2019 450 Shootout - Updated

SoCalMX70 wrote:

Interesting results. Funny enough if I went back to a 4 stroke it would be a toss up between the 1st place Yamaha and last place...

Interesting results. Funny enough if I went back to a 4 stroke it would be a toss up between the 1st place Yamaha and last place Suzuki. I'm just a slow vet guy and I always liked my Suzuki's in the past, so their low showing here doesn't affect me. My local dealer is Yamaha/Suzuki, so whatever good deal I could get!

mattyhamz2 wrote:

Simi Valley?

Markee wrote:

My fault, I thought that new kawi in your avatar was the 19. I'm still leaning towards a left over 18 RMZ. I've never jumped on...

My fault, I thought that new kawi in your avatar was the 19. I'm still leaning towards a left over 18 RMZ. I've never jumped on a bike and in 1 lap felt that comfortable.

But I haven't rode all the new 450s either, the "regular" folks paying for the damn things don't get that option.

Harry Backmon wrote:

Have you considered purchasing one of those hairless cats? I hear they're easy to care for.

Jack_Mehoff wrote:

I have a 17 fc 450 and really like it. Is the 19 a step backwards? I'm 6'2 190 fast b class with an aggressive style...

I have a 17 fc 450 and really like it. Is the 19 a step backwards? I'm 6'2 190 fast b class with an aggressive style and like to rev the bike. Really leaning towards the kawi or Honda at this point.

Keep_Riding78 wrote:

MXA results:
1st KTm
2nd Husquvarna
3rd Honda
4th Kawasaki
5th Yamaha
6th Susuki
Just saying guys!

Jack_Mehoff wrote:

I have a 17 fc 450 and really like it. Is the 19 a step backwards? I'm 6'2 190 fast b class with an aggressive style...

I have a 17 fc 450 and really like it. Is the 19 a step backwards? I'm 6'2 190 fast b class with an aggressive style and like to rev the bike. Really leaning towards the kawi or Honda at this point.

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

I can’t give you specific advice because I’m on 16 250SXF and going to the 19 350. I think the new slimness of the bike is...

I can’t give you specific advice because I’m on 16 250SXF and going to the 19 350. I think the new slimness of the bike is a big positive for the new bike. Not sure if you have aftermarket suspension that you can carry over, but that will be a big help.

For me I’m so heavily invested in KTM parts that I’m not going to switch brands. I’ll put my cone valves on the 19 and have my Vortex ECU mapped by Twisted Development.

Kris Keefer raves about his Twisted Vortex Ecu on the 450 Factory edish.

Tonynz wrote:

Coming off a 16 350 SXF, have had 2 rides on my 19 350 SXF, great bike.

Keep_Riding78 wrote:

MXA results:
1st KTm
2nd Husquvarna
3rd Honda
4th Kawasaki
5th Yamaha
6th Susuki
Just saying guys!

kiwifan wrote:

No surprise there

Keep_Riding78 wrote:

MXA results:
1st KTm
2nd Husquvarna
3rd Honda
4th Kawasaki
5th Yamaha
6th Susuki
Just saying guys!

MPJC wrote:

Didn't MXA have something about the new KTM airbox being restrictive - that they livened it up by opening up the airbox? That fits well with...

Didn't MXA have something about the new KTM airbox being restrictive - that they livened it up by opening up the airbox? That fits well with the comments in this video about the bike feeling sluggish off the bottom. Of course, since the bikes are being evaluated in stock condition you can't start drilling holes to alleviate issues. But for people who bought the KTM, I'm sure it's nice to know that they major complaint can be easily addressed. So results notwithstanding, I don't think the KTM sky is falling.

Keep_Riding78 wrote:

MXA results:
1st KTm
2nd Husquvarna
3rd Honda
4th Kawasaki
5th Yamaha
6th Susuki
Just saying guys!

kiwifan wrote:

No surprise there

fpandjic wrote:

I no longer read or watch MXA because of their blind love for KTM/Husky. Those are some great bikes, but when they start talking about them...

I no longer read or watch MXA because of their blind love for KTM/Husky. Those are some great bikes, but when they start talking about them, it's like no other bike exists...

mxracer515 wrote:

I got to ride a 19 WE , a 19 kx450, a 18.5 rockstar & a 18 yamaha ...outdoor track husky1st honda 2nd kx 3rd on...

I got to ride a 19 WE , a 19 kx450, a 18.5 rockstar & a 18 yamaha ...outdoor track husky1st honda 2nd kx 3rd
on a tighter track it would be KX,1st WE & husky tie 2nd.. The yamaha just is not for me

The husky does have a heavier feel but is also safer feeling at speed . It is a motor response thing the kX & WE snap to life & get on top of the dirt quicker which gives a light feel. The husky builds more gradual but is less tiring & easy to ride.

The track was damp & tilled deep, heavy Midwest river bottom dirt .It's an outdoor track that has a few tighter jump sections

You cant go wrong with any of them . Best KX I have ridden turns great but the slowest of these 3 .Had a 17 cr450 hated it. This is much better very fast mid , good over rev , The husky lacks a bit of excitement but seams the fastest. However it is a lap time machine. Full disclosure the husky has CV forks , the baffle in the pipe removed & tps reset.. This is an opinion of a over 50 vet rider with 40 + years experience.
. .

MX558 wrote:

Very surprised to see yammie on top as I'm a yz loyolist. I've had 3 09s , 14 and a 16 . I recently picked up...

Very surprised to see yammie on top as I'm a yz loyolist. I've had 3 09s , 14 and a 16 . I recently picked up an 09 cheap to tide me over until I get a 19 something. I was at the track track today and rode an 18 yz back to back with my 09 , the 18 felt like an aircraft carrier in comparison. I was dead set on 19 yz but now thinking kx or Honda, not that it really matters , I'm old and slow . Yamaha should have fi the 09 and had a great bike and not wasted all those years with their shit design of bacwarda moter

WheelieNelson wrote:

I was already in the process of selling my bike to try and pick up a 19 yzf 450, I was thinking it would be a...

I was already in the process of selling my bike to try and pick up a 19 yzf 450, I was thinking it would be a 3rd/4th place this year and the Honda or ktm would win. Even more excited now! Thanks ML!

I'm curious if the current yzf still feels roomy enough for taller riders like myself? I'm 6'1 which isn't giant but enough to feel cramped up on some of the bikes. I liked the leg room the yzf 14-17 provided they just didn't turn well at all

kkawboy14 wrote:

Good shootout but nobody rides stock kawasaki bend bars!

JBecker 72 wrote:

I actually do. I swapped to fatbars, but still run the OE Kawasaki bend. Have them on my KX450F and YZ250. I like them.

kkawboy14 wrote:

That bend is so swept backwards I’m surprised you like them. I run a more straight level bar

mxracer515 wrote:

I got to ride a 19 WE , a 19 kx450, a 18.5 rockstar & a 18 yamaha ...outdoor track husky1st honda 2nd kx 3rd on...

I got to ride a 19 WE , a 19 kx450, a 18.5 rockstar & a 18 yamaha ...outdoor track husky1st honda 2nd kx 3rd
on a tighter track it would be KX,1st WE & husky tie 2nd.. The yamaha just is not for me

The husky does have a heavier feel but is also safer feeling at speed . It is a motor response thing the kX & WE snap to life & get on top of the dirt quicker which gives a light feel. The husky builds more gradual but is less tiring & easy to ride.

The track was damp & tilled deep, heavy Midwest river bottom dirt .It's an outdoor track that has a few tighter jump sections

You cant go wrong with any of them . Best KX I have ridden turns great but the slowest of these 3 .Had a 17 cr450 hated it. This is much better very fast mid , good over rev , The husky lacks a bit of excitement but seams the fastest. However it is a lap time machine. Full disclosure the husky has CV forks , the baffle in the pipe removed & tps reset.. This is an opinion of a over 50 vet rider with 40 + years experience.
. .

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

Great review. Your opinion is very valid. The changes to the Husky definitely are fixes in the direction of what the test riders didn’t like. I...

Great review. Your opinion is very valid. The changes to the Husky definitely are fixes in the direction of what the test riders didn’t like.

I personally like the slow reving easy to ride engines as well. Husky also offers some comfort because the composite subframe is softer than aluminum.

drt410 wrote:

Do anyone else find it fishy how the Honda and Kawi tied.... yet the KTM and Husky's never did. Its almost like they felt that they...

Do anyone else find it fishy how the Honda and Kawi tied.... yet the KTM and Husky's never did. Its almost like they felt that they had to separate them and say "NO this is NOT a white KTM" because it would fly in the face of what KTM is really doing here if they just came out and said yea since theyre literally the same bikes with a couple very small differences they tie. Instead they would make it so one would beat the other to create separation and the illusion of the two different bikes. Both great bikes btw....but come on guys. Yet in this years shootout two completely different bikes which undoubtably are much more different from each other than those two were miraculously tied. This makes absolutely ZEROOOO sense. Even in this very friggin shootout they didnt tie yet two completely different brands with two completely different bikes tied. When the Huskys first came out especially, they were literally 99.9% the exact same bike. Think about this...

ML512 wrote:

The math is pretty open and easy to read, it’s just the lowest score once eveyone’s results are put together. Ties are annoying but we ended...

The math is pretty open and easy to read, it’s just the lowest score once eveyone’s results are put together. Ties are annoying but we ended up with one. In year’s past, we’ve had more guys separate the KTM or Husky on their sheets due to a preference they found in one versus the other and this year that still happened, albeit not as much as they kind of sunk under the common top three you can see we mostly picked.

Please, take off the tin foil hat.

drt410 wrote:

Do anyone else find it fishy how the Honda and Kawi tied.... yet the KTM and Husky's never did. Its almost like they felt that they...

Do anyone else find it fishy how the Honda and Kawi tied.... yet the KTM and Husky's never did. Its almost like they felt that they had to separate them and say "NO this is NOT a white KTM" because it would fly in the face of what KTM is really doing here if they just came out and said yea since theyre literally the same bikes with a couple very small differences they tie. Instead they would make it so one would beat the other to create separation and the illusion of the two different bikes. Both great bikes btw....but come on guys. Yet in this years shootout two completely different bikes which undoubtably are much more different from each other than those two were miraculously tied. This makes absolutely ZEROOOO sense. Even in this very friggin shootout they didnt tie yet two completely different brands with two completely different bikes tied. When the Huskys first came out especially, they were literally 99.9% the exact same bike. Think about this...

ML512 wrote:

The math is pretty open and easy to read, it’s just the lowest score once eveyone’s results are put together. Ties are annoying but we ended...

The math is pretty open and easy to read, it’s just the lowest score once eveyone’s results are put together. Ties are annoying but we ended up with one. In year’s past, we’ve had more guys separate the KTM or Husky on their sheets due to a preference they found in one versus the other and this year that still happened, albeit not as much as they kind of sunk under the common top three you can see we mostly picked.

Please, take off the tin foil hat.

CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:

I think the OP might also be missing the point that the test riders didn’t score the Honda and Kawi as a tie in the individual...

I think the OP might also be missing the point that the test riders didn’t score the Honda and Kawi as a tie in the individual results, it’s the total scores from all 7 testers that add up to tie. KTM and Husky never tied because the scores never were the same.