2016 KTM 350 SX-F

2016 KTM 350 SX-F

With the arrival of the new generation 350 SX-F the success story can continue. The dominance with which this machine has won one world championship title after another is certainly unrivaled... Since Tony Cairoli’s first win in the 2010 MX1 World Championship, his first year as a KTM factory rider on the 350 SX-F, the Red Bull athlete from Sicily has dominated the class with five consecutive world championships at the top tier of motocross aboard this nimble, but powerful bike including many, many race wins. The bike itself comprises of almost as much power as a 450, but with the agility of a 250 – so the basic idea is easily summarized, and has been a concept with success from the start.

• ENGINE

The new DOHC (Double Overhead Camshaft) engine of the 350 SX-F features a completely new construction in order to make it even more compact and powerful than before. Fitted with the latest electronic fuel injection system and electric starter, it has a very wide usable speed range, high performance and incredibly efficient rideability. The new design made the engine 20 mm shorter than previously, while reducing the weight by 1 kg to only 27.2 kg.

• CYLINDER AND PISTON

In the redesigned and shorter cylinder, with a bore of 88 mm, works a weight reduced forged bridged box-type piston made by CP. Its new piston crown geometry is adapted to the new high-compression combustion chamber and stands out with its extra rigid structure, combined with a low weight. The compression ratio is at 14:1. Thanks to the low oscillating masses, the engine offers extremely lively characteristics.

• TRANSMISSION

The new engine is fitted with an all-new and weight reduced, five-speed gearbox. It features the same gear ratio as the previous model, but has wider gear sprockets, featuring a special surface treatment on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears for improved reliability. One of the new and special features on the bike is an advanced “NO-DIRT” gear lever design, which prevents dirt from blocking the joint of the lever and guarantees a safe activation of the transmission.

• MONOSHOCK

The new generation of monoshock made by WP Suspension has been developed for the new SX models in conjunction with the new frame and swingarm architecture, including the reworked linkage system and the new WP forks. The linkage system has also been reworked with a revised geometry and longer pull rods, which was tested last season in most of the KTM factory bikes.

• FORKS

The KTM SX models are fitted with a revolutionary new and super-lightweight WP fork, a 48 mm USD air-sprung fork developed by WP Suspension in close collaboration with KTM. It is a split fork with separate functions for each fork leg. The damping functions are on the right side, whereas the air spring is in the left. The left leg features a capsuled air cartridge. This air spring is easy to adjust to any rider weight via a single air valve and a standard fork air pump. The right fork leg integrates a completely new damping cartridge to fit single damping leg requirements, and the damping can be adjusted to the track conditions or the rider’s preferences with a twist of a dial. The new fork with approximately 300 mm travel has outstanding response and excellent, very consistent damping characteristics, while also with a reduced weight of 1.4 kg compared to its predecessor.