2000 KTM Motocrossers
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Could th is be the bike that gives Yamaha 's YZ400 a run for Its money?
KTM sure hopes so, The Austrian company has been developing Its allnew thumpers for a year and a half, and Its factory teams have been
campaign ing them this race season, but 2000 will be the public's first
chance at them . Despite its rather complicated moniker, the 400SX Racing
4-Stroke (above) is arguably the most exciting. In enduro garb and in the
hands of Giovani Sara, it has already won a world title (the 520 has won
two MX GPs in the hands of Peter Johansson). All the new four-strokes
utilize the 250 two-stroke chassis, and have centercases that are actually
narrower than the two-stroke mill's . The Husaberg motor was used as a
starting po int , but not much of it is left. The cases, head, cylinder, tranny
(fou r speeds on the SX), and covers are all new, and the kickstarter is on
the right side (the enduro-oriented EXC also has an electric re-starter). The
thumpers will be suspended by KTM's linkage-less PDS system on the
rear and a 43mm WP fork up front, Also , a new triple clamp offers a choice
of four different positions for the Magura crossbar-less handlebar. KTM's Scot Harden says the bodywork is extremely narrow, and claims weight of
both the 520 and 250SX Racing 4-Stroke to be 228 pounds. If true , this is
three pounds lighter than the '99 YZ400.
