2017 KTM 450 AND 350 SX-F
FIRST RIDE
P74
engage traction control. An hour
meter is now standard equip-
ment, rims are Excel and the
brake pedal is 5mm longer while
the rear pad material is less ag-
gressive for better modulation.
LOVABLE POWER
Any 250F rider (or any rider for
that matter) who is intimidated by
450s should go ahead and give
the KTM a try, this bike is far
from mean and scary. It is what
you want it to be, a gentle giant
in the horsepower department.
This doesn't mean the KTM 450
SX-F is slow, just the opposite, it
has an ultra friendly bottom-end
pull, then it ramps into big power
through the mid, then keeps
going into a rev limiter other
450s only dream of. It deliv-
ers impressive power in a very
predictable and usable method,
equaling forward drive. Carving
corners on the KTM is effortless
thanks to the wide powerband.
The 450 SX-F FE never wants to
unexpectedly explode and break
traction at inopportune times.
Explosive, on/off power is only
good for upsetting the chassis
and locking up the suspension.
New for 2017 is the map
switch/controller on the handle-
bar. We bounced between stock
and aggressive depending on
the track surface and how much
forward thrust we really needed.
The traction control (which is a
new feature) is an acquired taste
and not for every rider. Our tes-
ters who come from 250F back-
grounds liked the traction con-
trol, especially as the track dried
out, while our dedicated 450
guys gave it a whirl but chose to
leave it off unless the tracks was
blue groove and crazy slippery.
In general, though, they seemed
to think that the traction control
on the 450 can definitely be an
asset at times and is well worth
having. They didn't think it was
as big an advantage with the
350 but was still worthy on ultra-
dry and slippery tracks. Bottom
The 350 got all of the same
changes as the 450.
