KTM 400 EXC Scrambler from Loko Dream Factory…
Introduced in 2000, the KTM 400 EXC was closely based on the 400cc factory racer that Italian rider Giovanni Sala rode to victory in the 1999 World Enduro Championship. In production trim, the liquid-cooled four-stroke engine made around 44 hp, the bike weighed 247 lbs dry, and it was street-legal in some countries!
“It’s a factory racer that’s looking for another victory on the showroom floor – and it’s priced to compete well.” -BikePoint
If you needed any further evidence of the KTM 400’s excellence, it’s reportedly the favored trail bike of off-road legend Malcolm Smith — well known from the On Any Sunday films — and Dirt Rider magazine reported some mind-boggling mileage from one of their project bikes:
“KTM’s MXCs and EXCs have longer-life stainless valves, yielding top end lives that modern Japanese four-stroke engines can only dream of. The 400 used in the KTM rebuild story had more than 20,000 documented miles on the stock top end!” –Dirt Rider
Enter our friend Tom Kol of Loko Dream Factory, a veteran rally, motocross, and enduro racer who started rebuilding old American tractors on his farm before moving on to custom bikes.
“One day I found an amazing new world of sexy scramblers and cafe racers. The pictures blew my mind. Then I started dreaming about crazy motorcycles at night.”
Given Tom’s off-road roots, it comes as no surprise that many of his projects either start or end up as a dirt-centric machines. We’ve featured several of his past projects, including his Honda XR600R restomod, Ducati Multistrada scrambler, and KTM 990 rally bike.
In this case, Tom took on a project for a friend who wanted a stripped-down, lightweight urban scrambler built from a 2009 KTM 400 EXC.
“I built this bike for a friend that requested a fun and quick city play bike.”
The first order of business was to strip the bike of its bright orange plastics. Pretty much everything on the bike apart from the engine and main frame has been replaced, rebuilt, or customized. This Kato is now running a custom fuel tank with bespoke mounting brackets, giving the bike a more vintage look, and the subframe was rebuilt and adorned with a custom seat and side covers.
The bike now sports a small front fender, custom exhaust, new radiators, new ignition and key switch, and the engine and rear shock spring were painted. Nicknamed the “Loko Street Tiger,” this is one absolute weapon of an urban curb-jumper, built for fast fun on city streets and still plenty capable in the dirt. We love Tom’s description of the riding experience — a play on the old Nirvana song:
“Feels like teen spirit!!!”
Below, we get more details from Tom on the build, and thanks goes out to Aviv Kurt (@avivkurt) for the photos. Enjoy!
KTM 400 EXC Scrambler: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
2009 KTM 400.
• Why was this bike built?
I built this bike for a friend that requested a fun and quick city play bike.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The design concept was a fine and clean city concrete look.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
• New custom made seat
• New custom made fuel tank and special designed brackets
• New radiators
• Re-build seat
• front fenders
• Custom made exhausts
• Build metal side case
• Painted engine side covers in black
• Painted rear shock spring in yellow
• New ignition and key
• Does the bike have a nickname?
Loko Street Tiger.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
Feels like teen spirit!!!
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
The new seat and fuel tank look.
Follow the Builder
Website: www.lokokol.com
Instagram: @loko_dreamfactory
Photographer Credit: Aviv Kurt (@avivkurt)
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Why are there no pictures of the other side of the bike?