Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128384
be much easier, because of the quick-access side door: It is, however, a little challenging getting the filter on and off. "III Key Features: • DBI"IIIl, c:hrcIr-.nloIey .... fnune • MBrzocdIi fartc • 0hIns shock .Hanel"'" • AIumhIm haldeban • DWt8I odometerIcomputer • WElGKT· (No gas) 264 Ibs. Hand8 Key Features: • Aluminum fnune • 1WirH:hamber cartridge forte • 2.27.p1on gas taM • AlumInum handlebars • Quk:k~ air ftIalr • Green StIcker legal • WElGKT (No gas) • 259 Ibs. Of the four bikes. the Honda feels the biggest. It has a wider seat and tank than the rest, but the typically excellent Honda ergos pretty much make up for it. Still, it is a big-feeling bike, especially after just hopping off either the Yamaha or KTM. Despite its size. the Honda is still quite nimble and manageable when things get tight and technical. It steers wells - like a motocrosser - requiring very little input from the rider, and the suspension does a good job soaking up the bumps, though some of our testers felt that the stock suspension was a litde on the stiff side overall. This, however. makes the Honda one of the better choices for faster desert or grand prix-type races. Otherwise. the Honda is very stable and, overall. is quite easy to ride, especially in more open terrain. The Honda has excellent brakes, but what else is new? The Honda and Yamaha are fitted with mechanical odometers. which might not be as trick or as "cool" as the digital boxes on the KTM and the Gas Gas but are simple to use and reliable. We like that. The Honda - and the Yamaha, for that matter - does not corne stock with hand guards. (The hand guards on the Honda in the photos were left over from a race that we contested earlier.) Working on the Honda is pretty straightforward. but getting to the air filter could not The Gas Gas is surprisingly comfortable and really does not have that "Euro" feel we were expecting. In fact, the Gas Gas has remarkably neutral ergonomics. making it quite easy to adapt to. Hopping off either the Honda or the Yamaha and jumping right on the Gas Gas required little adjustment (except. of course. for the ultra-light-pull clutch). And the chassis is well balanced, too, much more so than the 250 EC two-stroke we tested earlier in the year. Both the front end and the back end worked well on the trail and over a variety of terrain. but the fork was a little on the springy side. Given a little time, we have no doubt that we could have gotten that worked out. but we did not give any of the bikes any special treatment when it came to in-depth suspension fine-tuning and such. We just rode them how you get them. Uke the Honda, the Gas Gas feels a bit chunky overall, mainly at the gas tank. and is noticeably the heaviest of the bunch - but not by much. It is not. by any means, what we would call a porker or cumbersome when it comes to 450cc thumper standards. but it is not quite as sharp or quick-handling as the other bikes, nor does it stick to the ground nearly as well. The stock Michelin tire up front is more suited for muddy conditions than it was on the mostly dry stuff that we rode it on. and the rear Euro ecology tire in the back just did not have enough meat to fill our appetite. Uke all of the bikes. the Gas Gas has very good brakes. The Gas Gas is tall but not really any taller than the KTM or the Honda, for that matter, but it has a fairly stiff seat, so you don't sink much into the bike. The aluminum handlebars are nice, and so are the wide and grippy foot- pegs. We did not have the patience to mess much with the somewhat confusing digital odometer. but, like with any electronic gadget. if you play around with it long enough, you will figure it out. Just like it was with the 250 MC. the spring-loaded kickstand is annoying. Working on the Gas Gas is not much fun. It takes multiple wrenches to adjust the levers, and reinstalling the seat is a two-man job - one to line up all the holes. and one to thread the bolts. Accessing the air filter is simple, though, via the tool-less left-side door entry.