FCP Racing Engine Mounts For 2023+ KTM

What it is

• Complete engine mount kit.
• Lower mounts + Ti bolt.
• Upper engine hangers with separate exhaust mount.

FCP or Factory Chassis Parts offers aftermarket engine mounts ready to bolt up and they are designed specifically for each model. Unless you were a factory rider, aftermarket engine mounts were not really available to the public until just a few short years ago. Previously, if you wanted to make chassis changes using mounts, it'd have to be a DIY project involving guessing on drilling holes in the middle of mounts, and/or testing different torque settings in areas like lower engine mounts, upper engine hangers, and swingarm pivot bolts.

Now, companies like FCP offer complete kits with upper hangers, lower mounts, and even specific hardware in an effort to "optimize" chassis performance. In this case, the kit includes lower engine mounts and a Ti bolt to match, and upper engine hangers. This kit retails for $429.00 and fits 2022.5+ KTM SX-F/2023+ SX-F/XC-F 450cc models.

How it works

• Increased compliance and comfort.
• Better cornering and edge grip.
• Makes the chassis more veratile and easier to setup.

What do engine mount kits do? Are they worth the money? These are two of the most common questions we get regarding engine mount kits. Truthfully, we were a skeptic as well when these kits first started to enter the market. Our opinion is they do work and if your situation calls for them, they are definitely worth the money. Just got a new bike? Feel like the bike works well but you can’t seem to get the comfort your looking for with suspension changes alone? This is a situation where we will start looking to chassis parts to get the comfort that we're looking for. If you're newer to this, it can be confusing on if what you're feeling needs to be addressed by suspension or chassis changes, but there is a difference and it becomes more clear with more experience.

The 2023 KTM 450 XC-F that we tested the FCP kit on is a perfect example of this situation. The bike works well so long as the dirt is soft, and the bumps are round. Hard pack, square edges and high speeds (typical SoCal GP racing and even some motocross tracks) are where the deficiencies of the new chassis are exposed. Go softer and softer on the suspension to try and reduce the harshness and deflection and just end up with a bike that’s too soft and harsh. For this test, we baselined the 23 KTM 450 XC-F at Glen Helen Raceway. Spinning several laps on both the main and the vet tracks, this was done with current suspension settings that we had settled on and had a lot of experience with (not to mention the ~10 months of riding/racing we had done on this bike previously. The next step was to ride on both tracks again with the FCP kit installed.

What was the difference? Immediately, we felt less harshness through the handlebars on deceleration and better cornering overall with much improved front tire edge grip on hard flat turns -- two things we had really struggled with and chased over the past year with this bike. Fair warning, if you’re expecting world changing results you may be disappointed, but the FCP mount kit delivered as advertised and went in the direction we wanted to go -- a calmer, more compliant chassis. FCP includes some basic instructions with recommended torque settings for all the fasteners which we followed, and installation is very straight forward and can be performed with some basic tools and should not be intimidating even if you are a beginner level mechanic.

Overall, we are very happy with the FCP Mounts as they helped address where we feel this new generation KTM chassis lacks in comfort. We've since ridden this bike at several motocross tracks, taken it to several different Grand Prix's here on the west coast and have all the same positive feelings as we did on day one which is a plus in our book.