2024 KTM Factory Editions Boast New Frame and Several Upgrades
We received a preview of the new 2024 KTM Factory Edition bikes at last week’s team launch, and now we have production bike details. The Factory Edition 450 and 250 have some changes compared to the regular 2024 KTMs, and we expect these to be next-generation (2025) bikes offered one year in advance. The biggest change is a revised frame, which KTM says offers “optimized flex characteristics for improved cornering and comfort.” Will the new frame, which we hear has a few key areas with less rigidity than the old frame, help the race team?
For consumers, there’s a slew of upgraded components on this bike, including the new Connectivity Unit Offroad which mounts to the right fork leg, and a GPS component mounted on the front fender. Riders can use the KTMconnect App to dial in bike settings, and, by using the GPS and an affiliation with LitPro, you can examine lines, speed, gearing and other information from the track.
There are also revisions to the suspension settings and brakes, different radiator shrouds, a revised air intake, and the usual high-end bolt on parts, including an Akrapovic slip-on exhaust, CNC-milled orange anodized and rubber damped triple clamps, Red Bull team graphics and more.
Riders who buy the 450 can choose from Chase Sexton (4) or Aaron Plessinger (7) numbers to complete the look. The 250 comes with black side panels.
Two questions now come to mind: Will the upgrades to the chassis pay dividends once the team attacks Monster Energy Supercross? And will this bike be worth the upgrade to consumers compared to the standard KTM models? We haven’t seen pricing info yet, but the bikes are expected to be available by mid-February.
KTM's full press release is below:
GET TO THE FRONT OF THE PACK: CHASE THE 2024 KTM 450 SX-F AND 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITIONS
The RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM will soon be decimating start gates and chronometers for the upcoming AMA Supercross season thanks to the new 2024 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and the return of the 2024 KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION.
Any rider can now get their hands on the latest iteration of the bike that blurs action on the track and the lines between factory and production equipment.
The KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITION concept remains the same: a highly evolved and modified spec of the current production model orientated towards pure performance. The upgrades have been tried, tested and selected through use in competition. KTM knows that READY TO RACE is more than just hot numbers from the dyno or lap timer. The KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITION models have distinction and style, and that’s why aesthetics is important. As an example, a KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITION can always be easily identified thanks to the powder-coated orange frame, usually a feature only reserved for our ‘works’ machinery.
What do the new KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION have in store? First of all, don’t neglect the very special chassis. This philosophy remains strong as RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING continues to win races and set records at the highest levels. With this in mind, the 2024 FACTORY EDITION chassis offers optimized flex characteristics for improved cornering and comfort. Other handling alterations for both bikes include the CNC-milled orange anodized and rubber damped triple clamps. Made from high-grade aluminum, these boast carefully tuned steering stem stiffness, perfect alignment of the fork tubes, and precise geometry of the fork clamps to ensure highly responsive and smooth fork action – not to mention unwavering stability when charging across ruts.
The Connectivity Unit Offroad is an important new addition. This two-part system is mounted between the right fork leg (protected by the new shape of the number plate) and the GPS component on the redesigned front fender. The ‘CUO’ enables a wealth of easily adjustable options for engine behavior and suspension settings via the KTMconnect App. But that’s not all. An official affiliation with LitPro will empower riders to examine their lines, speed, gearing and a lot of other information to make their lap times hit the mark.
Feeling and function are improved even more by other 2024 KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITION specifications. Fully adjustable and tool-free WP Suspension lets you count on 310 mm of travel with the 48 mm air-type WP XACT front fork with redesigned protection rings. The WP FACTORY START DEVICE will help with those crucial holeshots. The shock has new low-friction linkage seals and the 2024 KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITION linkage settings have been reworked for optimal weight saving and stiffness. The linkage bolt is smaller and lighter, transferred directly from successful use by the RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM.
The engine output of the 2024 KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITION models is boosted further by a titanium Akrapovic slip-on exhaust that shaves weight and finesses power, while the unit breathes better with an updated air intake sleeve and snorkel and a white vented airbox cover (black for the 250) for the Twin Air filter.
Depth is in the details for both machines. New radiator shrouds lead to improved cooling, and a new fuel tank holder delivers better frame contact. Orange FACTORY frame protectors heighten grip while the 4-screw FACTORY skid plate and the HINSON clutch cover withstand the toughest of hits. Soft, gray ODI grips look as good as they work, while other upgrades include DID wheelsets (harder for the bigger, fast jumps), a gold chain and Dunlop GEOMAX MX34 tires.
Slide the 2024 KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITIONS to a stop with a stiffer and tougher rear brake pedal material that will pull the full power of the Brembo systems into play. Braking force is amplified by the semi-floating 260 mm front brake disc and the carbon reinforced FACTORY brake guard. Other riders won’t mistake these motorcycles thanks to the ribbed FACTORY seat, orange rear sprocket and the unforgettable RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING TEAM color and graphics sets. The 2024 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION has #4 and #7 options for riders Chase Sexton and Aaron Plessinger next season. As reigning champion for 2024, Sexton will strap the #1 on his bike for AMA Supercross.
2024 KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION specs:
- 2024 ORANGE GLOSSY FRAME
- 2K ORANGE FACTORY FRAME PROTECTORS
- NEW RADIATOR SHROUDS
- CONNECTIVITY UNIT OFFROAD COMPATIBLE FRONT FENDER
- CONNECTIVITY UNIT OFFROAD
- WHITE (450) OR BLACK (250) VENTED AIRBOX COVER IN BY-PACK
- BLACK ENGINE MOUNTS
- UPDATED SUSPENSION SETTINGS & XACT AER FORK WITH SENSOR TOP CAPS
- RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING GRAPHICS WITH #4 AND #7 OPTIONS FOR CHASE SEXTON OR Aaron Plessinger FOR KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITIONS
- RIBBED FACTORY SEAT COVER
- ORANGE CNC FACTORY TRIPLE CLAMPS
- SEMI-FLOATING FRONT BRAKE DISC- FACTORY FRONT BRAKE DISC GUARD
- FACTORY SKID PLATE- GRAY, SOFT ODI GRIPS
- DID FACTORY WHEEL SET
- DUNLOP GEOMAX MX34 TIRES
- ORANGE REAR SPROCKET
- WP FACTORY START DEVICE
- GOLD CHAIN
- AKRAPOVIC SLIP-ON EXHAUST
- HINSON CLUTCH COVER
The 2024 KTM SX-F FACTORY EDITIONs will soon be shredding Southern Californian dirt at Anaheim 1 for the launch of 2024 AMA Supercross in the first week of January. Get to a KTM Authorized dealer now to reserve a 2024 KTM FACTORY EDITION, available from mid-February onward. For more information, visit ktm.com.
