KTM 450 SX - Manual (Page 20)

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DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS
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– ALWAYS KICK THE KICKSTARTER BRISKLY ALL THE WAY WITHOUT OPENING
THE THROTTLE. IF YOU DO NOT KICK HARD ENOUGHT, WITH AN OPEN THROT-
TLE GRIP, THE KICK-BACK HAZARD WILL BE HIGHER.
– DO NOT START THE ENGINE AND ALLOW IT TO IDLE IN A CLOSED AREA.
EXHAUST FUMES ARE POISONOUS AND CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONSCIOUS-
NESS AND DEATH. ALWAYS PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION WHILE THE
ENGINE IS RUNNING.
– ALWAYS VERIFY THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SET TO IDLE (NEUTRAL)
BEFORE ACTUATING THE STARTER BUTTON. IF YOU START THE MOTORCYCLE
WITH A GEAR ENGAGED, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
– MAXIMAL PERIOD FOR CONTINUOUS STARTING: 5 SECONDS. WAIT AT LEAST
5 SECONDS BEFORE TRYING AGAIN.
– DON’T RIDE YOUR MOTORCYCLE WITH FULL LOAD AND DON’T REV UP THE
ENGINE WHEN COLD BECAUSE THE PISTON IS WARMING UP FASTER THAN
THE WATER COOLED CYLINDER AND CAN CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE.
NOTE: If you have trouble starting the motorcycle, this could be due to old
fuel in the float chamber. The easily inflammable components of the
new fuels evaporate during longer periods of standstill.When the
motorcycle has been out of operation for more than a week, it is there-
fore recommended to drain the old fuel from the float chamber. The
engine will immediately start off when the float chamber is filled with
new fuel.
Starting when the engine is warm
1 Open the fuel tap [1].
2 Swing up the side stand.
3 Put the gear in neutral.
4 Leave throttle closed and kick the kickstarter briskly ALL THE WAY or
actuate the E-starter.
What to do when the engine is „flooded“
In the event of a fall, more fuel than necessary may get into the engine. In
order to „pump the engine free“, pull the hand decompression lever, fully rev
up the engine, actuate the kickstarter 5 to 10 times or actuate the E-starter
2 times for 5 seconds each. Then, start the engine as described above.
If the engine fails to start, unscrew the spark plug and dry it.
NOTE:
The carburetor has an accelerator pump. Every time you open the throttle,
fuel will be injected into the intake passage. When starting, be sure that you
open the throttle completely only once.
Starting off
Pull the clutch lever. Put the engine into first gear, slowly release the clutch
lever and open the throttle at the same time.
BEFORE YOU START OFF, CHECK THAT THE SIDE STAND HAS BEEN SWUNG UP
FULLY. IF THE STAND DRAGS ON THE GROUND, THE MOTORCYCLE CAN GO OUT
OF CONTROL.
Shifting/Riding
You are now in first gear, refered to as the drive or uphill gear. Depending on
the conditions (traffic, hill size, etc.), you can shift to a higher gear. Close
throttle, at the same time pull clutch lever in and shift to the next higher gear.
Let clutch lever go again and accelerate. If you turned on the choke, make
sure you turn it off again as soon as engine is warm.
When you reach full speed through opening the throttle all the way, turn throt-
tle back to 3/4; the speed hardly decreases although the engine will use less
gas. Only give as much gas as the engine can handle. Through quick and high
revving of the throttle, the fuel usage increases.
By shifting down, use the brakes if necessary and close the throttle at the
same time. Pull the clutch lever and shift down to the next gear. Let clutch
lever go slowly and open the throttle or shift down again.
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