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Bad Idea... 2 stroke build?

Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
I mentioned this in Strattons thread, but the idea keeps coming back to me. I've been thinking about a older (early 2000's) KTM 380 EXC 2 stroke... in a newer '08+ KTM chassis. It would be a project for sure. The 380 EXC is similar to a 300, but with even more torque down low and not quite as much top-end. They have a 5 speed transmission and seem like a pretty capable bike for desert & trail riding. I understand that the older 380 chassis and suspension didn't turn so well and the chassis had a lot of flex, but dropping that engine into a newer chassis should drastically improve the turning and suspension. You can get a Rekluse for the 380 and as I understand, most 300 parts will fit the 380 so things like pipe, etc will work. In the end, the project would probably cost more than it's worth! But a 380 2T that looks and works like a newer 300 would be neat! :freak:

Found one that's been done, I believe it's a 450 chassis.-
IMG_20130803_180731_439_zps319a15e6.jpg
 
Rot Box

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
Do it :D A friend of mine had a 98 380MXC and other than the stock valving in the rear shock (horrible.... just horrible) it was a fun bike. I spent a lot of time on it and to this day I'd still like to have one. While they were a five speed I'm pretty sure the MXC and SX models had the same transmission and the spacing left a lot to be desired off-road. If the EXC's are even slightly wider I'd hold out for one of those. Also they desperately needed a flywheel weight but that's not a big deal.

This dude has done several conversions using the CR500 motor http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=757835 if you want some ideas.
 
Tonkaman

Tonkaman

Well-Known Member
Location
West Jordan
I say do it as long as you don't plan on it being your only bike. The reason I say that is so you can have a backup bike with you whenever you go riding. A hybrid would take several months of trouble shooting out on the trail, and its a shame to lose a day of riding because of it. The idea sounds amazing though!
 
R

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
One of my buddies had a 380 for a few months. He thought he would like it but the chasis is what turned him off of it. It was fun to ride but it was like you say, lacking in the frame and suspension. His had the standard front forks with shock boots on it. It was fast though. I think it would be a great bike. Another friend of mine has two CRF250F chasis with CR500 motors in them. He has built them himself and they are cool. I cant rember what year 500 motor he prefers because of gearing. If you go that route, let me know and I will get you hooked up with him. He lives in St George and was supposed to ride with us when we all went down there but he tweaked his knee. Either route you go, will be really cool. I know he chose the 250 Chasis because he has found them with blown motors so they were cheap.
 
anderson750

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
Here is a little something to make you think about this project. The guy who did the suspension on my 300 and Jack's 85, a few years back stuffed a 1998 KTM 380 into a YZ 250 frame and converted the rear suspension to PDS. When I was at his place last August when he was doing Jack's suspension the bike was torn down and was laying in pieces in his garage with a blown motor. I do not know the year, but it was featured in Dirt Bike magazine. Pete is a bit of a mad scientist and just thinks on a different level. He told me a couple months ago, that he has it back together and has been riding it a little.



I can't remember what the cause of it was, but he kept on breaking the pipe, and this was his fix to the problem.


A little closer look at the PDS set up he has on it.

 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
anderson750 said:
Here is a little something to make you think about this project. The guy who did the suspension on my 300 and Jack's 85, a few years back stuffed a 1998 KTM 380 into a YZ 250 frame and converted the rear suspension to PDS. When I was at his place last August when he was doing Jack's suspension the bike was torn down and was laying in pieces in his garage with a blown motor. I do not know the year, but it was featured in Dirt Bike magazine. Pete is a bit of a mad scientist and just thinks on a different level. He told me a couple months ago, that he has it back together and has been riding it a little.



I can't remember what the cause of it was, but he kept on breaking the pipe, and this was his fix to the problem.


A little closer look at the PDS set up he has on it.

Click to expand...


That's actually really cool! Pretty crazy with the PDS suspension, wonder how he made that swingarm work!?

Wonder how hard it would be to just use a YZ250 rolling frame and keep it's suspension with a 380 EXC engine? There was a complete, runnung 2000 380 EXC for sale locally for a decent price, but nowhere near cheap enough for a project.
 
Jared

Jared

Formerly DeadEye J
Location
Ogden, UT
Fabbing, building, testing, tweaking, rebuilding.... these are all a whole lot less fun than riding with people you care about.

My advice is to never chase unicorns when there are perfectly good thoroughbreds in the corral.

Jared
 
Greg

Greg

I run a tight ship... wreck
Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
Hmmmmm.... there's a very clean 2000 KTM 380 EXC for sale in Denver for $1600. Ride it as is, until I can find a '08+ 250/300 rolling chassis and swap the 380 engine in? Or piece by piece put together a '08 chassis/suspension, etc.
 
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