Well done lad. I was getting frustrated by a 20 minute video watching someone's front fender migrating down some single track and at the very end a one minute review of their bike... your review was clear, honest and refreshing, thank you. I ride a Ducati Panigale and can relate to bolts rattling off with great regularity, Having just purchased a new 2024 Husky 501 so I can relate to your vibration comment. Would be interested in more reviews when you get time. Good luck with the beast!
Great bit…thanks for sharing. I’m building a ‘24, taco moto’d, forks w dal soggio, hardened for Oregon backcountry. Coming off a GS and a 1090, I couldn’t be happier.
Mine is over 415 hours now, it is an amazing machine - stock piston etc is still in, stock clutch too and yes it gets ridden - it is a UK bike so we dont get nice conditions, bikes get treated hard - the exc 500 is a legend
Have a 2020 701 when riding hours on the tarmac. No rally tower required. Just the husqvarna oem wind screen. And a 500excf for more challenging terrain and/or riding closer to the house and feel like riding the lighter bike..
An exponential increase in off-road fun versus a big bike, for the mere cost of a few 10-minute oil changes a year. I'll take that deal any day of the week.
i would suggest you get a ignition and clutch cover - they cost nothing from acerbis but will save your cases and protect you from a shit trip if the worst happens - agreed on the oil and servicing intervals, too many people have no clue how far these things can go easily with no detriment
Nice. I traded in my small woods weapon (beta 200) for a 2025 Ktm 500 myself. Keeping my Tenere 700, for now……will be interesting to see if Tenere stays in garage ;). Winter here so…….gaaaaa as the kids say….im high key excited!!!! Lol
Bought the 2024 KTM 500, you gotta take off the stock exhaust end cap and get the ecu and then it's a rocket, walks away from 450 track bikes. Strongly recommend taking the reeds out because they will fall out if you ride the shit out of it. My manual says oil change every 620 miles not 500. Which is a lot more than what a track bike manual will say.
@@Redwood414 thanks for the info! I didn’t realize the KTM 500 EXC-F had intake restrictors like that. Makes sense that removing them would free up some extra performance, especially with an ECU tune and exhaust upgrade. Did you notice a big difference after doing that?
@Motobrewski it's a massive difference it goes from like 40hp to 64hp it's really restricted to meet communist California noise and emission restrictions for road legal. There's a guy on UA-cam "best dual sport bikes" who opens the bike up and tunes the ECU and puts it on the dyno to prove the power increase.
@Motobrewski yeah I almost got the 690 Enduro until I realized the 500 can put out the same power when you open it up couldn't be happier with my purchase hitting singletrack with my buddies on their 300 two strokes
@@Redwood414 Sick dude. I've decided not to go with the 2025 660 rally anymore and rather going to invest in the 500 a little more to make it a "one bike" (unicorn) solution
I love mine, although I’m not sure it’s easier to ride than my 890, just easier to pick up! Re servicing, I just change the oil after 1000k Mine weaves above 75 mph
@@matthewoakley3772 agree! My riding buddies say I would be much more comfortable on an 890 now with another season of riding under my belt. But like you say the 500 is SOOO much easier to pick up! And that for me given my skill level is the deal clincher at the current moment :)
The bike is a bit overhyped in it's North American form because it's detuned to death for emissions. Bone stock it feels like an 80s XR350 motor in a modern chassis. It'd be an absolute travesty for someone to buy this bike and think that's all there is. You have to desmog it and put a new ECU in it like vortex or GET. Don't complain, in a few years you won't even have that option anymore and they'll all be locked up somehow so that you can't even tune it.
Stupid small gas tank, no skid plate, need 1000 dollar ecu to run right in California. Don’t mind the service intervals, it makes sense, maybe I’m just not a good enough rider to know what I need and don’t . iMO I’m getting a Honda if I get another bike .
Well done lad. I was getting frustrated by a 20 minute video watching someone's front fender migrating down some single track and at the very end a one minute review of their bike... your review was clear, honest and refreshing, thank you. I ride a Ducati Panigale and can relate to bolts rattling off with great regularity, Having just purchased a new 2024 Husky 501 so I can relate to your vibration comment. Would be interested in more reviews when you get time. Good luck with the beast!
@@robertmalone731 thanks for the kind words Rob. The Beast for the win! Enjoy the Husky :)
Great bit…thanks for sharing.
I’m building a ‘24, taco moto’d, forks w dal soggio, hardened for Oregon backcountry.
Coming off a GS and a 1090, I couldn’t be happier.
Mine is over 415 hours now, it is an amazing machine - stock piston etc is still in, stock clutch too and yes it gets ridden - it is a UK bike so we dont get nice conditions, bikes get treated hard - the exc 500 is a legend
You Sir, are the legend!
Matt, take the time and balance your tires. You will be amazed at how much smoother the 500 is on pavement, even when running full knobs !!!!!
@@BenModified423 thanks Ben! It’s on my work list for the next multi-day ride :)
Have a 2020 701 when riding hours on the tarmac. No rally tower required. Just the husqvarna oem wind screen. And a 500excf for more challenging terrain and/or riding closer to the house and feel like riding the lighter bike..
Living the dream! 🎉
Nice overview, im thinking about getting one, I've got a crf450l and it's a bit too heavy for slow stuff
Great review Matt 👊🏼💥
Glad you enjoyed!
An exponential increase in off-road fun versus a big bike, for the mere cost of a few 10-minute oil changes a year. I'll take that deal any day of the week.
i would suggest you get a ignition and clutch cover - they cost nothing from acerbis but will save your cases and protect you from a shit trip if the worst happens - agreed on the oil and servicing intervals, too many people have no clue how far these things can go easily with no detriment
New clutch cover on my list! Thanks for the suggestion :)
Nice. I traded in my small woods weapon (beta 200) for a 2025 Ktm 500 myself. Keeping my Tenere 700, for now……will be interesting to see if Tenere stays in garage ;). Winter here so…….gaaaaa as the kids say….im high key excited!!!! Lol
@@ripnriding1 that’s probably the best test right. Which bike stays in the garage during summer. Winter here too. Las…
Bought the 2024 KTM 500, you gotta take off the stock exhaust end cap and get the ecu and then it's a rocket, walks away from 450 track bikes. Strongly recommend taking the reeds out because they will fall out if you ride the shit out of it. My manual says oil change every 620 miles not 500. Which is a lot more than what a track bike manual will say.
@@Redwood414 thanks for the info! I didn’t realize the KTM 500 EXC-F had intake restrictors like that. Makes sense that removing them would free up some extra performance, especially with an ECU tune and exhaust upgrade. Did you notice a big difference after doing that?
@Motobrewski it's a massive difference it goes from like 40hp to 64hp it's really restricted to meet communist California noise and emission restrictions for road legal. There's a guy on UA-cam "best dual sport bikes" who opens the bike up and tunes the ECU and puts it on the dyno to prove the power increase.
@@Redwood414 Now you got me super interested! Will check it out :)
@Motobrewski yeah I almost got the 690 Enduro until I realized the 500 can put out the same power when you open it up couldn't be happier with my purchase hitting singletrack with my buddies on their 300 two strokes
@@Redwood414 Sick dude. I've decided not to go with the 2025 660 rally anymore and rather going to invest in the 500 a little more to make it a "one bike" (unicorn) solution
I love mine, although I’m not sure it’s easier to ride than my 890, just easier to pick up!
Re servicing, I just change the oil after 1000k
Mine weaves above 75 mph
@@matthewoakley3772 agree! My riding buddies say I would be much more comfortable on an 890 now with another season of riding under my belt. But like you say the 500 is SOOO much easier to pick up! And that for me given my skill level is the deal clincher at the current moment :)
660 Rally? 701 Husky?
@@vudu5vudu 660 rally for me personally! Has all the bells and whistles :)
The bike is a bit overhyped in it's North American form because it's detuned to death for emissions. Bone stock it feels like an 80s XR350 motor in a modern chassis. It'd be an absolute travesty for someone to buy this bike and think that's all there is.
You have to desmog it and put a new ECU in it like vortex or GET. Don't complain, in a few years you won't even have that option anymore and they'll all be locked up somehow so that you can't even tune it.
Agree from my experience, also not Chris or Adam, the 500 will be easy in tuff adventure conditions!! That said, I love my 1290 R😅
You’re clearly a better man than me!
@ naaaa we just love dirt bikes 😎👍🏻
I own one and I’m gonna say overhyped.
Curious as to why…
Stupid small gas tank, no skid plate, need 1000 dollar ecu to run right in California. Don’t mind the service intervals, it makes sense, maybe I’m just not a good enough rider to know what I need and don’t . iMO I’m getting a Honda if I get another bike .
@@Motobrewski but I can’t lie man, I do quite enjoy the bike
@ don’t disagree with you dude. You have to invest quite a bit to get the result. Hoping to do California BDR soon on the 500 :)
@@Motobrewski I hope you have a great trip man!
New bmw 450gs!!
@@Spillly it promises a lot but again at its weight at 175 kgs it’s under powered and too heavy for its power output. The 500 weighs 100 kgs ;)