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"Best all around Bike?" 2013 Build Project

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5.00 star(s)
Wanted to get some video of the SXF in action. It's pretty rare that we get to get off trail much before Thanksgiving around here. There are land mines everywhere so no big sidehills since the area I was in is full of rock and I clanked my carbide a few times coming downhill skipping over rocks. So far, she's got a lot of grunt and the revs are very responsive. Love it!

 
Looks good Rush. Not to bad coverage for November! That's a fun area for a half day rip. Supposed to get more snow this weekend. Everything opens up Dec 1st! Time to ride ride ride!
 
I should have taken my tank on both days. When I filled up at the pump Saturday after the ride I put in 1.8gal! Barely made it out that time... on Sunday I was watching my tank like a hawk.
 
Good ride today on the new SXF450. I was shocked and so excited to see some AFR numbers at altitude in the pow. After riding the SXF on demo's last year, I decided to build this bike as a "best" all around. A couple observations today. The SXF is a "lean" motor to start with, good for us. :) My AFR's were 13.1 to 13.7 heading up the mountain. That is lean, but good news. At altitude in cold pow, nipples deep, WOT, it was running 12.8 to 13.0. That is the ideal fuel mix for the engine. It ran perfectly all day. I opened up the air box for "TON'S" of air and installed the Pro-Circuit T-5 exhaust. That combination will lean your motor. That is good for us on snowbikes at altitude. The end result was 12.8/13.0 AFR's and a perfectly clean air box all day in the pow. The result for today, I will be doing a ton more rides and test's, but today is; Stock SXF opened up air box and PC, T5 exhaust was perfect. I have a ton of company demo rides scheduled this season and will not change a thing.... Fill with gas, and go. The reason I chose this bike to begin with was, I didn't want myself or others out there to hassle with $ and mods to have a turn key bike that works very well. This SXF with the basic mod's done is the simple solution to "gas and go". I was very impressed... "NO TUNER or PROGRAMMER REQUIRED" :)
 
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Awesome mtn-doo,, its nice to have a turn key set up that a guy doesn't have to mess with !
thats what snow bike n is all about , if you ask me!
 
Any idea on engine temps??? I used a tto temp gauge that I threaded the probe into the bypass port, works great. Great to see your afr.
 
Any idea on engine temps??? I used a tto temp gauge that I threaded the probe into the bypass port, works great. Great to see your afr.

No. I ran the tto the last 3 years on 450F bikes with the same results. The 70C helps bump temps up a little but being in a cold pow bath all day, they run in a range from 120 to 180 depending on conditions. Cold pow 120 ish
 
After letting the bike thaw out in a heated shop all night, I checked the oil level. It is in the center of the sight glass. Same place it was before the ride. I imagine there is "some" fuel but so small the level in the sight window is the same. We also need to realize that strange issue is not just a snowbike issue in our unique use of the bikes. During warm summer months and AFR's spot on, the 4 stroke EFI boat motors build gas in their oil also. It is an issue with the EFI system in other uses as well. Even on hot summer days. There are EFI systems in small 4 stroke engines that work better than others. I feel the inverted system KTM has developed here, in the peak velocity area of the throttle body, combined with a leaner spray is making it at least "acceptable" in stock form.
It is a unique issue to EFI. The carbbed engines do not build gas in the oil.

I would caution people from trying to "tune it away" or "lean it away". When your AFR's are 12.8 to 13.0 you are done adjusting fuel. If there's still gas in your oil, you will have to live with it , "in terms of adjusting fuel". Don't keep leaning it out until the gas issue goes away. You will smoke your engine. Lean it to no more than 13.0 Then start working to raise cylinder temps to address the fuel/oil issue.

As for the SXF with the new EFI system, 2013 to present, I am running 12.8 to 13.0 with no tuner. I would caution people from leaning it further.
 
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Please keep us posted on this. I'm running the same moose warmers and concerned about this. I've yet to figure out what type of lighting I'm going to run. Maybe an upgrade to a higher output stator will be the solution but would like something field tested and proven.


Grip warmers. A tech coached me on the relay and signal wire set-up for the SXF I posted earlier. Mine is wired up and ready to go. I have not run it yet. A friend, "Gary", got the first test day. It appears the stator for the SXF will fall short of the load. The total wattage of the Grips and EFI are less than the wattage out-put, however Gary found a slow gradual loss in voltage as he rode. Eventually you would go dead..... That is great info Gary! Thank you.

Trail Tech, Enduro Dr., Moose, etc have stators that may solve the problem. We will play with it and post what we come up with!
 
Plus I was told you need to do something to the crankshaft to get the Xcf stator to fit. I'll look into these gloves. Thanks for the heads up.
 
I installed the trail tec stator and have had no problems with this stator. The stock stator had just enough for running the bike and charging the battery for summer use. We start stop these bikes more than racers and the trail tec kept up with the hot grips and stop starts so far for me.
 
Really? I looked on Trail Tec and entered year, make and model, 2013 sxf stator and "no results found", said not available for the 2013 sxf... ? I did look at the KTM XCF unit at a KTM Dealership. 90W instead of 60W. Heavier flywheel to accomodate bigger magnets. Not sure what part numbers??? Brock at Penco did the searching for me. Fits the sxf but $400 something, ouch... not worth it for just warm fingers. I am going to have a pair of heated gloves in my pack, slip them on for the ride out.
 
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My owners manual covers the 2014 sx450 and xcf450 and shows the same stator output (75 watts) for both. I'm curious if this is accurate. Are they different from 2013 to 2014? My xcf has been running my hand warmers with many stop, starts etc without issue so far. I havn't put a voltmeter on the battery but the bike always starts even after sitting overnight in the single digits we are having.
 
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I have a 13 XC-F and I've heard that it has a 20w, 30w, 60w, 75w and 90w all from dealers/ companies "in the know", I don't have a clue what they are really running! haha I just got off the phone with Trailtech and Baja Designs, trailtech has one that gains 70w over stock for $144, Baja designs can rewind the stock one for $150 plus shipping both ways and gains about 70w as well. Putting a XC-W stator would require a bunch of stuff and be super expensive. I have KTM handwarmers and a custom made light that draws 15w max, I load tested the battery and found that I can run either one but not both together. I'm leaning towards the Trailtech stator though, I don't want to be out of a bike for a couple weeks waiting for Baja designs to rewind it.
 
Ya I hear ya. Every dealer and KTM shop will tell you a different story. I only discovered the stock system will not provide enough for both.
 
Cyclops just solved your issues LOL. 70watt stator for the 450 SXF. Daryl is good people. Super helpful and great product !
 
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