2016 KTMs with air forks?

As was widely expected, KTM’s 2016-model MXers are new-generation machines. What comes as a surprise, however, is that they’ve been fitted with an air-sprung WP fork. At least, the European bikes have…

As we speak, KTM is unveiling its 2016 SX-F and SX models to the media in Italy – an international launch that, up till two weeks ago, Transmoto was scheduled to attend. In the interim, however, KTM’s HQ in Austria decided to separate the launches for its Euro- and USA/Australia-spec bikes – presumably because the machines destined or the two markets will be significantly different.

Across the entire two- and four-stroke range, KTM’s focus has been on making the 2016 models lighter, faster and more agile. But how does the componentry differ between the bikes sent to Europe and those sent to the USA (which is what we’ll receive in Australia)? Which of KTM’s 2016 models have been completely overhauled, and which have only seen refinements?

Here’s a snapshot of the 2016 upgrades  to help put the new SX and SX-F range into perspective…

EUROPEAN vs USA/OZ-SPEC BIKES

For a number of years, the bikes shipped to America and Australia have come with a slightly more raked-out chassis geometry than their European counterparts (achieved via a spacer in the shock absorber to keep the rear-end lower). And that continues for 2016. Similarly, the USA/Australia 450SX-F will continue to get a five-speed transmission compared with the European’s 450’s four-speed. For 2016, however, the most significant difference between the Euro and USA bikes is the fork. The USA/Australia-spec bikes will retain the WP 4CS (4 Chamber System) 48mm fork, but the European bikes have been fitted with an all-new air-sprung 48mm WP fork, which (like Showa’s SFF-Air fork), separates spring and damping functions into each fork leg. Sure, this isn’t the first time these two markets have received a different fork (remember that, in 2015, the USA/Australia bikes were fitted with the 4CS, whereas the Euro bikes retained WP’s closed-cartridge fork), but the fact the Euro bikes have moved to an air fork for 2016 is certainly a more significant divergence.

^ 2016 KTM 450SX-F

So, why didn’t KTM fit the air-sprung WP fork to the USA/Australia spec bikes? After all, factory-supported KTM rider, Andrew Short has been using WP’s pre-production air-sprung fork (and a WP air shock absorber, for that matter) to good effect in the AMA SX series this year. Well, we’ll have a more definitive answer to that question after the early-June launch for the 2016 bikes in the USA. But if we were to chance a guess, we’d say there are two main reasons behind KTM’s decision. First, the influential American market has taken quite the shining to the 4CS fork, which has been developed specifically for MX/SX applications. Second, because a greater proportion of bikes are used for desert racing in both Australia and the US, KTM is well aware that desert racers around the world are a long way from embracing air suspension.

REVOLUTION vs REFINEMENT

The sweeping mods that appeared on the Factory Edition 250 and 450SX-F production machines released last Xmas (the bikes that Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin have just claimed AMA/World SX titles aboard) pretty much all appear on KTM’s 2016 production bikes. In other words, the 2016 250, 350 and 450SX-F are all new-generation machines with major changes to engines, frame and bodywork.

^ 2016 KTM 250SX-F

Of the two-stroke models, the 125SX and 150SX get a ground-up rebuild for 2016. They’re powered by a completely new engine and get the same frame and bodywork mods seen on the four-strokes. While not an entirely new bike, the 65SX also gets substantial mods across the board. The 50SX, 85SX and 250SX, on the other hand, only get refinements for 2016. In fact, it’ll be interesting to understand why the 250SX wasn’t fitted with the new frame that the rest of the MX models got for 2016.

^ 2016 KTM 125SX

Stay tuned to transmoto.com in the coming days for more details about the model-specific upgrades made to KTM’s 2016 SX (two-stroke) and SX-F (four-stroke) MX models.