Andrew Short's Factory KTM 350 SX-F
Words/Photos: Scott Hoffman

As long as I can remember, KTM has bounced in and out of the premier class (what I used to call the 250) which is now called the 450 class in supercross. Names like former Factory KTM rider Cliff Palmer start to pop up, yet who can forget about Lance Smail, who became the first rider to put a four-stroke into the main event back in 1997. He was aboard a 540cc Katoom built by Tom Moen.

Back in the day, KTM was all about the big-bore valve pushers, yet that was then and now the name of the game for supercross, for KTM, is 350cc. Both Andrew Short and Mike Alessi ride Factory KTM-built 350cc race bikes full-time under the watchful eye of Roger Decoster. In addition to the full-time riders, Ken Roczen has also put a 350 into the main event as well as Ty Simmonds and Dan Reardon.

Today, KTM is no longer an outsider and is considered a major player in both supercross and outdoor motocross, yet the premier supercross main event victory still evades them. The new fuel-injected machines draw a lot of attention because they look trick but kind of buck the traditional system of not being a 250 or a 450cc machine but rather a hybrid designed to run with 450s. Here is a quick look into the Factory KTM 350 supercross machines.

-KTM doesn't hold back when it comes to their pits. The look is very similar to what you might see at a World Grand Prix event. What stands out most on the Factory KTM 350s is the bold orange frame. Only a few select limited-edition production bikes are available with the orange frame, the standard 350 frame is black. Don't forget to check out the ultra-trick Akrapovic titanium bike stands.


-Works WP shocks offer separate high- and low-speed compression circuits. Note the shock bolt up top looks very stock and is not a full Ti unit which you might expect.


-Not a lot of fancy exotic material on the engine covers but rather more like a polished unit. Like most teams, Hinson takes care of the clutch components. A trick carbon fiber skid plate protects the frame as well as the engine and water pump.


-We noticed this last year that Xrig pretty much owns World GP and we spotted most of the World Factory bikes running the Xtrig brand with a Works fork. KTM runs the same or similar units that the European team runs. Xtrig is now available in the United States through Technical Touch USA.


-The team does not run full Works hubs with regard to their wheels but rather Kite, which is a European company. The bearing and axle size might be a special diameter to match up with the Works WP fork lower lugs.


-Every bike in the supercross pit has one, some sort of fork locking device for starts.

-These are some burly titanium footpegs mounted to the factory beast. A company out of the UK called Raptor Titanium makes these units.

-Works or kit Brembo brakes stop this machine on a dime. Other components appear to be available to the public, including KTM brand accessory rotors, DID rims, DID chain. Yet you can also see high-dollar titanium hardware scattered throughout the chassis and engine.

-Full titanium Akrapovic exhaust keeps the note within the AMA/FIM limits yet it still sounds very healthy.


-The linkage on Alessi's machine appears production yet we have heard they had been testing links or at least different length wishbones.