2024 KTM SX-F Factory Edition Are So Good They Even Work on the Worst Tracks

The model has been making a name for itself in the toughest motocross and supercross competitions for years now, and for the 2024 model year the bar is not set any lower. In fact, the Austrian bike maker promises "ground-breaking updates" for the 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F, both of which will be offered in Factory Edition guise.

What Factory Edition means in the case of KTM is a "highly evolved and modified spec of the current production model orientated towards pure performance." Bikes that have been specifically bred to be at the top of their game in such competitions but, most importantly, are meant to bring to the greater crowd of KTM riders the same specifications used by the company's own champions.

In the case of these two new bikes the changes are both visual and mechanical. When it comes to what the eyes can see, both the 450 and the 250 come with the same orange powder-coated frame on gets to see on the factory racers.

There are also new tank spoilers fitted, which are meant to improve cooling, while the frame protectors too come in orange. A carbon-reinforced skid plate has been installed for better protection of the bikes' underside.

The two models also come with new grips, Dunlop Geomax tires, and orange CNC machined hubs for bigger and faster jumps.

To top the special look of the bikes off, KTM also went for a ribbed seat and orange rear sprocket. The entire bodies of the two machines are covered in special Red Bull KTM Factory Racing graphics.

Impressive as they are, the visual upgrades don't come even close to what KTM did mechanically to the two rides. And it all starts with the bikes' chassis, which is virtually new. Made with varied wall thicknesses and cutaway sections, the frames are supposed to increase flexibility while at the same time decreasing weight.

The chassis was designed to move the bike's rotating mass toward the center of gravity, and that in turn should give riders better traction as they come off corners. On top of that, the bikes are now supported by the most recent version of the WP suspension system, which throws into the fight 310 mm of travel (48 mm for the front fork).

The engines fitted inside the frame have remained the same as before, controlled by means of five-speed transmissions, but they are enhanced, especially when it comes to breathing, through a new air intake sleeve and snorkel and one end and an Akrapovic slip-on exhaust on the other.

To top off all the additions, KTM included on the two SX-F machines the best braking hardware Brembo has to offer.

Perhaps the most impressive addition to the SX-F range is something called the Connectivity Unit Offroad. CUO for short, it is essentially the tool that helps riders fine-tune their rides and get a better understanding of their performance.

The two-part system has been fitted between the right fork leg and the GPS unit installed on the front fender. Working in conjunction with the KTMConnect App, it can be used to set up the bikes' engine and suspension "without needing external specialized help."

Separately, the use of the LitPro app with the CUO system gives riders access to details about their on-track performance, including lines, speeds, gearing, and lap times, naturally.

To properly mark the arrival of the Factory Editions onto the market, KTM had one of its star riders, Chase Sexton, sign one of the 450 machines right there on the KTM factory floor. Through a mechanism that was not disclosed the bike maker said it would offer the signed bike, for free, to one lucky owner.

Sexton is one of the biggest names in the sport, and the reigning 450SX Champion. He was announced as the latest addition to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team in October, and he will race alongside Aaron Plessinger in next year's 2024 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) season. The first race of the competition is scheduled for the first day of the new year.

Back to the two SX-F Factory Edition bikes, they are both already listed on the KTM website. The 250 SX-F comes with a price sticker reading $11,999, while for the 450 version the price has been set at $11,749. Both numbers include the $650 freight charge, but are only the starting prices, as KTM offers plenty of customization options for each of the two machines.