If anyone has read any of my previous posts you will know that I own a '23 MC 350F. I have been really wanting to try the '24 KX450 but I have decided I am not willing to take the hit purchasing a new one in case I end up not liking it. The poor resale and the current market has changed my approach.
Instead, I am seriously considering purchasing a '23 350 SXF that I have access to with 20 hours on it for a very fair price. I would really like to try the new motor with more bottom-end compared to the MC. Likewise, at 6'3 and 230lbs. I also think the KTM valving would be a better fit and hold me over for a while, until I decided to address the suspension should I want to stick with it.
I am concerned about many of the comments regarding the stiff natured chassis and how rigid it feels. I guess what I am trying to ask here is: would I really notice it on a '23 with 20hrs on it and at my weight? Or is blown out of proportion? I do not willing to spend the money for a new '25 KTM with the revised chassis.
I figure going route, I could always try the '24+ KX450 when one finally comes up for sale on the used market.
Thanks
Not to many riders dissatsfied with Austrian 350s. It seems you can't go wrong, good resale too.
People take snippets from a pros interview and get in their head it affects their riding. If you can get the bike for a fair price and especially if you can turn a couple laps on it beforehand to see if you like it, go ahead and buy it.
Have about 2.5 hours on my '24 KTM 450 SXF. First ride with stock air pressure and spring was not great. Second ride with more air pressure (+3 psi) and stiffer rear spring (48 N/mm), forks at second line in clamps, and sag at 105 mm was pretty good. I'm 200 lbs. It does *feel* a little stink bugged compared to my '19 Husky FC350, but handling is pretty good: it turns well and is stable. More responsive than the older chassis, not as a stiff or twitchy as a '18 Honda CRF450.
In a hierarchy of flexi-ness, my '14 KTM 150 SX feels like a wet noodle compared to my '17 Husky. The 17 feels like a moist noodle compared to the 19. The 19 feels like a worn glove compared to the new and stiff glove of the 24. Planned to do a write-up after 10 hours or so.
I would totally go for a deal on a 23 or 24 over MSRP on a 25.
With 20 hours on the 23, you'll be golden. It's a different bike after the 8-12 hour mark. Especially if your able to get a decent price, I say go for it. You get weekend warriors already commenting on lean angle cornering in area 1,2, or 3, being better on the 25 because thats what they heard on the internet, filter what you read. The money you'll save on the 23, is likely going to be much more, than the difference you may, or may not notice on the 25.
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Kx has poor resale? The 450 didn’t really change for 25…could buy a 24 at 7k now and sell it in November at least 6k when everyone else has to buy a 25 at 10k.
Yes besides Suzuki KX has the lowest resale. I don’t think you’re getting $6k for a used KX450 in November but if you do you’re doing good. I will say the KX has the most attractive pricing
I have a 23 350sxf and although I will upgrade to a 25 eventually I see no need to rush. I personally don't feel the rigidness everyone talks about. My 350 feels nicer in hardpack choppy tracks than my 24 kx450. I have kyb forks/factory edition clamps/akro slip on and heavier spring on rear with stock valving on 350 and absolutely love it.
I’ve been a ktm guy my whole life. Yes, I can probably sell a used 24 ktm for 8-9k but let’s not forget we payed 11k plus for it.
buying a kx for 7k and selling for even 5k is the same loss lol.
And easier to sell a used bike for $5K than $8K. Used bikes aren’t really moving, I have a 22 YZ450 with all sorts of aftermarket parts (under 50 hours) at $6K and can’t even get any interest.
Some people take what Keefer says as gospel.
I’ll be lucky to get 5k for my 22ktm with kyb forks and 70hrs.
I'm also 6'3" and about 220lbs on a 2023 450sxf and I love the frame. Got about 20 hours on it and have never felt like it was too rigid, even compared to my 2018 YZ450f. KTM is the best bike I've had.
Not for us Canadian customers. A new '24 KX450 right now is about 13500 with fees and taxes INCLUDING the current 1000 rebate. We do not (at least not yet) get the 2500 dollar discount available for US customers on the '24 model. That 13500 would drop to about 10k once you roll it out of the dealer with zero hours. Then with 15-20 hours on it, it *used* and could sit for sale for weeks, if not months in the current market.
Newer model year used bikes are just not really selling in our area right now. Anything over about 8k cdn right now is a tough sell it seems. So originally, I was waiting in hopes Kawasaki Canada would offer that same 2500 rebate to us Canadians, that would make it a bit easier to swallow. But at this point I have decided I am going to try the new '23+ 350 first and let the new KX450's slowly leak into used market and reevaluate options the end of this season.
All that said, will a Twisted or XPR mapped vortex give the '23 any more bottom-end grunt than it has from the factory? I am thinking of purchasing the new CUO where I could adjust some of that mapping myself, mainly engine braking. So wondering if its worth the cost of shipping a vortex back across the border to have remapped for the newer 350? Or if the potential to gain even more 450 like torque is limited?
To give you a comparison that is similar to your 23 MC350 vs a 2025. I rode a buddies 2025 XCF 350 with 4 hours on it and I was very impressed, the forks felt great and it didn't feel to rigid to me either. Turn in felt really great and it felt like I could be a bit riskier with off camber line choices and things. The mapping felt very smooth and it had a bit more power than my bike as well very very smooth but had tons of power when you wanted it.
This is compared to my 2021 FX350, the 2025 felt just like a slightly better version in every way. This was on a 10 mile higher speed hare scramble loop and a couple of turn tracks, mostly dry hard packed with some rutty corners mixed in.
I just installed a CUO and had my 23 350 updated today so it would work. If I wasn't injured I could give you a ride report tomorrow ha ha. I was happy to spend a few hundred dollars on the CUO unit but I personally wouldn't spend the money on a vortex. I have an akro slip-on with insert removed and I know some people say pipes don't do anything on the new ktm's but I honestly noticed a decent difference.
In todays market, I wouldn't count on getting 8-9k for your used 24 350. You'll likely be in the 7ish range. Ask me how I know
I came to say the same thing.
I’m on my third 350 (17, 19 and currently a 23) and the 23 was instantly my favorite. I don’t understand the stiffness I keep hearing about. Great handling bike.
$8-9k is what new 2024 450s are now, and I don’t think the 350s are much higher.
Pit Row
My buddy was just quoted 8600 otd for new 24 350 husky
25 350 sxf $11 k otd @munnracing probably the best price I’ll find. They are easy to work with I’m in nj and they ship to my door ! $450 flat fee! Anyone else find better prices on a 25 350sxf?
Thanks guys!
That '23 350 SXF just sold on Saturday
That said I have the opportunity to purchase a different '23 350 SXF with 25.3 hours for a bit more. As many know, right now KTM has some pretty aggressive deals on their '24 models. I could purchase a brand new '24 350 XC-F for about 1800 dollars more than the used '23 350 SXF with 25 hours on it, the '24 is about 2k off right now. This dealer does not have any 350 SXF's left.
The reason I am considering the '24 XC-F, is the spring forks (and to some extent the larger tank). Although I am a novice level vet rider (240lbs with gear and 6'4) who rides predominantly track, I personally do not feel I necessarily require the SXF model. I have even contemplated putting an 18" rear and larger tank on an SXF as I would like to start riding more trail and potentially begin trying my hand and XC - but not sure when...!
So my question is, is a brand new '24 XCF 350 worth 1800 dollars (Canadian prices) more than a '23 SXF with 25 hours? I am not in a position to purchase a new '25 model year bike. That is more than I want to spend. I look at it as if I went with SXF and need to update the suspension, it is going to cost me more than 1800 dollars to do a spring conversion.
Really curious to hear some arguments one way or the other. Maybe some things I have not considered.
Definitely worth it. Brand new with spring forks is a no brainer, I guarantee you will feel much better about it when a fresh bike is in the back of your truck
Got $5,900 for my 22 350 SXF with 25 hours on it. I'll never buy another new bike again lol. It was for sale for almost a year.
I can absolutely appreciate that. The ironic thing is, I even said above that I decided against purchasing the '24 KX450 new. However, they are not currently discounted as heavily as the KTMs are and the resale on the KTM is better - at least in my area.
Reason I was really leaning towards the SXF is because more tend to come up for sale. Also, I figured it would have stiffer valving out of the box, more appropriate for my weight versus my current MC350. That, and I am not interested in the XCF with air forks so that discounts anything older than a '24. I was not expecting to find the '24 models discounted as heavily as they are currently, and it's only this one dealer I have found so far.
I just figure, if I am purchasing used with 25 hours, which really on a 350 is nothing, AND the benefit is the frame would be worked in by then. If I found the air forks on the SXF were still not to my liking, I would still need to spend the money on shock work which would likely end up more than the difference in cost between the used SXF and the new 350 XC-F.
I assume the XCF has the same low-end grunt as the SXF?
XCF also comes with a few extras the SX doesn’t besides the bigger tank. Hand guards, skid plate, kick stand
Re-Sale value is also MUCH stronger than the SX-F
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