O
ver the past 10 years KTM has been
pumping out amazing bikes pretty
much straight out of the box, and
I don’t think the 2018 125SX is
any different. When I first looked
over the new 125, I couldn’t really
see much of a difference compared to last
year’s model in terms of looks – it has the
same sleek white and orange plastics which
have been on it for the last few years.
Getting on the bike though, the first
thing I noticed was how light the throttle is
compared to the ‘17 machine. This is a big
improvement as I think the throttle on last
year’s bike was one of the minor downsides.
As James said above, the suspension on this
bike isn’t stock so I cannot comment on
what the standard stuff feels like, but from
what I have heard from other riders is that
it’s exceptionally good. The aftermarket
Cone valves and Trax shock which were
on this bike were stunning, and it almost
felt like I was riding on a cloud – as they
soaked up bumps both big and small very
well. I love how this bike handles. It turns so
well into soft corners, which may in part be
thanks to the steering head angle of 63.9°.
Another thing I really like is the six-
speed gearbox, which gives a couple of
gear options for all aspects of a track.
The brakes are very good at both the
front and back – I found I could be less
aggressive with them, which led to me
being able to carry more corner speed.
KTM’s 2018 125 SX is an outstanding bike
with a great power delivery which could
be used for both racing and trail riding.
It is a very good bike for both entry level
riders and the more experienced racers.
WILLIAM EYRE
~ WILLIAM EYRE
KIWI RIDER 63