VOLUME 57 ISSUE 12 MARCH 24, 2020 P57
ing attention and, like usual, isn't
satisfied with letting current models
cool into complacency.
The big updates for 2020 come
with new fork and engine mapping.
There's also new graphics and a
bunch of excellent bolt-on parts, but
the updated fork internals and the
updated mapping are the biggest
performance indicators of where
KTM's heading in the future.
Before this, the KTM 450 SX-F
has been in my top three MX bikes
in the class for the past four years.
I love the KTM's power delivery,
ergonomics, cornering and style/
design. I like KTM's comparable
cousin, the Husqvarna FC 450
Rockstar Edition package a little
better for my smooth-power desires,
but the KTM, as I said, is always on
the podium. Usually, a Japanese
bike sneaks in and shuffles my order
around every year, but it hasn't been
often since 2016 that two-thirds of
that personal-favorites podium is
dominated by Austrians.
P O W E R
For some, KTM's power delivery
has been too, dare I say, mellow?
No, that's the right word. It's just not
as exciting as they want, maybe.
I'm not on that train, but I'm also not
a pro-level racer or tester (or pre-
tending to be). I prefer the torque
and controlled power of the KTM
(Husqvarna, really) over snappy
and aggressive-hitting power. I
feel torque has more place than
wheelspin for my riding ability and
speed. I don't have a lot of efficien-
cies to waste. With that said, I can
get rowdy and enjoy a good elbow
dislocation like the next guy. And
KTM hasn't done that as Yamaha
and Kawasaki did a few years ago.
Well, KTM has certainly tried to
build it into this new update. The
U.S.-based R&D team has pushed
for more snap off the bottom for
years, with Austria hesitant to make
the bikes less ridable across the
board. For 2020, Austria delivered
a map that should keep Americans
(Below) The WP Xact air fork got a major
overhaul. So much so, a WP technician
was needed to explain all of the changes
to us. There are many! (Bottom) There
isn't much not to like when it comes to
the Factory Edition's engine.
