KTM will bring the 2021 450 SX-F Factory Edition dirt bike to Australia in March of this year, according to MCNews. This is the machine that KTM has used to win championships and now it will be available in limited quantities for the public to get its hands on.
“Riders still cannot get more ‘READY TO RACE’ than with our new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition. We knew the bike had to look the part for 2021 but we also wanted to keep all the same special technical details that place this model as one of the flagships of our range. Its credentials are proven,” said Joachim Sauer, KTM’s Senior Product Manager Offroad.
Here’s a look at what the new limited-edition motorcycle will bring to riders:
Updated Red Bull KTM Factory Racing graphics
Connectivity Unit fitted as standard
Ability to connect with myKTM app
Akrapovič slip-on silencer
Factory triple clamps anodised in orange
KTM Factory wheels
Factory start for front fork
Exclusive orange frame
Composite skid plate
Factory seat with Selle Dalla Valle stamp
Semi-floating front brake disc
Front brake disc guard
Orange rear sprocket
Engine updates
Hinson clutch cover
One of the most notable things on this new bike is the Connectivity Unit that comes standard. It allows you to tweak the bike through the myKTM App. You can customize and adjust all of the settings to really make the bike fit you and your riding style.
If you’re interested in getting one of these bikes, you’ll need to get down to your KTM dealer and speak with them. They will be coming in March and in limited quantities.
After securing the 2019 AMA Supercross 450SX Championship, in 2020 Cooper Webb collected 13 podium results and four Main Event victories to finish runner-up in the championship aboard the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition. This machine was also the tool for Marvin Musquin to post seven top-three moto finishes in the 2020 AMA Pro Motocross series as he bounced back from injury with a satisfying fourth in the final 450MX class standings.
2021 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition Highlights
Updated Red Bull KTM Factory Racing graphics
Connectivity Unit fitted as standard
Ability to connect with myKTM app
Akrapovič slip-on silencer
Factory triple clamps anodised in orange
KTM Factory wheels
Factory start for front fork
Exclusive orange frame
Composite skid plate
Factory seat with Selle Dalla Valle stamp
Semi-floating front brake disc
Front brake disc guard
Orange rear sprocket
Engine updates
Hinson clutch cover
Joachim Sauer – KTM Senior Product Manager Offroad
“Riders still cannot get more ‘READY TO RACE’ than with our new KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition. We knew the bike had to look the part for 2021 but we also wanted to keep all the same special technical details that place this model as one of the flagships of our range. Its credentials are proven. Very useful additions for 2021, the Connectivity Unit and the myKTM App allow every rider to get the most of their potential in every condition. With this bike, we trust that KTM fans worldwide will find a true race-winning machine that really looks the part.”
2021 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
Taking full advantage of the experience collected through countless training and racing laps, for 2021 KTM applies key upgrades onto the latest installment of the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition. The 2021 bike carries a near-identical visual aspect to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machines raced in Supercross and Motocross.
Creating a direct performance link to the works machines of Cooper and Marvin, the bike comes with an orange frame, Factory wheels, Factory triple clamps anodized in orange, a composite skid plate, a Hinson clutch cover and an orange rear sprocket. The spec list also boasts elements like the Akrapovič silencer, the Factory start holeshot device, the semi floating front brake and the disc guard.
2021 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
A notable addition for 2021 is the Connectivity Unit that now comes as standard and is integrated onto the new bar pad. This means the innovative myKTM App can be synced immediately and without the need of any additional parts. Through the use of the myKTM app, riders of all levels can customise engine settings.
2021 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition
An additional benefit of the myKTM app is its ability to offer suspension recommendations based on every rider’s personal characteristics.
KTM has always been team orange, and this video proves it with a walk-through of some of KTM’s historically orange motorcycle lineup. Some famous motorcycles shown here in the museum still have the cuts and shredded rubber from their last race to add a layer of authenticity you won’t find anywhere else.
This quick video can only show so much of the museum, so if you’re interested in checking it out or booking an Austrian vacation in a post-covid world, make sure you stop by and say hi. Don’t forget to bring your favourite KTM apparel with you!
I Apologize in Advance for Talking About Christmas Related Thigs in November
If you were to stab a loved one with the turkey-carving knife over a heated argument regarding who builds the best motocross bikes at the Christmas dinner table, would they bleed KTM orange? If the answer is yes, you’ll be pleased to hear that KTM has gone out of their way to make your Christmas shopping easier for you with their ‘KTM Christmas Specials Gift Guide’ and up to 30% off selected KTM PowerWear apparel items.
KTM’s PowerWear apparel collection has a little something special for riders of all disciplines, whether it be street, adventure, or enduro riding. Between November 1 and December 24th, KTM’s Christmas Specials Gift Guide will have an array of products with special discounts for the holiday season when purchasing gear from any authorized KTM dealer. If the product is listed in the Christmas Specials Gift Guide, then it’s safe to assume that you should be looking at big discounts on said product.
Polos, hats, jackets, off-roading gear, mugs, bottles, stickers, and more; will all be receiving big discounts, giving an array of options when picking the perfect gift for that special KTM-loving someone. If you really love them, perhaps the full KTM armoured jacket and pant combo is the perfect give for $244.98 AUD and $195.97 AUD respectively after the 30% discount. On the other hand, if you don’t love them at all (haha) a sticker set and mug should suffice.
Aaaaaaaah! There’s literally nothing I get more excited for than supermoto news! I don’t own one, and it sure took me a long time to come around to liking them, but supermoto and Hypermotard motorcycles are up there for my favourite type of bikes available. This excitement is what verifies me as the best person to break the news for our AUS and NZ readers regarding the release of the upcoming 2021 KTM 690 SMC R (and 690 ENDURO R – arguably not as cool as the sumo version… fight me).
The 2021 Enduro R provides riders with a large-displacement offroad MX option despite the slim form factor. The bikes come jam-packed with electronic features such as cornering ABS, standard ABS, TC, and ‘sensitive motor slip regulation’. On the mechanical side, some highlights include the new WP XPLOR suspension(I have an entire article as to why this system is awesome), and the 74 horsepower 693cc drivetrain.
The 2021 KTM 690 SMC R takes that same package and tailors it for absolute pure and unadulterated hooning with a full street-setup. Many technical features from the Enduro R make their way over (they’re almost the same bike), but the WP APEX suspension, upgraded Brembo brakes, street tires, and some updated visual elements set this bike apart from its off-road-oriented brother. “Supermoto bikes aren’t just for hooning and wheelies, Chase” many of you may say. If that’s the case… Please explain to me why all of KTM’s press release images for this motorcycle are photos of riders doing burnouts, wheelies, stoppies, and drifts? Ha. Gotcha.
Both Euro5 spec motorcycles will be available at authorized KTM dealers in both AUS and NZ come March 2021. If I can manage to save enough spare change by then, you bet I’ll be buying one along with you. North American Riders should be able to snag one in December of this year.
KTM’s LC4 engine is now fully prepped for Euro5 emission standards, forming the heart of an updated and refocused 2021 KTM 690 Enduro R and 690 SMC R, with the models expected to arrive in Australian KTM dealers from March 2021 onwards.
2021 KTM 690 SMC R – Image by Sebas Romero
Joachim Sauer – KTM Product Manager
“The LC4 has been a powerful component of the KTM 690 ENDURO R and KTM 690 SMC R but we’ve still been able to harness that asset and continue to develop both motorcycles to be a special part of our KTM portfolio. We’ve found ways to give riders a more exciting and upgraded package for 2021 that keep the bikes as references in their segment. They are unique in their own special ways and we want to keep making them as essential as they are exhilarating.”
2021 KTM 690 Enduro R- Image by Sebas Romero
2021 KTM 690 Enduro R Updates
The 2021 KTM 690 Enduro R offers a slim and manoeuvrable machine, equipped with cornering ABS, off-road ABS, motorcycle traction control and a sensitive motor slip regulation ensures a customizable setting for any condition or landscape. WP XPLOR Suspension (adapted from the Enduro range especially for the KTM 690 Enduro R) ensures grip, supplies confidence and channels the motor’s output to the road surface. The 74 hp and 73.5 Nm of torque and output are ideal for long treks on smooth tarmac at speed.
2021 KTM 690 Enduro R
For 2021 KTM have retained many of the refined strengths of the motorcycle but have applied key updates that make the 690 Enduro R even more of an essential choice. KTM have added improved ride mode functionality through the handlebar switch: Street mode enables two channels of ABS both on the front and rear of the bike.
2021 KTM 690 Enduro R
The Off-road setting disengages rear wheel ABS for that important rear braking feel for low-traction terrain. The ABS itself benefits from a new modulator unit to better regulate the force and application of the braking power required, which also means it can be activated ‘on the fly’ and there is no longer a need for a ‘dongle’.
The new dashboard has an ABS ‘button’ to provide a rapid way to switch off the rider aid for the full flow offroad setting. The same display now shows indicators for rpm and gear selection.
2021 KTM 690 SMC R Updates
The KTM 690 SMC R 2021 takes the torque and pace of the LC4 into a pulse quickening supermoto form with a top-quality chrome-molybdenum steel tubing chassis, WP APEX suspension, purposeful supermoto ergonomics, and wide-ranging electronic ABS modes such as Cornering and Supermoto mode (rear wheel deactivation of lean angle input).
2021 KTM 690 SMC R
The 2021 690 SMC R also has the same new ABS modulator as the KTM 690 Enduro R, permitting adjustment ‘on the go’ as well as the handy new dash, alongside improved Brembo brakes for the new year. Latest generation Brembo M4.32 monoblock caliper lifts the grade of stopping performance even further on the 320 mm front disc (240 mm rear) thanks to optimised stiffness.
2021 KTM 690 SMC R
As with its LC4 cousin, the KTM 690 SMC R gets a cosmetic makeover that lift its styling and appeal.
2021 KTM 690 SMC R LC4 powerplant
Additionally, a new specification of the catalytic converter has been fitted to the muffler, which sees Euro5 status of emissions for both LC4-equipped machines.
The KTM 690 ENDURO R and the KTM 690 SMC R MY 2021 will be available at authorised KTM dealers in Australia and New Zealand from March 2021 onwards. For more info visit www.ktm.com.
Not too long ago, I showcased the KTM 890 Adventure R and R Rally at our sister site Web Bike World. These bikes are the true hardcore adventure bikes, but what if you don’t need something quite that extreme? KTM now has an answer for you, the 2021 890 Adventure.
This is the entry-level 890 adventure touring motorcycle. It keeps a lot of the same equipment as the R and R Rally models. Shared equipment includes the 889cc engine, 5.3-gallon fuel tank, and much of the frame (though not orange powder coated) and chassis. The engine uses the same tuning, too. It makes 105 hp and 73.8 lb-ft of torque while meeting Euro 5 emissions standards.
The bike also gets a power assist clutch connected to a six-speed gearbox with an optional Quickshifter upgrade. The bike also has a bit of a chunkier tail section and feature a taller windscreen and a more street-focused front end. The tires, too, look far less off-road ready than the R and R Rally’s do.
The ties on the bike are tubeless Avon Trailrider dual-sport tires. The suspension system is different, too with the 890 Adventure using an APEX 43 fork and an APEX mono-shock. These are a stop down from the WP EPLOR units on the more extreme bike. The Adventure still gets 7.9 inches of travel, though.
When it comes to brakes, you’ll notice the same setup and components as is on the R model—four-piston calipers up front and two in the rear. There’s Bosch 9.1 MP ABS that you can disengage. There’s also a good traction control system as well as some ride modes. Additional features include cruise control and an adjustable handlebar. Pricing for the model has not yet been announced.
KTM introduced their new 890 Adventure R and Rally models earlier this month and overnight the Austrians took the covers off the regular 890 Adventure model.
While the previously announced Adventure R and Rally models have seat heights of 880 and 910 mm the base Adventure has a much more amenable adjustable 830/850 seat.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
The trade off is in less suspension travel but the Adventure still sports a healthy 200 mm of travel at both ends compared to the 240 of the R and massive 270 mm of the Rally variant.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
Retaining a 21-inch rim up front matched to an 18-inch rear indicates that the base Adventure will still offer proper off-road chops via the confidence and stability that only a 21-inch front can provide. The hubs of the rims are now anodised rather than the powder-coated. A much lower front guard is fitted for better weather protection while touring. Ground clearance is still very much off-road capable at 233 mm.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
Apex suspension by WP includes a brand- new rear shock with a hand wheel to alter preload whle the rebound damping response is also adjustable. The damping is valved for a more street based and general adventure touring role than the more off-road tuned set-up found on its R and Rally siblings. Less trail, a slightly steeper head angle and a reduced wheelbase also offers sharper road handling compared to the R and Rally models.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
For 2021, the new 889cc displacement brings 10 hp more than the KTM 790 Adventure and a hike of 12 Nm on the torque graph.
A stronger new clutch comes as part of the compact Euro 5 ready engine package and KTM have added a bit more thump for the new year via a 20 per cent increase in rotational mass that will make low speed running more pleasant.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
Joachim Sauer – KTM Product Manager Travel
“With the development of the new KTM 890 Adventure we hit all our marks by offering an upgraded machine for both road and gravel riding. With the new engine we worked a lot on optimising the overall performance and feeling while out riding. The result is a big improvement in the bike’s rideability, better stability, less gear shifting and added comfort for the long days on the saddle. With the KTM 890 Adventure we wanted a KTM that sets the benchmark through its performance on the tarmac while being able to veer off-road and keep the same high standards. As a true KTM Adventure, this is a great machine to adventure everywhere.”
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
The low under-slung 20-litre tank promises a range of up to 400 kilometres while keeping that weight down low and allowing for a slimmer seat profile which in-turn helps the rider more easily mount or dismount from the machine.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
While a switch is provided for cruise control it is an optional extra for the functionality to be enabled.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
KTM have further honed the precision and response of their lean angle sensitive ABS and traction control systems for the new model.A ‘Rally’ mode with many more customisation options is an optional extra.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
Different pistons in the brake calipers are claimed to offer improved stopping performance via better feel.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
The new 890 Adventure will not arrive in Australia until April 2021.
My tip is we will also see KTM bring back the long discontinued SMT model at some stage with a bike based on the 890 Adventure platform but rolling on 17-inch rims and much sharper geometry.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
KTM 890 Adventure at a glance
New engine with 90 cc added displacement
Improved performance with 105 hp & 100 Nm (Euro5)
Better rideability thanks to 20% increased rotating mass
Stronger clutch adapted to increased performance
Engine knock control system (use of low Octane fuel)
High-quality WP suspension components & new rear shock
Reworked front & rear brakes for added control
Improved ABS & MTC settings
Anodised wheel hubs instead of powder coated
Handlebar switch with Cruise Control button (software additional)
Weight optimisation thanks to compact motor & fuel tank
Slim profile, refined ergonomics & new graphics
Travel-ready with two-part, adjustable seat & low fender
Smartphone connectivity giving access to music, calls
Optional KTM MY RIDE app for turn-by-turn navigation
KTM 890 Adventure in more detail
The KTM 890 Adventure produces 105 horsepower (77 kW) at 8,000 rpm (compared to the KTM 790 Adventure’s 70 kW) and 100 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm (a rise of 12 over the KTM 790 Adventure). The figures are driven out by 90.7 mm of bore and 68.8 mm of stroke with compression hiked to 13.5.1.
Additional changes include new forged box pistons with three rings and a shorter piston pin, and despite the larger bore, a 10 g weight reduction has been possible, with two oil jets compared to one per piston. Two new balancer shafts accompany the larger scale of engine performance; one is located towards the front of the crankshaft and the other in the cylinder head.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
Higher valve spring rates and oval steel springs are part of the unit that delivers 20 per cent more rotating mass than the KTM 790 Adventure but without impacting the overall agility of the bike.
A new v-shape con-rod also contributes to less oscillating mass and the top end bearing contains a bronze conrod instead of one that is DLC coated, while new horizontally split crankcases are made from a high pressure aluminum cast. The weight has been optimised through wall thickness, and the surfaces of the material in order to fabricate the most efficient design. Open deck cylinders have been fully integrated.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
Two Dell’Orto 46mm throttle bodies fitted with new sensors offer effective reading of the manifold pressures. Additionally, any interference between the cylinders at low or partial throttle opening has been eliminated by removal of the connection between the two intake tracts, and a knock sensor on the cylinder head improves the robust nature of the engine for the KTM 890 Adventure range. The sensor helps momentarily delay the ignition to combat knocking combustion and preserves engine life.
A Power Assist Slipper Clutch (PASC) is another upgrade over the 790 Adventure, using new friction plates; constructed for better durability and heat resistance. The architecture also guarantees sufficient oil separation, therefore making it easier to select neutral.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
The new engine has also been given a larger oil cooler as part of the semi-dry sump system. A reduction of friction losses is generated by actively pumping oil out of the crankcase, clutch housing and gearbox. The updated gearbox has also been toughened with glass beading on the fourth, fifth and sixth gear cogs.
A new generation of Cornering Motorcycle Traction Control. The main difference is the combination of the independent controllers – one for wheel slip and another for pitch angle – that informs a wider range of traction control settings. Pitch control can be felt in straight line acceleration with a more constant flow as the power reduction is less abrupt and severe. Advanced riders can also deactivate traction control.
The optional Rally mode adjusts the degree of MTC intervention with up to nine selectable slip levels, tweaked to enable rider actions like front wheel lift on acceleration and rear wheel drifts.
2021 KTM 890 Adventure
KTM have also further refined the Cornering ABS software, tweaks have enhanced braking power while minimising the intrusion of the ABS. Off-road ABS means braking activation on the front wheel is reduced and the lean angle sensor is deactivated. Riders can then use the full locking potential of the rear wheel to steer the back end of the bike.
The KTM 890 Adventure adopt the same chassis found on the 790 Adventure, but with some notable differences, as weight has been saved while not compromising strength or rigidity. This has been reached through lighter steel profiles of the trellis sub-frame structure, and the steering stem has also been re-forged from high-strength aluminum to save more weight, while the triple clamps boast this new material.
The 890 Adventure also sports improved brakes. A stronger piston spring in the front brake’s master cylinder means a better and more sensitive feeling and feedback on the lever and ‘slim seal’ technology for the piston seal provides more accuracy with the pressure point. For the rear brake system new isolated pistons in the caliper work with isolation plates between the pads and piston for more heat stability. A stainless-steel rear brake hose fitting is another measure to keep heat in check.
As on the 790 Adventure brakes are four-piston radially mounted calipers with 320 mm discs on the front, and the revised two-piston rear caliper with 260 mm disc, both backed up by the Bosch 9.1 MP cornering ABS, including off-road mode, and being disengage-able.
You might have read about the MyDucati app I did an overview of a few months back. I’m not entirely sure if KTM is playing a joke on the Ducati PR team, or what could possibly be going on here but they just announced their own sparring partner for the MyDucati app and aptly named it the “myKTM App’.
Luckily for KTM, this app indeed provides what Ducati’s app failed to deliver on. The MyDucati app was just a news hub to add to your ever-growing list of daily news and social apps for you to check on lunch break, with the biggest feature being the fact that you can save your Ducati Card in it so you don’t need to bring a physical copy when you visit the dealership for any kind of work.
KTM just smashed that entire idea to pieces with the myKTM app allowing for full adjustment of some of the technical features on your motorcycle.
From here, you have full control of your suspension and engine. The app comes with both Suspension and Sag Assistant menus allowing for a wild amount of customization to the settings of your bike depending on the conditions you may be riding in.
Fancy some more aggressive engine braking? Whip out your iPhone and get playing around in the settings. Launch control, TC settings, and throttle response setting are all here for you to control at your heart’s desire.
The app requires their proprietary ‘Connectivity Unit’. In 2020, the only motorcycle that sold with it bundled in was the Troy Lee Designs edition SX-F, but with 2021’s models arriving the Connectivity Unit will be coming stock on every single SX-F bike sold. If your SX-F doesn’t have one, it’s still easy enough to pick up from a dealer separately and throw on yourself as it’s home is right under the handlebars.
Here’s what KTM’s SR offroad product manager, Joachin Sauer, has to say about it: “We’re happy with the versatility of the app and how alterations made with a smartphone can have such an interesting and immediate effect once out on the track. The work continues for us, and for the foreseeable future, we look at expanding the use and scope of myKTM to many more models from the KTM Offroad range.”
Scott Flick watched a fire engulf his Pheonix, Oregon, community (in the U.S), but the motorcyclist wasn’t about to let it take everything.
His home and neighbor’s home were completely burned. He watched as the flames engulfed D and S Harley, but when the fire spread to the nearby Oregon Motorcycle Adventures KTM dealership he couldn’t take it anymore and decided to do something to save those motorcycles.
Flick was able to break the door open to the dealership. Once it was open, he saved nine motorcycles from the flames before the building burned to the ground.
Flick is a reasonably well-known motorcyclist in the community.
“When they told me that a guy broke into the store and saved the motorcycles I had a really good idea of who it was,” OMA-KTM owner Jeff Moffett said.
It’s a true shame to see a community ravaged by fire like this but Flick is trying to stay positive despite the destruction it caused.
“You gotta focus on the little good there is because that’s all there is,” said Flick. You can read more about Flick and his efforts to save the KTM motorcycles by clicking here.
