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We said it's rare that a
manufacturer gets it right
in their first model year. But
when they do, it's a treat for all
parties involved. First up on our
list is the all-new 2023 KTM 450
SX-F. The final Austrian machine
received the most first-place
votes and backed that up with
nearly unanimous podium picks.
There's no doubt that the
KTM lives up to its Ready To
Race mantra. This new engine
is butter smooth, as we men
-
tioned with the new Husqvarna.
The difference here is the
KTM's airbox is a slightly dif-
ferent shape which gives it a
bit livelier character. The KTM
offers a good pop down low
and still spools up fast as it
has in the past. Again, this lets
the riders carry gears longer on
the orange bike than some of
the other colors. Less shifting
equals less energy and less
thinking as you race around
the track. We favored the more
aggressive "map two" for its
stronger pull from the bottom to
midrange and used the trac
-
tion control late in the day. The
quickshift is a cool nuance but
not necessary, at least now.
The chassis and suspen
-
sion are all the good things
we liked about the Husky, just
without the lowered feeling. The
Husqvarna may have won if it
stood up a bit taller. The KTM
feels narrow between the knees,
and despite adding weight for
this model year, the bike still
feels light as you maneuver it in
the air or from inside to outside.
The new frame design still gives
that supple steel-frame-feel in
the choppy bumps but is re
-
sponsive upon rider input, espe-
cially in flat turns when there's
no real rut to sink the bike in.
The WP air forks continue to
impress us year after year. Sure,
they're a bit more work to set up
with air pressure, and that might
be a deal breaker for you, but the
SHOOTOUT I 2023 450cc MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
P112
KTM
450 SX-F
KTM
450 SX-F
>>FIRST PLACE
