2021 450 Big and Tall MX Shootout

Presented by Fasthouse

Earlier this month, we published our 2021 450 MX Shootout. When setting up a bike during pre-production testing, manufacturers have a target weight range for potential consumers, as it is impossible to produce a bike that will be perfect for everyone. On a 450cc motocross bike, the target weight range that manufacturers aim for is 175 to 185 pounds. Riders that lie above or below that weight range, or are exceptionally fast, will usually need more adjustments than a simple click or two on the compression adjusters can provide.
We know that a lot of riders who purchase a 450 MX bike are vets who may tip the scales on the heavier side, so we decided to conduct a mini shootout of sorts to see if the bikes stack up differently for a rider who is on the larger and taller side. Last year, we put together the inaugural Big and Tall 450 Shootout with the help of our advertising sales manager, Dominic Gaytan, and it was a massive success. (Pun intended!) This year, we decided to. make our Big and Tall Shootout even larger (pun intended), so we enlisted two more riders who fall outside the target weight range. David O’Connor is a 40-year-old who has spent plenty of time on the opposite side of the motorcycle as a technician and media relations manager at KTM USA. Now a free-lance motorcycle mechanic, the Irishman was glad to accept our invitation to help with our supplementary shootout. Jason Jones, meanwhile, is a 22-year-old construction worker who has been a regular in the AMSOIL Swapmoto Race Series for years. 

Each tester was instructed to offer their opinions of each bike in stock condition, knowing well that they would have to turn to the aftermarket for help fine-tuning them further down the road. All manufacturers were invited to attend so that they could best set up their machines for each test rider. The bikes were all outfitted with the excellent Maxxis ST soft terrain tire, which works amazingly well at Cahuilla Creek, and Backyard Design provided pre-printed backgrounds for the fleet. So, how did the bikes compare? Much of the finishing order was predictable, but there were a couple of big surprises! Read on to see what our panel of three big fellas thought of the 2021 machines.

And remember, this shootout is a collection of opinions of a group of riders, and we do not profess our rankings to be the end-all, be-all. If you’re in the market for a new 2021 450 dirt bike, do your own research, take some test rides, and weigh all the factors such as your locale, your ability, your height and weight, and potential dealer support. There is no bad bike in 2021 and each of them can be fine-tuned to suit your unique tastes and preferences. In this feature, we compared them as-is, in bone-stock condition. With a couple of well-chosen mods, any of them could have come out on top!

Dominic “The Program” Gaytan

Dominic Gaytan

Age: 47

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 255 lbs.

Ability: Vet Intermediate

Bikes Recently Raced/Ridden: 2020 KTM 450 SX-F

1. KTM 450 SX-F
2. Yamaha YZ450F
3. Kawasaki KX450
4. Honda CRF450R
5. Husqvarna FC 450

“I picked the KTM 450 SX-F first because it is the all-around and best -fitting bike for me. The engine pulls very hard and has no problem moving my girth around the track…the powerband is like a tractor! The WP air fork’s adjustability is amazing and allowed me to get it nearly firm enough up front. The ergonomics are also perfect for me, I love the mapping and traction control options, and the bike’s handling character is amazing. The bike corners like it is on rails and remains stable at high speeds.”

“It was a very close second for me with the Yamaha YZ450F. I would say the motor is better than the KTM’s and even more fun to ride. The Power Tuner App is unbeatable and you can make the YZ450F into whatever you want with a few seconds on your iPhone.The Yamaha’s handling is great as the bike feels planted to the ground, and I never had any trouble getting forward onto the tank in the corners to get weight on the front end. The suspension is obviously too soft for me, but it was the best feeling of all the mechanical spring forks. I didn’t care for the bars, and the seat height is a little low.”

“A very close third for me was the Kawasaki KX450 as this bike in stock form fits me very well. And that was with the footpegs in the standard-setting…taller guys can make the bike even roomier. Still, the ergonomics are perfect for me. The engine is also very fun to ride with a broad, smooth spread of power throughout the rpm range. It’s a bummer that you have to physically change the ignition couplers to get a different EFI map. The hydraulic clutch has been improved over last year’s and has a nice, positive feel.”

“Fourth for me was the new Honda CRF450R. Just sitting on the stand, the Honda looks so sexy and trick. Unfortunately, this is not a beauty pageant. The engine EFI mapping was not very crisp and the bike had a bit of a blubber of sorts down low, right off of idle. I could never get comfortable on the bike as it feels small and somewhat cramped for a taller guy. The suspension was very, very, soft for me, and had a harsh feel in the small chop because it was riding so low. This was the softest bike by far.”

‘Fifth for me was the Husqvarna FC 450. People think this bike and the KTM should be the same but they are not. The Husky engine is not punchy enough for me and it felt like a trail bike. Personally, I would like more response and snap to get me out of corners and over obstacles. The bike is very easy to ride, mind you, but I would like some more excitement. The bike also had a very long feel and the lower read end just made the shock exhibit a very dead feeling. The ergonomics are ok, but the bike felt small to me. I would need taller bars, some engine work, and stiffer suspension.

“Overall, any of these five bikes can be set up to my liking with some suspension work. As it stands, I’ve decided to spend the year on the Husqvarna FC 450. With some suspension work, some mapping, and an aftermarket exhaust, and that big #11 on the numberplates it will be dialed!”

Jason “SABS” Jones

Jason Jones

Age: 22

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 202 lbs.

Ability: Intermediate

Bikes Recently Raced/Ridden: 2006 Yamaha YZ250, 2017 Honda CRF450R 

1. Honda CRF450R
2. Yamaha YZ450F
3. KTM 450 SX-F
4. Husqvarna FC 450
5. Kawasaki KX450

“I chose the Honda CRF450R as my favorite because I felt like I could ride it the hardest out of all the bikes. I was very comfortable on it from the first lap, It has great power but it is not as hard-hitting as the others, so I felt like that put me in better control of the motorcycle, and it also didn’t make me as tired as some of the others. All modern 450s are fast and although the Honda is not the most powerful, it is certainly not slow. I definitely noticed that the Honda was the softest for me in the shootout, but I never felt that typical nasty clunk when bottoming. It remained controllable and predictable for me in all situations.”

The Yamaha YZ450F is a fantastic bike with tons and tons of power. I felt great today while riding the Yamaha and had tons of fun playing around with the huge amounts of power it has. The bike doesn’t care if you lug it or wring it out! This bike is all power, all of the time. I liked the way the 2021 handed better than any Yamahas I have ridden previously. The bike never does anything unpredictable and I felt confident on it from the moment I got on it. The bike was firmer than the others and held up with my weight the best.”

The KTM 450 SX-F impressed me very much. The power is strong and usable, and even without the traction control on, it seems to really put the power to the ground quite well. The map switch didn’t make a big difference for me but a more-skilled rider would probably be able to differentiate the two settings. I was comfortable on the KTM almost immediately and I like the way that the steel frame soaks up some of the vibration and impacts. The suspension was nice and plush but it bottomed harshly for me. The bike feels very light in the air and inspires confidence everywhere.”

“I was surprised to learn that for me, the Husqvarna FC 450 was far less enjoyable than the KTM 450 SX-F. The Husky suspension was harsher in braking bumps and on hard landings, and it inspired far less confidence in rough sections of the track than the KTM. I liked the Husky powerband as it was smooth and easy to control, and I also noticed that the FC vibrated less than the SX-F. Again I couldn’t really detect a huge difference between the Map 1 and Map 2 settings.”

“The 2021 Kawasaki KX450 has a strong motor that carries tons of power throughout the rpm range. For some reason, though, I never felt confident in the transmission as I missed a few shifts and never felt confident that the bike was in gear completely. The bike likes to steer with the rear end and that is not how I like to ride. It gets into ruts and leans over very well, but the back end has a wandering feel in faster sweepers. I feel like the Kawasaki has great potential, but it just doesn’t suit my riding style. I would have liked to have ranked it higher, seeing as how it won the original SML Shootout.”

David O’Connor “McGregor”

David O’Connor

Age: 40

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 230 lbs.

Ability: Vet Novice

Bikes Recently Raced/Ridden: 2020 KTM 350 SX-F

1. Kawasaki KX450
2. Husqvarna FC 450
3. KTM 450 SX-F
4. Yamaha YZ450F
5. Honda CRF450R 

“After working for KTM for so many years, I was worried about being uncomfortable on a bike that was not made in Austria. Two laps in, however, I was loving the Kawasaki KX450 and its free-revving engine. The thing pulls to the limiter! Power is smooth and easy to control, and the mapping is crisp responsive. The Kawasaki is very stable, yet corners surprisingly well. I felt like I knew what both wheels were doing at all times. The bike is very slim and it feels very light while riding it. My only complaints? The stock grips are not good and it would be nice to change the mapping on the fly. Still, I loved this bike!”

“I get on great with the steel=framed bikes and this was my first time riding on the new lowered WP suspension. I loved how the bike cornered and it still had great straight-line stability. The powerband is very smooth and easy to ride, and the bike puts the power to the ground quite well. The suspension is really good in stock condition and very easy to set up. The air fork was easy to stiffen up for my weight, but I’d need a firmer shock spring for sure. The handlebar to footpeg to seat triangle is very comfortable. The Husky has the best brakes, and the Pro Taper bars and ODI Grips are a nice touch.”

“I got on the KTM 450 SX-F thinking that it would be my favorite bike since I normally race a KTM, but I was surprised to learn that I liked the Husqvarna’s lower suspension better, and I really preferred the Kawasaki’s powerband. The KTM is a bike that lasts a long time and I would have the most faith in buying one. the KTM is very stable in bumps and it is the lightest bike to ride. It is easy to put in laps on without getting tired The power is easy to put to the ground and you don’t realize how fast you are really going on it.”

“The Yamaha is unbelievable powerful! You could strap the YZ450F engine into a rocket and I am sure it would make it to the moon! It has tons of torque out of the corners and the bike never seems to rev out. I like the smartphone tuning app that allows you to make it run however you’d like. The Yamaha’s KYB fork and shock are the best for comfort and the balance is perfect. Bottoming resistance was surprisingly great for my weight, So why didn’t I rank it higher? The bike feels heavy and is a little hard to lean into corners. The standing and gripping with your knees position is very narrow but sitting in the corners, the bike feels very wide between my legs. I am also of average height and the other two guys are tall, so that’s why it was more of an issue for me.”

‘The Honda CRF450R has a very nice rider triangle, but within a half-lap, I knew I needed to pull in for some comfort adjustments. The bike is very soft – which is to be expected for my weight – but it was much softer than the other bikes. It was very harsh in braking bumps and acceleration chop, and the bike had a lot of weight transfer, front to rear. The engine mapping was right off the bottom and in tight corners, but it does pull quite far in each gear, and especially third. The transmission is buttery smooth and the mapping switch is easy to use, even though it looks a bit intimidating. I think it is a great first-year model, and with some suspension and ECU changes, the bike would move quite far up the ranks for me.

2021 KTM 450 SX-F | Swapmoto Live Big and Tall 450 Bike of the Year

Thanks to its plentiful powerband the boasts loads of torque and throttle response, WP XACT 48 air fork that is easy to stiffen up, and forgiving steel chassis, the 2021 KTM 450 SX-F was the most popular bike among our panel of oversized test riders. Perhaps Dominic put it best, saying, “For me, the bike is just hard to beat. The mapping is spot on and offers two distinctly different powerbands. I am a fan of map 2 as it gets to the meat of the powerband much quicker. The easy map changes and traction control is perfect. The motor is just so much fun to ride and it revs to the moon, The KTM ergos are perfect, especially for taller riders like myself. I love it.”

Stay tuned for the Big and Tall 450 Shootout Video, dropping Tuesday morning!