Shane Smith/6'1"/180 lb/Pro
I'm not going to continue with the superlatives for the CRF450R. The bike does everything right, and it is a clear winner here. I feel I ride a little more aggressively on the KTM 450 SX. The power is so smooth that I can ride more laps before getting tired. I'd like to see the orange engineers do something better with the seat; but I ride KTMs, so I'm used to them and I feel very comfortable on them. I really want to like the Yamaha. I love the YZ125 and YZ250 (though I want a different bar), and I dig the YZ250F. But I just can't get comfortable on the YZ450F. Honestly, if Yamaha had lightened the five-speed YZ426 and improved its suspension as much as it has the 450's, I would like that bike a lot better than I do the 450. The power is still too sudden for me, and I can't come to grips with the riding position.Karel Kramer/6'1"/205 lb/Novice
This is the first shootout in which there was no difficulty in choosing the winner. So what I did was concentrate on tweaking the Yamaha and KTM to be as close as they could be. Simply put, the CRF is like a works bike, and everything about it fits me like a glove. Getting used to the YZ-F and SX was the first step. They both have incredible traits, such as the buttery smooth power and the great hookup of the KTM and the aggressive poise and exciting ride offered by the Yamaha. Trying to dial the other bikes' suspension to mimic the plushness of the CRF yet still have good bottoming resistance proved to be difficult. The KTM is on the soft side, and the YZ-F acts stiffer. There wasn't much of a difference in my speed around a track on any of the bikes, truly their ultimate goal, but it sure seemed much easier on the CRF. Besides the suspension, I really liked the extra gear in the tranny, its light feel and the CRF's incredible turning. All icing on the cake-pushing the Honda clearly into the winner's circle.Jimmy Lewis/5'10"/180 lb/Vet Pro
It was easy for me to pick my winner of this shootout. The Honda CRF450R is miles ahead of the competition. The CRF is easy to ride, and it does everything gracefully. The bike is so well-mannered on any type of track-rough, smooth, sandy-it really doesn't matter where, the CRF gets the job done without taxing your body. The Yamaha was a distant second. The motor works much better than last year's, but I had a hard time getting comfortable with the handling. Its center of gravity feels high, and I had difficulty keeping the front tire planted. The ergonomics felt a bit cramped for me; I think a different handlebar bend would make it more comfortable. Third came the KTM 450 SX, as it just doesn't click with me when compared with the other bikes. It takes time to dial in the bike, and you constantly have to adjust the suspension settings as the track changes. The orange thumper works well, but it was tough to get a feel for what it was going to do, and a few eye-opening experiences almost left me on the ground. I think a few changes to the chassis could turn the bike into a serious contender; but it just didn't give me the confidence the others did. Corey Neuer/5'11"/165 lb/Intermediate
The Honda has a fast, smooth, strong motor. I could ride a gear high or rev it to the moon. The shock worked well everywhere on the track. This bike has the light feel of a 250F. Being tall, I sat down a lot because the transition from sitting to standing was difficult; though the trade-off is having more leg room while cornering. For my style, I prefer the fork to be more plush. Of all of these bikes, the Honda is closest to being race ready.