Cycle News Staff | March 16, 2017
2017 KTM 450 SX-F / 250 SX-F Factory Editions: FIRST TEST
We are only a few months into the year and the 2017 Factory Editions have landed. Compared to previous Factory Editions, the differences between the standard models and the FEs are few, but, as we soon found out, few changes or not, they do make a difference on the track.
No, these aren’t Alex Martin or Ryan Dungey’s bikes, but they can be yours.
The revisions come mainly in suspension updates. The WP AER 48 fork has a new air seal, which is more wear resistant and has less stiction. It’s also been designed that, if by some slim chance it does happen to fail in the middle of a race, the fork will continue to do its job with little change in performance.
Click here to read this in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
By the CN Staff Photography by Adam Booth
The damping piston is now steel instead of plastic and has new ports aimed at improving overall comfort. New valving provides more low-speed damping, and less damping through mid and high speed; air forks typically are very progressive and these changes are designed help to make the stroke more consistent.
In the back, the WP shock features a new compression adjuster designed provide more overall comfort and balance to work with the updated AER 48 fork. The shock spring rate stays the same.
Our 2017 450MX shootout winner just got a little better.
The 2017 Factory Editions also get a new lithium battery that is bigger (as is the battery box) than the 2016 FE and 2017 standard SX-F models. The new battery has more cranking amps, which addresses the slow crank speeds riders in colder climates experienced.
Of course, the Factory Editions feature some trick graphics (Dungey replica for the 450 and TLD/Red Bull Team graphics with Alex Martin’s number for the 250) and additional bling items, like the titanium FMF slip-on muffler on the 250 SX-F and the titanium slip-on Akrapovic muffler on the 450 SX-F. They also get the cool orange frames, and smaller details like orange anodized triple clamps and orange rear sprockets. The front disc guard is a fancy factory touch that the standard models don’t have. Everything else is the same as the standard SX-Fs.
The 250 SX-F FE benefits the most from the suspension upgrades.
Ripping and Roosting
Pulling out onto the local track riding a 450 SX-F Dungey-replica with large number ones adoring three surfaces is a lesson in ignoring staring eyes. It’s an attention-getter—that is for sure.
Again, everything, minus the suspension upgrades and the slip-on muffler is the same as the Cycle News 450 MX Shootout-winning 2017 KTM SX-F, so the engine and ergos felt very familiar. The revisions to the suspension, however, are noticeably different; we immediately noticed that they help improve midstroke comfort and improve overall performance. It isn’t a monumental improvement, but any improvement is worth noting, especially in the suspension department. The AER 48 fork travels through the midstroke more smoothly, providing great front-wheel traction. The fork’s action is excellent and predictable, further cementing our belief that the WP AER 48 air fork is the best production air fork out there and now rivals most traditional spring forks.
Having three number-ones on your bike will force you to go faster.
The shock updates help further improve overall balance of the bike. The 2017 KTM 450 SX-F won a lot of magazine shootouts this year, so we know it was already a wonderful motorcycle and thanks to suspension tweaks, it is even better. We expect the 2018 KTM 450 SX-F to receive the same suspension updates as the Factory Edition, which will make it even harder to knock off the top step of the podium as the best 450 in the class.
The FE’s really are not much different than the factory bikes.
The 2017 KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition looks more like a factory race bike than some actual factory race bikes. It is almost too pretty to get dirty. Changes to the 250 SX-F Factory Edition mirror that of the 450 Factory Edition changes; simple, yet effective suspension revisions. Our testers felt like the suspension updates made a bigger difference to the 250 than they did to the 450. The performance and action of the suspension, had it been on the 2017 standard KTM 250 SX-F, would have more than likely pushed it to the top position in our 250F shootout.
The KTM was edged out by the Yamaha YZ250F. There is no longer any midstroke harshness from the WP AER 48 fork and the shock works great in conjunction, providing a bike that eats up any sized bump and carves corners with ease.
Both bikes also get a beefed-up and larger lithium battery for stronger cranking power on start-up.
Overall, the little changes to the suspensions on both the 2017 Factory Editions show that a little can go a long way, especially when it comes to something as important as suspension. A great performing chassis is way more important than squeezing another horsepower out of the engine.
Even with a larger battery, the 250 SX-F FE is still the lightest bike in its class.
If you were ready to pull the trigger on a 2017 KTM 450 or 250 SX-F and didn’t, but still have an urge to own one, buy a Factory Edition with an orange frame, improved suspension and super cool awe-inspiring graphics. You will have a class-leading machine, no matter which one you choose.
We’re now confirmed fans of the improved WP AER 48 air forks.
If you don’t care about factory replica graphics and orange frames, wait until the 2018 SX-Fs come out, they will undoubtedly receive the updated suspension and battery, and will again be some of the best of the best. CN
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SPECIFICATIONS
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2017 KTM 450 SX-F FE
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2017 KTM 250 SX-F FE
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ENGINE:
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Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single
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Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, single
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DISPLACEMENT:
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449.9cc
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249cc
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BORE X STROKE:
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95.0 x 63.4mm
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78.0mm x 52.3mm
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COMPRESSION RATIO:
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12.7:1
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14.4:1
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FUEL DELIVERY:
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Keihin EFI, 44mm
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Keihin EFI, 44mm,
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STARTING SYSTEM:
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Electric
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Electric
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TRANSMISSION:
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5-speed
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5-speed
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FINAL DRIVE:
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13/48
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13/50
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FRAME:
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Steel
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Steel
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FRONT SUSPENSION:
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WP AER 48 air fork, fully adj.
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WP AER 48 air fork, fully adj.
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REAR SUSPENSION:
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WP monoshock, fully adj.
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WP monoshock, fully adj.
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FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL:
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11.81 in.
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11.81 in.
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REAR WHEEL TRAVEL:
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11.81 in.
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11.81 in.
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FRONT WHEEL:
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80/100×21 in.
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80/100×21 in.
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REAR WHEEL:
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120/90×19 in.
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100/90×19 in.
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FRONT BRAKE:
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260mm disc
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260mm disc
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REAR BRAKE:
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220mm disc
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220mm disc
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GROUND CLEARANCE:
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14.6 in.
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14.6 in.
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SEAT HEIGHT:
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37.8 in.
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37.8 in.
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WHEELBASE:
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58.5 in.
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58.5 in.
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FUEL CAPACITY:
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1.85 gal.
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1.85 gal.
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WEIGHT (dry):
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221.3 lbs.
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217.2 lbs.
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MSRP:
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$10,399
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$9,499
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