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Don's 1982 KTM 495 Restoration |
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Wednesday, 24 May 2006 |
| After purchasing the 495 in Phoenix, Don has spent the last few years embroiled in that love/hate relationship that many KTM restorers know so well. In what he described as 'good bones', the 495 came into Don's possession ugly but complete, even down to the original Metzler on the front!
Just like the bike was in its heyday, parts are now rare and pricy; Don's familiarity with eBay increased in proportion to the completeness of the restoration project. Fortunately for KTM 495 restorers, Eric Johnson brings a wealth of knowledge to the subject and provided Don with any assistance he needed to get the 495 finished.
| Most of the parts were glassbeaded and coated with clear lacquer. Don didn't care for the red triple clamps and fork legs, so they were changed from original. The fuel tank was painted using Bulldog adhesion promoter and finished with Krylon Fusion. The fender and side covers are from DC Plastics.
The only thing Don was not satisfied with was the Hi Flight seat cover. It took about two and a half months of unanswered emails and telephone calls to get the cover from Hi Flight, and even then it was a very poor fit.
In Don's words "The bike runs well and is extremely fast. It is the MX model with little flywheel weight, very fast revving. Overall it was a fun restoration."
Fast and fun - just what KTMs are all about! |
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