Anonymous (not verified)
Edited Date/Time
9/1/2026 6:13pm
When is somebody going to have a test, or review on one of the new 450s? Have any of you guys seen any extra info on the new bike? I'm curious as to what the changes in geometry, and how the new forks and shock work.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
If they all started offering the FE bikes it would drive the prices even higher than they already are.
10K for an orange frame and some sweet frame guards??? Ill pass.
The FE concept would be cool if they actually added some stuff that made the bike faster, not just look better.
And 99% of the dudes that buy them can't ride the stock KTM 450 to is full potential anyway.
Ha! "Dungey and the Whoops"- it could be a band!
He needs to figure out what Kenny and doing
Pit Row
"A series of special equipment is what makes the bike truly “race-ready.” The list includes a titanium Akrapovic silencer, orange powder coated frame, factory Red Bull KTM graphics that cannot be purchased on their own, a Selle Dalla Valle team seat, holeshot device, and orange accent guards on the frame and radiator."
Surely those additions will make you a whole lot faster.
If you are "Joe Schmoe" and all you care about is throwing some stiffer spring on the bike and hitting the practice track, then by all means, go for it (but if that's who you are, then any bike is probably going to be good enough and you don't need the Factory Edition KTM).
If you are Joe-Privateer and you are trying to make a name for yourself in the pro ranks, then who is going to do your WP suspension for you? The WP guy can't make the bike work right for Dunge, so who is going to make it work right for you?
DV also commented on the years and years of experience that Showa and KYB have, along with the years and years of experience that various tuners have working on the Japanese suspension. I think DV is saying that once the WP guys figure out how to make their suspension work, it may trickle down.
Anyway, that's what I took away from Vuillemin's comments. To me it makes sense because the latest magazine tests I've read do in fact indicate that the suspension is KTMs Achilles heel.
Again, I'm not saying the bike is bad. I just heard DV say some negative things about KTM suspension and I'm trying to relay what I heard as best I can.
he sure is one that can show what the WP suspension is capable of.
-The shock has 4mm more stroke, but the travel and ride height are unchanged because there is a new rising rate. The rate will start a little stiffer at the beginning of the stroke and be less progressive as the rear wheel travels upward. Additionally, the linkage pull rod is 2.5mm longer and the bell crank is CNC-machined from billet.
Stuff like the forks?
-Gone are the WP forks of 2014 and in their place are all-new WP 4CS forks—which, although they are still made by WP, have a totally different damping system. KTM is aware that their suspension settings have been their Achilles Heel in the past and, for the Factory Edition III, they have taken major steps to fix that. The complete suspension system, front and rear, has been revised. The 4CS forks are a totally new design, although a softer and shorter travel version has been tested on KTM's enduro bikes. The new forks are very creative, 6 ounces lighter, use lighter overall spring rates (0.48 versus 0.50) and have the compression damping in one leg and rebound damping in the other. Meanwhile out back, the shock has been revalved, had its stroke increased and is bolted to an all-new rising rate linkage.
Stuff like the geometery?
-The frame geometry has been changed by moving the front axle rearward 2mm (via the axle clamp as opposed to triple clamp offset).
Or other assorted stuff?
In a series of weight saving moves, KTM knocked 1.3 pounds off the Factory Edition III with lighter brake rotors, fork guards, forks, shock linkage, rear sprocket, steer stem nut and a forged cross tube under the frame.
Info source: http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/2014-KTM-FACTORY-EDITION-III-A-…
Seems to me Dungey and Anderson and K rock go through the whoops just fine. Better than most anyways.
Does a silencer, graphics and a seat make you faster on any other bike? Probably not. But i'm sure you and your friends spend hard cash on those goodies anyway, just like most of the riders. A regular model is 8500, add an Akra silencer, new seat and decals and you're very close to those 10k. But you miss out on the more interesting updates. Sounds like a done deal to me if i would be looking for a new stroker.
Post a reply to: New ktm 450sxf factory edition!!