AWD KTM's 250-300's.

[Fearnot]

Dirt Rider's bike of the year Christini All-Wheel-Drive.





With an introduction into the motorcycle business more than five years ago, Steve Christini has patiently and diligently worked on his concept, improving the weak links and learning a lot about motorcycles in the process. He was looking to have his heavily patented system gobbled up by a manufacturer, but that didn't happen. So he took already existing bikes, like Honda CRF's and KTM's, and created frame fork kits, complete with gas tanks and pushed on. We've ridden all the bikes, from test mule #1, and actually got the first "production" crf250X. We still have it and ride it weekly as part of our Long Haul testing. We got one of the first AWD-equipped KTM electric start two-strokes, right after it was broken in at EnduroCross, and we continue to ride it all over the place. Literally over anything we can point it at. It redefined what effects extra power has on an all-wheel-drive system. And we like it. We like it alot. Adding AWD to the bike, an electric-start KTM two-stroke that would've likely taken the BOTY award on it's own accord, didn't hurt our judges' feelings, either. Source: DirtRider Magazine

Two strokes took home the Runner-up Bike of the year with the KTM250-300 XC-Ws: Electric-Start Two-Strokes

Whether it's the 250 or 300, was adding something so simple to a bike, electric starting, enough to make it a bike of the year podium finisher? Well, almost. So it didn't hurt that KTM saw fit to completely dial in the off-road mount to become the serious single-track racer that it is. This bike doesn't lag behind favored motocrossers come development time, it gets equal treatment and continued upgrades to keep it ahead of a class that's truthfully almost extinct. So much so that it has the eletric-start button that just makes life simpler. It sounds like a Jet Ski and it adds some weight, but we love the KTM two-stroke off-road bikes so much more now, we never kick them anymore. "Taking overall honors at DR's Torture Test didn't hurt the electric-start two-stroke one bit.
Source: Dirt Rider Magazine.

Editors' personal awards even gave two-strokes some spotlight such as.

Best Moto Bike: KTM 250 SX
Favorite Two-Stroke: Yamaha YZ250
Saddest Farewell: Suzuki RM250

For more info and video go to Christini All Wheel Drive Motorcycles for ride video and magazine articles.

[08 BANSHEE]

Thats sick

[fastR of puppets]

seems like a lot of money and weight, and i still dont understand the whole electric start KTM thing, why would you want it, haha like im about to pay $450 to change my LTR to a kickstart

[atomicsaladbowl]

pretty badass, how much weight does it add?

[Fearnot]

More pictures of how the whole system work's.


The lightweight all-mechanical system works similar to that of AWD systems found on four wheeled vehicles. The AWD system (powering the front wheel) is driven at a slightly lower rate than the rear wheel (approximately 80%). Under optimum traction conditions, the rear wheel is actually driving faster than the front AWD system. One-way clutches within the front hub allow the front wheel to freewheel under these conditions. At this point, the AWD system is effectively passive. Though the front AWD system is turning, it is not actually transferring power to the front wheel. When the rear wheel loses traction, the drive ratio, relative to your forward speed, changes. The AWD system engages, transferring power to the front wheel until traction is reestablished at the rear wheel.

The way the front system works is like pedaling a bicycle down hill. You are pedaling, but because of gravity (acting like the rear drive) the bike is traveling faster than you are delivering power. When you get to the bottom of the hill and slow down (similar to what happens when the rear wheel spins), you will begin to power the bike again.

An added benefit of AWD is that the front wheel does not want to wash out. When a front end tucks, the wheel stalls, stops turning, and begins to push. With the AWD system, as soon as the wheel begins to stall, power is delivered to the front wheel, forcing it to turn. With the front wheel under power, it is nearly impossible to wash out the front end




The Christini off of a ktm250xc with Electric start weighs alil over 250 pounds without gas and 264 with full tank.
Honda crf450 254dry 263 full
To compare a KLX450 weighs almost 270 dry with 285 full

[BlueDiablo]

im not sure if id like that or not. Im sure its a differant feeling for cornering,

[atomicsaladbowl]

i hear it really pulls you thru the corners

[DStad]

a buddy of mine has a 450x awd and he has all kinds of problems wth it

[Fearnot]

You wouldn't happen to have any pics of your friends bike with the system on it would you? Never had the riding experience with a Christini yet but the reveiws about the recent kits have been pretty solid I'd be sure to have them figure out whats wrong with their kit if mine broke for 3-4k+. Really for what you spend on a brand new 4t plus that kit you'll be around 11-13k atleast on a new bike.

The main maintenance requirements for the Christini are to keep the chain drive lubricated, replace that chain's tensioner when it wears and keep the linear spline bearings lubricated (made easier with zerk fittings and a grease gun included with the bike). The drive can also make maintenance of the rest of the bike more time consuming--most obviously the way it limits access to the carb.

If whatever broke on your friends bike it could have been from a ton a reasons the kit also seems to add even more things to already complicated bikes to maintain, I definately couldnt spend the time maintaining the drive system plus servicing a fourstroke I'd never have the time to ride it haha. If you have a dealer near you I hear they give free test rides for you to get used to how the bike feels before shelling out the cash.