Dear MXA,
I’m not one of those two-stroke hard-liners, but I have to say that the trickest bikes I saw this weekend at the World Vet Championship were MXA’s KTM two-strokes. Every time I looked up I saw one them out on the track. They looked good and you couldn’t miss the sound. What was done to those bikes to make them so trick?
MXA prepared three 2012 KTM two-strokes for the World Vet Championships (and they raced in six classes); a 150SX ridden by John Perry and Dan Alamangos, a 250SX raced by Willy Musgrave and a 300XC raced by Jody Weisel and George Kohler. Meanwhile, Dennis Stapleton (CRF450), John Basher (KX450F), Lars Larsson (450SXF) and John Minert (CRF450) all stuck with thumpers.
150SX: No bike ever made is as fun to ride as a KTM 150SX.
2012 KTM 150SX: The 150SX was basically stock with only a Pro Circuit pipe, gearing changes, fork mods and some jetting changes.
250SX: MXA spent more money on mods than it cost to buy the 2012 KTM 250SX.
2012 KTM 250SX: Willy Musgrave’s 2012 KTM 250SX was exotic in that it uses $7000 Showa works forks and shock, TCR/MTA wheels and a Pro Circuit pipe and silencer. The biggest trick on the 250SX, although not the most expensive, is the $425 Intelajet carb mod done by Dick’s Racing. It was like turbo charging the top-end power of the 250SX. You can find out more about it at www.dicksracing.com.
300XC: The 2012 KTM 300XC differs from the 250SX in many ways, but uses the same base package. MXA wanted to make mods that would turn it into a motocross bike.
2012 KTM 300XC: MXA only started testing the 2012 KTM 300XC cross-country bike three weeks ago, but after most of the stock testing was done, Jody began modifying it for motocross-only use. The engine is stock—with the edition of a Pro Circuit 300XC pipe and silencer. The gearing was changed from 14/50 to 14/51 (it is a six-speed). The 2.6 gallon XC tank was replaced by a smaller 450SXF tank. Renthal 604 bars replaced the stock KTM Renthals. A longer Pro Circuit shock linkage was added to lower the rear end and the shock was revalved (to 250SX specs with the stock spring), while the forks were revalved and outfitted with stiffer 0.48 kg/mm fork springs.
300XC: Thanks to heavier flywheels and a six-speed tranny, the power delivery is much broader and mellower than on the 250SX. The black plastIc case on the side of the engine is the electric starter motor.
The electric starter, battery, six-speed transmission, side stand, 18-inch rear wheel and big gas tank make the 300XC about 12 pounds heavier than the 250SX. MXA is still in the testing stage...we might even remove the side stand in the future.
The graphics are from Decal Works. The sprockets are Renthals. The grips are a Renthal on the throttle side and an AME on the clutch side (don't ask).
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