Recently we sent Adam Chatfield (Pro) and Rhys Roberts (Weekend Warrior) to Cusses Gorse for the Official KTM UK Launch of the MY23 range of 250cc, 350cc and 450cc bike.
Watch our official review video with comments from both riders on their thoughts on the bikes.
Check out their full review of the 250, 350 and 450 below:
It’s that time of year again when the 2023 machinery is making its way to UK stockists for release to the public, so we at Live Motocross are busy testing the new bikes to give you all the information you need when making your decision on a new machine. On this occasion it was the 2023 KTM four stroke range up for test at the brilliant Cusses Gorse venue on the Salisbury plains. I came into the test excited to try the range but also a little sceptical due to the bad press this model got during the first half of the AMA Supercross series. During the first half of the Supercross series the American stable of riders seemed to struggle with the bike in comparison to the previous model and defending champion Cooper Webb was vocal about finding it difficult to turn. It’s fair to say they must have worked out the kinks because the range was fantastic and made for a very enjoyable day of riding.
Visible Updates and Changes
- Quick Shift Button – This is featured on all of the bikes tested, I feel it is a brilliant idea and to an extent works, however, needs time to be perfected.
- New and improved mapping switch design.
- Chassis – The chassis is all new and this combined with the engine position and suspension changes has created the best handling KTM range yet.
- Engines rotated backwards by 2 degrees – This is featured on all models tested and has improved mass centralisation. I feel this has worked well as all bikes were much better balanced.
- All new tool free adjustable dual compression WP shock – This change has really made the bikes more stable through high and low speed bumps, I also noticed it created a much nicer rider position.
- 48mm WP XACT air forks – The air forks have had a lot of stick over the last couple of years but with further development from the previous model these forks felt really nice and forgiving. Without any changes on the day to settings just standard forks put the box they felt great.
- New and improved foot peg design that creates a 26% larger contact area for riders – I really enjoyed the foot peg design and never knew such a small change could create a much better riding position. The pegs were tilted more towards the frame to avoid catching ruts which in turn encouraged you to grip the bike better with your knees as it created that better base.
- Ergonomics – At first when I saw the plastics, I wasn’t sure however after seeing them in person and riding with them I found they really tapered the bike to be a little skinnier which was an improvement on the previous model. I also enjoyed the newly designed seat which also contributed to the nicer riding position.
There are many more changes within the motor itself that have made these incredible machines faster and more powerful, but for you to understand them fully please revert to the official KTM spec list. Enough of the technical stuff, lets jump straight into the review of how the bikes felt to ride.
250 SX-F
The 250 was the bike I was least excited to test as I personally ride 450s and therefore wasn’t expecting to enjoy the 250. I couldn’t have been more wrong; I was gobsmacked at just the amount of power the thing had to offer me and that balanced with how light they have been able to get these machines meant you could really ride the wheels off of it. I have ridden 250s in the past, however this one felt like no other and KTM have really made a step with how much they can get out of the motor, I didn’t want to get off it. The bike revs out more than any other 250 I’ve ridden and KTM have been able to offer a stock 250 that revs out to 14,000rpm which feels amazing. Going through the gears from second to third you really feel the grunt from that bottom end which helps coming in and out of slow corners. Like all of the models the 250 offers the quick shift button and mapping switch, I was unsure on how I felt about the quick shift, however, I did feel the benefit whilst doing practice starts for that initial straight and noticed the difference around the lap when pulling gears. I think the quick shift could be great but isn’t quite where it needs to be just yet. In terms of the mapping, I found the bike was at its best in the aggressive map as it really offered the grunt in the bottom end, and you could really feel the difference within the motor. All in all, I loved this bike and I feel any rider could swing their leg over it and get the best out of their riding. Out the box it really is ‘Ready to Race’, and in my opinion as a package it is the best stock 250 on the market at the moment.
450 SX-F
I was excited to jump on the 450 as this is the engine capacity of bike I ride for personal use so was curious to see what the KTM felt like. I’ve rode the previous model numerous times over the past 12 months so came into the test with a good understanding of how the 2022 felt. As soon as I threw my leg over the bike, I felt the riding position was different and was curious as to how it would feel once on track. I must say after the first couple of laps I loved the way the bike felt underneath me and the new riding position with the larger foot pegs, new shrouds, and improved seat, really made the bike feel more planted and balanced. I found I could really turn in some quick laps with this bike, but the key word is ‘some’. 450s year after year have become faster and if you’re not a professional rider you really find it difficult to race one at its full potential for multiple laps. I’m not saying it’s a bad bike, what I’m saying is it’s almost too good, it’s too fast in my opinion for any club level rider but for professional riders who race for a living it’s exactly what you want to be on. From my personal 450 to this I definitely noticed a step up in power which is crazy to say because I didn’t think any of the stock 450s on the market could get any more powerful out the box. In terms of handling, I found this model was more planted and I believe that was down to the new shock design KTM have worked with WP to develop. I did feel that the bike liked to turn with the rear and the front end tended to push through some of the turns, however the overall handling of the bike felt really good. All things considered this bike is awesome and is a real rocket ship, I just think you’ve got to be some rider to be getting the most out of your riding on one of these machines or racing at a professional level.
350 SX-F
I was most excited to try the 350 SX-F as I’d heard good reports from this new model through the rumour mill. I have tried 350s from previous years and have always thought they were a little tame for my liking and the cons would always outweigh the pros. However as soon as I threw my leg over this model, I could feel this was a different animal all together. It really did feel like what KTM promised when they first brought out the original 350, turns and feels like a 250 with the power and grunt you need from the bottom end like 450. It has 57HP, 6HP less than the 450 and in my opinion for 90% of riders that’s all the power you would ever need. It’s perfect as you could really shift in the taller gears without being a passenger like you are on the 450, it was manageable and really fun to ride. The bike was sharp, talky and handled like a dream, you really felt like you could race it hard in a similar manner to the 250 but had that power to get you out of trouble and really drive out of the short, tight stuff. All of this combined has produced a bike that you can ride hard, ride fast due to the power you have available and most importantly race harder for longer down to the fact the bike isn’t ripping your arms off. I think the changes KTM have made to the chassis and the shock have really made this bike what it’s always meant to be, it just gels. I believe unless you’re racing at a professional standard this bike caters for every type of adult rider, it’s just that versatile. As you can tell I’ve got nothing but good things to say about this machine and if I was in the market for a fresh bike, the 2023 KTM 350 SX-f is the route I would go down.
Tested and Reviewed by Rhys Roberts
