Quick Ride

Quick Ride

KTM 450 XC-F Cross Country Katoom

Blake Conner

IF THERE IS ONE THING that KTM won’t be accused of, it’s leaving gaps in its model lineup. The Austrian firm wants to ensure that buyers looking for a competition-ready machine will find one that fits their exact needs. It doesn’t matter if it’s motocross, GNCC, WORCS or the Baja 1000, KTM has a dirtbike that fits the bill, twoor four-stroke.

Standing out for 2008 are three new cross-country four-strokes: 250, 450 and 505cc versions of the XC-F. We focused on the popular 450cc displacement, but many of the same chassis and engine changes are applied to the other models. KTM took the 450 SX-F motocrosser’s enginebrand-new last year-and stuck it in the XC-F. To make the powerplant more off-road friendly, cam timing has been altered to improve low-end power and flywheel weight has been increased for more tractionenhancing inertia. The exhaust silencer was redesigned with an emphasis on reducing sound output while maintaining power. Fuel capacity was increased to 2.5 gallons (up nearly a half-gallon) for more range.

On the trail, the engine delivers power in a supersmooth and easy-to-handle manner, which makes the 450 XC-F a lot of fun to ride. This tractability can be a plus at the end of a long ride. We are completely spoiled by electric starting because it makes it so easy to get going after a stall, especially in a precarious place. A kickstarter was present on last year’s model but was deleted this yearit’s all Magic Button now.

Transmission ratios number five, splitting the previous version’s six-speeder and the engine-donor SXF’s four-speed gearbox.

Significant chassis changes were made to the entire XC line for ’08. The chromemoly frame is new and features oversize oval lateral tubes, a redesigned aluminum subframe and an “improved-flex” cast-alloy swingarm. The aluminumbody WP PDS shock is lighter and has a wider range of highand low-speed adjustability, as well as a new lower mount providing 10mm more stroke and making suspension action more progressive.

The 48mm closed-cartridge-bladder fork has revised settings. CNCmachined triple-clamps offer two offsets to suit rider preferences, selected via eccentric steering stem inserts. Further, the handlebars feature four-position mounts. Suspension adjustment range is wide, and just a couple of tweaks firmed things up enough to tackle motocross tracks.

If there is any gripe, it is the Brembo front brake with wave-style rotor, which was grabby and lacked progressive feel. Wheels, as on the other XC-F models, are new with machined hubs and lighter spokes laced to black Excel rims. All the plastic is restyled.

As an all-around bike, the $7698 450 XC-F is at the top of our list. From tight technical single-track to wide-open desert bombing or even motocross, this 450 fits the bill. So the biggest surprise of all is how a bike built for such a narrow niche could be so flexible.