T
he 2021 KTM 450 SX-F
finds itself as the brides-
maid this year, moving up
one spot from the year before.
The orange bike tips the scales
as the lightest 450 on the market,
weighing in at just 235 pounds.
Weight savings on the KTM can
be mainly attributed to the WP air
forks as they claim to be three
pounds lighter than traditional
springs found on the Japanese
bikes. Consumers are seemingly
impressed with the new hydrau-
lic clutch options on the KX and
CRF, but the Orange Brigade
quickly reminded us of their in-
novations with said technology.
The overall craftsmanship of the
KTM is easy to see. Brembo
brakes, a Brembo hydraulic
clutch, lock-on grips, and a clean
handlebar mounted map switch
(with traction control) give the
pumpkin that race-ready feel they
are known for.
The quick-revving power of
the KTM comes on fast and of-
fers a continuous pull high into
the rpm range. Both groups of
testers noted that this bike could
pull gears longer than any of the
others (besides the Husqvarna
as they share nearly an identi-
cal motor package). The hills of
Glen Helen were no match for
the KTM as we clicked an easy
upshift over the setup roller and
let the bike sing in third gear until
we reached the summit. The
updates to map two made it the
preferred choice on both days
for both groups. It's aggressive
nature gives the bike a respon-
sive and connected engagement
that feels clean from the initial
roll on and carries through to the
throttle stops.
The lightweight anatomy of the
KTM aids in its handling abil-
ity. With a full tank of fuel, the
SX-F is eight pounds lighter than
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 8, 2020 P75
KTM
450 SX-F
2
nd
Place
Our pro riders leaned
toward the KTM.
