These are the best brakes in the motocross world—still.
There’s 14,000 rpm in there waiting to
come out. The 350 has an outrageous
redline.
The 350 corners like a 250. We’ve learned
that power and the perception of weight
have a complicated relationship.
• Vastly improved suspension
• Less tiring than a 450
• Electric start
• Excellent brakes
• Hydraulic clutch
• High-quality parts
but it feels lighter. The sensation of mass, as it turns out,
is as much about horsepower and the gyroscopic forces
associated with a big crankshaft as it is about weight.
None of that has changed for 2015, but the suspension
certainly has. That was the one flaw in the 350 picture. Last
year, and every previous year that we can remember, KTM
has lagged behind in suspension, at least on the motocross
side of the line. A good tuner could make the WP closed-cartridge fork work for specific applications, but virtually
no one liked it with KTM’s specs. The most common complaint was that it was harsh on small, sharp impacts.
The 2015 4CS fork isn’t like that at all. It’s actually very
cushy on the small stuff, and that gives the whole bike
a different feel. Part of the credit might go to the smaller
front axle, which allows more give and flex. We actually
have a lot of experience with this fork now, as it has shown
up on various off-road models going back to the 2013
Husaberg line. We’ve watched it evolve since then, and
it’s finally grown up. For this year, we still think most riders
will have to fiddle and adjust settings considerably. Faster
riders especially will want to stiffen things up to make the
MX TEST
Most of the big changes for 2015 are hidden
in the suspension.
That’s where the 350
needed the most work.
KTM 350SX-F
Engine type .........Four-valve, DOHC 4-stroke
Displacement.........................................350cc
Bore & stroke ................... 88.0mm x 57.5mm
Fuel delivery ....................................Keihin EFI
Fuel tank capacity .................... 2.0 gal. ( 7. 5 L)
Lighting coil ................................................ No
Spark arrester............................................. No
EPA legal .................................................... No
Running weight, no fuel .......................237 lb.
Wheelbase............................. 58. 9” (1495mm)
Ground clearance.................... 14. 8” (375mm)
Seat height .............................. 39.0” (992mm)
Tire size & type:
Front......................80/100-21 Dunlop MX52
Rear.....................110/100-19 Dunlop MX52
Suspension/travel:
Front................... WP 4CS, adj. reb., comp./
11. 8”(300mm)
Rear..... WP aluminum piggyback, adj. prld.,
hi & lo comp., reb./13.2” (335mm)
Country of origin...................................Austria
Suggested retail price ...........................$8799
Distributor/manufacturer .......... www.ktm.com
THUMBS UP
THUMBS DOWN
• Runs hot
• Occasional sneeze
• No kick-start backup