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
2005 450cc Four-Stroke Off-Rood Shootout Last Check We must admit that when it comes to shootouts. we thought this one would be a slam-dunk. but it ended up being a lot closer to call than we had expected. Yes. the KTM retains its crown like we thought it would. but the all-new Honda and completely revamped Yamaha made it a "race" to the finish. And the Gas Gas came out of nowhere to give the Honda and Yamaha a run for their money. One word pretty much describes why the KTM finished on top of our list: versali/e. It just does not seem to matter where you ride the KTM. it handles everything well and is fun to ride. From tight to wide open. the KTM just works. The battle for second place came down to the Yamaha and Honda. and it was a fight all the way. If this were hockey, we would Simply declare a tie for second-place honors and call it a day. but that would be cheating. The votes were split down the middle between the X and the WR. some rating the WR above the X for its lightweight feeling and agility on the trail. while the others preferred the X over the WR for its awesome motor and stable handling. Overall, everyone agreed that the Yamaha was a little better in the tight stuff. and that the Honda was a little better in the fast stuff. So why then did we pick the Honda over the Yamaha? Mainly because you can take the thing right off the showroom floor and race it, the muffler never needs repacking, and the plastic holds up better. We know. we know. these are minor things. but when it gets this close. you have to start nit-picking. The Gas Gas was a pleasant surprise. Had Yamaha not stepped it up this year, the Gas Gas might have even finished out this shootout on the podium. It has a great motor. the fuel·injection system works flawlessly, it handles well, and it is rather comfortable. Unfortunately, the Gas Gas is impossible to start manually, comes with a useless eco back tire. and can be a pain to work on. Plus. the forks could use some TLC, but that is about it for the bugs. Otherwise. the Gas Gas is a bike worth looking into, especially if you want something a little different. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2005 Honda CRF450X LIST PRICE: ENGINE TYPE: $6999 Liquld-cooled, singlecylinder. 4-stroke DISPLACEMENT: 449cc 96mm x 62mm BORE & STROKE: COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.0: I VALVE TRAIN: Unicam.4-valve Keihin 40mm flat-slide CARBURETION: w/throtde-position sensor LUBRICATION: Twin-sump IGNITION: CDI STARTING: Electric and kick TRANSMISSION: Wide-ratio 5-speed FINAL DRIVE: ......#520 T-ring-sealed chain; In/SIT CLUTCH: Wet multi-disc clutch, cable operated FRAME: Fourth-generation twin-spar 2005 Yamaha WR450F 2005 KTM 450 EXC Gas Gas Enducross FSE-450 ................................................................$6599 ............Liquid-cooled. single-cylinder. 4-stroke ............................................................$7298 .................. , , ,.447.92cc ............................................................$7295 ........ Liquid-cooled. single-cylinder. 4-stroke ..................................................................449cc ................................... ".." ..".95mm x 63.4mm 12.3:1 ...... , ......................DOHC, 5-valve. titanium valves ..........Keihin 39mm FCR flat-slide w/throtde- ........ Liquid-cooled. single-cylinder. 4-stroke ..............................................89mmx 72mm ................................................................ 11:1 ..............................................SOHC. 4-valve ........................................ Keihin MX FCR 39 ..............................................................449cc ............................................9Smm x 62.6mm ................................................................ N/A ..................... , DOHC. 4-valve ........................................Magneti Marelli EFI ..........................................................Wetsump ........................................................Digital COl ................................................Electric and kick ..........................................Wide-ratio 5-speed ................................................................#520 ......pressure lubrication with 2 Eaton pumps .................................... Kokusan digital 4K-3B ............................................ Electric and kick ........................................Wide-ratio 6-speed .................................X-Ring chain, 14T/T50 .......... , , , Wet sump ................................................................CDI .................. " Electric and kick ........................................Wide-ratio 6-speed , , #520 chain .................. ,., ....................................Wet multi-disc clutch. cable operated ................. ,Semi-double-cradle. chrome-moly ....................................Wet multi-disc clutch• operated hydraulically ..............Semi-double-cradle, chrome-moly .. ...... ..48mm inverted Kayaba fork w/reboundand compression-damping adjustability ..48mm inverted Wp, w/adjustable reboundand compression-damping ....Kayaba single-shock w/adjustable spring preload. rebound- and compression-damping adjustment, and separate high/low-speed compression adjuster ..........WP-PDS Single-shock w/rebound- and .............................................................. 11.8in. .............................................................. 12.0 in. Single 2S0mm disc w/twin-piston caliper .......................................................... 11.11 in, . 10.2 in. Single 260mm disc w/twin-piston caliper " 11.8 in. .. 12.8 in, ..................5ingle 260mm disc w/twin-piston ............................................Slngle 245mm disc ............................................801 I 00-21 Dunlop .......................................... 1101100-18 Dunlop ......................................................... ,..58,46 in. ...................................................................... NA .............................................................. 38.0 in. ......................................................... ,.. 14.57 in. ..........................................244 Ibs. (actual 2S9) ........................................................ ,.......2,1 gal. ........................................5ingle 220mm disc ........................80/100-21 Bridgestone M402 ...................... I 10/100-18 Bridgestone M403 ..........................................................58.3 in. ............................. , 63.500/4.41 in . ....................................... , 36.42 in. ........................................................ 14.96 in. ..............................248.7Ibs. (actual 253 Ibs.) 2.1 gal . .......... , ..............................5Ingle 220mm disc, Nissin ..........................................90/90-21 Michelin .... "" " .. 140/80-18 Michelin . , 59.0 in. , , , N/A . " 37.6 in. .................. " 13.6 in. ..................................259.6 Ibs. (actual N/A) .................................................. , 2.47 gal. position sensor aluminum, semi-double-cradle FRONT SUSPENSION:...... ..47mm inverted 5howa cartridge fork w/16-position rebound and 16-position compression-damping adjustability Pro-Unk Showa REAR SUSPENSION: single-shock w/adjustable spring preload. 17position rebound-damping adjustability. and compression-damping adjustment separated into low speed (13 positions) and high speed (3.5 tums) FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: 12.4 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: 12.4 in. FRONT BRAKE: 5ingle 240mm disc wI twin-piston caliper REAR BRAKE: Single 240mm disc FRONT TIRE: 80/I 00-2 I Dunlop 1201 I00-18 Dunlop REAR TIRE: WHEELBASE: 58.2 in. RAKE & TRAIL: 27.28-degreel4.4 In, SEAT HEIGHT: , , , 37.9 in. GROUND CLEARANCE: 13.7 in, QAlMED DRY WEIGHT: ..255 Ibs. (actual 259) FUEL CAPACITY: 2.27 gal. compression-damping adjustment Wet multi-disc clutch. operated hydraulically .............. Deltabox type. semi-double-cradle. chrome-moly ..................... .45mm Marzocchi w/reboundand compression-damping adjustment ..................Ohlins. single-shock w/adjustable rebound damping and compression damping .. caliper, Nissin 30 JUNE 29, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS