The damping piston is now steel
instead of plastic and has new ports
aimed at improving overall comfort.
New valving provides more low-
speed damping, and less damping
through mid- and high-speed; air
forks typically are very progressive
and these changes are designed to
help make the stroke more consis-
tent.
In the back, the WP shock fea-
tures a new compression adjuster
designed provide more overall com-
fort and balance to work with the
updated AER 48 fork. The shock
spring rate stays the same.
The 2017 Factory Editions also
get a new lithium battery that is big-
ger (as is the battery box) than the
2016 FE and 2017 standard SX-F
models. The new battery has more
cranking amps, which addresses
the slow crank speeds riders in
colder climates experienced.
Of course, the Factory Edi-
tions feature some trick graphics
(Dungey replica for the 450 and
TLD/Red Bull Team graphics with
Alex Martin's number for the 250)
and additional bling items, like
the titanium FMF slip-on muffler
on the 250 SX-F and the titanium
slip-on Akrapovic muffler on the
450 SX-F. They also get the cool
VOL. 54 ISSUE 10 MARCH 14, 2017 P93
(Right) Both bikes also
get a beefed up and larger
lithium battery for stronger
cranking power on start-
up. (Below) Having three
number-ones on your bike
will force you to go faster.
