2016 or 2017 ktm sxf 450

Goulding
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Goulding
i am looking at buying a new bike in the coming weeks. my dealer has a left over 2016 as well as a 2017 in stock. I can get a better deal on the 2016 and was wondering is the 2017 that much better and worth the extra coin than a 2016?
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RoflCopter726 10/12/2016 12:09pm
10/12/2016 12:09pm Edited Date/Time 10/12/2016 12:10pm
From what I've read, the AER air forks on the 17 are the bee's knees.
mx317
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mx317 10/12/2016 12:12pm
10/12/2016 12:12pm Edited Date/Time 10/12/2016 12:14pm
I have a 2017 and can tell you the AER fork is a very good fork. You will probably spend more making the 2016 4CS fork work than you would spend difference between the two. You also have to look at resale later on as you will have a one year newer bike to sell. There are some other improvements as well, but the fork is the biggest thing.
coastie44
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coastie44 10/13/2016 10:33am
10/13/2016 10:33am
Are you a vet or play rider? I rode my buddies 2016 350 sxf and I thought the stock suspension was totally rideable as is. I am a vet intermediate, ride mx only, and quite picky usually. I have the TBT SSS conversion and a fox shock on my 2015 350 sxf for comparison.

My impression was that the '16 forks were 1000x better than the previous ones which I hated.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/13/2016 10:56am
10/13/2016 10:56am
I think it depends how picky you are on suspension... Do you revalve your suspension, Cone valves? They are pretty much the same besides forks and traction control.

How much price difference?

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tek14
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tek14 10/13/2016 11:35am
10/13/2016 11:35am Edited Date/Time 10/13/2016 11:36am
Stock suspension is better on 17 model. I have revalved 16 (EU with AER48) but starting point with 17 is better. Bar mount is also better in 17 and won't twist everytime wind blows.
twotwosix
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twotwosix 10/13/2016 12:01pm
10/13/2016 12:01pm
Is that even a question? Those 4CS forks are HARD to get right. It can be done, but they require a valving change for most folks. Haven't ridden the AER48's but I would imagine they will be worth the extra you'll pay for a 2017. Plus you save over 3 pounds on a '17 over a '16...
Goulding
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Goulding 10/13/2016 12:09pm
10/13/2016 12:09pm Edited Date/Time 10/13/2016 12:11pm
The majority of my riding is at the track I race plus 25 class and the local expert class. Occasionally i do go for a trail/ pit ride. The difference in price is approx $1500.00 cad. The main reason for concern is I had a 2014 crf 450 and hated the air forks i just don't want a repeat of them, 35 psi was to little and i would bottom out all the time. 36 psi was to much i would get arm pump quicker.
#76
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#76 10/13/2016 1:59pm
10/13/2016 1:59pm
Hi, I have a 17 and the suspension is awesome!, I'm still trying different pressure and learning tho, if it was me I would (as I did) go for the 2017.

CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/13/2016 2:06pm
10/13/2016 2:06pm
For a $1500 difference. I wonder if you can find a used set of Cone valves for $2-$2500?
Lunch_Box
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Lunch_Box 10/13/2016 2:19pm
10/13/2016 2:19pm
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
For a $1500 difference. I wonder if you can find a used set of Cone valves for $2-$2500?
Thats $1500 Canadian in savings, so about $1100 US. But yes 2016 and Cone Valves would be the best best if the money is there.
twotwosix
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twotwosix 10/13/2016 2:27pm
10/13/2016 2:27pm Edited Date/Time 10/13/2016 2:32pm
You don't have to spend $1,500 to make the 2016 4CS forks work well. I'd say buy the 2016 and if you can't get the forks reasonable send them if to TBT for the Kayaba PSF-2 conversion. (Also, I think someone told me that WP Factory Services do a killer basic 4CS revalve for a lot less that that.)

http://motocrossactionmag.com/bike-tests/race-ready-building-the-perfec…

"Contrary to public opinion, we don’t hate WP’s 4CS forks. Not because they don’t have attributes worth hating; they do, especially on big landings and in consecutive braking bumps. We have a Rolodex (well, at least the modern cell-phone version of one) full of names of the men who have spent the last two years trying to get WP 4CS forks to work. One of the best mods we have tried involved enabling stock WP fork legs to accept either Kayaba PSF-2 air-fork internals ($1000) or Kayaba SSS spring-fork internals ($1600). We opted to run TBT’s WP PSF-2 air-fork upgrade, even though we knew that when these forks were on the Honda CRF450 they were ghastly. Surprise! TBT’s combination of Austrian fork legs and Japanese internals produced a set of WP forks that were excellent. In the end, we loved the feel of the Kayaba PSF-2 internals in our WP forks. Was it worth $1000? Not when we were forking out the dough, but it sure seemed like money well spent at the end of that long straight full of potholes."
Goulding
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Goulding 10/13/2016 2:34pm
10/13/2016 2:34pm
Either bike I get I will be spending about 1200$ on getting the suspension done. Shipping to the states is limited as I live in Newfoundland and shipping anything is expensive enough. A few of my buddy's have the 4cs forks and have re valved them shine with great success. No one here ha any experience with air fork internals and would force me to ship to either Ontario or the north east USA.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/13/2016 3:13pm
10/13/2016 3:13pm
Goulding wrote:
Either bike I get I will be spending about 1200$ on getting the suspension done. Shipping to the states is limited as I live in Newfoundland...
Either bike I get I will be spending about 1200$ on getting the suspension done. Shipping to the states is limited as I live in Newfoundland and shipping anything is expensive enough. A few of my buddy's have the 4cs forks and have re valved them shine with great success. No one here ha any experience with air fork internals and would force me to ship to either Ontario or the north east USA.
If you feel comfortable with someone setting up the 4CS forks then I would go with the 16 model. I have 4CS set up by Factory connection and I think they are great.
Superdave19
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Superdave19 10/13/2016 3:17pm
10/13/2016 3:17pm
Hmmm- I've ridden both. My brother just got a new 17' 350. I can tell you, those forks are daaang good stock.

Flip a coin, but I'd do the 17'-
Goulding
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Goulding 10/13/2016 5:57pm
10/13/2016 5:57pm
Is there much of a difference in the 17 settings vs a 16 250 factory edition? I did ride one of them bikes and I swear it was one of the best bikes I ever rode
CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/13/2016 9:36pm
10/13/2016 9:36pm
Goulding wrote:
Is there much of a difference in the 17 settings vs a 16 250 factory edition? I did ride one of them bikes and I swear...
Is there much of a difference in the 17 settings vs a 16 250 factory edition? I did ride one of them bikes and I swear it was one of the best bikes I ever rode
The17 fork is a little different. Thinner in some places, different valving. They also went to the stiffer engine mounts.
Rocket88
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Rocket88 10/13/2016 10:05pm
10/13/2016 10:05pm
You guys owe it to yourselves to chat with Rick at Too Tech Suspension.
crc245
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crc245 10/13/2016 10:51pm
10/13/2016 10:51pm
Unless you plan on spending additional money on cone valves or another A-Kit front end, the 17' would be the way to go if you're okay with air forks. They aren't as finicky as your CRF's PSF1's (and good even in comparison to other brands spring set-ups). Your other option is going 16' and installing the SSS conversion (personally, I'd never do the WP/PSF2 setup...). Best bang for your buck will likely be a 17' once you factor in resale potential (the 4CS forks on the 16's get a horrible rap, unjustly).

Since shipping to the states is out of the question I can't refer you to the SoCal shops of Shock Therapy, Too Tech, AHM, or Graeme Brough, but they all do excellent work (even on the 4CS). Best of luck on your decision and enjoy the new ride Cool
WillMX114
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WillMX114 10/14/2016 5:03am
10/14/2016 5:03am
Goulding wrote:
i am looking at buying a new bike in the coming weeks. my dealer has a left over 2016 as well as a 2017 in stock...
i am looking at buying a new bike in the coming weeks. my dealer has a left over 2016 as well as a 2017 in stock. I can get a better deal on the 2016 and was wondering is the 2017 that much better and worth the extra coin than a 2016?
I have a 2016.5 KTM 450 FE with AER forks revalved by MX-Tech I'm selling if your interested. Only has 10 hours.

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