2 0 1 7 4 5 0 M O T O C R O S S S H O O T O U T
P168
SHOOTOUT
out the most horsepower
in the shootout. (The
Husky is the quietest
bike to our ears.)
KTM made a great
choice when replacing
the WP 4CS fork with
the AER 48 air fork, it
is the best performing
production air fork and
weighs 3.5 pounds less
than the old spring fork.
The AER 48 doesn't feel
like the typical air fork we
are used to, it feels like a
good performing spring
fork. It only has one valve
to adjust, making it very
easy for the average con-
sumer who doesn't want
complexity.
The KTM 450 SX-F
feels light when lifting it
off the stand and even
lighter on the track.
Throwing around the 450
SX-F feels like riding the
world's fastest 250F.
Because it is light, initiat-
ing direction change is
easy and the smooth,
but strong power deliv-
ery provides awesome
traction in any condition.
The updated chassis
in 2016 provided more
stability, and, now with
the addition of the AER
48 fork, the 2017 KTM
450 SX-F is even more
stable, an impressive
feat, especially for a bike
that is wicked good in the
corners. Suzuki has typi-
cally held the cornering
title but the KTM gives
it a serious run for that
honor. The advantage
the KTM has is its ability
to stay calm and predict-
able entering corners
while the suspension on
the RM-Z450 can make
it a guessing game as to
where the bike will end
up once you finally make
it to the corner entry.
There are so many ways
to describe the 2017
KTM 450 SX-F, but the
easiest is to simply call it
awesome.
Every component of
the 2017 KTM 450 SX-F
ties together to create
an excellent 450 moto-
cross bike. The engine
character, mated with a
predictable chassis and
great suspension, makes
it a fun and competitive
race bike. It is the light-
est production 450
motocross machine out
there, even with electric
start. The KTM just has
too many things going for
it, including most impor-
tantly, all-around great
performance, that we
couldn't not declare the
KTM as our 2017 Cycle
News 450 MX Shootout
winner. CN
1
st
PLACE
KTM
450 SX-F
PROS
•Lightest production 450
•Electric (super-easy)
starting
•Hydraulic clutch
•MX3S tires
•Traction Control
CONS
•Pricey
•Weird launch control design
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Weight (full fuel): 233.0 lbs.
(w/o fuel): 221.0 lbs.
MSRP: $9399
