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/734589
2017 KTM 450 AND 350 SX-F FIRST RIDE P82 settings and the engine are all that separate the two bikes. The 350 motor is based off the 250 SX-F engine, making it slightly lighter than the 450 engine and bit heavier than the 250 SX-F. If you were blindfolded and sat on each bike, (on a stand with the engine off, because riding with a blindfold is dangerous) you wouldn't be able to tell which is which. The 350 SX-F uses the exact same WP AER 48 fork with slightly different internal settings. Recommended air pressure is 10.6 bar (154 psi). The 350's shock spring is also softer by one rate for 2017 (4.2 Nm) and softer than the 450's shock spring. SAME BUT DIFFERENT Feel out on the track is much different between the 450 and 350. They are two completely different animals, in a good way. On most tracks, minus a deep sand track or a track like Glen Helen with horsepower-robbing uphills, the 350 is perfectly capable of hanging with, and turning faster lap times, than a 450. Riding the 350 requires a more aggressive 250F style of riding and revving to beat out a 450, but nothing a 250F rider won't appreciate and love. The 350 SX-F doesn't hit the rev limiter until 13,400 rpm. Every test rider leaned toward wanting to ride and race the 350 SX-F over the 450 SX-F, commenting that over the course of a moto they would have more energy aboard the 350. The 350 SX-F is slightly plusher overall due to different suspension settings. Our testers loved how light the 350 felt and mentioned repeat- edly how nicely it dropped into corners. The crazy thing is that the 350 SX-F and the 450 SX-F are almost the same weight on the scale. The difference in handling and feel are all based on rotating mass in the engine and what 100cc of extra power delivery does to the flex prop- erties of the chassis. Creating even more of an aggressive feel to the 350 engine is the use of a standard six-spring clutch. The 450 uses the DPS clutch, providing a slightly softer engagement. When the 350 SX-F first hit the motocross world it was fun and different, helping bolster appeal. A strong following real- ized the purpose and potential of the smaller engine. Now in 2017 KTM has cre- ated a 350cc engine that is faster than anyone could have imagined. The KTM 350 SX-F pumps out numbers that don't give anything up to 450s from other manufactures, making the lighter and more flickable feel very appealing to a lot of rid- ers, especially those under 200 pounds and for riders who aren't racing at a professional level. Ultimate vet bike? Quite pos- sibly the ultimate motocross bike in general! CN 2017 KTM 450 SX-F/350 SX-F ENGINE: .................Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-stroke, 4-valve, single DISPLCACEMENT: ........ 449cc / 349.7cc BORE X STROKE: ...............95 x 63.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ......12.6:1 / 14.0:1 FUEL DELIVERY: .....Fuel-injection, Keihin CLUTCH: .......... Wet multi-plate, Brembo hydraulic TRANSMISSION: .....................Five-speed FINAL DRIVE GEARING: ......13/48, 14/50 FRONT SUSPENSION: .... WP AER 48mm air fork, compression and rebound damping adjustment; 11.8 in. travel REAR SUSPENSION: ......WP Monoshock with linkage, low-speed and high-speed compression damping, rebound damp- ing and adjustable spring preload; 12.9 in. travel FRONT BRAKE: ................... 260mm disc, double-piston caliper REAR BRAKE: ......................220mm disc, single-piston caliper HANDLEBAR: .................................. Neken TIRES: ................Dunlop Geomax MX32 80/100-21, 120/90-19 WEIGHT: ...222 lbs. (without fuel) / 220 lbs. (without fuel) WHEELBASE: ................................ 58.5 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: .................. 14.6 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ...............................37.8 in. FUEL CAPACITY: ........................... 1.9 gal. MSRP: ............................ $9399 / $9199 S P E C I F I C A T I O N S