I have ridden the 2004 KTM 625 SXC for over a year everywhere from Hungary Valley, CA to Baja Mexico. Baja was the true test of this beast. I have loved this bike, even though it weighs more than the 650R, the suspension is the best out there. However, in Baja, I realized one thing I don´t like about this bike. It needs a battery to run. It will NOT run without the battery, even though it has a (left-sided) kickstart. My battery overcharged and died in San Matias, Mexico after leaving Mike´s Sky Ranch. Thank God it didn´t die while I was on the Score track in the middle of nowhere! I had to hitch a ride to San Felipe with the bike in the back of a flatbed truck, then buy a new battery for it once in San Felipe. Riding back from San Felipe, my battery died again while just entering Mexicali... again, my battery overcharged and started making a high-pitched whistling sound just like before. I´m guessing a voltage regulator failed or something. I´ll figure it out, but the point of contention with this bike is that, unlike all other dirtbikes, this bike cannot survive without a working battery. A dirt bike that needs a lead-loaded battery. Hmmmmmmm. Is there any way to bypass the battery on this bike to make it battery-free? Great suspension, awesome power/torque, looks great, but needs a battery. A wonderful bike to have, but the battery situation needs to be remedied considering this is a dirt bike. Anyone have any ideas?