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Looking for some feedback and opinions on adding a Vortex (Twisted/XPR) to a 2023 KTM 350SXF. Is it worth it? Is there a notable difference in the bottom end power? One of the reasons I am looking into this is to adjust the poor factory mapping. I get constant decel pop in the corners running 93 octane. Would be great to gain a notable increase in bottom-end power as well.
Anyone feel the cost of a Vortex is not worth it on these bikes?
Same Question for a 2017 FS450 (Supermoto - identical engine to FC450/450SX)
Is it likely to be a worthwhile increase? 1. With Vortex maps. 2. Someone else’s map.
Bike has full FMF system and holes in the airbox, but otherwise stock.
I have a 350 with vortex from twisted. It's worth it. I wouldn't like the bike if I had to use stock ecu. Fixes the flame out stalling, fills in the bottom, and gives a bit more over rev
I have a TD vortex on my 23 with a akra slip on from a factory edition. No decel pop, less engine braking, good increase in power across the board (top end pull is insane)
I mostly run the power map and torque map. Never actually tried any of the others
TD on. 2025 FC250. Love it.
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Free shipping: VITALMX
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Same bike and ECU here. Have you tried the QS on the Vortex compared to the stock ECU? My opinion, Twisted jacked up the QS pretty bad.
Are you guys on the west coast though with hard pack tracks? How does the Vortex do for softer deeper dirt, sand and mud like east coast tracks?
Absofuckinglutely.
You will have several maps installed that will work for hard pack, deep loam, etc etc. They will be noted on the paperwork that comes in the box.
Not sure that I noticed. I don't really rate the quick shifter as great relative to what we've used in road racing forever so I don't enable it very often. Also, I'm very slow. I would wonder if you shared your displeasure with the QS, if they have another setting they can try.
My complaint was the map that I like most I wanted a little less engine braking in, as some of the other maps were so free, they are very willing to make a modification to it but I'm too lazy to send it back in.
They would have to first answer the phone or return a message before I could gauge their willingness to help... LOL
I really liked the QS feature on the stock ECU, but it is basically unusable on their modded Vortex. It's way too sensitive to the lightest boot touch and it cuts the ignition too hard and too long. Basically if your boot accidentally touches the shifter the bike has a massive bog and falls on it's face. So I just keep it turned off. Would be nice to have that function. That was the whole reason I went with a new Vortex versus getting my older one remapped..so I could keep all the handlebar switch functions.
I have had XPR Vortex on both my 21 350 and now my 25 350. Chads maps work great from my experience and I know jamie does great work at TD as well. Although i don’t feel that the vortex is a must on the new gen KTM compared to my 21 it still is an amazing upgrade (i also had decel popping and a couple flame out with OEM) that you can feel the different as opposed to an exhaust. It comes with the “best power” map set to map one on the handle bar selector switch and as stated above it has a very clean broad pull across the power band through an astronomical top end that doesn’t seem to end … leave it in second out of a corner and it will just keep pulling to the next. The map you select on the vortex will then be map two on the handle bar map switch that I have on the first torque map. Wow it is crazy how much better the bottom end snap is in the corners sometimes it’s too much depending on conditions. You can easily clear any jump immediately following a corner with this map… well actually I don’t have a problem with either map but it a very noticeable change that I use when conditions are good or towards the end of my moto when i’m getting tired and want to be a bit lazy. I should also add that I am 215 pounds and run 51T rear sprocket and it pulls me great and I ride at a solid Vet B level. Hope that all made sense?!
XPR Vortex on my '23 and it fucking barks! I couldn't believe the improvements over stock. Absolutely worth the money. Especially considering what a complete exhaust system goes for. My buddy has the same bike and he couldn't believe how much faster it made my bike than his. Got rid of that decel pop too
Appreciate all the responses. Anyone by chance remapped an older Vortex to work on the '23+ bikes and give up the map switch, traction control and quick shift? If so, any regrets? I do have a Vortex from the previous gen and trying to decide if its worth just having that one mapped or pay three times more for a new unit to maintain the map switch, TC and QS. Cannot honestly say I would miss them, but if the remapped Vortex does give a ton more snap, than maybe traction control would be worth having?
As I said above, I had an older ECU and specifically bought a new one so I could keep the QS, and you see how that turned out. 😁
Any of you guys with the new box mapped by XPR have any take on how well the QS works compared to the stock ECU? I'd consider sending my Twisted box to XPR to get it done right if I had confidence the QS would be correct.
I went from a $600 used TD vortex without the tc/qs to $1100 new model. It was cool the first few weeks but I never really switch maps or use any of the features. In the end is really wasn’t worth it to me
Have no problem with QS on an XPR vortex
Have TD vortex on my 24 350 and it is a great addition best money I have spent on a bike
Ive ridden and owned a lot of 350s. Bad decel pops or flame outs on the regular arent how it should run. You could have something thats just a tad off. Spending that money while worth it when things are right might not solve your problems. Im guessing you have already gone thru all that.
Anybody have good input on the KTM connectivity unit on the 2025 vs a vortex? Main thing I'd like to get rid of is the aggressive engine breaking. Would be nice to fix the flame out issue too but turning the idle up seems to have helped a little bit with that.
Pit Row
I don't have any experience with the connectivity unit.
I have ridden '19-'22 generation and '23+ generation with Vortex by XPR and Twisted.
The reduction in engine braking is worth the price of the new ECU.
I think that the OEM mapping tools are limited so the manufacturers don't have to worry about customers damaging the bike and harming the brand's reputation. An example of this is my KX450. It runs great with some mapping changes via the Kawasaki app, but it doesn't run nearly as well as my 350F with the XPR Vortex.
The Vortex can be taken as far as you want to go in any direction, but it takes an experienced tuner and test rider to know how far and which direction is best for fuel and timing without risking engine damage or other issues.
One or both of the popular guys (XPR / Twisted) can unlock and re-flash your stock ECU on some models. I'd ask them about it.
I believe Tokyo Mods can do the same... They did a 2024 KX250 for one of my buddies.
I am totally happy with the Keefer map in my 2024 KX450 using the free Kawasaki app and I feel no need to spend money on a Vortex.
With KTM you have to buy the connectivity tool. I would spend that money with XPR toward a re-flash of the OEM ECU or a Vortex for sure.
I am in norncal and will sell you mine cheap
To me it was a minimal difference in engine braking with the connectivity unit but that was in sand on a 450.
This is good advice. I had a ‘19 and ‘23 350 and had Jamie set them both up for pump gas and a pipe and they ran great. Flame out was eliminated and the engine braking was reduced.
As mentioned, you can also have your ECU Re-flashed, which isn’t a bad idea. I only used one map on both bikes, but it was so good, I didn’t take the time to try the different maps that were installed. I rarely even switched between the two of them on the bar switch, to be honest.
I just picked up a 25 350sxf and it runs very clean, no flame outs and engine breaking is fairly minimal. Is it possible there is a problem elsewhere?
I also had the connectivity unit on my 23 350sxf and feel like it does very little, I won't be worrying about it on the 25 that's for sure.
Update on this. (2025 FC350) Twisted did eventually respond to an email and said they can alter the QS parameters in my Vortex for me to try to adjust. I have not taken them up on that yet due to lack of time on my side.
Some more things I noticed. I routinely ride at 4200 feet. So, the other day I decided to try the elevation-1 map (3500ft). I was expecting it to be super crisp and dialed for the elevation, basically like the mythical Star mapping we hear about every year on the Thunder Valley broadcast 😁 Well, it just felt.... slow. It felt like a soft power, heavy traction control map. I went back to my usual map-7 (Best all around power) and back to barking and ripping, even at elevation.
The next day, the track was super dry and slick. Powder on baked concrete. So, I went to the elevation-2 for higher elevations and sure enough, it was super soft and great on the slick stuff. I could even see a hint of black smoke, which seemed odd as I expected an elevation map to be leaned out. Anyway, then I figured, turn on the TC and make it even more muted for the slippery conditions. Surprisingly, it was peppier with the TC turned on! I even had another buddy ride it and he noticed the same. Now I am beginning to wonder if my ECU was a rush job since I got it on the Black Friday sale and maybe my TC on/off is flipped backwards. I need to go back and try the Best-overall map and turn TC on and see if that also gets stronger.
I have the CUO on my ‘23 350 and can confirm a very noticeable difference in engine braking. In the app the engine braking scale goes from 1-5 with 3 being stock. I run a 1 for really soft tracks and a 2 for more hard packed stuff btw.
This is my experience as well. Had the XPR vortex on my 25 350 and sold it and went to the CUO unit. The vortex was great don’t get me wrong but I didn’t feel like i needed it and wanted the ability to change the characteristics easily on my end between tracks.
It is interesting to me the varying experiences within the responses here haha. I bought a CUO and hopefully will get to try it out this weekend. Figured for $200 i'd give it a shot and if it doesn't have enough of an effect maybe ill end up with and XPR Vortex anyway.
One thing I've thought about. You guys in here have such different experiences maybe its the differences in the way you ride/tracks you are riding?
I notice the engine breaking WAY more on technical/tighter tracks where im in second gear alot of the time. For example coming into a corner in second out of a straight away the engine breaking is so aggressive. I find it hard to be smooth through the corner in second due to the jerkiness of the throttle and engine breaking.
I rode a faster track where im in third alot of the time and its not noticeable.
This definitely could have alot to do with it, just about all the tracks I ride are 3rd and 4th gear tracks. I will say the CUO unit made more of a difference with engine braking than it did with the power feeling of the bike. The 350 does have more of a lurchy on off feeling in 2nd gear than it does in 3rd.
On tight technical stuff like to run the smooth map and drop the throttle response down one click from 3 to 2 to smooth out the throttle jerkiness. I pretty much have a map for each track that I ride on a normal basis.
You’re getting your moneys worth. I wish I would’ve had the patience to just take the time to try them.
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