KTM's Early Riders
By TMX Archives on 16th May 13
KTM has, as usual, beaten everyone to the punch and released details of its 2014 off-road range.Next year is all about evolution rather than revolution, so in the main it has been about refining the products.On the MX front the model with the biggest change is the 250 SX-F, which has been treated to a whole new gearbox that now sports a five-speed cluster, rather than the previous six-speed box.
This ought to be more durable, weigh less and changes are said to be ultra-slick.
The mighty 450 SX-F features several changes in the engine room including a new cam, new head gasket and new clutch.
All models, four and two-stroke have been treated to a new front brake system from the master to the slave cylinder.
All the two-strokes receive a Boyesen reed valve.
There's also the latest WP suspension front and rear, new seat foam all round, the strokers get a new lightweight 7.5 litre polyethylene fuel tank, all models are fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Mid Soft tyres and are, of course, topped off with all-new 2014 graphics.
The range, as ever, is mind blowing with 50, 65, 85SW, 85BW, 125, 150 and 250 MX strokers plus 250, 350 & 450 SX-F four-poppers.
Ditto the EXC enduro range, plus a 200 stroker and all available in the uprated special Six Day options!
Not only have the bikes been launched but KTM has already conducted a press test-ride programme, with the lucky invited riders having been flown to Sardinia last week.
Martin Craven reluctantly packed his riding kit and toothbrush on behalf of TMX and was flogged to death for a day and a half, riding virtually everything that KTM produce – and that is a LOT.
Crack
Including the special Six Days versions there are no fewer than 20 KTM enduros, both two and four-stroke and 10 dedicated MXers.
In order to give both a fair crack of the whip TMX will split the tests into MX and Enduro to be run over two weeks.
Martin has been strapped into a soundproof room armed only with a 2014 KTM brochure, a laptop and his thoughts on the test and will only be released when ALL write-ups on ALL models have been completed!
Life isn't all beer and bike tests – there's always work at the end of the rainbow.
