Australian Motorcycle News — January 03, 2018

ISTARTEDRIDINGinthedirtandthethrill
ofthoseearlytwo-strokesandtheiraggressive
power bands still lingers happily in the
subconscious. Although modern bikes are more
refined they still give you a thorough workout.
If the scooter brings out the inner child then
the KTM channels the inner racer. The 500 EXC-F
has a reputation for being a desert churning,
trail-blasting weapon – the V8 of the bush, so the
prospect of throwing a leg over the big 500 was
exciting to say the least. With a full tank of fuel
and 100 acres of farmland to explore, I was keen
to find out what wrestling this 48kW big-bore
beast for a day would mean.
The farm had a variety of great tracks with
some rocky, shallow creek bed sections and
some faster open grass areas to mix things
up a bit. Instantly I felt comfortable on it and
ergonomically it didn’t feel much different to
a 250. My heart skipped a beat and my eyes
widened as I twisted the throttle, ignoring the

MULTI-BIKE TEST

Digging

trenches and

launch control!

2017 KTM500 EXC-F

little voice saying I wasn’t 18 anymore. Not even

remotely close.

Bashing through the tracks on the farm was a

blast and the KTM’s agility in the tighter tracks

made it seem effortless. On the more open

sections the front wheel lofted with ease and the

back end churned through the dust, but always

felt in control.

I was in a happy place and didn’t want the

day to end, keen to explore every track on the

property until it either ran out of fuel or the bike’s

owner came looking for us.

Unlike smaller-capacity bikes, the 500cc four

stroke is super torquey and pulls from any revs.

The KTM was also surprisingly manageable and

easy to ride considering that brute of an engine

that lies beneath. But twist the throttle and you

really get a taste of 500cc grunt that will have you

busting grins for days.

The appeal of the 500cc engine, the power

and torque are second to none. Coupled with a

chassis that feels like a 250, it’s a reassuring and

confidence-inspiring package that rockets the

riding experience to another level.

Below: No matter how

good the rider is, the

bike’s always better

Below right: Road-legal

and with a dirty soul

Bottom right: All the

good stuff is standard