Austrians may live thousands of miles away, eat funny food and speak a strange language, but when it comes to making Motocross and Enduro bikes, they really do know what they're about.

Engine

The KTM is the biggest motocross bike you can buy: a massive 495cc.  A huge unpainted cylinder dwarfs the sidecases.  Very intimidating! You're told to be careful when starting the beast; it's got a kick back that can break a man's leg.  You tend to believe your informant as he limps away .

Frame has been revised to suit Pro Lever suspension

Mike Landman tells you that the track is greasy as hell and all the bike wants to do is swap ends.

And you've got to go and ride the bloody thing! Scary, unrideable? Not really.  It just gives that impression.  After a few careful runs up and down the main straight, I was prepared to open the throttle up a bit more, to dial on a bit more of that incredible power.

 You see there is really no secret at all to riding the KTM 495.  The power is there from 001 revs and just gets stronger as you turn the throttle.  There is a powerband, but you rarely drop out of it.  The KTM is tremendous.  In tight going though the KTM isn't at times quicker.

Not only is the product good but the designers are willing to talk and accept rider comment.  Most European bikes and components are designed on sandy, whoop infested tracks.  They don't have to worry about the stutter bumps we get on our tracks.  At the moment Bert Flood is working with the factory, supplying them with data that may soon be used to alter the damping rates on Australian-bound Ohlins.  I wouldn't worry in the mean time though; Ohlins are still fine shocks.  Because the Suzuki floater suspension is softer it feels better over small humps and ripples.  Flat out running is easier with the KTM, however.  The rear end is magnificent when ridden hard over rough terrain.

 Rebound damping is a little slow but this can easily be altered with the external damping adjuster.  Known as the Pro Lever System, KTM's design is basically a refined version of the Honda set up.  And identical to the '82 Maico rear-end.  Probably the biggest advantage of the KTM rear shock absorber is its fade free nature.  Let's face facts, if you want the best available from your YZ 490 or RM 465 rear end, you need a $400 Ohlin, White Power or Fox Shox.  Which brings the cost of your lap racer up to $2600 .

New style 40mm Marzocchis handle the front end.  They are the ones with pictures of the flute on the legs indicating that the damper rods have so many holes in them they must work.  Which they do, and nearly as effectively as the Yamaha units.  A few pounds of air or some quarter-inch spacers must be added, otherwise the front dives down rather like the RM 465.  They're not at all harsh like the Can-Am forks and cope with steep drop aways admirably.  The oil level was slightly reduced from standard.