This week we got our first chance to ride the new KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition. For 2026, this is a bit of a departure from the Factory Editions we have seen in the past. The very first one in 2012 was an advance release of the 2013 model, which was completely different from the one that was currently homologated for AMA racing. That allowed Ryan Dungey to race with the very latest hardware without violating the production rule. In later years, the Factory Edition tradition continued whether or not the upcoming KTM model featured any updates–it would generally get an Akropovic exhaust, some bling and an orange frame in those years. There has never been a year that it was seriously upgraded for the sake of performance alone–until now. The 2026 ½ Factory Edition has premium level suspension components; the WP XACT PRO 7548 fork and WP XACT PRO 8950 rear shock. The Xact Pro fork–often referred to as the Cone Valve fork, has steel coil springs as well as the cone-shaped mid-valve from which it gets its name. The springs are rated at 5.0 N/mm and the shock spring 45 N/mm which is recommended for a rider between 165 and 187 pounds.

In addition, the Factory Edition gets:

Red Bull graphics
Orange Frame
Frame protectors
WP holeshot device
Connectivity Unit Offroad (CUO)
Orange CNC triple clamps
Black Engine mounts
Selle Dalla Valle seat cover
Gray ODI lock-on grips
Semi-floating front brake disc
Carbon front brake disc guard
Carbon skid plate
Factory wheel set
Dunlop Geomax MX34 tires
Orange rear sprocket
Gold chain
Akrapovic slip-on muffler
Hinson clutch cover
MSRP: $13,699

Whether or not this is a preview of the 2027 production model remains to be seen, although it’s unlikely because the cost of these suspension components would be prohibitive. The fork alone generally sells for around $3500.

The main pillar of the KTM 450SX-F is still the motor. The Akrapovic muffler makes very little difference, although it is a little quieter than the standard SX-F muffler, likely in advance of upcoming noise restrictions in FIM and U.S. Pro motocross. It’s still a beast of a motor, it’s still the best in the industry and it’s still just as appealing to novices as well as pros. In fact, the only thing that has kept the KTM from chalking up win after win in every shootout since 2012 has been the front suspension. The air fork that arrived in 2017 was a massive improvement over the 4CS, but some (most) riders still preferred springs.

So would this bike with its Cone Valve fork have been the uncontested winner in 2026, as well as most of the prior shootouts? Absolutely. The fork is a great improvement. It is aimed at expert-level riders. Older, fatter, slower riders will want to soften things up. Interestingly enough, less rebound damping in the fork goes a long way toward making it more comfy for average riders. The shock is also a step up from the rear suspension on the standard model (the WP Xact LDS), although it’s not so dramatic. The biggest advantage is its adjustability. The spring preload isn’t set by locking rings like almost every other shock in the world, but by a worm gear. You spin an 8mm adjuster clockwise for more preload. It takes about a zillion turns to make up a single millimeter of ride height, but it’s still preferable to the hammer and punch method.

Another great advantage of the Factory Edition is the Connectivity Unit Off-Road. This offers tunability through a Bluetooth connection to your phone. It also brings GPS into the picture and, with a separate subscription to Litpro, you have full analytics that follow you around the track. This isn’t a feature that everyone needs, but for those who do a great deal of track testing (like us) it’s invaluable. You have section times, speeds, and even how far you fly off each jump. A normal Litpro subscription with any bike gives you that, but in this case it is integrated with the motorcycle itself, so you can see what gear you are in and how hard you are revving the motor. It’s amazing. You can read the full test in the April, 2026 print edition of Dirt Bike.

OCEAN 2 OCEAN

I just got back this week from the Ocean 2 Ocean challenge in Panama. It was an adventure like nothing I have ever experienced before. Panama isn’t a very wide country. It’s only about 50 miles from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side. The concept of going overland through it all at the country’s widest point (around 300k) was the brain child of Jerry Curtis, Michelle Curtis and Abodiel Morales. Jerry and his wife run a business in Florida, but both grew up in the Canal Zone of Panama, so they have dual citizenship and intimate knowledge of Panama. Ten years ago they came up with the concept of running a coast-to-coast rally, all by road-book navigation. The problem was that it was almost impossible.

That first year attracted some of the best riders in the region, but only one rider finished–Chris Birch. There were refinements to the route and a move to the driest time of the year (our winter), and the event has now become a yearly Central American happening, attracting hard enduro riders, adventure bikes and 4WD nuts. It is designed to be a three-day trek that starts near the port of Colon and finishes at Playa Venao on the Azuero Peninsula. Some years have been harder than others, but none have been easy. You can read about how Pete Murray, Lendon Smith and I fared this year in the April 2026 print issue of Dirt Bike. To learn more about custom rides in Panama, go to Panama Motorcycle Adventures.

See you next time!