I have heard that the new 2007 KTM 450 SX-F will be electric start only and does not come with a kick starter.  I am concerned about this and if the e-start system should fail...

I have a 2006 CRF 450X and my e-start system has failed twice.  First time I needed a new battery... and now it makes some weird clicking noise from under the seat when I try and start it.  For my CRF450X, at least I have the kick starter now so I can get it running...

I would be stuck right now with the KTM... any thoughts?

Your bike is a trail bike.......the 07 450 KTM SXF is a moto bike.....closed course competition race bike.....if you wanna get a KTM to take into the wood's a ECX or XC would be where to start.

Ha ha ha...      I am a desert racer and take offense to the trail riding comment

All MX 4 strokes will be electric start in the future, they figure by removing the kick starter, related gears, tighten up the cases, new light weight efficient starter motors, batteries placed low/centralize weight the difference is small, bikes jump/push start easily, interesting that a pair of small jumper cables will be in our back packs now.

450X22 said:

Add to that that Fuel Injection is coming, and it will require a battary so the weight gain is very nominal. Plan on having the bike on a charger when not in use, BTW I read that they will come with two batterys, a small one for warm weather and a larger one for cold weather

Like I said that is a trail bike "desert racer".........07 KTM 570 XC.....now that is a desert bike!!!!

webigon said:

all my buddys who ride dez have xc or exc why would you choose sx?

you got water in the electronics and shorted them out. go get some elecronics cleaner from radio shack and clean EVERY connection there is, related  to the electric start.

Im sure KTM has spent many hours testing the bikes to see how e-start would work. and from what ive seen the euros ride a hell of alot harder then most americans. only time will tell though.

KTM won't mass produce Crap. The E-start may have some bugs to work out initially, but They won't put there name on it if it won't stand up.

The-Vanilla-Gorilla said:

I  have never even used the kick start on my exc, and hopefully i never will need it. my last bike was a drz 400e with no kick start and it was never an issue, although i was a little nervous when i installed recluse.   -jamie

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yea, me too. I'm also berry, berry worried about the same thing on my Ford F-150, sure wish I had the old hand-crank-on-the-crankshaft like the Model T  to give me peace of mind... NOT.

One day we'll look back and wonder why they ever even had those silly levers on the side of the engine