Ktm 450 vs yz450

Davinci67
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Davinci67
Edited Date/Time 9/12/2022 9:47am
Looking for some personal experiences. I have a 2021.5 FE, great bike but I want a bit more chassis comfort better suspension. I have cone valves on the fe and it’s good but I prefer the feel of kyb. The other thing I’m looking for is a little more front end bite/traction. I already have a 2023 yz450 on order but curious to get some of your feedback from those that have switched from a 2019 or newer ktm 450 to a yz450. Thanks!
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mx4all 9/11/2022 1:36pm
9/11/2022 1:36pm
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
3
Davinci67
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Davinci67 9/11/2022 3:49pm
9/11/2022 3:49pm
Great insight, I’ve heard the same about the new 23’s.
MX558
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MX558 9/11/2022 6:56pm
9/11/2022 6:56pm
23 KTMs seem ok with the vet riders I know that go pretty good on them .
R VanKamp77
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R VanKamp77 9/11/2022 7:27pm
9/11/2022 7:27pm
mx4all wrote:
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel. The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and...
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
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ShirtOff
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ShirtOff 9/11/2022 7:51pm
9/11/2022 7:51pm
mx4all wrote:
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel. The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and...
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
R VanKamp77 wrote:
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my 22 mc350 is...
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes, and I still can't get the feel of the one time I rode a YZ 450f and felt that planted feeling which gave me more confidence in those few laps
2
Polish Power
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Polish Power 9/11/2022 8:13pm
9/11/2022 8:13pm
Davinci67 wrote:
Looking for some personal experiences. I have a 2021.5 FE, great bike but I want a bit more chassis comfort better suspension. I have cone valves...
Looking for some personal experiences. I have a 2021.5 FE, great bike but I want a bit more chassis comfort better suspension. I have cone valves on the fe and it’s good but I prefer the feel of kyb. The other thing I’m looking for is a little more front end bite/traction. I already have a 2023 yz450 on order but curious to get some of your feedback from those that have switched from a 2019 or newer ktm 450 to a yz450. Thanks!
If you want to stay with the ktm, reach out to Kris Keefer on his website. Hes done back to back comparisons with the ktm 450 he has and his yz450. He could probably get you steered in a better direction and give some good input. The ktm sounds like a great bike, its just a matter of getting it dialed in for you. I know if I bought any ktm, I would be switching to kyb inserts. I already lived the air fork life and want more consistent forks with less to worry about.

If you want to offload your ktm, why wait for a 23 when the 22 is already a good bike that needs very little other than setup.

I came off a 19 kx450, which everyone praises, and switched to a 21 yz450. The kx was a great bike, but lacked a few things i realized were more important to me. For me, i wanted the kyb suspension and more grunt from the engine. I wasnt crazy about the showa sticks on the kawi even after a revalve. I also had my 21 yz250f to compare it to at the time which really opened my eyes to how the kyb forks felt. Im very very happy with my choice. Im on the heavier side of the spectrum so good suspension and a strong engine are important to me.
2
tek14
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tek14 9/11/2022 11:38pm
9/11/2022 11:38pm
Liked KTM frame before it updated 2019. Never got new one as good. Been on Yamaha last couple years and it just feels better and have better suspension in stock. If 2023 is any better there is no reason to look after KTM other than 350cc motor.
PTshox
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PTshox 9/12/2022 12:14am
9/12/2022 12:14am
Hmm.. I have a 2016 KTM 350 XCF. I've gutted the fork and put in some Smart Performance parts. I've revalved the shock and have a luxon knuckle on it

I also have a 2020 YZ250FX with a BB kit and Hot cams. I did revalve and spring it to my liking too... I do my own suspension valving.

I rode them back to back one day. I came away liking the YZ FX more. A lot. This gen KTM - compared to the YZ FX - feels tall and long in the chassis. And it also feels twitchy. The rear end wants to kick out under power. I could do more suspension work to dial some of it in.. but the bike just feels like what I described (tall, long, twitchy - back end wants to come out under power). I do like the brakes! LOL.

The YZ FX feels more compact and more stable. Turns better. Actually has a little better 1/16 to 1/8 throttle opening low end. Which was a surprise.

While I like the mid range and top end pull of the KTM... when I go riding... the KTM stays at home 90% of the time. It's just not as fun to ride. And I ride to have fun!
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mx4all 9/12/2022 1:06am
9/12/2022 1:06am
mx4all wrote:
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel. The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and...
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
R VanKamp77 wrote:
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my 22 mc350 is...
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
Nah.. the new chassi has more weight on the front tire than previous models so it probably has a little bit better front tire grip. But the bike is sketchy when going fast on it.. rear end kicks and the front fork feels very very harsh and the front tire vobbles when going 3-4 gear pinned into a corner with breaking bumps.

I have rebuild my conevalve and trax multiple times to try to find a good setting where the bike feels reliable and stable as the earlier bikes did but unfortionally we cant figure it out. Dont know if different links and stuff maybe could solve it but I got 20h testing on it and I am just over it.

on the positive side:
Love the engine and how the bike corners.. wheels is improved, spokes doesnt come loose.. quick shift is amazing specially on starts and uphills, the electric wireing is improved on the new bike and the air box cover for washing the bike is better. Also the buttons on the handlebar is improved.
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wm741
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wm741 9/12/2022 2:14am
9/12/2022 2:14am
mx4all wrote:
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel. The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and...
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
R VanKamp77 wrote:
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my 22 mc350 is...
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
ShirtOff wrote:
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes...
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes, and I still can't get the feel of the one time I rode a YZ 450f and felt that planted feeling which gave me more confidence in those few laps
I had the exact same issue with my 19.5 husky and 21 GG until I put KYB forks on it. It’s like the air forks don’t have enough weight to them to give the front end a planted feel for me.
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Hodge336
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Hodge336 9/12/2022 4:58am
9/12/2022 4:58am
I feel this way with my KTM 250sxf. Didn’t realize how twitchy it was until I rode a friends YZ 250f and felt how planted and stable that thing was. I got back on mine and tried to push it like the yz and crashed going up the face of a jump and got 21 fractures, mostly ribs. I obviously have to say I’m the one that crashed but it has me wanting that stable feeling again so I will probably have a yz for next year.
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R VanKamp77
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R VanKamp77 9/12/2022 6:35am
9/12/2022 6:35am
mx4all wrote:
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel. The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and...
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
R VanKamp77 wrote:
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my 22 mc350 is...
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
ShirtOff wrote:
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes...
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes, and I still can't get the feel of the one time I rode a YZ 450f and felt that planted feeling which gave me more confidence in those few laps
Yamaha Demo day is coming up next weekend for me.. The truth shall be known in 6 days lmao.
1
R VanKamp77
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R VanKamp77 9/12/2022 6:37am
9/12/2022 6:37am
R VanKamp77 wrote:
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my 22 mc350 is...
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
ShirtOff wrote:
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes...
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes, and I still can't get the feel of the one time I rode a YZ 450f and felt that planted feeling which gave me more confidence in those few laps
wm741 wrote:
I had the exact same issue with my 19.5 husky and 21 GG until I put KYB forks on it. It’s like the air forks don’t...
I had the exact same issue with my 19.5 husky and 21 GG until I put KYB forks on it. It’s like the air forks don’t have enough weight to them to give the front end a planted feel for me.
I want to ride a spring conversion so bad before i jump ship. I don't know what it is about the air fork but I cant fall in love with it. I had JBI valve mine and it made a world of difference, but it's still not like my YZ, and I think YZ 2 strokes handle like boats.
wm741
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wm741 9/12/2022 7:07am
9/12/2022 7:07am
R VanKamp77 wrote:
I want to ride a spring conversion so bad before i jump ship. I don't know what it is about the air fork but I cant...
I want to ride a spring conversion so bad before i jump ship. I don't know what it is about the air fork but I cant fall in love with it. I had JBI valve mine and it made a world of difference, but it's still not like my YZ, and I think YZ 2 strokes handle like boats.
So I will say this, I still didn’t like mine with just the forks. The shock just didn’t want to play well with it. According to Billy at PB and a couple of others, the way the valving works on the WP shock, it’s hard to get them to work together. Ross at Enzo built me one of his rear KYB kits for my WP shock and it was an absolute game changer. Hard to justify spending that kinda cash again when the yamaha appears to be more on the sale playing field as the KTM brands now.
R VanKamp77
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R VanKamp77 9/12/2022 9:47am
9/12/2022 9:47am
R VanKamp77 wrote:
I want to ride a spring conversion so bad before i jump ship. I don't know what it is about the air fork but I cant...
I want to ride a spring conversion so bad before i jump ship. I don't know what it is about the air fork but I cant fall in love with it. I had JBI valve mine and it made a world of difference, but it's still not like my YZ, and I think YZ 2 strokes handle like boats.
wm741 wrote:
So I will say this, I still didn’t like mine with just the forks. The shock just didn’t want to play well with it. According to...
So I will say this, I still didn’t like mine with just the forks. The shock just didn’t want to play well with it. According to Billy at PB and a couple of others, the way the valving works on the WP shock, it’s hard to get them to work together. Ross at Enzo built me one of his rear KYB kits for my WP shock and it was an absolute game changer. Hard to justify spending that kinda cash again when the yamaha appears to be more on the sale playing field as the KTM brands now.
I agree. I don't want the best bike ever, I just want a bike that works well and I'm not seeming to find it. I don't think my MC is all that at the moment and I refuse to keep dumping money into it ):
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Davinci67
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Davinci67 9/12/2022 2:43pm
9/12/2022 2:43pm
mx4all wrote:
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel. The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and...
I got a 23 350 sxf and the previous years ktms got better chassi and suspension feel.
The new bike is a bit nervous, ridgid and give me headshake when going fast into turns.

On the positive side it corners well and the quick shift is Nice.

Bump ubsorbtion is way worse than earlier bikes. I have tried 3 different conevalve forks and trax and about 10 different settings but it is impossible to get it as comfy as my previous bikes 350 2020 and 450 2021.5 .
Also tried different triple clamps and the stock suspension ofcourse.

I am fast and it seems like slower riders doesnt feel this as much as I do.

I have ordered a yz450f-23.. I give up on the orange machine. Never thought I would go blue again. Been on orange since -16.
R VanKamp77 wrote:
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my 22 mc350 is...
Do you feel like the bike just doesn’t want to get any traction in the front? The best way I can describe my
22 mc350 is that it’s like the front wheel is always on a slick surface. That, and the forks are always harsh.
ShirtOff wrote:
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes...
That's the exact feeling I get on my 19 450 fe. All the suspension work, tire changes, rear suspension changes, playing with sag, fork height changes, and I still can't get the feel of the one time I rode a YZ 450f and felt that planted feeling which gave me more confidence in those few laps
Same here. I’ve tried re-valving the rear shock twice, cone valves and it still isn’t great. I’m hoping this yz gives me a more stable feel throughout the chassis and of course better suspension right off the floor.
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