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/1471275
familiar after spending all day on six-plus other KTMs with the same setup. Both the start button and map switch are sleek and don't make the handlebars feel cramped. Just like a quick squeeze of those tongs in the kitchen drawer, a mandatory pull of the buttery Brembo brakes and hydraulic clutch setups and we were ready to hit the track. Fuel injection on the 125 feels amazing. It's super responsive right from the get-go and offers a clean hit from the first crack of the throttle. There's no lag or hesita- tion in the throttle response and the only bogging sensation that happens can be credited to rider error. It still likes to be ridden like a traditional 125—revved out and riding wide lines to carry as much momentum as possible. Map two added noticeably more hit from the bottom to midrange power and was my preferred setting, be- ing a bigger rider for a 125. The auditory experience of the 125 is unlike anything else. It makes you feel like you are set- ting lap records, when, in reality, the stopwatch tells a different story. Either way, riding a small- bore two-stroke is flat out fun, and it makes it hard to wipe that goofy smile off your face. The new KTM 125 SX is going to be a great option for young racers or adults looking for a fun bike to add to the collection. 250 SX The 250cc two-stroke long ruled the stadiums and saw fans lining the track at the outdoor Nation- als. Now, the 250 SX is the middleweight two-stroke offer- ing from KTM. It also received several revisions for the 2023 model year. A new frame, sub- frame, body work, etc. are all on par with the rest of its two- and four-stroke family members. Most notable for the 250 is the fuel-injection system. Like the 125, the bigger 250 is snappy and has immediate throttle response. I love rid- ing two-strokes but often feel a bit of hesitation in the throttle especially after jumping off a fuel-injected four-stroke. Now, the two-stroke engine wakes up QUICKSPIN I 2023 KTM 125, 250, 300 SX P106 Finally, KTM is now offering a "big-bore" two-stroke motocrosser in the 300 SX. It, too, is fuel injected and a blast to ride.