Honda 450 Stability and Handling

captmoto
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captmoto

I thought during the SX season Hunter looked sketchy quite a few time in whoops and it really bit him in Detroit. Watching Hunter and Jett at Pala looked like a completely different bike. They looked really smooth, planted and seemed to steer with ease. There didn't seem to be any twitch or shake at all. Are they that far off in setup between SX and Outdoors? 

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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 6/1/2026 3:34pm
6/1/2026 3:34pm

I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit claimed a few other people too, I wouldn't blame the bike. Looks like they finally have the 25/26 platform bike in a good spot and now it's changing again. Gonna be a busy off season for them heading into 27. Anyone else think these OEM's are making too many changes to the bikes and trying to re-invent the wheel every four years? Meanwhile a bike from 2018 just won the SX title.

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kiwifan
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kiwifan 6/1/2026 3:52pm
6/1/2026 3:52pm

I saw all bikes bar Kenny's have setup issues, yes he won on what is basically a 2018 bike but that's why it's so well setup, it has not changed so settings are constant and reliable. 
 

captmoto
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captmoto 6/1/2026 4:37pm
6/1/2026 4:37pm
hubbardmx50 wrote:
I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit...

I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit claimed a few other people too, I wouldn't blame the bike. Looks like they finally have the 25/26 platform bike in a good spot and now it's changing again. Gonna be a busy off season for them heading into 27. Anyone else think these OEM's are making too many changes to the bikes and trying to re-invent the wheel every four years? Meanwhile a bike from 2018 just won the SX title.

All the hype Honda has put out about the 27s talk about direct input from MXGP and AMA Moto so we'll see if the hit the mark. It really sounds good on paper though.

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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 6/1/2026 4:45pm
6/1/2026 4:45pm
hubbardmx50 wrote:
I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit...

I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit claimed a few other people too, I wouldn't blame the bike. Looks like they finally have the 25/26 platform bike in a good spot and now it's changing again. Gonna be a busy off season for them heading into 27. Anyone else think these OEM's are making too many changes to the bikes and trying to re-invent the wheel every four years? Meanwhile a bike from 2018 just won the SX title.

captmoto wrote:
All the hype Honda has put out about the 27s talk about direct input from MXGP and AMA Moto so we'll see if the hit the...

All the hype Honda has put out about the 27s talk about direct input from MXGP and AMA Moto so we'll see if the hit the mark. It really sounds good on paper though.

I rode Hondas from 2009 to 2023. Been on a KX last three years but my next bike might be another Honda. I can't believe how much weight it lost while gaining horsepower and keeping the sound down. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Curious to see how it does in real world testing out at the Socal tracks. 

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PRM31
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PRM31 6/1/2026 5:00pm
6/1/2026 5:00pm
hubbardmx50 wrote:
I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit...

I thought Hunter's bike looked good throughout most of SX. Seems like after A2 he really got comfy and turned it on. Those whoops in Detroit claimed a few other people too, I wouldn't blame the bike. Looks like they finally have the 25/26 platform bike in a good spot and now it's changing again. Gonna be a busy off season for them heading into 27. Anyone else think these OEM's are making too many changes to the bikes and trying to re-invent the wheel every four years? Meanwhile a bike from 2018 just won the SX title.

captmoto wrote:
All the hype Honda has put out about the 27s talk about direct input from MXGP and AMA Moto so we'll see if the hit the...

All the hype Honda has put out about the 27s talk about direct input from MXGP and AMA Moto so we'll see if the hit the mark. It really sounds good on paper though.

They have been racing it, or a version of it, for the last two seasons in MXGP. My question is, just because it works for them, will it also work for my slow riding? It does look promising though. 

sandman768
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sandman768 6/1/2026 5:35pm
6/1/2026 5:35pm

Remember 1997….game changer👌

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MoogenKen
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MoogenKen 6/1/2026 7:13pm
6/1/2026 7:13pm
sandman768 wrote:

Remember 1997….game changer👌

….and it was. Everybody but KTM has an alloy frame now.

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CPR
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CPR 6/2/2026 4:37am
6/2/2026 4:37am

I thought I still saw that edginess when Hunter was pushing, however he didn’t want change anything for race two, so it must be sweet.

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