NOVEMBER 2, 2007
The 450 Shootout reports are Presented by RIDE Industries, who were generous enough to provide numberplate decals for all of the 450 bikes. Be sure to click on their logo and visit their website to check out their full lineup of graphic offerings. The 2008 450 Four-Stroke lineup The 2008 KTM 450 SX-F features electric start, several trick components, better low end grunt, and updated forks and shock.
Photos by Allison Kennedy and Jason T. Griffiths
Welcome to the 2008 Racer X Canada 450 Shootout! This is our second consecutive running of the shootout, which features the Big Five’s new four-stroke offerings (although we’re only focusing on the 450 thumpers in this report). Like last year, we invited along a few fast national pros from the local area to get their opinions on the `08 bikes, but since racers of their skill level are only a fraction of the market, we put together a team of testers of varying abilities to offer feedback for everyone.
So for each group of bikes—450 and 250—there will be two separate reports. The first, which is featured here, will include ratings and opinions from a diverse group of riders, ranging from junior to pro ability. First-place receives five points, second four points, and so on down to fifth. The second report will showcase thoughts and opinions from national pro riders only.
Before we begin the first shootout report, a huge thanks goes out to the manufacturers for giving their full support, and especially the Carruthers family who provided us with one of the best tracks in Canada! Now sit down, have a read, and find out which motorcycle best suits your needs for the New Year.
Rob McCullough
5’9” 185 lbs
Vet Pro
Suzuki RM-Z450:
(Disclaimer: Although I was the first to ride this bike I also rode it again later in the day once it had been thoroughly broken in.)
For me, this was easily the most anticipated bike as I’d seen pictures and thought with the aluminum tank, revised front fender design, BNG, shroud colour and, of course, EFI, this bike was extremely trick. It was also rumoured that Ricky Carmichael had said that he could easily race this bike in stock form, leaving me to wonder how much truth versus towing the company line was taking place, now I know.
The bike started very easily and idled perfectly, making decent power from the bottom to about five-eighths throttle at which point the motor signed off, requiring the rider to short-shift the bike to be efficient.
The suspension, particularly the rear, was harsh, transmitting every small bump through my entire body giving me the impression that we were running about 20lbs of air pressure. As with almost all Suzuki’s, steering was excellent, allowing a rider to be confident and aggressive in the smooth turns whether tight or sweeping.
Kudos to Suzuki for being the first of the major manufacturers to introduce EFI on a motocross bike. Unfortunately, in stock form, this bike was a big disappointment for me as I was expecting greater things.
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McCullough was expecting more from the all-new EFI RM-Z450, but he still considers it one of the best handling bikes. |
Honda CRF450R
There’s still some magic in those Honda’s as I felt Honda’s trackside support team (John Nelson) had installed A-Kit Suspension in ours when compared to the RM-Z450. All kidding aside, the re-valved and re-sprung suspension worked well for my weight and riding ability, instilling confidence everywhere on the track regardless of the terrain.
Power seemed similar to the ’07, and even though we had it at one click out, I couldn’t actually feel the HPSD working. This bike turns and tracks better than my ’07 with RG3 20mm offset triple clamps and FC suspension. ’08 CRF’s have new rotors and, as usual, the braking with respect to power, feel and control was excellent.
What’s up with the CRF airbox design? Could they possibly make it anymore difficult to change a filter? Maybe it’s an evil plan to ensure that we will at some point miss some of the dirt that falls into the airbox each time we remove the filter, causing premature wear and tear resulting in the sale of more parts? It’s time for a change. Look for a Racer X Canada Tested in the near future for an excellent fix for this problem.
Kawasaki KX450F
In my opinion, this was easily the most improved motorcycle we rode. On this day, it was almost perfect, having the best suspension I may have ever ridden. If I had a complaint it might be that I could feel the frame rails through the seat as quoted by MXA.
Q: What did I like?
A: Power, suspension, handling, and appearance.
Q: What did I hate?
A: Nothing. Seriously, it was that good!
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Nearly every tester agreed that the KX450F showed most the improvement from `07. |
Yamaha YZ450F
Although the YZ450 was my favorite last year, for ’08, the mildly improved turning wasn’t enough to overcome the weak motor and soft forks to stay at the top of my list. I’m certain if you removed the stubby “punched cone” muffler, the motor would greatly benefit, making power comparable to the other OEMs.
I found the rear suspension to be progressive yet plush, but the forks quick and very soft, blowing through the travel when entering corners hard. On the track and in the air, the YZF feels very light and is equipped out of the crate with newer generation Dunlop four stroke tires. In my opinion, the ’08 Yamaha YZ450F is an uninspiring motorcycle and in its stock configuration, difficult to get excited about.
Lastly, did I mention the YZF had great footpegs and cool Matte black crankcase covers?
KTM 450 SX-F
We all know KTM is the leader in utilizing aftermarket products and I just wanted to begin this review by stating that I really admired the product knowledge, pride and enthusiasm shown by KTM’s Florian and Patrick during the test. I have never owned a KTM, and probably have less than four hours of seat time on the bikes over the last few years, that coupled with its unique feeling, has never allowed me to feel completely comfortable on the pumpkins. So in an effort to improve my ability as a test rider one of my goals this year was to really put a concentrated effort toward setting up the KTM, primarily the 450, to suit me.
From my initial ride it was quickly evident that the KTM had a very strong motor, the strongest stock front brake I’ve ever tried, coupled with somewhat indecisive chassis/handling.
Once I completed my initial ride (five laps or 12 to 15-minutes), I returned to request that the sag be checked. As it turned out, with me aboard, we had 135mm of race sag. Patrick quickly set the proper race sag (110mm-116mm) and I was off again to see if I could notice a difference, I immediately felt more comfortable entering corners and was surprised at the improved fork action because during my first ride I found the forks to have too much rebound damping but they now felt more responsive and with that my previous damping concerns disappeared.
I once again stopped to offer some positive feedback on the sag and was informed that the 450 SX-F had two ignition curves (Performance and Soft) so, after ten seconds, the curve was adjusted (open connection) to Soft by Patrick and I was off. In my opinion, it was another improvement as the KTM became much more forgiving, less tiresome and overall, easier to ride. I believe that although the power came on a little softer I was actually quicker around the track.
I can honestly say this was now the first time I ever actually felt comfortable “given’er” on a KTM and was enjoying riding the bike, even the hydraulic clutch wasn’t a distraction but I think that had more to do with the improved tractable power curve than the clutch itself. Overall, I would say the KTM was probably the easiest bike to work on and the most sensitive bike to change, and once properly set up, a very competitive package.
Rankings:
1. Kawasaki
2. Honda
3. KTM
4. Yamaha
5. Suzuki
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The biggest update to the CRF450 was the addition of a steering damper. |
Dave Hind
6’2” 185 lbs
Vet Intermediate
Honda CRF450
The `08 CRF450 is a great all around motorcycle. The motor offers power everywhere, has a good hit, but it remains user friendly and gets the power to the ground. Cornering was never an issue with the CRF, and I found the front end stuck in tight corners and sweepers.
In typical Honda fashion, the 450 comes stock with quality controls, strong brakes, smooth clutch pull, a great handlebar bend, and you feel comfortable on it right away.
Yamaha YZ450F
Every year, the manufacturers work hard to drop pounds off their four-strokes, and while I didn’t find any of the 450s felt heavy or big, the Yamaha did feel the lightest on the ground and over jumps. The YZ had a balanced feel, with the front and rear complimenting each other. The power comes on smooth and there are no sudden hits.
Kawasaki KX450F
Everyone at the test was very impressed with the new KX450. I agree; the suspension on the new Kawi is plush and the bike will go where ever you want it to. It’s difficult to find any faults in the 450; it has power from bottom-to-top, it’s well balanced, and just an easy bike to get on and ride—especially for a magazine editor who finds more spelling mistakes than whoops!
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Fox Racing Canada's Dave Hind skies it out on the KX450. |
Suzuki RM-Z450
The new EFI RM-Z450 didn’t send me through the roof, but it didn’t disappoint either. The motor doesn’t have the hit of the KX or CRF; instead, it is very linear and smooth. The bike definitely feels lighter and smaller than its predecessors, and for some reason, the throttle feels much crisper and turns easier than the other bikes. Since it is an all-new bike—and its first year with FI—I’m sure that we’ll see improved settings as more time is spent on the `08 RM-Z.
KTM 450 SX-F
You never really realize how simple and convenient it is to have electric start until you use one, and then hop back onto a kick-start motorcycle. I absolutely love the e-starter on the 450 SX-F; it makes life so much easier. The next best thing on the KTM is the motor; it’s buttery smooth and deceivingly fast. Even though it’s four-speed, it never signed off too early down high-speed straights. I did find the KTM to feel heavier than the other 450s.
Rankings:
1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Kawasaki
4. KTM
5. Suzuki
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The 2008 RM-Z450 is famous for its electronic fuel injection, but it also boasts a revised frame and motor. |
Kyle Carruthers
5’8” 145 lbs
Junior
Yamaha YZ450F
A week before the shootout, I had the chance to ride the `07 YZ450, so it gave me some knowledge about how last year’s bike worked compared to the `08. I found the new 450 handled better, but it could still be improved to keep up with the other bikes. For my weight and height, I found the Yamaha’s suspension to work pretty well; it was plush, never kicked, and obviously never bottomed out.
For a 450, the clutch pull is relatively easy. The motor was smooth and it didn’t have a real hard hit anywhere. I also enjoyed the braking power.
Honda CRF450R
Since I ride a CRF250 normally, it didn’t take long before I felt comfortable on the 450. Actually, it felt light and nimble and handled much like a smaller bike. I didn’t think the motor had great bottom end power, but it makes up for it with a strong mid-range and top end. The Honda is really just a good overall bike, without any major downfalls.
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Track owner Kyle Carruthers, like many of us, struggled to knock the 450 Honda. |
KTM 450 SX-F
This bike works well for a rider of my calibre, but I think it would be best in the hands of a pro—because it’s a rocket! The power is really smooth and easy to use, but has a constant pull from the bottom-to-top. The electric start is definitely a nice addition to the tricked out KTM. I found the bike stable through braking chop, corners, and it shifted really well.
Suzuki RM-Z450
The Suzuki has a nice bottom end it. It didn’t bog, but it did pop a couple of times. I couldn’t really notice any difference between the EFI and carbureted bikes. The bike turns on a dime, and it felt stable down fast straights and through sweeping corners. I found it to be one of the easier bikes to rides, very forgiving.
Kawasaki KX450F
Fast, fast, fast!! Did I mention this bike is fast? The new Kawi 450 is the fastest of the bunch. It didn’t do anything wrong, but I did feel the brakes weren’t as great as the other bikes. The black rims and hubs and overall styling of the KX make it the best looking stock bike out there.
Rankings:
Honda
Suzuki
Yamaha
Kawasaki
KTM
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The new mechanical muffler on the YZ450F helps cut down on weight and sound, but it may also take away precious ponies. I guess that's better than not having any tracks to ride at, however. |
Danny Brault
5’7” 145 lbs
Pro
Kawasaki KX450F
After listening to everyone say how awesome the new 450 Kawi was, I couldn’t help but climb onto it as soon as I finished riding the 250Fs. Sitting on the stand, this is the coolest looking bike of `08. Kawasaki has taken a page out of KTM’s handbook, and has added colourful hubs, rims, and forks to their styling package. The BNG look clean and slimming and with the #15 RIDE decals applied to the numberplates, I really thought this was Tim Ferry’s factory Kawasaki.
On the track, the most noticeable difference is the motor. Last year’s bike chugged along like granddad’s old Deere, but not in `08. I actually found the motor too fast for my weight and size. Seriously, this bike makes power and a lot of it. I can’t imagine wanting to make it any faster. You can always be cautious with the throttle and lug it (as I tend to do), but I would say an intermediate/ pro level rider would favour the Kawi.
I have yet to find a stock 450 with suspension that accommodates my weight, but after softening the compression by three clicks on the front and rear, the KX worked pretty decent for me. It was still stiff, but it remained straight through the braking bumps and squatted nicely under acceleration. Handling was never an issue; it can cut the tightest turn or sweep wide with great stability.
Suzuki RM-Z450
It’s funny how people have such different opinions and preferences. I didn’t hear many testers falling in love with the EFI RM-Z450—and I didn’t either—but the bike holds a few characteristics that suit my riding style. I’ve always found Suzukis to handle well, and the `08 450 is no different. It required little effort for me to get the bike to turn, and it remained stable through braking bumps, exiting chop and choppy sweepers.
The revised frame and chassis removes that bulky feeling from previous RM-Zs, and makes it feel much more modern and slim. The bike feels lighter as well. I prefer the bend of the Renthal bars on the Honda and Kawi, but the oversized bars on the RM-Zs come in handy when you experience an “It’s not my fault” moment. The aluminum gas tank adds some bling to the 450 and I like how the engineers placed the hot start lever on the throttle side and out of harm’s way.
Obviously the biggest update to the RM-Z450 is the motor and EFI. Did I notice a big difference? Not really. The bike did fire up easily, and it had a good amount of bottom and mid-range, but it doesn’t have as much overrev as the other 450s. I did hear the bike pop, but only when I was revving it high. Even though the RM-Z isn’t the fastest stock 450, it suits my weight and doesn’t tire me out as quick as the Honda or Kawi. I felt like I could ride the RM-Z all day. I prefer the five-speed transmission over last year’s four-speed gearbox; it offers better flexibility for tighter tracks.
KTM 450 SX-F
With a year spent racing and riding the `07 KTM 450, it wasn’t long before I felt comfortable on the new Katoom. The only major difference from last year’s 450 to this year’s is the power delivery. While the `07 had great power everywhere and it was very usable, the `08 offers slightly more bottom end and it continues to build as the throttle opens. Even without fifth gear, the KTM never signed off the mile-long straight away on Carruthers’ Ranch. I believe the KTM has the best 450 motor out there.
The sag was set at 116 mm, and we softened the compression by a few clicks on the front and rear so I could use more of the stroke. After riding the Japanese bikes all day, it took me a bit to adjust to the link-less shock, but within a few laps I felt like I was back on my KTM. The forks have been updated with better internals, so you no longer have that metal-on-metal sound when you dive deep into the stroke. They give the bike a more balanced feel and plusher ride.
As with all KTMs, the 450 comes stock with anodized black Excel rims, easy to access air filter, quality chain, oversized bars, great stopping power, and my favourite component—other than the e-start—the hydraulic clutch.
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RXC's Danny Brault believes that the KTM 450 has the best motor in its class, with great bottom, roll on power, and plenty of overrev. |
Yamaha YZ450F
After listening to AMA Motocross champ Grant Langston’s podium speeches, where he couldn’t stop raving about the new YZ450, I couldn’t wait to test out this championship winning motorcycle.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find the same traits that Grant feel in love with. The Yamaha felt really similar to last year’s bike, but I found the motor lost some of its punch. I’m not sure if that’s due to the shortened mechanical muffler, but the YZ lacked bottom end and it had flat spots up top. I was reaching for the clutch more often than on the other bikes.
The bike rides a little stinkbug, with the front end dropping down, but the suspension was more accommodating to my weight. It turned a little slower than the other bikes, but does track straight and never wanders or kicks. I think with a few simple mods (aftermarket exhaust) this bike could move to the front however.
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Jay Moore does his best "Chad Reed" on the 2008 YZ450F. |
Honda CRF450R
It’s no secret why the majority of the privateer population chooses the CRF450—they work. From handling to motor to suspension, the Honda has it all covered. The CRF doesn’t share the same hit as the Kawi, but it comes on strong down low and stays there until you reach the rev limiter. It’s not intimidating either; it’s easy to use and suits riders of all abilities.
I didn’t notice the new steering damper, but regardless, the CRF handles as well or better than the `07 450s I rode this summer. I find the CRF450 to be confidence inspiring; even though I haven’t raced in months, I wouldn’t hesitate to hit the starting line on big red. Well, maybe if the race was only three laps.
Honda has the minor details covered too; quality controls, strong brakes, Renthal handlebars with my favourite bend, and ideal footpeg to seat juncture.
Rankings:
1. Honda
2. Kawasaki
3. KTM
4. Suzuki
5. Yamaha
FINAL 2008 450 RANKINGS:
Honda - 19 points
Kawasaki – 14 points
Yamaha – 10 points
KTM – 9 points
Suzuki – 8 points
Honda CRF450R
Yamaha YZ450F
Suzuki RM-Z450
Kawasaki KX450F
