2023 KTM SX And SX-F First Looks

Cycle News Staff | May 10, 2022

KTM unveiled its complete line of 2023 SX (two-stroke) and SX-F (four-stroke) full-size motocross bikes, which includes the 125 SX, 250 SX and 300 SX, and SX-F, 250 SX-F, 350 SX-F and 450 SX-F. The big news includes the new 300 SX (which is a new model), a new fuel injection system for the two-strokes, and the completely revamped four-stroke models, which now share many of the same updates as the already released 2022 Factory Edition models.

Below are some of the main highlights of each bike.

2023 KTM 125 SX HIGHLIGHTS

All-new generation model with new chassis and engine wrapped in new bodywork.
New engine with an electronic power valve offers improved mid-range power and rotating mass.
New 39 mm Keihin throttle body features advanced EFI technology for immediate throttle response and ease of use—no more jetting for conditions.
New electric start and lightweight Li-Ion battery provide immediate starts at a light weight.
New frame design with parallel mounts, new forged shock mount and reworked rigidity to better manage rider comfort.
New topology optimized subframe with hybrid polyamide and aluminum construction for improved durability.
New hollow, die-cast swingarm offers reduced unsprung weight and increased rigidity.
Updated WP XACT fork with new settings and new hydro-stop to improve bottoming resistance.
New, completely redesigned WP XACT rear shock has a lighter and shorter body and all new internals.
New topology optimized handlebar mounts increase grip surface for reduced bar twist.
New map select switch changes engine character depending on track conditions and rider preference.

2023 KTM 250 SX HIGHLIGHTS

All-new generation model with new chassis and engine wrapped in new bodywork.
New engine with electronic power valve offers improved mid-range power and rotating mass.
New 39 mm Keihin throttle body features advanced EFI technology for immediate throttle response and ease of use—no more jetting for conditions.
New electric start and lightweight Li-Ion battery provide immediate starts at a light weight.
New frame design with parallel mounts, new forged shock mount and reworked rigidity to better manage rider comfort.
New topology optimized subframe with hybrid polyamide and aluminum construction for improved durability.
New hollow, die-cast swingarm offers reduced unsprung weight and increased rigidity.
Updated WP XACT fork with new settings and new hydro-stop to improve bottoming resistance.
New, completely redesigned WP XACT rear shock has a lighter and shorter body and all new internals.
New topology optimized handlebar mounts increase grip surface for reduced bar twist.
New map select switch changes engine character depending on track conditions and rider preference.

2023 KTM 300 SX HIGHLIGHTS

All-new model with new chassis and engine wrapped in new bodywork.
New engine with an electronic power valve offers improved mid-range power and rotating mass.
New 39 mm Keihin throttle body features advanced EFI technology for immediate throttle response and ease of use—no more jetting for conditions.
New electric start and lightweight Li-Ion battery provide immediate starts at a light weight.
New frame design with parallel mounts, new forged shock mount and reworked rigidity to better manage rider comfort.
New topology optimized subframe with hybrid polyamide and aluminum construction for improved durability.
New hollow, die-cast swingarm offers reduced unsprung weight and increased rigidity.
Updated WP XACT fork with new settings and new hydro-stop to improve bottoming resistance.
New, completely redesigned WP XACT rear shock has a lighter and shorter body and all new internals.
New topology optimized handlebar mounts increase grip surface for reduced bar twist.
New map select switch changes engine character depending on track conditions and rider preference.

HIGHLIGHTS

All-new generation model with new chassis and engine wrapped in new bodywork.
Redesigned engine is tilted 2° back, 8 mm shorter and features increased bore and compression for better mid-range performance.
New frame design with forged shock mount and reworked rigidity to better manage rider comfort.
New topology optimized subframe with hybrid polyamide and aluminum construction for improved durability.
New hollow, die-cast swingarm offers reduced unsprung weight and increased rigidity.
New Quickshifter function allows clutchless upshifts from 2^nd to 5^th
Updated WP XACT fork with new settings and new hydro-stop to improve bottoming resistance.
New, completely redesigned WP XACT rear shock has a lighter and shorter body and all new internals.
New topology optimized handlebar mounts increase grip surface for reduced bar twist.
New map select switch changes engine character depending on track conditions and rider preference.

HIGHLIGHTS

All-new generation model with new chassis and engine wrapped in new bodywork.
Redesigned engine is tilted 2° back to improve anti-squat and features increased compression for better mid-range performance.
New frame design with forged shock mount and reworked rigidity to better manage rider comfort.
New topology optimized subframe with hybrid polyamide and aluminum construction for improved durability.
New hollow, die-cast swingarm offers reduced unsprung weight and increased rigidity.
New Quickshifter function allows clutchless upshifts from 2^nd to 5^th
Updated WP XACT fork with new settings and new hydro-stop to improve bottoming resistance.
New, completely redesigned WP XACT rear shock has a lighter and shorter body and all new internals.
New topology optimized handlebar mounts increase grip surface for reduced bar twist.
New map select switch changes engine character depending on track conditions and rider preference.

HIGHLIGHTS

All-new generation model with new chassis and engine wrapped in new bodywork.
Redesigned engine is tilted 2° back to improve anti-squat and features better mass centralization and increased compression for better mid-range performance.
New frame design with forged shock mount and reworked rigidity to better manage rider comfort.
New topology optimized subframe with hybrid polyamide and aluminum construction for improved durability.
New hollow, die-cast swingarm offers reduced unsprung weight and increased rigidity.
New Quickshifter function allows clutchless upshifts from 2^nd to 5^th
Updated WP XACT fork with new settings and new hydro-stop to improve bottoming resistance.
New, completely redesigned WP XACT rear shock has a lighter and shorter body and all new internals.
New topology optimized handlebar mounts increase grip surface for reduced bar twist.
New map select switch changes engine character depending on track conditions and rider preference.

From KTM:

Eight premier class FIM MXGP World Championships in 12 years. Over 300 MXGP and MX2 victories since 2004. Five of the last eight AMA 450SX Supercross titles. Cairoli, Dungey, Herlings, Musquin, Prado, Webb, Vialle and more. The track is our specialty. At KTM we still have the widest and most outstanding motocross range to be found on any circuit or inside any dealership.

How do you improve dominance?

Like any championship racer, we search every single corner for gains, for performance and for perfection. The 2023 KTM SX models aim to reshape the market as well as riders’ expectations. We haven’t changed our approach for outright excellence, so that means we’ve changed quite a bit for 2023.

We still have 12 models that scale from electric learner bikes through to two-stroke minicycles (50, 65 and 85cc) to larger two-stroke thrillers at 125, 250 and 300cc capacity. The KTM SX-F machines consist of 250, 350 and 450 cc four-strokes. A potential AMA 450SX winner or MXGP world champion can grow in orange from his or her first motos on the dirt right up until those last few corners as a winner at the very highest level. So, we have the bikes, but why jump into the family? Why embrace the KTM DNA? Well, the KTM SXs are the most powerful in each class and have the finest components. They are the most race-focused.

Racing informs us to empower you. The 2023 KTM SXs are sleeker, slimmer, more controllable and the most desirable. They are our best expression of the ultimate motocross race machine and are ready for when you want to get really serious.

Behind the gate: Preparation and equipment

We are market leaders with the use of cutting-edge design and technology throughout our motorcycle portfolio, and the 2023 KTM SXs are perfect examples of this. Partnerships with companies such as KEIHIN, PANKL and Brembo mean that performance possibilities have expanded. The 2023 KTM SX range will count on two maps (one standard, softer, with linear power and another for a more aggressive response and power character), launch control, traction control (only for SX-F models), a ‘roll-over’ sensor, an hour meter as standard, with electronic fuel injection status, and a fuel indicator through the Keihin engine management system. While preparing for battle, quickly and easily set your WP XACT suspension with the completely tool-free adjustments, now possible with the latest spec WP Suspension engineering. New 1.9 gallon (7.2 l) polythene fuel tanks can quickly be filled (feeding into the protected one-piece fuel pump and filter) and a quick check of the Excel alloy rims is faster and easier thanks to the fresh spoke ‘nipple’ design. You’re READY TO RACE.

Gate-drop and surging into action

Fired up with the electric starter (on all models) KTM SXs hammer along the straight and into the corners and jumps with ease. Our engine packages are more compact, more durable, more serviceable and offer the best power-to-weight ratio across the board.

New cylinder heads translate into performance gains, while rearward rotation of the engines by two degrees has given better centralization and an improved drive out of corners. Brand new 5-speed PANKL Racing Systems transmissions with an additional sensor for the four-strokes mean that up-shifts (from 2nd gear onwards) are slicker, thanks to the Quickshifter function. The Quickshifter can be disabled with a switch on the handlebar to meet rider preference, while a new, weight-optimized shift shaft in the transmission means decreased shifting force at all times. A Brembo hydraulic clutch ensures top-of-the-range dependability whatever the conditions.

With our two-strokes, less carbs = more muscle. We’ve graced our KTM SXs with a new electronic fuel injection to ensure simplicity, enjoyment and unmatched performance. Therefore, the SXs get a new 39 mm throttle body with injectors positioned for pinpoint response. A ‘remix to the premix’ counts on a TPS-sensor for better behavior while idling and for the perfect fuel-air mixture (and can’t forget the cold start mechanism, which is the same as the KTM SX-Fs). The effect is ‘more’: more power, more response, more assurance, more ease, more fun.

Finding the flow then attacking the track

The demands of competition, fitness and the track set the tone for any moto. It’s in the depths of this hard, physical stage of a race when the connection and feeling with the motorcycle can make the difference and allow you to fully harness the excitement and fulfillment of competition. We’ve taken our chassis and frame design principles back to the core and have sought better dynamics, stability and strength. ‘Longitudinal rigidity’ is a key phrase and with accentuated rider feeling coming through an ‘anti-squat’ philosophy. This has been achieved by a new frame and mounts, subframe, swingarm, engine repositioning, ergonomics and WP Suspension tech.

The frame is hydro-formed, laser-cut and robot-welded. The wall thickness has been optimized to achieve improved specific rigidity in high-stress areas such as the steering head and all new shock mounts. The KTM SX two-strokes have new parallel frame mounts. The design is sportier with sights on extra agility; an example comes through the new inwardly moved footpegs for even greater clearance in ruts and for dropping the bike flat for scrubbing jumps. New footpegs are even larger in surface area and, thanks to die casting, are even lighter than before. Stiffness has been dialed with lighter die-cast hollow swingarms (new casting processes allow for even more weight saving) and a new rear axle.

The WP Suspension XACT shock is shorter and lighter. The internal flow of liquids is more flush, reliable and resistant, and the shock’s smaller dimensions lower the chances of pollutants and dirt intrusion. The shape permits higher ground clearance from the linkage, and advanced damping means better traction as the bike ingests bumps with the new geometry and settings. Entering corners or landing jumps any KTM SX will take full advantage of WP XACT forks with AER air technology featuring a new hydro-stop for more effective performance and more bottoming resistance.

The 2023 KTM SXs are narrower and further honed, but we have also managed to increase contact area and surfaces to allow even more input into the handling of the bike. The flat orange seat – offering excellent grip and a stance emphasizing greater control – and the reworked front fender are other identifiable marks. The ‘mud flaps’ of the fender prevent excessive soil from being flicked up towards the rider and the radiator in particularly wet conditions.

Finishing the moto strong

You’ve gone faster and longer than ever, but any Pro racer will tell you that the last two to three laps of any moto are key. This is another area where the versatility and usability of the new KTM SXs can really shine. The improved energy absorption, thanks to the forgiving chassis design, keeps you fresh even to the very end of the race. Reworked CNC-milled triple clamps with optimized bar mounts and wider grip surface area leads to less handlebar ‘twist,’ ensuring you’re headed straight to the finish even with an unplanned corner laydown. The whole unit is protected by a new number plate design. The subframe, designed with advanced finite element analysis, is now a finely engineered hybrid thanks to polyamide reinforced aluminum, applying strength into the lower part of the frame and extending flexibility for control and comfort in upper sections.

Count on the last inches of traction and performance provided by the Dunlop GEOMAX MX33 tires; chosen for the 2023 KTM SX lineup after a careful testing and selection process.

Once across the finish line it will be time to recover, reset and think about the next outing.

Now that we’ve seen the anatomy of the perfect motocross race, what about cross country?

Look for the 2023 SX-F and XC-F four-stroke range at your local authorized KTM dealer starting this June. The new 2023 SX and XC two-stroke models will begin arriving this September.

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