KTM lead mini revolution
By TMX Archives on 24th Aug 16
Launched at the final round of the FIM World Supercross Championship in the Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, the 2017 KTM Mini-bike range is breaking new ground with significant model updates which include WP air forks a world first for junior motocross production bikes.
It doesn't take a genius to spot the sea of orange bikes at any given MX track on any given race day.
But KTM's stranglehold on the Mini-bike market is hard to ignore: in the three classes (50, 65 and 85ccs) KTM has a majority market share in all markets around the world.
It's not that other manufacturers aren't making bikes, just that few are investing in them quite as much.
It takes a decent amount of time, effort and money to invest in properly developing bikes in the Junior classes and KTM continues to do that for the model year 2017.
The thinking behind it is not just to sell as many bikes to kids as possible but quite obviously to get them early and convince them orange is best as they take their first steps in off-road sport.
Which is KTM's hope of course – to catch them while they're brand new and keep hold of them.
So what's hot about the 2017 Mini-bike range?
For starters the hottest news is the KTM 50 SX and 65 SX get the brand-new AER 35 forks by WP Suspension.
As KTM puts it this is, "...an incredible step forward in terms technology for junior motorcycles”.
For any junior motorcycle to get the air-fork technology is a big step in terms of development, a generational moment in the evolution of junior bikes seems over-inflated way of putting it, but it's hard not to think that way given the performance benefits.
KTM's development engineer Raphael Reindl reveals the creation of these new models was born out of talking to the parents of the junior riders while the current bikes are in the market.
"We are always thinking about improvements in quality, cost and performance and how we can achieve something even better,” he said.
"With these inputs we try to create the best ‘new generation' of bikes.”
Proven in motocross on bigger capacity machines, air-forks are easier to maintain, incredibly easy to get your head around to adjust and most of all they're lighter.
A weight-saving of 0.77kg (1.7lbs) is a heck of a lot for an eight-year-old making his or her first steps. It makes handling easier whatever a junior's riding level.
KTM 50 SX
The KTM 50 SX is arguably the entry-level bike.
Popular models from other manufacturers are good and cheap but none are anything like the scaled-down big bike that the 50 SX is.
Controllable power through a clutchless and automatic gearbox, simple mechanics and adjustable suspension including ride height and adjustable bar mounts mean it's a bike which can be tailored to fit and suit younger kids from their first ride to their first shot at a championship.
Reindl added: "We try to cater for a wide range of ability by creating fully adjustable bikes.
"For example there's wide-range adjustable forks and shocks for all Sport-minicycles, adjustable chassis heights and clutch engagement on the 50s; a restrictor-kit for the youngest or inexperienced riders on the 50s and all other kinds of performance and improvement parts (PowerParts) to make the bikes more suitable for all levels of rider.”
There's little doubt the WP AER air forks are a big deal on the 2017 50 SX. It would be easy to cut out the cost of development and production, lopping off such a significant upgrade to the lowest branch on the KTM MX bike tree.
But it is bold and in many ways typical of KTM to make the point. If a component is good enough for the top of the range then it should be good enough for the bottom of the range too.
The rear shock is also fully adjustable and, crucially, has two positions for the top rear-shock mount, which makes a dramatic difference to ride-height.
Along with the snazzy air forks, the 50 SX also gets a new exhaust system for 2017 plus four-piston brake-calipers, wavey brake discs, black rims and big bike replica graphics and styling. Improvements to that 2017 exhaust system mean more power delivered more smoothly across the rev-range.
The 50 SX couldn't be more user-friendly in the workshop either. Air-filter access is as simple as any KTM, there's a separate oil filler so no need to pre-mix petrol at this stage and there's that easily-adjusted suspension, front and rear.
KTMs always come with a decent enough tool kit and definitely some useful handbook reading – from KTM about the bike and from WP about the suspension.
Combined they make working on and living with a bike an option even for the novice mechanic – kid or parent.
It's a key point. Tempting though it is to think all the kids you see at MX tracks are following in a parent's wheel-tracks – with a mechanically experienced dad wielding the spanners – that's not always the case.
Keeping things simple and being generous with advice works not just for kids learning but also potentially parents, who ha've brought their kids into a sport they have little or no experience of themselves.
Power adjustments are a simple task on the 50 SX too. The engine performance can be adjusted, with simple changes at the automatic clutch giving the bike softer or more aggressive power delivery, depending on confidence and experience.
Power can be adjusted via restrictors in the exhaust, adding a restrictor kit if you want to curb the power or adding from the wealth of performance and improvements available through the KTM PowerParts catalogue.
Height versus age is never a clear-cut recipe. The guidelines from KTM are four to ten-years old with an upper limit of 1.3m for the 50 SX.
KTM 65 SX
The 65 SX is as true to the mantra ‘Ready To Race' as you'll find in the KTM range.
It dominates the schoolboy MX paddocks (although the 50 isn't exactly hiding) and with good reason.
This is the first geared bike for many MX kids – a small but significant step-up from the 50 SX in size and power it has a different outlook in life, to help riders take the next step.
Want styling and graphics just like the 450 SX-F? Want those WP air-forks just like the bigger bikes? Six-speed transmission with hydraulic clutch? High and low-speed adjustable rear WP shock?
Footrests exactly the same as the bigger bikes? Aluminum cast swingarm? Black rims? Large 198mm wavey front disc with four-piston calipers front and rear?
It's all there on the 65 SX.
Just like its smaller sibling, the 65 SX model shouts loud how serious it is, while talking more quietly if needed to cradle the novice.
It, too, has a wide range of adjustment in power delivery and suspension to help suit different height and abilities of the rider.
Both the 50 and 65 SX have adjustable handlebar clamps, reversible for different riding position to suit the height of the rider.
It's simple stuff, but it's thoughtful. In a world where shoe sizes can change within six months you don't want to be growing out of a bike within a season.
One of the most significant changes to the larger capacity KTM MX models in 2016 was the easier to ride chassis. From clubman to GP racer the feedback is clear the new models are easier to control and make riders more confident.
The same is true of the 65 SX, which is confidence-inspiring to kids.
One of the biggest tricks of those WP AER air-forks, though, apart from being 750g lighter is being easily adjustable – for ride height and stiffness.
At a time in a kids' riding life when ability, ambition and physical body size changes quickly, the air-forks make life easy when you want to adjust a bike to suit young rider.
Adjustments in the left fork leg for ‘compression' are via an air pump and you'll need nothing more than a screwdriver to adjust rebound in the other – life here is uncomplicated.
The 65 SX has comprehensive ‘bigger bike' rear suspension too with high and low speed compression damping control alongside rebound and preload.
Again, it's another way the bike is clearly a scaled-down version of the larger capacity KTM models.
Both 50 and 65 SX models have stacks of pre-load adjustment available at the rear shock absorber too, making a distinct difference to seat height is another reality simple mechanical task.
KTM 85 SX
The biggest machine in the junior range is the class-leading KTM 85 SX.
Available in both Small-wheel (17/14-inch) and Big-wheel (19/16-inch) guises.
For 2017 it doesn't get the same upgrades as the two smaller siblings, although given the results in youth championships around the globe arguably it isn't broken so currently doesn't need fixing.
That said it wouldn't be too bold to say another year and we'll see air-forks on this model too.
The 85 SX remains class leader in both wheel sizes. Featuring plenty of performance from the ‘most powerful engine in class' it's also proven to be pretty damn robust despite the abuse most ten to 14-year-olds can dish out.
That so much controllable power comes from such an intricately-sized piece of engineering is a marvel of modern motorcycling.
The same is true of the chromoly tubular steel frame, alloy subframe and cast aluminum swingarm: there's no changes for 2017 and while it may not feature the WP AER air-fork upgrade, the 43mm upside down forks and PDS rear shock are fully adjustable and incredibly well-established as benchmark springers.
Braking performance is phenomenal for a smaller capacity bike, with four-piston calipers radial mounted up-front hauling on 240mm front rotor (210mm rear rotor).
Consistent power and performance through a moto is right there.
What does change for 2017 are the graphics, also aping the larger capacity bikes. It looks like a scaled-down version of KTM's ‘grown-up' MX machines.
Part of the thinking behind the 2017 Mini-bike range is to make the smaller capacity bikes just like the bigger ones.
Styling and graphics mimic the 450 SX-F, so kids can feel like they're on a scaled down version of Ryan Dungey or Tony Cairoli's bike.
And it's surely an easy path to take when you upgrade through the ranks as you grow – or your kids grow – depending on who's reading this.
The obvious truth is there aren't any holes in the KTM line-up.
From 50 SX to 450 SX-F each bike has pedigree, development over many years, class-leading performance and results to back it up from club to GP level.
KTM certainly are the benchmark in many respects.
Want to be the next Cairoli or Dungey?
Then start here...
