This is the day of the year when I normally mark another successful
trip around the sun for our little ball of dirt, rock and water...
I must admit I celebrated a little early this year when I picked up a
2012 200XCW on Monday...
The sweetheart deal I had with my KTM dealer since 1999, where I
traded services for significant price breaks on bike/parts/gear went
bye-bye when he was forced to sell the franchise to avoid bankruptcy.
For a time there was a chance for me to get one last bike at cost, but
that deal didn't materialize...
Unfortunately, the franchise went to one of our big, faceless
multi-line dealers here in BOI (Carl's Cycle). Nobody there knows
squat about KTMs. They have the bikes at MSRP+$.
Aarrgghhh, I was going to have to buy this one at retail and it wasn't
going to be from them, even if they had one in stock. I called all
over the place and found the only '12 200 within several hundred miles
at Edge Performance in Ontario, OR (55 miles). They knocked several
hundred off MSRP, didn't charge for shipping/setup and gave me a FMF
silencer/SA at cost. In talking with the salesman, an avid dirtbiker
who lives here in BOI, we started in with the "who do you know and
ride with" game. It turns out we have many friends in common. I
mentioned I ride a lot with Murray, so-and-so and blah, blah, blah. So
now Murray gets a $50 gift certificate for referring me, even though
he didn't. Murray figures it's just a ploy to get him into the
dealership. With a wink, the salesman agreed... :)
A few weeks ago Rekluse asked me if I would try their EXP clutch,
evaluate it and give them feedback on how well it works or doesn't.
The EXP for the KTM 250/300 has been out a while, not so for the
150/200.
I've been using their Pro model for several years. IMO, the best
add-on piece of equipment there is right now. After a couple hundred
miles on the EXP in my 2011, I dropped the bike off at Rekluse
yesterday and gave them my impressions, likes and dislikes. I think if
they can alter the engagement characteristics to have it hook up with
a little more authority it will be a big winner for me.
I am waiting on a black plastic kit for the '12 to arrive (Bob
Reinen/Cyclebuy) before it hits the dirt. In the meantime I'll pull
the bike apart and do all my little mods/additions. Hopefully Rekluse
can address the issues I have with the EXP. When that happens I'll
install it in the new bike.
Although I can't imagine why, it seems I must have been living right
this year. About the time I'm freakin' out because the "last chance"
deal fell through, my buddy Les calls and asks if I will be selling my
'11 this spring. "Yes, but I will have to find another bike first..."
He says no big deal, let him know when it's available. Sold!
This will be the 4th 200 Les has bought from me. I was smart, he was
riding a KDX200 and a 220. I traded bikes with him a few times. Sold!
After the first bike he profusely thanked me for getting him on a KTM.
Said it improved his riding skills, enjoyment and best of all he fell
much less often. That was in '04. He was on the every-other-year plan
for a while, buying my '06 but had a messy divorce and skipped the
'08, bought the '09. I left the Rekluse in the '06 and the '09, now
he's also an auto clutch convert.
KTM's can be addictive, now his two daughters and their husbands are
KTMers.
Hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year celebrations!
DJ
> This is the day of the year when I normally mark another successful
> trip around the sun for our little ball of dirt, rock and water...
> I must admit I celebrated a little early this year when I picked up a
> 2012 200XCW on Monday...
> The sweetheart deal I had with my KTM dealer since 1999, where I
> traded services for significant price breaks on bike/parts/gear went
> bye-bye when he was forced to sell the franchise to avoid bankruptcy.
> For a time there was a chance for me to get one last bike at cost, but
> that deal didn't materialize...
> Unfortunately, the franchise went to one of our big, faceless
> multi-line dealers here in BOI (Carl's Cycle). Nobody there knows
> squat about KTMs. They have the bikes at MSRP+$.
> Aarrgghhh, I was going to have to buy this one at retail and it wasn't
> going to be from them, even if they had one in stock. I called all
> over the place and found the only '12 200 within several hundred miles
> at Edge Performance in Ontario, OR (55 miles). They knocked several
> hundred off MSRP, didn't charge for shipping/setup and gave me a FMF
> silencer/SA at cost. In talking with the salesman, an avid dirtbiker
> who lives here in BOI, we started in with the "who do you know and
> ride with" game. It turns out we have many friends in common. I
> mentioned I ride a lot with Murray, so-and-so and blah, blah, blah. So
> now Murray gets a $50 gift certificate for referring me, even though
> he didn't. Murray figures it's just a ploy to get him into the
> dealership. With a wink, the salesman agreed... :)
> A few weeks ago Rekluse asked me if I would try their EXP clutch,
> evaluate it and give them feedback on how well it works or doesn't.
> The EXP for the KTM 250/300 has been out a while, not so for the
> 150/200.
> I've been using their Pro model for several years. IMO, the best
> add-on piece of equipment there is right now. After a couple hundred
> miles on the EXP in my 2011, I dropped the bike off at Rekluse
> yesterday and gave them my impressions, likes and dislikes. I think if
> they can alter the engagement characteristics to have it hook up with
> a little more authority it will be a big winner for me.
> I am waiting on a black plastic kit for the '12 to arrive (Bob
> Reinen/Cyclebuy) before it hits the dirt. In the meantime I'll pull
> the bike apart and do all my little mods/additions. Hopefully Rekluse
> can address the issues I have with the EXP. When that happens I'll
> install it in the new bike.
> Although I can't imagine why, it seems I must have been living right
> this year. About the time I'm freakin' out because the "last chance"
> deal fell through, my buddy Les calls and asks if I will be selling my
> '11 this spring. "Yes, but I will have to find another bike first..."
> He says no big deal, let him know when it's available. Sold!
> This will be the 4th 200 Les has bought from me. I was smart, he was
> riding a KDX200 and a 220. I traded bikes with him a few times. Sold!
> After the first bike he profusely thanked me for getting him on a KTM.
> Said it improved his riding skills, enjoyment and best of all he fell
> much less often. That was in '04. He was on the every-other-year plan
> for a while, buying my '06 but had a messy divorce and skipped the
> '08, bought the '09. I left the Rekluse in the '06 and the '09, now
> he's also an auto clutch convert.
> KTM's can be addictive, now his two daughters and their husbands are
> KTMers.
> Hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year celebrations!
> DJ
Very nice. Congrats! You're making me think of trading in the '09.
Dennis K.
XML Sitemap