Opinion
Years ago, I race tested one of Scott Summers' XR600Rs at Loretta Lynn's GNCC. The most-surprising feature of that bike was how soft the suspension setting was, especially the front. Summers outweighs me by at least 50 pounds, yet I had to stiffen up the fork to feel comfortable enough to race. Riding his new 450 was dj vu all over again. The suspension is soft and plush, and even his tall seat feels like a couch. One subject no one can argue about is Summers knows what he likes, and he can go fast with his setup. This new bike wasn't too soft but actually felt plush and controlled. He has obviously done a lot of work to tune down the motor, as the power is much smoother and mellower than a stock bike. There was no big hit of power, just a much more-friendly surge, reminiscent of the old XR. While the bike still should have enough power to be competitive, the transmission ratios were a little problematic. First gear is tall and requires a lot of clutch use in the tight stuff, and this, combined with a kickstart-only starting system, became tedious. Overall, Summers has tried to make the character of the new bike similar to that of his old championship mounts. The chassis was soft and still controlled, and the power was friendly and adequate; but without an electric start, the gear ratios forced me to pay very close attention to the clutch.
Dick Burleson/5'7"/150 lb/Enduro legend