Making a re-appearance to the market place in Australia KTMs are now alive and well, raring to go at Bert Flood's shop in Box Hill, Victoria as Bert is now. the Australian East coast distributor. KTMs have been available spasmodically for a period of about four years and for this reason alone Their representation has not been ll that the bikes deserve. Far from it in fact. KTMs are practically the backbone of the I.S.D.T. teams of many countries, and as Pentons in the U.S.A. have met with plenty of success, both in the tight enduros of the Eastern states and in the faster desert events of the West coast. Gennady Moiseev, the flying Russian took KTM to its first world Motocross Championship in the 250 class in 1974, and that was the factory’s first attempt.

Prior to the current models, KTM persevered with a policy of a single, versatile machine which could be adapted to perform in both endures and MX. Demands in both fields have been such that KTM have now developed separate bikes to satisfy riders who want uncompromising machinery. KTM MX and Enduro bikes are now very much specialised, although they still share the same engines, wheels, seats, controls art other accessory items. The frames are now completely different from each other. The MX frame being 11 Ibs lighter than the Enduro frame. Only the Enduro has the through the backbone air inlet system that was common to all earlier in models.

The 250 KTM runs out about 120ks with standard gearing, which is fairly low, and with the strong power from mid range to top end higher speeds with higher gearing could easily be attained. Starting the engine was always a one or two kick affair - never more. However, because the lever is highly geared to the engine it does require a technique of standing off the bike and delivering a really solid swing. Once you get used to it, it is impossible to start sitting on the bike. Engine power is complemented beautifully by the set of six fairly close ratio gears. First is low enough for slow speed manoeuvres over logs, through creeks etc., but would not be used once under way. Second through to sixth are very evenly spaced, and provide a gear for any occasion. The shift is solid with no false neutrals, and the clutch works lightly and smoothly if you want to use it. Once under way the gear box shifts perfectly without the clutch.

Both brakes are strong yet ultra predictable. Feel is fantastic and quite quickly the rider can apply just the right amount of rear brake to make the back gently slide out entering a corner and then hit the power and away faster than the opposition can believe.

The Metzeler tyres also do a great job. No security bolts are fitted as the Sun rims have pegs inside the bead to grip the tyres. During the test no tyre slip occurred. Water-proofing is first class straight off the showroom floor. The air inlet is through eight slots in the backbone of the frame under the petrol tank.

The coil is attached to the backbone, and is covered with a protective shroud from underneath. Our test bike ran about a dozen water crossings in a row and never missed a beat, we think you would have to drop into a five foot deep hole before you could drown it, and if you do that there is a crankcase drain plug so you can get the water out, quick smart. It seems the guys who designed this bike have thought of everything and then-added more, just in case.