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/128229
The new 125 SX may have benefited the most from the new suspension settings and new V-Force Intake System. It wasn't short on power before, and now it's even faster. like a 150. But for 2004, all of the two-stroke SXs get V-Force Intake Systems for more peak power and better throttle response, and KTM says it's bringing in many more 200s this year because it is anticipated to be a great bike for smaller Vet racers. The 250 SX received the most engine improvements of all, though. It got new clutch plates and a single piston ring (from two last year), and KTM says it has a broader powerband to make it more ridable, although slightly less powerful. This was definitely noted on the track, as you can now keep the throttle on with more confidence, whereas last year it was so ridjculously fast, it was almost scary. KTM also added oscillating mass to the crankshaft for better traction and a new carburetor setting for smoother power delivery. Basically, every effort was made to make the 250 more ridable, and from our initial impression, KTM succeeded although it can be difficult to tell power characteristics such as that on sandy tracks like Cahuilla where wheelspin is a must. The two SX four-strokes, the 450 and 525, offer minimal engine changes, with the 450 getting new valve springs and spring plates for a quicker-revving motor and the 525 getting a heavier (removable) flywheel weight and a Digital CDI that raises the redline to 9800 rpm. Both four-strokes feel very powerful and planted, just as they did last year. There wasn't a lot to change here, so KTM didn't change a lot. And all of the SXs, except the 450, get new exhausts, either to add more mid- and top-end power (125 and 250), create a more useable powerband (250) or add torque (525). The rest of this year's changes were made universally among the SXs. They all received a new chromemoly frame with reduced wall thickness, lowering the overall weight to less than 20 pounds, a new forged swingarm like the 2003 250 SX for a narrower, flatter profile and reduced Last year's 250 SX was really, really fast - perhaps too fast for most mere mortals. This year, it got all of the same suspension improvements the rest of the bikes got, and the power was made much more tractable. weight, and a reinforced steeringhead area for more reliability. The sWirigarm pivots have been increased in size from 15 to 17mm in diameter for more rigidity and lighter weight, and all of the 2004 swingarms are 10mm longer for better traction and more rear-wheel room. Probably the most noticed (and arguably needed) improvement to the new orange bikes is their suspension. The WP 48mm forks feature three bushings per leg, and KTM says that's why it's more supple and offers greater sensitivity, and it shows. The front ends of all of the bikes (keeping in mind that we were in "smoothish" sand) felt much better than last year, with no nervous movements or excessive jarring. In addition, the shock is much improved this year. It is much more sensitive than last year's, with the help of a new, longer needle inside the PDS (Progressive Damping System). Plus, KTM has abandoned the dual-rate spring phi-