VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P85
can be ridden near its full po-
tential by an intermediate-level
rider. A one-lap heater might be
quicker on the two-stroke, but
the four-stroke strings together
consistently fast laps late into
the moto without thinking twice
about ideal track conditions.
SUSPENSION /
CHASSIS>
These two bikes share most
of the same suspension and
chassis components. WP Xact
forks and shocks suspend both
of the central double-cradle
steel frames. However, the
feeling on each bike is a stark
contrast. The two-stroke, while
lighter, feels less stable than
the four-stroke competitor, pri
-
marily upon corner entry. The
weight of the four-stroke plays
to its favor here as the bike is
more planted, and riders felt
forks and shocks suspend both
they could trust the front end
much more on the SX-F. Overall
maneuverability is easier on the
two-stroke as it feels lighter on
track and in the air, but you'll
likely opt for a fluffy outside
line rather than putting faith
into a steep lean angle. The
SX-F can hit any line at any time
and requires less effort.
(Left) The SX-F
feels more
planted to the
ground than the
SX. (Above) Still,
it's hard to touch
the SX-F's more
user-friendly
power delivery.
