We tested the KTM factory bikes!
A few days before his 19th birthday, our test rider received... Stijn Verstrepen a great gift: test riding KTM factory bikes in Italy! Stijn was served a four-star menu with no fewer than four top machines: the SX-F 350 of Tony Cairoli, the SX-F 250s of Marvin Musquin and Steffi Laier and the SX-F 450 of Max Nagl. The test location was the famous GP circuit in Mantova…
Appropriate for my status of ahem factory driver for one day we were met at the hotel the evening before by members of the Decarli team and none other than my teammate Tony Cairoli himself! The other KTM star pilots were unable to attend due to other commitments, but everyone was super excited about Tony's presence. After a delicious dinner, I decided to go to bed so I could start the test well rested.
A hearty breakfast later, we stood at the famous crossodromo in the morning where everything was orange! KTM's large trailer was set up, mechanics and technicians were walking here and there and star photographer Ray Archer was getting ready to take photos. Quite a few among my fellow test riders well-known minds such as Alessio Chiodi, Paul Malin and Jake Nicholls. And even the weather gods were favorable to the orange armada! What more could you wish for? I had never driven in Mantova myself and although the track is known to be quite sandy, it was still quite hard before the test. However, grip was not a problem, in terms of technical challenges you will certainly get your money's worth with the many jumps. As a starter - no offense Steffi! - I was allowed to start with the motorcycle of WMX world champion Steffi Laier.
Marvin Musquin vs. Steffi Laier
As soon as you take a seat on the SX-F 250, you will notice the excellent seating position, although we must immediately add that the other KTMs also score well in terms of ergonomics. Just like its brothers, this motorcycle is also equipped with an electric starter. Definitely a plus compared to the Japanese. Only Marvin Musquin's engine had to make do without it electric.
What you notice is of course the orange frame. Although these are standard sizes, the frame is made on a different production line, namely line 5. On line 5, an additional check is carried out on the equipment of the factory riders. In terms of material for the frame, KTM continues to swear by high-quality steel (Chromolybdenum). This does not have to be heavier than aluminum and if we can believe KTM, it is less stiff and therefore provides a better driving feeling. Where possible, titanium was used lavishly. The four engines are as close to the minimum weight as possible. In the case of the SX-F 250 this is around 98kg, the 350 weighs two kilos more and the 450 from Nagl in turn also weighs two kg more. Before you start counting, that is 100 kg (for the 350) and 102 kg (for the 450) respectively. Furthermore, the large brake calipers stand out at the rear - more robust than standard - and there is also a larger brake disc at the front.
Check out the high-quality finish of Musquin's SX-F 250 below
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Suspension: hard, harder, hardest
The SX-F 250 also felt light while riding, which confirmed the first impression when I took the bike off its stand: a real featherweight. I had a great time with the two MX2 bikes. This world-class toy is something to have fun with! In both cases they are light, agile powerhouses. The Musquin and Laier engines were so strong at the bottom that I could easily start in third without the bike falling under! They also each have their own character. The 6-speed gearbox is the same, but Steffi has opted for a much larger gear. I therefore had to shift gears more with the Laier engine. Although this gear is of course also adjusted for each circuit.
The suspension at both the front and the rear was taken care of by WP Suspension. As you would expect at this level, the suspensions were hard. Some journalists complained about Musquin's 250 being rock hard - Marvin loves a supercross feeling - although I had no significant problems with that myself. You get a lot of confidence on the bike and in both WMX and MX2 versions you could ride smoothly into a corner. Thicker struts were chosen for all four engines (52mm instead of 45mm). and here aluminum provides more stiffness and stability. Also a nice bonus: the factory WP suspension provides a weight saving of 1 kg compared to standard.
Max Nagl vs. Tony Cairoli
Before I start the more serious work, I would like to point out that all engines receive a special head piece. This allows more positions to individually optimize the sitting position. Before we start the comparison between the SX-F 450 and the SX-F 350, let's jump back in time. About nine months ago everyone was still wondering out loud about that 350. Would Cairoli ride it for a whole season, even in the heavy sand and on power circuits? Would an engine with 100cc less be as powerful as the 450s? Can you start at the front of the MX1 with such an engine? Now we know better. While the usability was always emphasized, and Cairoli's stronger second series at the beginning of the season, it gradually became clear that the brainchild of Stefan Everts was born under a favorable star.
The difference between the 350 and the 450 is very clear. Cairoli's engine does not run as fast as Nagl's, but in terms of manageability there is no comparison either! The SX-F350 jumps and steers much more like a 250 than a 350. Just like the standard bike. Of course, it remains difficult to compare this engine with a production machine. The 350 concept is unique to KTM and you cannot simply buy a direct competitor! If I mentioned earlier that the lighter of the two engines moves less, this is of course very relative. Because the SX-F 350 is very powerful in its factory version, it doesn't have a single dead point and it likes to rev high. This all-rounder just keeps running! 'The Whipmaster' himself explained to the journalists that the engine is exactly the way he wants and that he has only won some GPs in his third year. We like to believe him. I also had to shift less with the 350 than with Max Nagl's bike.
We have collected some detailed photos of Cairoli's SX-F 350!
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“Driving fast, that is the calling of Cairoli's orange rocket!”
I had noticed before that 'der Max' has an exceptional physique. However, given the phenomenal power of his 450, this is a necessity. Although there are strong similarities between the Cairoli and Nagl engines, in terms of character they are completely different. It's like picking out a sweet pony for your little brother at the fair. They all look the same and they go about their laps looking bored... Until that pony turns into a ferocious bronco!
Honestly, I just couldn't ride the factory SX-F 450. He was too brutal. Moreover, his revs also rose quickly compared to Cairoli's. In terms of mapping, you could choose from two options, the first of which continued for a very long time and the second of which offered more power at the bottom. In real figures, the difference in weight between the 350 and the 450 is quite limited, but the latter feels much heavier while driving. If you don't have the skills of a super athlete, it's best to abstain! In that case, the engine takes over and setting a series of constant lap times is completely out of the question.
Once again, the suspension and brakes are of exceptional quality. Talking to the people in the team, you increasingly discover that these top machines are the result of customization. What works for one person may be hopeless for another. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. To spend a day tasting the haute cuisine that the Red Bull-KTM team prepares is a childhood dream of every motocross rider! If we had to make our choice at the end of the day, I would go with the SX-F 250 without a doubt. In another way, this is further confirmation of how great the KTM MX2 bikes have been running since I've been in it daily life I am an MX1 rider myself!
Last but not least the detail shots of Max Nagl's SX-F 450
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Photos credit: Ray Archer
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