XC an SX or SX an XC?

adamrooney123 2/14/2022 5:30pm
2/14/2022 5:30pm
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers. Only other thing I'd change is the front sprocket. Just a little tall. Love the bike. But the 22 XC and SX are the same bike orher than the XC tank. I dont think there's any gearing or transmission differences.
adamrooney123 2/14/2022 5:33pm
2/14/2022 5:33pm
adamrooney123 wrote:
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers...
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers. Only other thing I'd change is the front sprocket. Just a little tall. Love the bike. But the 22 XC and SX are the same bike orher than the XC tank. I dont think there's any gearing or transmission differences.
Another note, if you get the SX and want the XC KTM tank, you'll have to get the XC fuel pump too. I got an Acerbis and it fits both fuel pumps. SX pump is a good bit shorter.
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just_gonna_send_it 2/14/2022 5:53pm
2/14/2022 5:53pm
adamrooney123 wrote:
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers...
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers. Only other thing I'd change is the front sprocket. Just a little tall. Love the bike. But the 22 XC and SX are the same bike orher than the XC tank. I dont think there's any gearing or transmission differences.
adamrooney123 wrote:
Another note, if you get the SX and want the XC KTM tank, you'll have to get the XC fuel pump too. I got an Acerbis...
Another note, if you get the SX and want the XC KTM tank, you'll have to get the XC fuel pump too. I got an Acerbis and it fits both fuel pumps. SX pump is a good bit shorter.
Now there's something I haven't even remotely considered.
adamrooney123 2/14/2022 6:19pm
2/14/2022 6:19pm
adamrooney123 wrote:
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers...
I just bought a 22 SX 450. I only ride XC. Put a big tank and some bark busters on and thats it. I've adjusted clickers. Only other thing I'd change is the front sprocket. Just a little tall. Love the bike. But the 22 XC and SX are the same bike orher than the XC tank. I dont think there's any gearing or transmission differences.
adamrooney123 wrote:
Another note, if you get the SX and want the XC KTM tank, you'll have to get the XC fuel pump too. I got an Acerbis...
Another note, if you get the SX and want the XC KTM tank, you'll have to get the XC fuel pump too. I got an Acerbis and it fits both fuel pumps. SX pump is a good bit shorter.
just_gonna_send_it wrote:
Now there's something I haven't even remotely considered.
I didnt either until I got the bike. No XCs anywhere near me so I bought the SX. But there's no major differences between each one like there was years ago.

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Munson'd
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Munson'd 2/14/2022 7:20pm
2/14/2022 7:20pm
I recall hearing the yz250fx being a very very good all around bike.
wrc777
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wrc777 2/14/2022 7:54pm
2/14/2022 7:54pm
The gasgas mx bike is supposedly valved softer than the ktm. It might be a perfect all around bike. Contingencies are better on the ktm though if that matters to you. Don’t sleep on the 350. It will feel like a faster version of your 300 that pulls way further. They are only a few horses shy of the 450 in peak power. The ktm guys race them in GNCC against the 450s and win.
RCB33
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RCB33 2/14/2022 8:14pm
2/14/2022 8:14pm
I rode moto on a 150xc-w and I currently race a yz250x. It's done everything and, although it is obviously a woods bike: it's not unridable on a moto track. It's not perfect, the 18in rear wheel allows the tire a lot of flex in AX whoops. Everything else is normal really, on the other hand I've rode MX bikes set up for the woods and they're usually much more obviously not set up for it. My 2 cents is that more people would be happy on a XC style (NOT an Enduro) bike than realize it. My 150 was super sketchy on a track but the yz isn't that bad.

*for all fairness of opinion: I am significantly faster in the woods than on a track and race probably 70% woods and 30% moto.

Timo
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Timo 2/14/2022 10:04pm
2/14/2022 10:04pm
My YZ450FX gets around a MX track pretty well with just some clicker changes. I actually prefer the wide ratio tranny on a 450. I've been on 18 inch rears since 2009 and never felt it was a hindrance on the track.
PFitzG38
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PFitzG38 2/15/2022 8:49am
2/15/2022 8:49am
YZed250 wrote:
By the age of your bikes, you're not currently racing, is that right? You ride trails and MX, but you might get into racing if you...
By the age of your bikes, you're not currently racing, is that right?

You ride trails and MX, but you might get into racing if you get a newer bike, is that right?
just_gonna_send_it wrote:
No, I race both, still. I probably race the XC-W six times a year and the SX maybe four or five times. I won the 40+...
No, I race both, still. I probably race the XC-W six times a year and the SX maybe four or five times. I won the 40+ 24-hour Ironman XC race in the DFW area this past November on the XC-W. They're well maintained and still are pretty solid.
YZed250 wrote:
Do you ever see yourself selling this new bike or do you see yourself keeping this next bike as long as those others? The 450SXF/XCF are...
Do you ever see yourself selling this new bike or do you see yourself keeping this next bike as long as those others?

The 450SXF/XCF are awesome, but they are not the best bike to hold for 5+ years due to the rebuild cost. If you're going to keep a bike that long and put 100+ years on per year, I'd look at a 2-stroke 250/300.
Why? The maintenance on a 2t is probably more than a new 4T. Piston and rings at what 20-30 hours? On 2t. You can easily let a 4T go 50- 100 hours. Anyone that’s done it a couple times can replace a 4T piston within 10 mins of a 2t. It just is what it is now a days
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wrc777
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wrc777 2/15/2022 9:31am
2/15/2022 9:31am
PFitzG38 wrote:
Why? The maintenance on a 2t is probably more than a new 4T. Piston and rings at what 20-30 hours? On 2t. You can easily let...
Why? The maintenance on a 2t is probably more than a new 4T. Piston and rings at what 20-30 hours? On 2t. You can easily let a 4T go 50- 100 hours. Anyone that’s done it a couple times can replace a 4T piston within 10 mins of a 2t. It just is what it is now a days
You might change the piston that often on a 125, but a lot of guys change pistons on 300s at 100+ hours. The issue in a 4t is at some point it will probably need head work which is really expensive. It also should get timing chains changed out regularly which are not cheap. When you sell used it affects the price too.
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Motorhead1812 2/19/2022 2:08pm
2/19/2022 2:08pm
I race a 450 SXF off road. As stated earlier, the SXF and XCF 450 bikes were so close that I bought a used 450SXF that came along for the right price. The 1.8G MX tank is good for a 2 hour east coast hare scramble. I have a 2.8G IMS for GNCCs. If you are a Vet rider (like me) the XCF suspension will be decent everywhere. If you are buying used, get the suspension serviced and revalved for your needs regardless. The motor and ECU tune are the same between bikes. I did add 6th gear but that option got more expensive after 2019. 18" vs. 19" rear wheel is not a deal breaker.

The nice part about the newer KTM and Husky 450s is the powerband is off road friendly and almost boring until it comes up in the revs. Most Japanese 450s pull so hard initially that they make technical riding difficult. If you are buying new, the lowered FC450 suspension is arguably better than the KTM version for non pros. New XCF and FX versions of the 450s are generally $800-$1,000 over the SXF and FC bikes.
1stSSPZ
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1stSSPZ 2/19/2022 5:35pm
2/19/2022 5:35pm
I am really digging my 14 250xc for both single track and moto! Slavens high-comp head, sx ecu and Factory connection suspension set up where 2-3 clicks on either end is enough. The Devol lowering link is bonkers too! Course, Im an old man so what the hell…
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captmoto
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captmoto 2/19/2022 6:16pm
2/19/2022 6:16pm
captmoto wrote:
You can add 6th gear on an SX if you desert type off road. Its something I'm going to do on my FC450. I'll live with...
You can add 6th gear on an SX if you desert type off road. Its something I'm going to do on my FC450. I'll live with the smaller tank and 19 since I do mostly moto.
TeamGreen wrote:
That's a COMPLETE gear-set change as I recall...?
No, there is a spacer where 6th would go. You would have moto 1-5 and then an overdrive basically. There is a guy on Thumpertalk that did it for about $200 or so. He races desert in Idaho I think. He had a parts list but I can't find it now. I'll dig around when I get serious.
Timo
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Timo 2/19/2022 9:06pm
2/19/2022 9:06pm
My Yamaha heads haven't needed shimming let alone head work at 100 hours. I do timing chains with the piston around 100 hours, the OEM one is $25.00

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kopfjaeger 2/19/2022 9:36pm
2/19/2022 9:36pm
If you buy an sx, you have to get the xc fuel pump and tank. As of 20 or 21 they made them different. We used to do that to save a little coin. Get an xc and you can moto just fine on it.
Motorhead1812 2/20/2022 4:57am
2/20/2022 4:57am
The 6th gear addition requires 5 parts and definitely some labor. 2020 - 2022s have updated transmission shafts so you will need to check with your dealer for compatibility Adding 6th to a SXF XCF is a smaller jump from 5th to 6th (19%) than the original parts sourced from the EXC and FE (23%) . It feels natural in the rpm drops between 4th 5th and 6th. At Muddobbers national enduro 2021, some Pros were hitting 88mph on the long straights. A 350XCF will do it, a 450 won't.

79433516100 Sliding gear 6.G.
79433506100 Idler Gear 6.G.
79434512200 SHIFT DRUM 6 GEAR
0405222613 NEEDLE BEAR. K 22X26X13
78033033000 STOP DISK 23 X 32 X 1,5

3-0471250120 CIRCLIP DIN0471-25X1,2 Strongly recommend, but not required. I ordered these just in case, and the originals twisted when removing them with circlip pliers







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Wiscomx
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Wiscomx 2/20/2022 6:21am
2/20/2022 6:21am
The xc line of bikes are a excellent platform for mx and xc, the ktm xc's are pretty well sorted, the yamahas fx are amazingly good, the bikes just flat out work, its real dependent on what fits you best, maybe ride a sx and xc and see what you prefer, I personally like the 350 xcf, 6 speed is good in single track, wide range for alittle bit of everything, ideal for hare scrambles, not ideal for mx, but works good, the big tank is great for offroad, if I ride mx I just don't fill it up all the way, I feel like the fx and xc lines have alittle better resale value in the end vs a moto bike, lots of variables to factor in, good luck.
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