Cameron's Build Thread

[cameronc56]

Thought I'd start a build thread since I can't seem to keep my hands off the bike....

I bought the bike, a new 2017 RC390, in early January 2018 and had it delivered on my 21st birthday

Here she is on the showroom floor

First thing I did was rip off the mirrors, and replace the rear fender with the eliminator from Mnnnthbx:

Next I installed the Yoshimura R77 race exhaust from ktm performance:

A picture I took after installing that exhaust:

Next I removed the air box lid...

Installed a K&N air filter:

And experimented with a wrap (which I quickly took off except for the bottom part):

Now to some fun stuff...

PCV mapped by chad wells for this exhaust+air lid mod, o2 optimizer, and a quickshift.

Bonus cat:

It was quite the install and I got to get familiar with the bike. I got it finished this weekend and rode it to work today, and man is it an improvement.
It sounds way healthier and the fan kicks on noticeably less often. The quickshifter is extremely fun and fast.

Also took off the front reflectors.

Anyways, that's where the bike sits now. I haven't took any pictures since the PCV install, and I was too frustrated/busy installing it that I didnt take any pictures except the one above.


I have some more OEM powerparts I'm picking up today. The folding clutch/brake levers, the exhaust hanger and the bubble windshield without the cutout (for the oem mirror block offs since the one with the light cutout doesn't come with the block offs and the oem ones look best). I will now have 3 windscreens haha.

Removing the passenger pegs will save some weight and make it look a little better. My girlfriend rode passenger a few times but she is too terrified. I'll probably get a lighter battery too.

Quality rearsets w/ short pegs + a different shift link, crash protection and a different seat are on the list after that.

 

[Trailerboy531]

Where'd you get that wrap? That's very close to something I've been thinking about myself...

 

[cameronc56]

wrapandride.com, its the carbon beta. might have looked better if i had wrapped the tank and fairings in matte black first. Even still I wouldn’t have bought it again, it doesnt stick very well, was missing a bunch of pieces and didnt fit very well around the fairing bolts. It looks tacky IMO and isnt “carbon” like it shows in the pictures on their site, more of a muddy black.

If i was to do it again I would have a similar design custom made from a specialist.

 

[Trailerboy531]

Yeah I did some googling, not a fan of the fake carbon look. But I like the white Redbull and KTM against matte black idea! Just like the winter test GP livery. Nice build!

 

[SWdragon]

You need to get a quick turn throttle.

https://www.g2ergo.com/product-category/g2-motorcycle-throttles/

 

[SWdragon]

Ok forget my previous post as your bike is probably fly by wire. Still curious as to how you get a "quick turn" action from a fly by wire throttle. Is it in the PCV program?

 

[cameronc56]

Not sure what you are talking about. I have a quick shift that works with the PCV..

 

[isaac_]

Not sure what you are talking about. I have a quick shift that works with the PCV..

Fly by wire means the throttle body butterflies are opened / closed electronically based on how far you’ve opened the throttle. Traditional bikes do this with a cable/pulley system.

Quick turn throttle means one where the throw is shortened. Ie if a stock throttle takes a quarter turn to go from 0% open to 100% open, a quick turn might do it in 1/6 turn.

 

[cameronc56]

Yeah im just wondering why he said i need to get one for this bike.

The throttle action is a little long but feels fine

 

[SWdragon]

My 2015 with stock throttle tube, I had to turn my wrist/arm in a uncomfortable position to get to WFO.

Change to G2 competition quick turn throttle, I can get to WFO (idle to WFO about a 1/4 turn) comfortably and have better control of rpm's in addition to taking advantage of all the mods I have done to my bike. PCV, airbox mod, spark plug change, chad dyno tune, tyga exhaust, fork kit, ohlins rear shock, new levers, renthal grips and probably some I've forgot about.

G2's explanation:

The Competition Quick Turn Throttle Tube decreases rotation required and increases response throughout the throttle range. This is especially helpful in road racing where range of motion may be difficult while hanging off the side in the turns. ​

This one of the cheapest best mods I've done to the bike, which is why I was suggest it. ​

 

[isaac_]

My 2015 with stock throttle tube, I had to turn my wrist/arm in a uncomfortable position to get to WFO.

Change to G2 competition quick turn throttle, I can get to WFO (idle to WFO about a 1/4 turn) comfortably and have better control of rpm's in addition to taking advantage of all the mods I have done to my bike. PCV, airbox mod, spark plug change, chad dyno tune, tyga exhaust, fork kit, ohlins rear shock, new levers, renthal grips and probably some I've forgot about.

G2's explanation:

The Competition Quick Turn Throttle Tube decreases rotation required and increases response throughout the throttle range. This is especially helpful in road racing where range of motion may be difficult while hanging off the side in the turns. ​

This one of the cheapest best mods I've done to the bike, which is why I was suggest it. ​

If he’s not racing (don’t know) this mod isn’t very useful. But I love my motion pro quick turn

 

[cameronc56]

Some parts came in. OEM Mirror block offs:

Powerparts brake lever:

And then the ktm exhaust hanger......

The stock bolts holding in the passenger peg brackets are complete garbage. They are torqued to infinity and made out of plastic.

I'm more mad about the bolt still being stuck in there than the paint being messed up.

First it completely stripped with the hex

then it stripped with the star

Then it snapped a drill bit and screw extractor

Then I dremeled it down the center, and used a flathead in a ratchet and the two sides of the head of the bolt just SPREAD APART.

So i just sawed the entire passenger bracket off, and then cut the head of the bolt off in a fit of mechanical rage.

The other bolt (which stripped as I was screwing it in) holds it down while the one with the head cut off stops it from swinging.

Anyways....

 

[cameronc56]

more bad luck...

took it in due to a low oil pressure warning. the bike was 1.5 quarts low... with only 350 miles on it.

they filled it and after turning it on, white smoke was blowing out of the exhaust.

the shops going to investigate further tomorrow. hopefully its not something catastrophic... because my powercommander(which ive only had on for ~50 miles) could void the warranty service.

 

[Fangfactor]

more bad luck...

took it in due to a low oil pressure warning. the bike was 1.5 quarts low... with only 350 miles on it.

they filled it and after turning it on, white smoke was blowing out of the exhaust.

the shops going to investigate further tomorrow. hopefully its not something catastrophic... because my powercommander(which ive only had on for ~50 miles) could void the warranty service.

Is it white smoke or Steam? Steam points to Head Gasket. Hows the oil look? Milky? Coolant level correct?
Mine blows a bit of white smoke on start up after a wet night and bike parked undercover but outdoors due to condensation in exhaust Once bikes warm it clears
Some also say its due to the auto choke setting enriching the mixture until bike warms up. Not sure on that one as that should make black smoke?


I hope what they find is only minor. Good Luck with it

 

[isaac_]

more bad luck...

took it in due to a low oil pressure warning. the bike was 1.5 quarts low... with only 350 miles on it.

they filled it and after turning it on, white smoke was blowing out of the exhaust.

the shops going to investigate further tomorrow. hopefully its not something catastrophic... because my powercommander(which ive only had on for ~50 miles) could void the warranty service.

Do yourself a favor and replace every bolt you can with a steel counterpart.

On the smoke... is it persistent? Does it go away? On start up only?

I wouldn’t panic, yet.

 

[cameronc56]

Just called the shop, theyre still pretty stumped but found the airbox filter lid was missing and the airbox had a chunk missing out of it.

They also said there was a ton of red oily stuff (they think filter oil) in the throttle bodies. They kept it on for a while and eventually the smoke went away

This just doesn't make sense as I don't even own filter oil, and the K&N filter doesn't come soaked in the stuff from the factory.

And it still doesn't explain why it was smoking right after they poured oil in yesterday.

There was no apparent oil leak after leaving it at the shop yesterday.

 

[isaac_]

Just called the shop, theyre still pretty stumped but found the airbox filter lid was missing and the airbox had a chunk missing out of it.

They also said there was a ton of red oily stuff (they think filter oil) in the throttle bodies. They kept it on for a while and eventually the smoke went away

This just doesn't make sense as I don't even own filter oil, and the K&N filter doesn't come soaked in the stuff from the factory.

And it still doesn't explain why it was smoking right after they poured oil in yesterday.

There was no apparent oil leak after leaving it at the shop yesterday.

Did they take pictures?

 

[Fangfactor]

Just called the shop, theyre still pretty stumped but found the airbox filter lid was missing and the airbox had a chunk missing out of it.

They also said there was a ton of red oily stuff (they think filter oil) in the throttle bodies. They kept it on for a while and eventually the smoke went away

This just doesn't make sense as I don't even own filter oil, and the K&N filter doesn't come soaked in the stuff from the factory.

And it still doesn't explain why it was smoking right after they poured oil in yesterday.

There was no apparent oil leak after leaving it at the shop yesterday.

The crankcase breather vents into the airbox
I notice an oily film inside my airbox which comes from the breather. but its not that bad
Does the red oil you found look like crankcase oil?
This could explain your oil level dropping and also the smoke and the oil in the airbox.
Is the airbox part missing the baffle that stops the oil spraying through the airbox?
Get them to check that and as a test disconnect the breather from the airbox and vent into a bottle to see if thats whats happening.
Good Luck.

 

[cameronc56]

Alright, so the shop looked through the bike, said they couldn't find any issues besides what I've already mentioned with the airbox, they test drove it and it was fine.
I rode it home carefully (about a mile away from the service center), checked the oil and it was good.
Checked the oil again the next morning, still good. Decided to ride it to work (just a couple of miles away on the freeway)

I'm on the freeway and started losing power, engines lagging and it dies. I pull over and there's no oil. The bike would start but any rev above idle and it dies.
I'm guessing there was a huge cloud of white smoke coming out of my exhaust that I didn't see.

I'm guessing its piston rings. Either way the engine is fucked, having run until it was out of oil and then some.


Currently going through the whole warranty process, starting with a 2 hour investigation that they then send to KTM for further review.

The dealership seems to want to wrestle with me about the warranty too. And the sunny weather just came back. : /

 

[isaac_]

Like bone dry?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk