P62
2021 250cc FOUR-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
SHOOTOUT
when the rider looks around at the scenery
and says, "holy crap I'm going fast!"
WP's refinements to their Xact suspension
components are another strong suit for the
KTM. This has been by far the best air fork we
have ridden to date and received praise from
all six test riders. In all seriousness the fork
is the most comparable it's ever been to its
coil-spring adversaries. It has great absorption
in the initial part of the stroke and maintains
its composure under load. This is something
we've longed for with the air fork as it has felt
weirdly unresponsive in the past. Another
highlight for the Orange Brigade was the
tunability of the front suspension. Rather than
riding back to the truck, we were able to make
trackside adjustments to the compression
and rebound with the plastic clicker knobs.
Most of our riders stiffened the fork two to
four clicks to find the right amount of hold up
and were back on the track in under a minute.
Along with the overall weight savings of the
air fork design (a claimed three-pound differ-
ence), these new updates enabled our riders
to push the KTM to its limit.
To reiterate the podium performance of the
SX-F we must touch on its overall package.
The "Ready To Race" mentality is clear from
the moment a rider throws a leg over the bike.
Small things like the plush ODI Lock-On Grips
ensure rider comfort from the first crack of the
throttle. The Brembo brake and clutch combo
along with traction control are other premium
add-ons that come standard on the SX-F.
KTM's body work is perhaps the skinniest of
the group which gives the bike a slim feeling
everywhere on the track. It might not have
taken home the title this year, but the KTM
250 SX-F is closing the gap and leading the
charge towards a 250-class takeover.
