Big Guys Ride Too! | 2023 Big and Tall 450 Shootout

Steve Piattoni

Age: 60

Height: 5’8″

Weight: 245

Ability: Intermediate

Bikes Recently Raced/Ridden: 2020 Kawasaki KX450

1. Yamaha YZ450F
2. Kawasaki KX450
3. Gas Gas MC450F
4. KTM 450 SX-F
5. Honda CRF450R
6. Husqvarna FC 450

I picked the Yamaha YZ450F first because I think with a little suspension tuning it would be a perfect bike for me. The powerband is great. It comes off the bottom with great power and never stops pulling! The Power Tuner also gives you infinite adjustability. The bike corners well and handles nicely everywhere on the track. I like the ergonomics, as it has great footpeg to seat distance, and the handlebars are comfortable and adjustable front-to-rear. The bike is far thinner than it was before, but it still feels a little bit fat.

The Kawasaki KX450 is just so easy to ride and comfortable…I would have chosen it first except it is unchanged from last year. The engine has average bottom-end power, but the mid-range is great and the bike pulls forever up top. The strong point of the powerband is how easy to ride it is because of the smooth delivery. I would like a little more down low but that’s it. For being stock and soft, the Showa suspension is pretty impressive. It has a very good balance and the bike is stable. In addition to firming up the suspension, I would ditch the stock grips and replace the front brake lever.

I ranked the Gas Gas MC450F third because I love how light the bike feels and how well it handles. The bike is nimble and responsive, and it corners great. The bike is very narrow and it is flickable in the air. Even though the suspension was very soft, I trusted the bike and can see its potential. Power-wise, the engine is smooth and easy to ride. It needs more snap off the bottom, and I had to clutch it a lot more than the other bikes exiting turns. I think accessing the second map with the $80 mapping switch would be well worth it.

I really like the KTM 450 SX-F engine as it has a ton of power and it is still easy to ride. I would like more low-end throttle response to pull me out of the corners, but the powerband is pretty impressive. The suspension felt a little bit harsh, but the bike handles well and has great stability with great cornering abilities. Overall the bike is very comfortable but on all of the Austrian bikes, I had a hard time finding the rear brake pedal.

The Honda CRF450R needs a lot of work, both in suspension and power. The CRF engine is a mid-range powerplant and it has a dead spot between the second and third gears. IO liked the bike best in the map two setting which is the mellow choice because it gave the bike the most linear powerband without any giant hits or holes. I think this bike needs some mapping adjustments, for sure. The bike handles well and I like how easily it changes direction, but the suspension is very harsh and you feel every bump on the track. Ergonoically, the bike is very comfortable. 

Cornering was the strong point of the Husqvarna FC 450, but other than that I did not care for the bike. I could not get comfortable with it due to its harsh feel. The bike felt very fat and heavy, and the radiator shrouds were exceptionally wide where my knees go while seated. The engine was just okay, but it needs more bottom0end power. The mid-range is strong and the top-end overrev is decent, but the bike just didn’t impress me at all. It’s hard to believe that the Husqvarna is based on the same platform as the KTM and Gas Gas.