P90
2020 450 MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
SHOOTOUT
H O N D A C R F 4 5 0 R
There are not a lot of nuts and bolts
changes to the Honda, but the CRF450R
did pick up some neat new tricks for
2020. All-new Honda Selectable Torque
Control (HSTC) offers three levels of
traction control at the push of a handlebar
button (with the fourth option of off).
Front and rear suspension are revised with
updated valving, and the battery has been
repositioned lower for more centralized
mass—Honda says this also provides
smoother air intake. New rear brake-pad
material rounds out the changes to the
red machine.
THE CAST
K T M 4 5 0 S X - F
Consider it a "refinement year" for KTM.
After revealing an all-new frame and
engine in 2019, the 2020 450 SX-F saw
only a few changes, mostly shared with
its Husky cousin. Suspension updates
include a new piston in the fork, the flatter
top said to provide better comfort on
the initial stroke. Updated shock settings
complement the revised fork. The SX-F
comes with two airbox covers, one vented
and one sealed so you can tailor the power
analog-style. Engine maps 1 and 2 are now
more distinct, and the rear sprocket gains
a tooth, going from 48 to 49.
H U S Q VA R N A F C 4 5 0
Like its orange Austrian counterpoint, the
Husqvarna receives only light changes for
2020. Suspension gets softer, particularly
in the AER48 XACT fork. The plusher
setting curbs the harshness from the
mid-stroke, according to Husqvarna. The
FC 450 now comes with both a vented
and sealed airbox cover, the vented unit
offering significantly more airflow to the
engine. Engine maps 1 and 2 are little
more distinct, designed to work with the
increased airbox flow. The rear sprocket
goes from a 48 to a 49, completing the
changes to the 2020.
