KTM 450 EXC (2010-on) Review

Unless you’re enduro god David Knight who prefers the extra grunt of the 530, the KTM 450 EXC is everything you could want in an enduro bike.

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Light, more power than most of us know what to do with and it’s fitted with some of the best quality suspension fitted to any motorcycle.

There's a great online community for KTMs at the KTM Owners Forum.

Watch Michael Guy try out the KTM 450 EXC in this video

It pushes through mud with a secure feeling that anything will move out of your way yet when the trail gets more nadgery the steep geometry means it will flick round rocks and over obstacles.

The 250 is slightly lighter but the 450 is hardly lardy. Suspension can be adjusted to make even the biggest rocks feel like a small inconvenience rather than an obstacle.

Stick it in third gear, ride the torque and the 450 will give you a relatively easy time off road, but use the power and it’s a lightning quick off road weapon that will delight anyone who enjoys being terrified ever so slightly. Just make sure you’re hanging on!

In fact, the KTM 450 EXC is so easy and capable, one-legged Joacim Bovie is a huge fan too. Watch his video here.

Build-quality would shame a Bentley, probably. The thing is so well made that every single part of the bike just works both visually and technically. It needs servicing after 15 hours, but make sure you do that and it’s unlikely to ever let you down.

Our KTM EXC 450 owner's review doesn't indicate anything too concerning from a reliability perspective.

Compared to a £2000 Yamaha WR250 the KTM is poor value, but add up the price of the kit on the bike, work out that you’re getting one of the purest, most hardcore enduro bikes ever made and the price could almost be considered a bargain for something so racy, so pure and so beautiful to look at.

Used prices for the KTM 450 EXC are incredibly diverse given the huge age range of bikes on offer.

WP upside down forks, fully-adjustable linkless rear suspension, Brembo brakes and master cylinder, wavy discs, Excel rims, fuel injection, Akrapovic pipe, the list goes on. In fact there’s not much this bike hasn’t got, just bolt-on hand guards and a sump guard and it’s ready to race.