KTM Racing’s 450SX-F: 5 Differences

Despite being two rounds out from the MX Nationals season finale, KTM Motocross Racing opted to make the switch from the 2015 KTM 450SX-F to the all-new and much lighter 2016 model – a machine that had already tasted much success overseas. After Kirk Gibbs wrapped up the MX1-class title (KTM’s first premier-class championship win since 2002) and teammate Luke Styke finished fourth, we asked team technician, Kyle Blunden, to explain the variances in set-up between the two riders’ race bikes.

1. ENGINE

“Power-wise, Kirk likes an engine with a lot of torque,” Blunden explains. “If you look at him out on the track, you can barely hear him because he doesn’t rev the bike very much at all and often runs a gear taller than everyone else through turns. At the start of the year, Luke tended to rev the bike a lot as it sounded fast (like most riders who step up from a 250), but he quickly learned that it’s harder to ride the more powerful 450 like that. He now uses the torque of the engine to better effect, but he still likes more over-rev from his engine. We achieve these differences in power delivery mainly through GET ECU mapping mods.

“We get a lot of support from KTM in Austria, and there’s not too much in our engines that the general public can access,” Blunden goes on the say. “We’re fortunate to have a very good connection with the factory through Rob Twyerould (KTM Motocross Racing team manager), who’s able to get us some very special parts.”

2. SUSPENSION

Both Gibbs and Styke use the same suspension components, but set it up to their weight and riding preference. “As Kirk is slightly heavier, he prefers to run a stiffer bike than Luke,” explains Blunden. “Weight differences aside though, Kirk tends to prefer the feel of a firmer bike, especially in the front-end.”

3. SEAT

The internal foam of the seat is the same for each rider, although Styke uses a pleated/ribbed seat cover because he finds it helps hold him in position through ruts and off the start. Gibbs tried this seat, but reverted to the normal gripper seat, which he prefers the feel of.

4. GRIPS

Styke uses a harder, dual-compound grip, while Gibbs prefers a much softer grip. It’s just a personal preference thing. Both options are available from the KTM PowerParts catalogue.

5. CONTROLS

There isn’t much in it, but Gibbs runs his levers in a neutral position – not too high, not too low. Styke, on the other hand, runs his levers a little further down.