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/1544888
QUICKSPIN I 2026 KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition P122 2026 KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION ($12,599) ENGINE 4-stroke, single COOLING SYSTEM Liquid DISPLACEMENT 249cc STARTING SYSTEM Electric TRANSMISSION 5-speed FRONT SUSPENSION WP Pro Components Xact Pro 7548 front fork REAR SUSPENSION WP Pro Components Xact Pro 8950 rear shock FRONT WHEEL 21 in., D.I.D DirtStar rim REAR WHEEL 19 in., D.I.D DirtStar rim TIRES Dunlop MX34 SEAT HEIGHT 37.7 in. FUEL CAPACITY 1.9 gal. WEIGHT (NO FUEL, CLAIMED) 231.48 lbs. S P E C I F I C A T I O N S vague feedback from the regular air fork. Plus, you don't have to keep monitoring air pressures as you must with the standard's WP Xact-USD AER fork. The rear end feels glued to the ground. The KTM already excels in hard-pack conditions, and the Xact Pro shock only ac - centuates that feeling. Turning this bike on a flat corner where traction is minimal feels easier than it should, with the rear end tracking straight and never breaking sideways. Thanks to greater internal adjustability, the Trax Shock's overall per - formance feels smoother, with better bottoming resistance and increased comfort over larger obstacles. This shock also comes standard with a KTM PowerParts preload adjuster, which makes fine-tuning sag as easy as twisting the eight-milli - meter nut. Overall, the suspen- sion is a big upgrade over the previous 250 SX-F Factory Edi- tion and, of course, the current standard model. As for the engine, there isn't much new to report, since it's essentially the same as the previous Factory Edition model and the standard model, except for the Factory Edition's muffler and some mapping tweaks. It's still a high-revving machine and feels like it has since the plat - form was redesigned in 2023. It does its best work in the mid- to top range and can be revved to the stars. Riding the KTM in the upper end of the power range keeps the bike pulling as you flirt with the engine's redline. Second and third gear are your best friends on the SX-F and can be stretched out even on a high- speed circuit. The green map, accessed via the handlebar- mounted map switch, improves torque feel and gives the bike more pull in the slow-speed bottom-end roll-on compared to the standard map. Expert riders will enjoy the Factory Edition's motor for its ability to rev high and carry momentum where it matters most, while novices will still appreciate its smooth, linear powerband as they figure out its sweet spot. As before, many of the 'Edi - tion's upgraded parts aren't necessarily performance-related (such as the carbon skid plate, front disc guard and gripper seat cover) but are common mods that racers do. However, buying the Factory Edition with them already installed is nice. As with last year, the Connec - tivity Unit Offroad (CUO) GPS tracker is featured in the Factory Edition. When paired with the KTMConnect phone app, you get an in-depth look at the bike's data, including lap times, shift points, rpm, jump distances and more. The app is super intui - tive and lets you fine-tune the bike's settings, such as engine braking and mapping, while also tracking maintenance intervals and setup notes. It's like hav - ing Strava and engine tuning in one app. Subscribing to the app costs $69 per year, but it brings a new level of interaction—okay, fun—to your ride day. Just one look at this year's 250 SX-F Factory Edition, and you can tell this thing means business. And it does. Sure, the orange anodized parts look cool, but the real kicker is the new suspension. KTM is sweetening the deal this year with a $6000 suspension upgrade for just $1900 more than the standard SX-F. If you want to look and feel like a factory rider, the latest KTM 250 SX-F Factory Edition will certainly do that, especially on a rough track. Ryan Nitzen