2021 450 MX Shootout | In Depth

October 5, 2020

Test Rider Impressions

Connor Ericsson

Age: 26

Height/Weight: 6’3”, 185 lbs.

Ability: Intermediate

Bikes recently raced/ridden: 2020 Honda CRF450R

KTM 450 SX-F
Husqvarna FC 450
Yamaha YZ450F
Kawasaki KX450F
Honda CRF450R

“The reason I chose the KTM first over the Husqvarna is how well it handled, especially tracking out of corners. The Husky had a very similar feel, but with the suspension being a bit lower I didn’t feel as comfortable on it, being a taller rider. The KTM just felt right, like it did for me last year.

The Yamaha YZ450F felt like a tank and was very planted to the ground. I had full trust in it while riding the Yamaha whether it was in corners or coming through rougher sections. The motor was super strong, and I liked the wide range of adjustability.

The Kawasaki was awesome, and it felt like I could place that bike wherever I wanted to. I’d say the Kawasaki was the most user-friendly bike to just be able to hop on and be comfortable with. Overall it had a great feel just needs to get the suspension done to keep that front end from tucking…I felt like the fork was just too soft for me.

The Honda didn’t impress me as much as I thought it would. Maybe because I’m so comfortable on my 2020 model? For me, it felt like the motor was a bit sluggish and the mapping wasn’t the best as there was definitely a fat area down low. Always felt like I was too revved out in a lower gear but lugging in the next gear up. The suspension was also pretty soft, but who rides stock suspension these days?”

Pat Foster

Age: 43

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 185 lbs.

Ability: Pro

Bikes recently raced/ridden: 2020 Yamaha YZ450F

Yamaha YZ450F
Kawasaki KX450
KTM 450 SX-F
Husqvarna FC 450
Honda CRF450R

“The shrouds are a little wide. That’s all I have to complain about when it comes to the Yamaha! The power is the strongest and most effective, offering instant response, clean settings, and string pull throughout the entire curve. Keeping the power to the ground and tracking straight are the best forks in class and a rear shock that is as comfortable as it is adept as soaking up chop. Add in the versatility of the smartphone app for unlimited options and the YZF tops my charts easily.

The Kawasaki offers an amazing chassis that corners great stays straight in the chop, and feels light and agile everywhere else. The power is fun and exciting while being easy to manage and the ergonomics are the best for my size and riding style. The only issue I have with the Kawi is that the fork springs are too light for me.

Hands down this is the best KTM I have ever ridden. The new stiffer suspension is a huge improvement. The map two setting delivers more excitement down low. I am still looking for a little more hit, but the ergos are excellent and the fit and finish are top of the line.

In my opinion, the Husky offers the broadest range of versatility in the class. It is the bike I most often recommend to people who ask my opinion because it is equally enjoyed by novices and pros alike. The rider compartment is a little cramped for me and I would prefer more hit off the bottom, but everything else about the bike is solid as can be.

The Honda is a ton of fun to ride with a badass punch of power, quick-handling, a light feel, and class-leading cornering characteristics. The ergos are awesome, the new clutch is solid and the options to tune the power are impressive. Unfortunately, the forks are too soft to contribute to the bike’s aggressive stance and high-speed stability also suffers. With some work and attention to set up, one can truly realize this bike’s potential. In stock form, though, it sits fifth for me.”

Rene Garcia

Age: 20

Height/Weight: 5’11”, 165 lbs.

Ability: Pro

Bikes recently raced/ridden: 2020 KTM 450 SX-F

Kawasaki KX450
KTM 450 SX-F
Honda CRF450R
Yamaha YZ450F
Husqvarna FC 450

“The Kawasaki is hands-down, the easiest bike to ride as it does everything great. The motor is amazing and without flaws, and the suspension and chassis have perfect balance and inspire confidence.

No surprise that I felt right at home on the KTM…I’ve been racing a KTM all summer. With just a few suspension changes, I felt as home on it as I do my race bike. The KTM motor offers a lot of power and I like having the option of traction control when it gets slippery.

I actually enjoyed the Honda CRF450R a lot. The bike was easy for me to get used to. I spent the most time on the Honda and made a ton of changes, but in the end, I was happy with the way it handled.

The Yamaha YZ450F is a great bike and the suspension is awesome! It also has a monster motor that has no flaws, but I had the hardest time getting comfortable on the blue bike. It has a big feel that I don’t prefer.

The Husky is awesome, but I didn’t get along with the suspension settings. The motor was also too tame for my liking and I feel that I would have to put a lot of work into it before racing it at the pro level.

Donn Maeda

Age: 52

Height/Weight: 5’9”, 175 lbs.

Ability: Vet Intermediate

Bikes recently raced/ridden: 2020 Husqvarna FC 350, 2020 Honda CRF250R, 2020 Kawasaki KX450

Kawasaki KX450
Yamaha YZ450F
Husqvarna FC 450
KTM 450 SX-F
Honda CRF450R

“The changes Kawasaki made to the KX450 for 2021 were perfect. You typically don’t think of power gains when a new clutch is mentioned, but that’s exactly what the new coned-disc spring setup did: it added low-end torque and rounded out the KX450’s powerband perfectly. The chasses and confidence that it inspires is what really led me to choose the KX450 first.

There is no fault in the Yamaha YZ450F powerband and the ability to completely change its character with your phone is just amazing. The YZF also has the best suspension in the class, but the thing that holds it to second for me is its wide feel between my legs and a lack of front-end traction while powering out of corners. I could easily race blue, though.

This is the most comfortable I have ever been on the Austrian bikes since 2017, when they had mapping that really allowed the bikes to rev quickly and freely. That feeling is finally back in the map two settings on the bikes this year, and I am pumped! I choose the Husky over the KTM because it fits me better and has less vibration on the track.

I almost felt guilty choosing the Honda fifth. The bike is badass and has a ton of potential, but it’s pretty obvious that the bike didn’t roll off the production line with the settings that the R&D team arrived upon. There’s no way! Somewhere along the line, settings were softened up and the mapping was fiddled with. I personally know some of the riders involved in the bike’s development, and there’s no way these settings would have gotten two thumbs up in production setting testing. That said, the bike has some obvious performance lurking beneath that blood-red plastic! In fact, I’ve already yanked the suspension for some springs and firmer valving and have and appointment with the ECU guys at Twisted Development!”

Kyle Puerner

Age: 52

Height/Weight: 6’, 185 lbs.

Ability: Vet Intermediate

Bike recently raced/ridden: 2020.5 KTM 450 SX-F FE, 2020 KTM 250 SX-F

Kawasaki KX450
Yamaha YZ450F
Husqvarna FC 450
KTM 450 SX-F
Honda CRF450R

“The Kawasaki KX450 gets top nod this year as I absolutely love that bike. Blessed with a great engine, the best chassis, good suspension, and a very safe and easy to ride feel, I never felt out of sorts on the green bike. It always feels safe and stable.

A close second was the Yamaha YZ450F. It has a very powerful engine (almost too fast!), great suspension, and a great overall feel. I encountered some slight headshake on deceleration but nothing that would discourage me from racing it.

I was surprised that I liked the Husqvarna FC 450 better than the KTM, since I race an orange bike. The Husky and KTM might be the best bikes to ride when the track is dry and beat up, as their steel chassis offer a lot of comfort and compliance. The Husky edged the KTM for me for minor reasons; it has better power and a stiffer suspension package that suited me well.

Although it is much improved, the Honda CRF450R was fifth for me. When we say it is better than the 2020 bike, you might ask how it finished worse this year. Well, the two Austrian bikes also got better! I don’t love the way the CRF feels on the track. The suspension is far softer than the other bikes, and the engine vibrates a ton at high rpm. I could race this bike, for sure, but I would need a revalve on the fork and shock for sure.”

Mike Sleeter

Age: 40

Height/Weight: 5’8”, 170 lbs.

Ability: Pro

Bikes recently raced/ridden: 2020 Yamaha YZ450F, 2020 Yamaha YZ250

Yamaha YZ450F
Husqvarna FC 450
KTM 450 SX-F
Kawasaki KX450
Honda CRF450R

“The Yamaha YZ450F is a refined, dialed-in machine that checks every box. It has great power, great suspension, and it is fun to ride! There are no weak points in the Yamaha’s armor…I love it and I can push it the hardest on it.

The KTM and Husqvarna were close, but the Husky doesn’t vibrate as much as the KTM, and the lower suspension of the Husky is plush and planted. I enjoy riding both of them, but if I were to choose one to race in stock condition, it would be the white bike because it is more comfortable.

The Kawasaki KX450 was so close to topping my chart, but the extremely soft front fork knocked the bike from a possible win down to fourth. The soft fork robbed me of confidence as it dove entering in corners and knifed mid-corner. With firmer fork settings, this is the perfect bike. As is, I did not trust it.

The new Honda is such a bummer. Soft suspension and bad mapping put this bike last on my list. It seems like every time Honda launches an all-new bike it gets better and better over the next couple of years with refinements. I am looking forward to seeing what this bike can be evolved into with some modifications.”