Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1149641
ily see myself starting in Map 2 and switching, via the super-easy control switch, mid-race to Map 1 when I get tired (you know, like, two laps in). One of our favorite setups on the day (other than simply riding around in Map 1) was Map 2 with Traction Con- trol switched on; this is super cool as it provides the aggression of the sec- ond map for my ego and the security blanket of KTM's minimally invasive, swap-reducing Traction Control for my reality. Thanks, technology! Inside the engine is a new piston that has the skirt spec optimized for some improvements in durabil- ity and the ability for the bike to rev with less restriction. The solitary, seat-of-the-pants test tells us the bike revs just fine. Comfortably Suspended The next major shift from 2019's KTM 450 SX-F is a revamped sus- pension package. Yes, this is the Xact-labeled WP stuff. And it's more than a rebrand of the AER 48 fork from last year upfront. The new fork for 2019 has an updated mid-valve that reduces shim stiction, freeing up the movement of the stroke, and flattening some harshness; this, combined with an all-new fork valve setting, has the KTM following the new Austrian trend of bringing com- fort into settings. Compared to last year's models, the new 2019 settings are softer, but they're not anything like Husqvarna's 2020 FC 450. These still have a higher-speed attitude built in with more aggression and certainly more stiffness. Same goes for the shock (which has a stiffer spring than Husqvarna's model). It's valv- ing moves when you want it to, but it stands up to more advanced-riding abuse—or just heavier riders. The fork on the 2020 KTM 450 SX-F feels significantly more com- pliant than previous versions of the AER-technology-equipped units of the past. It has come close to elimi- nating all initial stroke harshness and is a new era for the air-sprung fork world. It's an incredible improvement over the first generations of air fork systems from all manufacturers. It Keeps Winning KTM is clearly on a roll with its competitive motocross machines. Since 2013, it has been winning in the highest stakes games in moto, and its product has updated more often than most of their competi- tors. Championships and race-wins are taken by bikes that are a far cry from the ones you and I can buy, but something is going on in the bones of these orange bikes that makes them win. And that might be worth investing in for your next ride. CN 2020 K TM 450 SX-F FIRST REVIEW P86 Once again, it's hard to fault the KTM 450 SX-F.