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I have been riding the latest 2024 KTM 450 Factory Edition back east in Georgia as well as Florida and have really enjoyed myself on this machine. I really need to get it back home at some point and race a couple races on this machine. However, this time that I have been spending on this machine has not gone without a lot of testing. I have been working on some specific east coast settings and I’ve been pretty happy with these settings that I am ready to release it out in the wild to you folks.
I also thought that the AER fork was soft once broken in and then I would go up on air pressure only to get a harsher feel through my hands. Slap down landings and bump touch would get worse when going up more than the stock air pressure but once I figured out that KTM/WP runs the same oil level in all of their MX bikes (250 SX-F/350/450) I thought maybe we should try going up on oil level and then back down air pressure a little. WOW! What a difference it can make in the feel of the AER forks. Simply raising your oil level a little and then adjusting air pressure has given me more hold up but without the harsh feeling that I got when I went up on air pressure with the stock oil level. The updated Factory Edition frame does help edge of tire contact feel on throttle but didn’t help slap down and bump absorption when the bumps got hardened up. I still prefer a spring fork but this little mod to the AER fork really does help the comfort of the bike once the track gets firmed up. I know it’s not your “click and go” setting but it is A LOT cheaper to at least try this oil level mod to see if you can get happy before spending the money on a re-valve or a spring conversion.
The rear of the bike feels the most improved with the updated frame so with the setting below, you should be able to get a little more comfort out the shock on acceleration bumps. I still feel the rear of the KTM rides low in the stroke so sag setting is super important with this machine.
Fork:
Air Pressure: 10.2 bar (If feels soft on landings, try 10.3 bar and keep same clicker setting below)
Oil Level: 250ml (stock is 240ml)
Comp: 10 out
Rebound: 16 out
Shock:
Sag: 102mm
LSC: 1.25 Turns
HSC: 12 clicks
Rebound: 14
Note: This fork oil change can also be done to the 2024 KTM 450 SX-F model and it can improve comfort on lean angle.