24 KTM XC-W (Husq FE) models?

The 2023 XCF-W 450 is an awesome bike.  It has a charging system which can support extra wattage needs like upgraded lights, fan, grip heaters, GPS, etc..  The mapping is different than the SX and XCF 450’s from 2022 and earlier.  We have put an ECU from my 2022 450 sxf on one of the 23 450 xcf-W’s and it really wakes it up.  You can run the rpm’s pretty low and it doesn’t pop stall or flame out like the XC or SXF.  Some people consider the PDS rear suspension to be inferior, but in enduro or desert stuff I actually prefer it.  Now on a track, I’ll take linkage any day.

It was my favorite new bike at the 2023 KTM group dealer ride day last year and it hardly gets talked about.  Our team is racing one in the 1000 this year because it’s most likely the best option for us.

I just got the 23 Husky FE450. Basically everything mentioned above like the KTM xcf-w but has linkage. Although it is not restricted at all as far as emissions, it does have a mellower map than the FC/FX. It's a new model, not the same as previous FE's. Its the moto bike with six speeds and a light. Oh, and spring forks. I only have one desert ride on it but so far its awesome. I also had AHM set up the suspension before I ever rode it. Stock springs and valving is way off for desert stuff. Maybe its fine for tight slow single track, idk. I am adding a few things, stabilizer, ims tank, 3.2 gal, seat concepts seat and proper gearing. The only restriction on it is a cone in the muffler. It's not a spark arrester, its just a baffle. I already removed that. Honestly its not as exciting as the mx version. The model specific mapping, has two maps, is a little lazy. But depending on what you want to do with it its actually fine. Just don't think its going to be fast as shit. I'm most likely going to add a vortex to get the extra power back as we are using it to race long distance desert races. 

GP rider, your dealer can unlock an unrestricted map in your FE to waken it up if you have an after market exhaust.  It’s not quite as good as a vortex or GET tuned by someone, but it helps.

And you can’t go wrong with AHM for suspension work.  They made the explorer stuff on my 2023 500 exc into a Baja weapon.

I will ask them, thank you!

 We should talk. Just built four FE bikes for Rip 2 Cabo. This one is the ‘23 FE450.

-Joe

Xeno, what triple clamp, bar mount, and GPS mount set-up is that?

It's a complete system from GPR Stabilizers, including the upper triple clamp.

The FE models come with rigid bar mounts- meaning no rubber cushions to reduce vibration. Adding rubber cushions is important for west coast off-road, but it makes fitment more complicated. Below is another option that I applied to the FE501 model.

The GPS mounting bracket is my own design, and it accepts any GPS cradle with the AMPS hole pattern.

So another ol' friend that I used to race Motocross with came out of a 13 yr hiatus from riding.

 He was a hardcore Honda guy and had ordered one of their new off road model CRF450RX models but it kept being delayed.

 A self proclaimed KTM hater it was very hard for me to convince him that is the way to go for off road riding. But in a rare moment he caved and found one.

Tim really luvs his 23 450XCFW and he even found a used KTM 450 for his son that he freshened up.

I now call him Mr ORANGE 🍊 🤣 

They seem like awesome machines.