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• INSIDE SECRETS OF THE 2017-1/2 KTM FACTORY EDITIONS

2017 450SXF FACTORY EDITION V HIGHLIGHTS
(1) Forks. Updated WP AER air front fork with a new air seal, air piston and rebound spring on the air leg, along with a new piston on the damping side for improved performance.
(2) Shock. Updated settings on the WP rear shock.
(3) Triple clamps. Orange-anodized, CNC-machined triple clamps have the same rigid design of the 2017 production clamps.
(4) Chassis. The frame if powder-coated in factory team orange and gets orange frame guards to keep it looking good.
(5) Brakes. Super lightweight Galfer Wave rotors
(6) Wheels. The wheels are built on CNC-machined hubs, high-end D.I.D. DirtStar rims and Dunlop Geomax MX3S tires.
(7) Exhaust pipe. Akrapovic titanium slip-on muffler is lighter than the standard 250SXF muffler.
(8) Graphics. Troy Lee Designs replica graphics, orange powder-coated frame, orange-anodized sprocket and black front disk guard are standard.
(9) Map switch. Handlebar map switch activates traction contro, launch control and two maps.

The biggest change on the 2017-1/2 Factory Editions is the updated and refined WP AER forks. Last year the 2016-1/2 Factory Editions were the first bikes to get the AER air forks. What KTM’s engineers learned on the 2016-1/2 Factory Edition fork settings they applied to the 2017 AER forks. Now, what they learned with 2017 production bike they have built into the 2017-1/2 forks. That includes a new sintered steel mid-valve, new base valve (although the dimensions remain the same), a rhomboid-shaped oil seal to replace last year’s quad-ring seal, increased low-speed damping with less high-speed and more rebound, and, finally, the new forks are set-up to make the recommended air pressures feel more like the lower pressures that most 2017 KTM racers ran. Don’t be surprised to find that what KTM learns from 2017-1/2 Factory Edition owners is applied the final suspension settings on the 2018 forks and shock.

Every KTM racer wants to have an orange frame, but KTM only made the production bike orange in 2015. That means that the only way to get an orange frame is with a Factory Edition. This year KTM added orange frame guards to make the bike even “oranger.” The 450SXF gets an titanium Akrapovic slip-on muffler. The head-pipe and mid-pipe (all one piece) are stock KTM parts. In MXA’s experience, the Akrapovic muffler isn’t as good with the stock head pipe as the stock KTM muffler, but it is lighter. To get the most out of the Akrapovic muffler, you need the rest of the Akrapovic system.

The Factory Editions get black anodized D.I.D DirtStar rims instead of the Exells that come on the production bikes. The tires are Dunlop MX3S’s front and rear — a great intermediate terrain tire, but be forewarned that if you use these tires on hard-pack the front side knobs will tear off.

2017 250SXF FACTORY EDITION III HIGHLIGHTS
(1) Forks. Updated WP AER air front fork with a new air seal, air piston and rebound spring on the air leg, along with a new piston on the damping side for improved performance.
(2) Shock. Updated settings on the WP rear shock.
(3) Triple clamps. Orange-anodized, CNC-machined triple clamps have the same rigid design of the 2017 production clamps.
(4) Chassis. The frame if powder-coated in factory team orange and gets orange frame guards to keep it looking good.
(5) Brakes. Super lightweight Galfer Wave rotors
(6) Wheels. The wheels are built on CNC-machined hubs, high-end D.I.D. DirtStar rims and Dunlop Geomax MX3S tires.
(7) Exhaust pipe. FMF titanium slip-on muffler is lighter than the standard 250SXF muffler.
(8) Graphics. Troy Lee Designs replica graphics, orange powder-coated frame, orange-anodized sprocket and black front disk guard are standard.
(9) Map switch. Handlebar map switch activates traction contro, launch control and two maps.
The 2017-1/2 KTM 250SXF Factory Edition II gets the full Troy Lee Design’s team motif. The numbers on the bikes are not applied, but supplied with the bike (it is Alex Martin’s 2017 National number on the 250SXF). The blue and white 250SXF Factory Edition seat cover is different than the 450SXF cover, but both are grippers with pleats.

The 2017-1/2 KTM 250SXF Factory Edition comes with an FMF slip-on muffler, Dirt Star rims, Dunlop MX3S tires (a 110 on the 250SXF rear and the 120 on the 450SXF rear).

• SHOCKING NUMBERS FROM THE MINI O’S

Most industry insiders have known how well KTM is doing in the Vet and older motocross rider market. Over the last decade they have gone from a tiny blip on the bike sales radar screen to a major player. For example, in the weekly REM motocross brand breakdown, KTM has grown from 3% of the riders to 35% in a few years. Given that REM is heavily weighted towards Vets and older riders, the naysayers claim that KTM just is a Vet bike for riders with deep pockets. But…

At the 2016 Mini O’s in Florida, where riders over the age of 30 only make up 5% of the total turnout, the brand breakdown was shocking. In the Mini O’s motocross classes there were only 109 Hondas entered in the event, Husqvarna accounted for 124 riders on the sign-up sheets, Suzuki had 137 riders, Kawasaki had 358 entrants and Yamaha had a healthy 588 riders. But wait, there’s more! KTM had 802 riders. You read that right. Of the 2118 bikes from the Big Six at a major amateur race, KTM’s accounted for 40% of all the bikes there. They dominated in the 65cc, 85cc and Supermini classes, but ran a healthy second in most of the other 43 classes at Gatorback.

• DAN ALAMANGOS’ DAY IN THE DIRT PHOTO DIARY

Through these portals pass the shortest riders in the world — Because if you aren’t short or don’t duck enough, your bike will get through, but you won’t. The wooden arch makes the concrete tunnel seem larger, but it isn’t.

The views as you exit the tunnel is of the “Day In the Dirt” wave starting line and the Talladega first turn (which was run in the opposite direction).

There is no doubt that racing is getting expensive, so we gotta ask how this guy could afford the fancy spring stretched between the seat and who-knows-what.

“Pros” to the left and “Joes” to the right. It worked flawlessly until a Pro named Joe got there.

After the race was over this guy claimed that he could have done a lot better if he hadn’t lost his right footpeg — to which his friends said, “Quit making excuses, your footpeg is still on the bike.”

Have you ever been to a vintage car race, where the rich guys cry foul if another car comes anywhere near their restored Ferraris? In vintage motocross, the closer the better. These five guys are on four collision courses at the same time.

Now this is what we call a team race.

Former AMA Pro Scott Burnworth (8) sweeps out of the first turn, while eventual vintage winner Braden O’Neal (127) casually takes a look back over his shoulder to see if the guy with the dinosaur on his bike is catching up.

Burnworth and his RM250 Zook.

Aryton Ward cranks his Kawaskai through the REM track. Note the darkening skies behind Jeff Ward’s son. Before Saturday was over the weather would take a turn for the worse and by Sunday it took a turn from the worse to become a Jet Ski race.

Blake Wharton came out of retirement to race a TM two-stroke for Ralf Schmidt’s big TM two-stroke team.

What’s this? Is that an actual stuntmen at the Hollywood Stuntman race? Yep! Mic Rodgers (115) takes it very casually with his Dockers, plaid shirt, open face helmet and big booming BSA. It looks like he sewed up that L.L. Bean sponsorship deal for the 2017 REM season.

• MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE: JOEL ON A PUCH

Everybody remembers Joel Robert as a Suzuki factory rider (teamed with Sylvain Geboers, Roger DeCoster and Harry Everts). A smaller number remember that Joel made his name and won his first couple 250 World Championships riding Czech CZs. But, few remember that Joel raced a Puch after leaving Suzuki.

• WHAT WE WORE ON KEN ROCZENS CHAMPIONSHIP RM-Z450

In the December issue of MXA, we tested Ken Roczen’s AMA 450 Nationals Championship winning RCH Suzuki RM-Z450. You can read all about it in that issue. But right now you can see what gear we wore for the bike test. It is a complete Thor Fuse Air ensemble. Here are gear facts and links:

PANT: Thor Racing Fuse Air Lit
JERSEY: Thor Racing Fuse Air Lit
GLOVES: Thor Racing Draft Indi
HELMET: Thor Verge (custom painted)
GOGGLES: Eks Brand EKS-S Flo
BOOTS: Gaerne SG-12

• MOTORCYCLES YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF — AJP

AJP, which stand for Antonio J. Pinto, is a Portuguese brand that has yet to make inroads in the American market. Pinto was a seven-time Portuguese National Enduro Champion and his first AJP was a 125 two-stroke in 1991. In 2007 the hybrid aluminum-steel frame was introduced that combines the two materials into a steel front section and aluminum backbone. Note the see-thru swingarm.

AJP currently offers three models: the PR3 is a smaller-framed bike for short riders; the PR4 is available in Supermoto, trail and enduro variants; The PR3 and PR4 models are available with 125cc and 200cc two-stroke engines and as 240cc four-stroke; The PR5 is a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, 250 four-stroke.

ASK THE MXPERTS: WHAT IS THE BEST 2014 YZ450F MAP

Dear MXA,
    A couple weeks ago you listed MXA’s EFI map for the 2016 Yamaha YZ450F, but I have a 2014 YZ450F. What should I be running?

Above is the map that we ran with our stock YZ450F exhaust system (and the same holds true for the 2016 YZ450F map that we ran recently). It is important to note that we run a different map with aftermarket exhaust pipes.

• GOING THE DISTANCE VIDEO

• BIRTHDAY BOYS: BRUCE BROWN IS 79, JEFFRO IS 46, DANNY IS 59

Dec. 1…Bruce Brown 1937
Dec. 1…Stanton Barrett 1972

Dec. 1…Jeff Emig 1970
Dec. 2…Jiri Dostal 1979
Dec. 3…Craig Decker 1975

Dec. 3…Danny LaPorte 1957
Dec. 4…Tiger Lacey 1982
Dec. 4…Greg Blackwell 1953

Dec. 4…Ryan Dungey 1989

Dec. 4…Jim Gibson 1961

Dec. 5…Casey Johnson 1975
Dec. 6…Kevin Walker 1970
Dec. 6…Joaquim Rodrigues 1981
Dec. 6…Kyle Chisholm 1987

Dec. 7…David Philippaerts 1983
Dec. 7…Bob Morales 1963

• OSSA WAS LOST IN THE GAS GAS SHUFFLE

The 1976-1/2 Ossa 250 GP II.

When bankrupt Spanish brand Gas Gas found a sugar daddy buyer to save them from dissolution, no one asked about Osaa. Back in 2014 Ossa was on the road to revival when Gas Gas stepped in to form a manufacturing partnership and a merger that saw both companies combining their engineering, operations, and human resource operations under one roof. It was said that the two Catalan brands would remain distinct in their products, but the economy of scale was of no benefit for either brand — as big brother Gas Gas crashed into receivership. Luckily for Gas Gas, they were saved from bankruptcy court when the Torrot Group acquired ownership of the brand and put them right back into production fo rthe 2017 model year.  Torrot’s buy-out might well mean that they also own the Ossa brand name as well, but there are no plan revive  Ossa. This could be the end of Ossa—until the next revival attempt.


The Ossa Monocasco concept bike. And electric bike replica of a classic Ossa road racer.

The actual, true-to-life, Ossa Monocasco road racer. Do they look anything alike?

The bike that Ossa thought would put them on a map — a fuel-injected, backwards-cylinder, two stroke offroad bike.

Jody Weisel on an Ossa GPII at the old Escape Country track in Trabuco Canyon in 1976. According to Jody this was the best way to get an Ossa to turn.

Twin-cylinder Yankee Z 500 used two Ossa top-ends bolted to a single crankcase.

This may be the only Ossa you’ll be able to buy in the future.

• UPCOMING RACES: THE NUMBER SHRINKS AS THE YEAR WINDS DOWN

2016 REM MOTOCROSS
Dec. 10………………………..Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 17…………………………Glen Helen, CA

2017 HUSQVARNA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
March 5-6…………………….Cahuilla Creek, Anza, CA

2017 MTA WORLD TWO-STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP
April 15……………………….Glen Helen, CA

• LARS LARSSON’S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD VIDEO

• MXA PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: HUSQVARNA WAVE SEAT

This specially designed 2016-17 Husqvarna Wave Seat provides great freedom of movement, but still offers a perfect hold. The “wave surface” acts as a step even though there isn’t one. It is only offered in the standard seat height and is available for all 2016-17 model TC/FC/TX/FX/TE and FE models. The retails price is $124.99. For more info see your friendly local Husky dealer.

• VISITING THE PAST: WHAT THE HECK IS A HECKEL?

Long before anyone thought of using plastic on a boot, let alone making a hinged boot, the Heckle boot had already come and gone.

• HOW TO SUBSCRIBE & GET MXA FOR FREE: YOU WILL ACTUALLY MAKE MONEY

Interested in getting a new bike this year? The December 2016 issue of MXA is on the news stands now and has tests of four 2017 models and a special test of Ken Roczen’s AMA 450 National Championship RM-Z450. You should be reading MXA, and if you subscribe now you get a $25 gift certificate from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC which more than pays for your subscription.

Do you subscribe to MXA? You should. We know that you think that print magazines are dead and that the internet will fill the void, but most of the stuff in the current issue of MXA won’t appear on the web for several months, if at all. Luckily, you can get all of MXA on your iPhone, iPad, Kindle or Android by going to the Apple Store, Amazon or Google Play. Better yet get the Digital desktop version at https://hi-torque.com/product/motocross-action-digital-edition/ for $9.99 a year. The MXA test riders prefer the print version and not just because it is delivered by a uniformed employee of the U.S. Government, but because for only $19.99 you get 12 issues and a free $25 Gift Card from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. That means that there is a profit to be made in this deal for you. For the Print magazine go to: http://hi-torque.com/product/subscribe-to-motocross-action-magazine/

• 2017 MOTOCROSS SCHEDULES: WHERE TO BE & WHEN TO BE THERE

None of these schedules are set in stone, check before setting off on a journey.

2017 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7…………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 14………………………San Diego, CA
Jan. 21………………………Anaheim, CA
Jan. 28………………………Glendale, AZ
Feb. 4……………………….Oakland, CA
Feb. 11………………………Arlington, TX
Feb. 18………………………Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 25………………………Atlanta, GA
Mar. 4………………………Toronto, ON
Mar. 11………………………Daytona, FL
Mar. 18………………………Indianapolis, IN
Mar. 25………………………Detroit, MI
Apr. 1…………………………St. Louis, MO
Apr. 8………………………..Seattle, WA
Apr 22……………………….Salt Lake City, UT

2017 AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 20……………………Hangtown, CA
May 27.…………………..Glen Helen, CA
June 3..………………….Thunder Valley, CO
June 17..…………………Mt Morris, PA
June 24.………………….Muddy Creek, TN
July 1.…………………….Red Bud, MI
July 8..……………………Southwick, MA​
July 22.…………………..Millville, MN​
July 29.…………………..Washougal, WA
Aug. 12..………………….Unadilla, NY​
Aug. 19..………………….Budds Creek, MD​
Aug. 26.…………………..Crawfordsville, IN

2017 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Feb. 25…………………….Qatar (Saturday)
Mar. 5………………………Indonesia
Mar. 19…………………….Argentina
Apr. 2………………………Mexico
Apr. 16……………………..Italy
Apr. 23…………………….Holland
May 7………………………Latvia
May 21…………………….Germany
May 28…………………….France
June 11…………………….Russia
June 25……………………Italy
July 2……………………….Portugal
July 9……………………….San Marino (Cancelled)
July 23……………………..Czech Republic
Aug. 6……………………..Belgium
Aug. 13…………………….Switzerland
Aug. 20…………………….Sweden
Sept. 3………………………USA (Monday)
Sept. 10……………………Holland
Sept. 17…………………….France

2017 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS
October 1…………………..Matterley Basin, Great Britain

2017 SMX RIDERS & MANUFACTURERS CUP
October 7………………….Gelsenkirchen, Germany

2017 AMSOIL ARENACROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 7-8…………………….Cincinnati, OH
Jan. 13-15…………………Grand Rapids, MI
Jan. 20-22…………………Baltimore, MD
Jan. 28-29…………………Nashville, TN.
Feb. 4-5…………………….Louisville, KY
Feb. 18-19…………………Kansas City, MO
Feb.y 25-26……………….Tampa, FL
Mar. 3-5…………………….Southaven, MS
Mar. 11-12…………………New Orleans, LA
Mar. 18-19…………………Portland, OR
Mar. 24-26…………………Reno, NV
April 1-2…………………….Sacramento, CA
April 21-23…………………Denver, CO
May 5-7…………………….Las Vegas, NV

2017 WORLD OFF ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (WORCS)
Jan. 6-8…………………….Taft, CA
Jan. 27-29…………………Primm, NV
Feb. 17-19………………….TBA
Mar. 10-12…………………Lake Havasu, AZ
Apr. 1-2…………………….Las Vegas, NV
Apr. 21-23…………………Hurricane, UT
May. 19-21…………………Cedar City, UT
Jun. 9-11…………………..Adelanto, CA
Sept. 8-10…………………Glen Helen, CA
Oct 13-15…………………..TBA

2017 ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jan. 29…………..………..Riola Sardo.
Feb. 5………………………Malagrotta.
Feb.12………………..……Ottobiano

2017 MAXXIS BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Culham
Apr. 9………………………Lyng
Apr. 30…………………….Canada Heights
May 14……………………Hawkstone Park
June 18……………………Desertmartin
July 16…………………….Blaxhall
July 30…………………….Preston Docks
Aug 27……………………..Foxhill

2017 BELGIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 12……………………Moerbeke-Waas
Mar. 26……………………Kruishoutem
Apr. 2……………………..Genk
Apr 10…………………….Mons
Apr. 18……………………Axel
Apr. 30……………………Wuustwezel
June 11…………………..Comines
June 18………………….Genk
July 22……………………Axel
July 23…………………..Hasselt
July 30…………………..Gooik
Aug. 15…………………..Balen
Aug. 20………………….Wachtebeke
Aug. 27………………….Orp le Grand

2017 DUTCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mar. 26…………………..Oss
Apr. 9th…………………..Harfsen
May 14……………………Emmen
July15-16t………………..Lichtenvoorde

2017 ADAC GERMAN MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Apr. 9……………………….Muhlberg
Apr. 30…………………….Jauer
May 14…………………….Molln
June 18……………………Bielstein
July 16…………………….Tensfeld
Aug. 27……………………Gaildorf
Sept. 24…………………..Holzgerlingen

2017 AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
April 1-2…………………….Wonthaggi, Victoria
April 23…………………..Appin, New South Wales
May 7……………………..Connondale, Queensland
May 21……………………Horsham, Victoria
May 28……………………Murray Bridge, South Australia
July 2……………………..Nowra, New South Wales
July 16……………………Shepparton, Victoria
July 30……………………Port Macquarie, New South Wales
Aug. 13…………………..TBA, Queensland
Aug. 19-20………………Coolum, Queensland

2017 AUSTRALIAN SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Sept. 9…………………..Queensland
Sept. 23…………………Queensland
Oct. 14…………………..TBA
Oct. 26…………………..South Australia
Nov. 4…………………….Victoria
Nov. 11-12……………..New South Wales

Photos: Daryl Ecklund, Brian Converse, Massimo Zanzani, Scott Malonee, Debbi Tamietti, Tom White, Dan Alamangos, John Basher, Yamaha, MXA, Honda