23.5 FC 450 common man feedback

yamahaha131
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yamahaha131
Edited Date/Time 10/19/2023 8:12pm

I've been on Yamahas forever but briefly had a 19.5 fc 450 and loved the handling/front end feel.

I'm a decent Vet B rider on east coast style tracks. Currently looking at a low hour 22 standard sxf450 but a 23.5 fc450 popped up for a great price, less than 3 hours on it.  Looking for feedback. How does this thing handle for real world guys. I know the forks don't have the KYB SSS comfort. I can deal with that. I do wish it didn't gain 6lbs.  I loved the previous gen FC balance and front end feel. All opinions appreciated!

 

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tmauto769 10/20/2023 4:07am
10/20/2023 4:07am

while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23 crf450r for comparison. This is the first ktm that I would take over any Japanese brand. I have rode every generation ktm before this one and just didn't gel with them. No it doesn't have that KYB comfort but the front tire grip on a flat corner is insane compared to my two bikes. I felt at home on it right away, and that will probably be the next bike I buy, maybe not the FE but this current generation.

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mxb2
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mxb2 10/20/2023 4:30am
10/20/2023 4:30am
tmauto769 wrote:
while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23...

while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23 crf450r for comparison. This is the first ktm that I would take over any Japanese brand. I have rode every generation ktm before this one and just didn't gel with them. No it doesn't have that KYB comfort but the front tire grip on a flat corner is insane compared to my two bikes. I felt at home on it right away, and that will probably be the next bike I buy, maybe not the FE but this current generation.

Ktm fe better than the yzf, crf?

wrc777
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wrc777 10/20/2023 7:42am
10/20/2023 7:42am

Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks will keep getting smoother the first ~20 hours. If they start to feel sticky loosen the front axle clamp bolts and cycle the fork a few times and then retighten. 

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yamahaha131
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yamahaha131 10/20/2023 3:57pm
10/20/2023 3:57pm
tmauto769 wrote:
while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23...

while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23 crf450r for comparison. This is the first ktm that I would take over any Japanese brand. I have rode every generation ktm before this one and just didn't gel with them. No it doesn't have that KYB comfort but the front tire grip on a flat corner is insane compared to my two bikes. I felt at home on it right away, and that will probably be the next bike I buy, maybe not the FE but this current generation.

Thanks for feedback! The 18-22 yamaha is amazing machine. Just looking for that front end feel esp on flat turns like you've described 

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yamahaha131
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yamahaha131 10/20/2023 3:58pm
10/20/2023 3:58pm
wrc777 wrote:
Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks...

Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks will keep getting smoother the first ~20 hours. If they start to feel sticky loosen the front axle clamp bolts and cycle the fork a few times and then retighten. 

Thanks for the feedback! 

crc245
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crc245 10/20/2023 6:32pm
10/20/2023 6:32pm

Even if the price difference between the two is minimal, I’d go 2022 450 SX-F all day long. More similar to the 19.5 FC you gelled with, lighter, and a known entity that’s softer/more compliant for a majority of riders. The black 2023.5 FC frame looks WAY better than the blue on standard FC’s, will likely hold better resale value being newer, but feels just a bit different being the latest generation…Keep us updated and enjoy whichever direction you choose

mg311
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mg311 10/21/2023 5:09am
10/21/2023 5:09am

i had 20.5 rockstar and before ,20  ktm 350,19 crf 450,18 yzf 450  now I have 23.5 rockstar and I love it, for me is the perfect balance: front tire feeling and stability, not stable like old one but way better on ruts and jump also more precise, suspension after 10 hours are perfect I have only 2 problems one is the insert on fmf doesn't fit its too little it moves inside (you have to ride without),second I heard at 30 hours some shock on 24 bikes explode...I'm afraid about this..I like a lot this new platform and this week I bought also the 24  te 300 pro but on enduro bike I don't like suspension and I put on it pro suspension and old cone valve with new setting and a new pro shock pit enduro setting 

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lumpy790
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lumpy790 10/21/2023 7:24am
10/21/2023 7:24am
mg311 wrote:
i had 20.5 rockstar and before ,20  ktm 350,19 crf 450,18 yzf 450  now I have 23.5 rockstar and I love it, for me is the...

i had 20.5 rockstar and before ,20  ktm 350,19 crf 450,18 yzf 450  now I have 23.5 rockstar and I love it, for me is the perfect balance: front tire feeling and stability, not stable like old one but way better on ruts and jump also more precise, suspension after 10 hours are perfect I have only 2 problems one is the insert on fmf doesn't fit its too little it moves inside (you have to ride without),second I heard at 30 hours some shock on 24 bikes explode...I'm afraid about this..I like a lot this new platform and this week I bought also the 24  te 300 pro but on enduro bike I don't like suspension and I put on it pro suspension and old cone valve with new setting and a new pro shock pit enduro setting 

Can you please Explain shock exploding that you heard about? 

onefiveight
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onefiveight 10/21/2023 9:08am
10/21/2023 9:08am

I have the gasgas FE 450 coming off a 19 kx. The fork is not as plush but it is predictable. I agree, the traction through turns feels like a cheat code.

suspensionguy 10/21/2023 12:05pm
10/21/2023 12:05pm

Don’t forget the FC is 10mm shorter, I think that alone makes for better handling and feel. 

mg311
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mg311 10/21/2023 1:36pm
10/21/2023 1:36pm
suspensionguy wrote:

Don’t forget the FC is 10mm shorter, I think that alone makes for better handling and feel. 

rockstar edition is same as ktm

yamahaha131
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yamahaha131 10/21/2023 1:59pm
10/21/2023 1:59pm
crc245 wrote:
Even if the price difference between the two is minimal, I’d go 2022 450 SX-F all day long. More similar to the 19.5 FC you gelled...

Even if the price difference between the two is minimal, I’d go 2022 450 SX-F all day long. More similar to the 19.5 FC you gelled with, lighter, and a known entity that’s softer/more compliant for a majority of riders. The black 2023.5 FC frame looks WAY better than the blue on standard FC’s, will likely hold better resale value being newer, but feels just a bit different being the latest generation…Keep us updated and enjoy whichever direction you choose

22 sxf has 8 hours, 23.5 fc has 2.9 hours. FC is $1,000 more. Does the front end feel "heavy" on the 23.5 FC? I rode an 18 sxf 350 and it felt like way unbalance like all the weight was on the front tire. Wasn't a fan of that feel. 


the 19.5 I owned I felt super connected with the front end but didn't feel heavy if that makes sense. 
 

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Just trying to not spend $7500-8500 on a bike I don't really like. 

lumpy790
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lumpy790 10/21/2023 4:35pm
10/21/2023 4:35pm

True story but if you do not want to buy one …. Do not ride one!

I thought my old butt on a 08 YZ450F was good enough till a friend with a new 2016 FC450 said take it for a ride. Sold the blue tank and bought a Factory Edition ….. they handle that well!!! I’m on a Rockstar Edition now.

tmauto769 10/21/2023 5:01pm
10/21/2023 5:01pm
wrc777 wrote:
Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks...

Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks will keep getting smoother the first ~20 hours. If they start to feel sticky loosen the front axle clamp bolts and cycle the fork a few times and then retighten. 

See i didn't feel that. I have heard that from a lot of different places, but I guess coming from an aluminum frame I didn't notice any more stiffness than the other two bikes I have.

tmauto769 10/21/2023 5:08pm
10/21/2023 5:08pm
tmauto769 wrote:
while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23...

while not totally the same bike, but a friend of mine bought a 23.5 FE 450SXF in July. I have a 22 yz450f and a 23 crf450r for comparison. This is the first ktm that I would take over any Japanese brand. I have rode every generation ktm before this one and just didn't gel with them. No it doesn't have that KYB comfort but the front tire grip on a flat corner is insane compared to my two bikes. I felt at home on it right away, and that will probably be the next bike I buy, maybe not the FE but this current generation.

mxb2 wrote:

Ktm fe better than the yzf, crf?

for me, absolutely. I do like the 22 yz450 a lot, the cornering just sucks on it though.

wrc777
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wrc777 10/21/2023 5:36pm
10/21/2023 5:36pm
wrc777 wrote:
Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks...

Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks will keep getting smoother the first ~20 hours. If they start to feel sticky loosen the front axle clamp bolts and cycle the fork a few times and then retighten. 

tmauto769 wrote:
See i didn't feel that. I have heard that from a lot of different places, but I guess coming from an aluminum frame I didn't notice...

See i didn't feel that. I have heard that from a lot of different places, but I guess coming from an aluminum frame I didn't notice any more stiffness than the other two bikes I have.

Did you notice it felt more “alive” after a few hours?

yamahaha131
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yamahaha131 10/21/2023 6:33pm
10/21/2023 6:33pm
lumpy790 wrote:
True story but if you do not want to buy one …. Do not ride one! I thought my old butt on a 08 YZ450F was...

True story but if you do not want to buy one …. Do not ride one!

I thought my old butt on a 08 YZ450F was good enough till a friend with a new 2016 FC450 said take it for a ride. Sold the blue tank and bought a Factory Edition ….. they handle that well!!! I’m on a Rockstar Edition now.

What year is your RE?

tmauto769 10/22/2023 9:32am
10/22/2023 9:32am
wrc777 wrote:
Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks...

Just don’t be bummed when it feels like riding a block of wood the first 5-10 hours. The frame will feel dead until then. The forks will keep getting smoother the first ~20 hours. If they start to feel sticky loosen the front axle clamp bolts and cycle the fork a few times and then retighten. 

tmauto769 wrote:
See i didn't feel that. I have heard that from a lot of different places, but I guess coming from an aluminum frame I didn't notice...

See i didn't feel that. I have heard that from a lot of different places, but I guess coming from an aluminum frame I didn't notice any more stiffness than the other two bikes I have.

wrc777 wrote:

Did you notice it felt more “alive” after a few hours?

I rode it the first day he had it out, then he put a stiffer shock spring on it at about 3-4hrs and I didn't dig it so much. Now he has went back to the stock spring so I will have to ride it again as it has about 6 or 7 hrs on it now.

lumpy790
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lumpy790 10/22/2023 12:21pm
10/22/2023 12:21pm
lumpy790 wrote:
True story but if you do not want to buy one …. Do not ride one! I thought my old butt on a 08 YZ450F was...

True story but if you do not want to buy one …. Do not ride one!

I thought my old butt on a 08 YZ450F was good enough till a friend with a new 2016 FC450 said take it for a ride. Sold the blue tank and bought a Factory Edition ….. they handle that well!!! I’m on a Rockstar Edition now.

yamahaha131 wrote:

What year is your RE?

18

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