maps??
Check out the Lucky Swap from Enduro Spec, incredible for Single Track after it breaks in.
At the end of the day, the 500's are unbelievable bikes! Looking forward to chatting more!
I’ll say it.. rekluse lol
I’m in Florida on a 14’ with one in it, being able to fly into a sandy turn in 3rd gear, grab the brakes and roll back on the throttle without it stalling is amazing and unbelievable. 🤯
I hear you, but I won't put one on because we have a lot of technical rocky uphills here and in Southern Colorado where I ride and I want the bike to be locked up if it stalls versus having to hold a brake.
A lot of times in Southern Colorado the climbs are so steep that just holding the front brake wont do it, and Im not into the idea of adding a handlebar rear brake too.
You can't ride a 500EXC-F on single track? Come on man.
Sorry, I don’t understand what you are trying to say? I race this bike on single track.
Ohhh you’re referring to my 500EXC build I was talking about. That was an ADV/rally style build with a full tower and rally fairing. That 500 you can no longer run fast on wooded single track because the tower will catch on trees… believe me 😂😂. Click on the link in the top right corner of the video when You see the picture of that bike to see that build then you’ll get it.
Here’s the link for that 500EXC ADV/Rally build:
ruclips.net/video/jYTYN4K3g9Y/видео.html