2024 450 MX Shootout In Depth | Gas Gas vs. Honda vs. Husqvarna vs. Kawasaki vs. KTM vs. Yamaha

Having the opportunity to ride all of the bikes, back to back really highlights where certain bikes shine. For me, the excitement and low-end torque offered by the Yamaha is unmatched in the class. I love how hard it hits down low. For the most part, the balance of the class is gravitating towards a smoother broader delivery, which is also something Yamaha can offer with map adjustments, but that is not what I’m looking for. I love the grunt of the low end straight into a strong mid-range, and while not class-leading, plenty of top in power. The Yamaha power plant is the most enjoyable for me. I’m addition, the suspension is the plushest while also offering the best hold-up on big hits. It is very confidence-inspiring. While the new chassis sacrificed some high-speed stability, the bike is still very stable, but now corners great as well. The bottom line? The Yamaha offers the best overall package for me.

The new Kawasaki is an amazing bike. Man, they killed it on this chassis! It is so balanced, handles well, turns excellent, and is extremely confidence-inspiring. The suspension action is smoother and more consistent than last year and the ergonomically are excellent with tons of adjustability between the bars and the foot pegs. The new engine is something most people will absolutely love and is very effective at putting good power to the ground. The roll-on is smooth and manageable down low with great mid-range and awesome top end. However, I am longing for more low-end excitement. A little more grunt down low would go a long way with me. 

The KTM is an awesome overall package that does everything really well. The power is extremely strong down low, utilizing a smooth, broad torque more than an exciting punch. It is fast and effective at putting a ton of quality power to the ground. The mid-range is gnarly and the top-end revs forever. While I am not a huge air fork fan, the current setting is remarkably good. The initial action of the fork offers a little more chatter than I would like – it is just a bit disconnected from the track. The ergonomics are a little cramped for me as well. 

The Honda has an extremely fun engine package that is remarkably well-rounded throughout the curve. It has an aggressive low-end grunt which I like, a strong mid-range and respectable top end. The power is really fun. The handling is playful and exciting as well. The bike is light and corners amazingly well. Unfortunately, with the rigid chassis, I can’t seem to find the connected feel and confidence I am looking for. The bike seems to dance and skip along the top of the track’s surface which makes me reluctant to push as hard as I would like at times.

The GasGas is such a killer-looking bike! I love the deep red. For me, the European-inspired suspension settings are too soft and offer too much movement for what I’m looking for. Riding at about 80% The bike feels excellent. So much comfort and compliance. You can also feel the additional flex in the cast clamps. However, I am looking for something more firm and deliberate. The engine character is strong with a long, broad delivery.  Riders looking for plushness and comfort will love this package. 

The Husqvarna is a great option for many people, I am just not their target market. As a taller rider, the lower suspension settings are the opposite of what I’m looking for. The suspension feels a little harsher than the other two Austrian brands and the rider compartment is cramped. I appreciate their efforts, they just aren’t aimed at me.

This year, the Yamaha YZ450F was the most well-rounded bike in the class. Being able to set it up properly this year made a huge difference. Honestly, I think it would have won last year, had we been able to set up the fork height and rear suspension as we wished. The bike virtually has no flaws! The KTM 450 SX-F is also a great bike. It has an amazing engine and I like how well it corners. I love the high-quality components and adjustability of the orange bike. The all-new Kawasaki KX450 is a very good bike. I just feel like I need more time on it to get fully comfortable with it. The KX450 lacks a little low-end power to be complete, but overall I felt great on the green bike. The Honda ergonomics are by far my favorite, I just need the bike to have more flex in the frame so that it can be more comfortable and trustworthy in rough conditions. What is really holding the Husqvarna back for me is the shorter travel. I just don’t like how the bike reacts under hard braking beneath me. I love the Gas Gas for play riding, but it would need the most work – in my opinion – to be race-ready.

Jase Macalpine

Getting to ride all six bikes back to back was a lot of fun, and it was shocking to see the differences between them when you ride them all on the same day. The Yamaha YZ450F was my choice for the number-one spot. It has the best motor with the most power. We had two pre-programmed maps, and I preferred the mellower setting which was easier to ride without sacrificing the things that make the bike so fun and exciting. The Yamaha has the best feeling suspension in the class and the bike corners and inspires confidence at speed, too. The new Kawasaki, KX450 isn’t the most powerful bike, but what it lacks and excitement at the throttle, it gains in amazing chassis feel and overall handling. I was comfortable on the Kawasaki in a short period of time. I’m sure a pipe and ignition would really open up this engine. I’m interested to see what this motor can be with some small changes. The three bikes from Pierer Mobility come next. The KTM is the most powerful and aggressive. I really enjoy the 450 SX-F. You can notice quite a big difference between the KTM and the Husqvarna, which has 10mm lower suspension.  This gives the FC 450 a slight edge in cornering, especially in tight corners. Overall, I liked the Husqvarna suspension. I think each year, the KTM Group has gotten the suspension built better and better. The Gas Gas is also a great bike but is rather standard. It is a great starting point and gives you the chance to build it up as you please. The Honda CR450R has a strong overall engine package with a lot of mid-range hit. The mapping options are great as they can mellow out the power and make the bike easier to ride. The Honda is a strange-feeling bike. It feels really stable and compliant coming in and out of the turns but right as you really turn in the front end tucks. I think I would try a different offset on the triple clamps to gain some trustworthiness out of the Honda.

The new Kawasaki KX450 has such a stable and confidence-inspiring feel. It’s very well-balanced and corners amazingly well. It shines when the track is rough, and I can ride this bike hard and never get tired. The engine has an easy-to-ride, linear feel. The engine complements the chassis very well. It’s not as brutally powerful as last year’s, but I feel it is a better package, overall. The Yamaha YZ450F is another amazing bike. It’s the fastest of all of the bikes and blessed with the best suspension. Overall handling and cornering are good.  Cornering is much improved from a couple of years ago, but not quite as good as the Kawasaki’s. The KTM has a racy feel right out of the box. Blessed with an amazing motor and an easy-to-ride powerband, the orange bike is truly one of my favorites. The KTM has good balance and turns well. I love the hydraulic clutch and brakes also. This suspension is fairly plush with good holdup. The air fork can be a bit harsh on slap-down landings if I were to nitpick. The Honda is the best-looking bike for sure. I love the way it feels when you first sit on it. The engine is strong and makes plenty of power. Suspension is plush and has a balanced, feel, and the bike responds very well to rider input.  The front end catches me off guard and dives and shakes randomly, though, and I don’t trust the Honda when I am tired. The Gas Gas MC 450 has a great package with an easy-to-ride power band. The fork overpowers the shock, though. Once you balance the suspension it feels better. The Gas Gas does not have all the bells and whistles as its siblings, but this leaves you room to customize as you wish. Husqvarna was a bit of a struggle for me. I like the power band as it has a revy feel, but being 10 mm lower ruins it for me. I feel like the bike is always riding halfway through the suspension stroke. It turns well but overall handling is compromised.

All of the 2024 450 MX bikes are great, but a couple of them stood out for me. The Yamaha YZ450F is in a class of its own. They nailed it with this bike! The engine has an amazing low-end punch that pulls hard throughout the entire power curve. The Yamaha Power Tuner app allows you to customize the power delivery, and that makes the bike even more amazing. The KYB suspension on the Yamaha feels plush, but holds up on the big hits. Definitely the best fork and shock in the class.  Kawasaki has made a change for the better with a 2024 KX450. The chassis is better and the bike handles great. The suspension is very good, but the biggest improvement is in the handling. I am a little disappointed with the engine as it lacks low-end power. I think a pipe would bring the bike to life. The KTM 450 SX-F is a great bike and is definitely geared towards the aggressive racer. Its engine is awesome but falls short compared to the Yamaha. The Gas Gas is a great middle-ground bike between the Husqvarna and KTM. It has tons of potential but lacks the bells and whistles of the orange bike. The Husqvarna is geared towards the entry-level rider or vet racer. The lower suspension does not suit me, but I know it could be made standard travel at any hop-up shop. the Honda CR450R needs an update. It’s a good bike with plenty of power but it is sketchy at speed.