FIRST LOOK: KTM’S 2027 SX-F FACTORY EDITIONS

A lighter frame, closed-cartridge WP XACT suspension, a 14,500rpm-revving 250 and a 450 making 63.8hp headline KTM’s 2027 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F Factory Editions – the first bikes to carry its next-generation SX-F platform.

KTM has pulled the covers off two new models — the 2027 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition and 250 SX-F Factory Edition — and they’re the first bikes to carry the brand’s next-generation SX-F engineering.

KTM’s Factory Editions traditionally take the stock 450 SX-F and 250 SX-F and add a run of upgrades, factory parts, and cosmetic touches. For 2027, though, the changes go deeper than usual, reaching across the chassis, engine, suspension, ergonomics, exhaust and graphics. Here’s what’s actually new.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

• A lighter frame and running gear, with revised geometry and stiffness, plus fully revised WP XACT closed-cartridge spring forks and shock.
• A reworked 250 SX-F engine that KTM says lifts outputs for a production 250cc four-stroke single.
• Premium parts throughout: Brembo brakes, NEKEN bars, WP PRO COMPONENTS triple clamp and start device, EXCEL rims, ODI lock-on grips and a Selle Dalla Valle seat cover.
• Servicing and maintenance factored into the design.

KTM focused its work on three areas: the chassis, the engine and the component package.

THE RIDE

Both frames have been reshaped to cut weight, with new geometry, revised steering heads and new engine-mounting points. The aluminium subframe is the lightest KTM has produced, the wheelbase can be lengthened, and the CNC-machined triple clamp gets a new design. Paired with the WP XACT closed-cartridge spring fork and shock, KTM is chasing a sharper balance of agility, stability and feedback across varied conditions. Ergonomics have changed too, with a slimmer profile, more leg contact area, a new seat and updated footpeg surfaces.

POWER DELIVERY

A new exhaust system reshapes throttle response and torque on both bikes. The 250 SX-F gets the bigger engine overhaul — an oval throttle body, oval intake ports, a top-feed injector and a redesigned valve train. Compression rises to 15.5:1 and the rev limit climbs to 14,500rpm (the same ceiling KTM’s MXGP and AMA SMX racers run). The motor also sits 2.3mm higher in the frame for more centralised mass. The 450 SX-F makes a claimed 63.8hp at 10,000rpm and 52Nm of torque at 7,000rpm, with the ECU and fuel-control systems tuned to keep the delivery manageable. Both bikes run a lighter, more robust gearbox with smoother shifts, and a new ECU that processes sensor data faster. That feeds into the ignition, fuelling and gear-dependent mapping, and an improved quickshifter.

COMPONENTS

The parts list reflects a focus on race prep and servicing. EXCEL supplies the rims (with a new spoke layout), NEKEN the lighter handlebars (shaped to the new ergonomics, with two mounting positions), and Brembo a new rear pad for smoother braking. There’s also a new, more accessible hour meter, an optimised cooling system, and a redesigned airbox and exhaust. KTM says the technical direction set by these Factory Editions will flow through to the wider 2028 SX range.

AVAILABILITY

The 2027 Factory Editions will be available in limited numbers through authorised KTM dealers in Australia and New Zealand from February 2027.