Racer X Tested: 2008 450 Shootout
We finally got all of the 2008 450cc motocross bikes together at the same place at the same time! It took a little longer than usual, but it was worth it. Do you realize how good we have it? A new 450 motocross bike retails for around $7,000. At first that seems astronomical, but when you think about how much R&D goes into developing these bikes and consider the fact that you could show up at a national and be competitive on a stock bike (if you were RC or Bubba), it comes back into perspective. Name another motorsport where you can get this much technology for the price. If you went out and bought a new mountain bike, you could easily spend $7,000. With that mindset, we collected a group of test riders to find out how the 2008 450 offerings stack up back-to-back.
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I always try to preface our shootouts with this: All of these bikes are good. In the past decade, the chasm between the bike that wins a shootout and the one that gets fifth has gone from the size of the Grand Canyon to a crack in a sidewalk. The following opinions should be considered but certainly not more than what each of these manufacturers offer in support with the purchase of their bike. Click on the links and do some research on track support, sales incentives, good scholar programs, riding schools, and other bonuses that each of them offer and find the one that fits for you.
Manufacturer Setting Recommendations
*Sag and Jetting
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Spec and Detail link
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Spec and Detail link
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Spec and Detail link
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Spec and Detail link
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Spec and Detail link
Phil Lawrence
6’3” 190 lbs., Pro
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Next I rode the Kawasaki. This bike was kind of plain for me. By that I mean that it did everything pretty well but it didn’t do anything amazingly. The engine hits really hard but then goes flat a little bit on top. The suspension was good, especially on the small chop and braking bumps; it had a very plush feel to it. The seat was too soft for me, though. I also felt like this bike tracked into ruts very well.
The Yamaha is an excellent package. The motor never really has a hit to it, but it is very usable. It seems like it would be a good bike for a beginning rider or someone that likes a smooth power delivery. The suspension was really impressive. I think the YZ might have the best all-around suspension of the group. It was stable and tracked well in bumps and it carved around corners with no issues. The suspension was the bright spot for this bike. For me, the engine just seemed a little bit too mellow.
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The Suzuki was the best-cornering bike. It’s funny how a brand can keep that same trait for so many years, because it seems like they always corner well. The throttle response was another bright spot for this bike. It feels like the rear wheel and the throttle are connected to each other. There is no hesitation at all when you turn the throttle. The motor had an electric feel to it, though. It was like all the power was in one place. It made decent power but it wasn’t as broad as the Honda or the KTM. The suspension also felt a little unstable to me. It wanted to dart out from under me a few times and I couldn’t figure out why. It was a little soft for me, and that was the only thing I tried adjusting. Still, even with the compression clickers out a few clicks, I had the same feeling.
Conclusion: After riding all the bikes, I would pick the Honda as the best this year. It stands out in several categories, including the engine, the handling, and ergonomics. It also doesn’t have any major flaws. I do think this bike is better suited to a faster intermediate or pro-level rider. The truth is, I could go just as fast on any of the bikes if we did lap times on them. I just felt like I was most comfortable and most confident on the Honda.
Eric Sandstrom
5’10” 170 lbs., Vet Expert
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The Kawasaki was the next bike I rode. The KX has a big hit right off the bottom, but then it goes flat. The suspension was pretty good but the bike felt a little bigger and “boaty” to me. It was like the Yamaha in that it wouldn’t turn tight or maneuver in the air as easily as some of the others. The seat was also way too soft for me. It was like sinking into a couch when you sat down. There weren’t a lot of negatives about the Kawasaki, but it didn’t shine anywhere for me, either.
The Suzuki cornered really well but it was slightly heavy-feeling. The suspension worked average, but there was a little bit of unpredictability there. I couldn’t put my finger on the problem, but I didn’t trust it completely. The motor was pretty good, but it had a very usable, electric feel to it. It wasn’t as dynamic as some of the others. I wanted it to rev more than it did.
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I rode the Honda last. The power on the CRF is amazing. It signs off a little bit on the top end, but the KTM is the only bike that revved further. The suspension felt stiffer but I actually liked it. It gave the bike a solid, predictable feel. It was easy to set up for corners and the chassis and ergonomics make this bike feel light and narrow. I could put the bike where I wanted to with the least amount of effort of any of the bikes. I didn’t have one complaint about this bike.
Conclusion: For me, the best bike is clearly the Honda. It simply doesn’t have any weaknesses where all the others had something that was either lacking or just not as good. I was impressed with the Yamaha suspension, the KTM engine, the Suzuki throttle response and the Kawasaki’s hit, but the Honda is the best overall package.
Nate Hawley
5’7” 145 lbs., Intermediate
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The Suzuki was the next bike I rode and I was really pumped to try the EFI out. It had incredible throttle response, just like I thought it would. The instant power made it a really easy bike to corner because there was never any hesitation to throw you off. You don’t realize the hesitation in other bikes until you ride this thing; the power is instantaneous. The motor did feel a little flat, though. It didn’t have any over-rev. The suspension was a little twitchy for me. I tried going a couple clicks stiffer on the compression clickers on the forks, and that really helped. The forks dive with the stock settings, so I would recommend stiffening up the compression. The Suzuki also corners great. It goes through ruts and around corners, especially tighter ones, better than all the rest.
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I rode the Honda last, and I honestly think this is the best 450 ever built. The engine made smooth and rideable power from the bottom to the top. The KTM is faster but the Honda motor seems more usable. The suspension was smooth through fast and slow bumps and it never did anything unexpected. It never got headshake or swapped on me through rough sections. I guess the best thing about this bike is that it gives you confidence the more you ride it. I was comfortable on it by the end of the first lap, and the more I rode it, the faster I felt like I could go. The only complaint I had about it is that it doesn’t have an electric start.
Conclusion: I would pick the Honda as the best bike this year.
Phil Urkov
5’11” 180 lbs., Novice
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The KTM surprises you with its power as soon as you pull on to the track and gas it---the motor is great. The stock suspension settings seemed a little bit soft in the front and stiff in the rear for me. That was an easy fix, though. The shock has a very relaxed feel to it, like it isn’t going to do anything quickly. It is a good feeling for choppy, high-speed sections or rough downhills like they have at Glen Helen. The forks deflected off some of the bumps despite the clicker changes. I thought the clutch was harder to pull than some of the others, and the action took some getting used to because of the hydraulic system. The overall ergonomics of the KTM were great. It is a very comfortable bike to ride. The electric start is a life saver when you crash.
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I really like the Kawasaki. It had great power for the way I ride. I don’t rev the bike very high, and the KXF would lug me out of turns no matter what gear I was in. I liked the way this motor worked for me. The suspension was nice and plush and sucked up all the chop and big hits. It also had a nice “pop” off the jumps that made it easier to get over obstacles for me. The seat was a little bit soft, and that was the biggest complaint I had.
The Yamaha is another really good all-around bike. The power felt different, or maybe it was just the sound of it. It seemed like it needed an aftermarket exhaust or different gearing. It felt or sounded like it was being choked. The power was all right, but it wasn’t the best engine. The suspension was right up there with the best of them, though. I think this bike stayed in better contact with the ground than any other bike. The fork and shock felt perfectly balanced. The feel and comfort of the Yamaha is the best of all the bikes.
Conclusion: I was really surprised by how close all the bikes were, performance-wise. I’ve never had a chance to ride all the brands back-to-back like this. I would be stoked to have any one of them. I guess if I had to pick, I would choose the Honda. Every bike had one little thing that I would want to change or work on except the Honda. It is comfortable right away, and it is easy to ride on the track.
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