21 Aug 2022 KTM 500 EXC-F Build
LAST UPDATED: 8.22.2022
What better way to kick off the new ADVRmoto season… build a bike! We’ve been seeing more and more popularity of the 500EXCs doing more than just slaying the enduro world. In fact, a few have taken these bikes pretty much around the world!
Is the KTM 500 EXC platform the most versatile motorcycle to date? We’re going to find out.
Let the 500ADVR Build Begin…
This article will grow as the bike is being built… so stay tuned and shoot us comments below!
Comfort
SEATCONCEPTS BRINGS THE COMFORT!
Before you even head to the dealer to purchase a motorcycle, jump on SeatConcept.com and get a new seat on order! These are an absolute must for any moto. Just do it, your arse will thank you later! For enduro bikes the carbon fiber sides, gripper top work fantastic, keeping that comfy feel but give good leg grip to the seat. The craftsmanship is top-notch and I dig now their seats come with the seat pan and everything. No more re-covering your stock seat pan these days, just pull the stock off and slide the new SeatConcepts on!
Electrical
JUNK IN THE TRUNK!
The huge contraption on the rear of stock motorcycles are just crazy large, ugly and unnecessary, at least on our builds!
Thankfully TacoMoto.Co has a sweet kit for this. Their all-in-one Tail Tidy LED rear light includes your brake and turn signal lights. It’s plug and play, installation takes about 20 minutes and you’re done. Watch the install video first just to get an idea but its very straight forward.
We will be replacing all bulb type lights on this bike with LED, when you start replacing bulbs with LED, you need a LED flasher. So here’s what we suggest you picking up from Taco Moto to install this kit and be set up!
- TacoMoto Tail Tidy Kit – $108
- LED Signal Flasher – $17
- Sicass Racing Signal Indicator Harness – $25
- Taco Moto Brake Light Pulsar Module – $39
- Front Fork Wrap LED Signals – $99
MAKE SOME BAR ROOM!
With the addition of the Flexx Bars (see below), you loose a little bit of room for controls. So that’s one reason to add the Sicass Racing Multi-Function Bar Switch, it’s much slimmer than stock.
The other reason that we like about this switch is, you can turn all your lights off on the bike, just in case you ever need to. Just be aware when street riding if your lights are on or not! There is a blue light that lets you know they are off.
ACCESSORY CIRCUIT!
Everyone needs to charge their phone, GPS, camera, comm system or add heated grips right… Being a bit of an electric guru, this Accessory Circuit Relay Power System by Taco Moto Co is the PERFECT addition for the 500 EXCF.
This relay kit gives you two fused switched circuits in a nice and easy to install package. It truly is plug and play, you just need to run some wire up to the controls for accessories and plug it all up. The relay included can also be used as an emergency backup relay for your bikes stock relays!!
Another genius decision with this kit is using the Wago 221 electrical connectors! It really can’t get any better than this little kit for adding accessories to the 500/501 platform.
EPIC LIGHT PLEASE!
We all know the stock headlight on the EXCs are not gonna cut it when you really need light out on the trail or tarmac.
So I reached out to Chris at Motominded for a better solution. They have a variety of options… I decided to go with their Epic Kit outfitted with the BajaDesigns Squadron Pro and S2 Pro combo. This kit will output 7350 Lumens using only 60 Watts. Each light is separately adjustable and the kit connects to the stock headlight connector. Super easy to install!
Protection
HEAT SHIELD!
These bikes run hot and being on one all day, lets’ just say you’ll thank yourself later after running a P3 Heat Shield. It’s more of a safety precautionary item when out on adventure or all day rides. Providing protection from rocks and for your luggage, gear and skin.
The addition of the low-profile oil filler cap gives you a bit more clearance with this heat shield.
And they both look sick.
ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT-POLYETHYLENE!
That’s what this skid plate is made of.. Ha! Or UHMW for short.
Even after a lot of abuse, the reviews on these skid plates from Molecule Motorsports have been very high. Sounds like the perfect fit for the 500ADVR.
Noticeably they are very light and still provide more protection that other skid plates we’ve researched. After reading up on the company and how the product is hand-crafted one at a time, made right here in the USA in Bend, Oregon, this is the skid plate for us.
ON GUARD!
Swingarm guards are a super cheap way to protect the swingarm and add a killer look.
These guards from Polisport are lightweight and install in a few minutes. Just grab a set before you even ride your bike to protect the swingarm and keep the resale value up!
Controls
ODI MX V2 LOCK-ON ROGUE GRIPS
To help ease some of the vibes in the hands as well as add more comfort, these ODI MX V2 Rogue grips do just that! They also help with hand cramps or fatigue after a long days ride. The easy-on / easy-off of lock-on grips just can’t be beat.
One side note, these grips are marketed with “Knockout or cut off ends Easily To Accomodate Handguards”, which sounds awesome but do take precaution. Take your time cutting the ends out with a razor knife as none of the pairs we have installed are that easy to get the end knockout off. Surely not as simple as Emig shows in the video!!
FLEXX BARS
The best bars you’ll ever put on your moto, period. We put these on all our bikes.. enduro, dual sport or adventure, you’ll find a set of Flexx bars. They offer a vast amount of configurations for bar sweep, width, and height. View their Bar Bend Chart if you don’t believe me!
With the ability to customize your compression and rebound Elastomers, you can dial in the feel for your riding and comfort. On the 500ADVR we are running the popular 12° Moto bend with the yellow/blue elastomers combo.
Performance
GET SOME!
Unfortunately, you just HAVE to open these bikes up… and it’s gonna cost ya.
IMHO, if you buy a KTM 350 or 500 EXC-F and just ride it bone stock, the 500 will feel like the 350 should and the 350 feels like a CRF230! (kinda joking)
With both the 350 and 500, once you add new mapping and open the exhaust up, these bikes become incredible machines. For the 500ADVR we took TacoMoto.co Mike’s advice on the ATHENA GET RX1 PRO ECU and the GRAVES Titanium Slip-on combo.
And very impressed with the two different custom TacoMoto.Co mappings that Mike programs onto the GET ECU. For ripping trails Map1 and more dual sport riding Map 2.
I’m still riding this combo to see if any further programming needs to be done, that’s where the WIFI option really comes in handy. I can speak with Mike and we can easily dial in the ECU via my iPhone and the GET app.
FREE FLOW!
The GRAVES Titanium Slip-on really opens the bike up and sounds soooo good! The Taco Moto Co crew has this to say about this exhaust…
“The best slip-on for the KTM big bore thumper bikes we’ve ever tested.
Without question the best designed and built exhaust product we’ve ever seen or installed, it’s a complete masterpiece of construction. There’s nothing else like it and no other exhaust even comes close.
Two systems in one.” – Taco Moto Co
It looks sharp, sounds amazing and the performance is incredible.
GET SPRUNG!
If you’re a rider that weights with gear between 165 – 187 lbs then ignore this.
BUT… if you weight more than 187 lbs, which includes your body, your riding gear and any luggage you put on the bike, then you NEED to re-spring the rear shock!
It’s an incredibly easy and cheap upgrade that will do wonders for your 500EXC-F! Just head over to SlavinsRacing.com, look at their handy-dandy chart to see what spring fits you, and order that sucker up! Install is about 20 mins or less.
This is one upgrade your really should do, especially if you are outside the stock weight range and are planning on carrying adventure gear on long trips.
It’s a game changer…
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