2021 Swapmoto Live 450 shootout
I was excited when I got the call from Donn Maeda to be a test rider for the 2021 805 beer 450 shootout. We had an all new bike to add in to the mix with the all new crf450 Honda. A refined Husqvarna, KTM and Kawasaki and Yamaha that stayed the same with the edition of some blue plastics. One thing that was shocking before we got to testing was that Suzuki didn't show up with unchanged RMZ450. Did I want to ride a unchanged bike just to go through the motions? No but it’s not a good feeling when we lose a manufacture at the shootout. In this years shootout Maxxis supplied tires for all the 450’s so in this test all the bikes would have the same Maxxis IT 120. I’m very confident on the Maxxis tire so this was an added bonus for me to identify bike or tire characteristics that I might have on the other bikes I don’t spend a lot of time on.
The 805 beer Happy Hour was also new this year and from the feedback I’ve got from some of you that bench racing format was received well so let’s hope Jeff Blackmore let’s us back at his amazing Blackmore Ranch for a bench racing session.
Like last year our team rented Cahuilla Creek for our final day of the test where we would rank the bikes. I knew the Yamaha was going to be good but I was excited to ride the improved Kawasaki and new Honda. The KTM and Husqvarna were a little different this year with some update suspension and ECU mapping so I knew the Austrian bike would be in the hunt once the day was done.
Fifth Place Honda CRF450
“The Honda has very linear and strong power, but I have an issue with the mapping, it’s very rich and fat on the bottom end.” – Sleeter
“The chassis is very stiff on hard landings. It almost has a dead feel with some potential that’s untapped.” – Sleeter
“It seems like the bike was on the right track, but t got rushed. Firmer suspension and better ECU settings would be huge.” – Sleeter
Fourth Place Husqvarna FC 450
“The handling is amazing! Stability, cornering and predictability are all strong points. I’m very confident on the Husky when I am pushing it.” – Sleeter
“I wish the engine were more free-revving and lively, as this would make the bike feel lighter. The powerband is very easy to ride, though.” – Sleeter
Third Place KTM 450 SX-F
“The engine is very easy to make good use of. It produces a ton of power that is spread nicely. The weak point is the vibration at high rpm.” – Sleeter
“The overall balance of the bike was great once I went to 106 mm of sag. Comfort could be better, but on the other hand I had no problem with bottoming either end of the suspension.” – Sleeter
“I love how hard I can push the bike in stock trim. I would just love a quicker, freer revving engine.” – Sleeter
Second Place Yamaha YZ450F
“The YZ450F has my favorite power plant by far. It’s smooth, quick, and fun to ride and there’s lots of power from bottom to top.” – Sleeter
“The comfort and stability are the bike’s strong point, but the shock moves around a little too much for my tastes. A revalve is in order.” – Sleeter
“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.
More in depth
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.”
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Gear used during test
Answer Trinity Pant, Jersey, Glove