KTM 350 SX-F

KTM has officially announced the arrival of its new 2010 KTM 350 SX-F, a ground-breaking motocross dirt bike which will blend the performance boundaries between the established 250 and 450 divisions.


This is the bike that Mike Alessi was rumored to be racing and developing in Europe during the Supercross season and then bringing to the States for competition in the outdoor Motocross series. As the rules stand, this machine would be legal to ride in the 450 class. KTM calls it a “very mature prototype,” but the Austrian manufacturer has not yet set a date for production of this new motorcycle. Rest assured, once it starts cranking out the serial numbers, these babies will be flying off showroom floors as quickly as they arrive. Times are hard for OEMs, but this news has to up the ante for the rest of the big Japanese companies. White Power components are the norm, but out back is a set of linkage which is a major deviation from the norm that KTM has struggled so hard to prove over the years.

New 2009 KTM 1198 RC8R Review

KTM’s RC8 spent so many years being a concept - a V4 and then a V2 - that no one knew whether this crazy orange design would ever see the light of day. I for one am glad to see it in its first evolved state after the 2008 world launch at Ascari. KTM must be a huge fan of Ducati as everything KTM has done with the RC8 from the L-twin (V75-V90) configuration, Ascari launch and then Portimao launch is all in the footsteps of the red giant from Bologna, Italy.

Well, it’s not quite as clear cut as that. While cornering on the brand new Bridgestone BT-003RS tires the RC8R leans with great willingness and turning from an extreme left lean to an extreme right is the easiest thing in the world. Only the 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R felt better in this area on Almeria. The Brembo monoblocks worked very precisely on the RC8R with a fantastic initial bite. The 43mm WP USD fork felt fine, but not with the same feedback as the Ninja. The new fully adjustable WP mono shock must have helped a lot at the rear because the RC8R could be fired very hard out of the corners without much of a rear wheel slide. The RC8R was also of the best bikes along with the 600s for a circuit that can be ridden in second gear between the two straights. Plenty of low-end, traction-friendly V-twin torque.

Considering the fact that the 1198 RC8R loses hugely to the liter fours from third gear and up down the straight the late braking abilities need to be very good to stand a chance. But luckily for RC8 owners the RC8R does make mincemeat of all the 600s.