The Yamaha will appeal to boost-heads who like a motor that barks out of turns. The bike feels a little lower and more suited to compact riders. Note how many desert/off-road types run the YZ-F. The big-boost motor loves tall gearing and responds well to tuning through pipes and flywheel weights. All of these bikes are high-performance, cutting-edge four-strokes that should not be confused with XRs, but the YZ-F has a good rep for engine longevity. It is also the lightest bike of this bunch.
There are a lot of dedicated riders who feel a 450 is a little too much for the track. For those riders, the KTM offers an attractive option. Outside the pro ranks, the bike has a good record for longevity. It is also the easiest of these on which to do routine maintenance. The KTM isn't the lightest, but to some riders it feels light-or at least lighter than the YZ-F. The KTM is also a great choice for a tall rider.
Choice is a great thing, and they say variety is the spice of life. These bikes have plenty of spice to add variety to your moto-life. We'd love to know where the RM-Z450 fits in, but it would have to be pretty darn wonderful to knock off the Honda!
Piece Points
Rating out of 10
Fork
1. CRF 9.1
2. YZ-F 8.7
3. KTM 8.3
Shock
1. CRF 9.2
2. YZ-F 8.5
3. KTM 8.1
Handling
1. CRF 9.5
2. YZ-F 8.4
3. KTM 8.2
Ergonomics
1. CRF 9.3
2. KTM 8.3
3. YZ-F 8.0
Engine
1. CRF 9.3
2. KTM 8.3
3. YZ-F 8.2
Braking
1. KTM 9.3
2. CRF 9.2
3. YZ-F 8.8
Fit, Finish and Standard Equipment
1. CRF 9.6
2. KTM 9.2
3. YZ-F 9.0
Opinions
The Honda CRF450R is near perfect! The CRF handles great and has a very good powerband that comes on just strong enough not to rip your arms out of their sockets. Once I got on the bike, I felt comfortable! It is a confidence-inspiring bike. I picked the KTM second. The orange machine has a very smooth powerband that comes on in the mid to top. The bike's ergos are getting better, and the suspension, while not up to CRF standards, is also improving; and I felt comfortable enough to hang it out on the KTM. Did I mention that the brakes are awesome, too? Third went to the big Yamaha 450. That is why I rated it third: because it felt big! It turned as well as or better than the CRF, but it felt heavy on jump faces and in the air. The suspension is close to the CRF's, but I just did not feel as comfortable on this bike as on the others. I know I could get used to the YZ-F, so I would be pleased to rip around any track on one of these!Kris Keefer/5'11"/170 lb/Pro
The 2005 450cc shootout was a close one. My first choice is the CRF450R. The bike just works great right from the start. The motor is unbelievable with its strong power from bottom to top. The suspension is absolutely perfect. It handled whoops, braking bumps and anything else the track threw at it. The bike felt very comfortable, and that and a lightweight feel made it really easy to handle.
My second choice is the KTM 450 SX. The motor has a smooth roll-on of power that just keeps building. The motor makes the bike really easy to ride, and I always felt as if I had the power to pull out of anything. The suspension is a lot better than in the past. It handled well over little stuff but had some trouble over rough terrain. All of the controls felt very comfortable and made the bike really fun to ride.
My third choice is the YZ450F. The motor was pretty good with strong bottom and midrange power, but it seemed to flatten out on top. The suspension was also pretty good. I felt a little out of control at race speed. The bike just felt heavy and bulky, and it was a little harder to get used to than the other two.Shane Smith/6'1"/180 lb/Pro