VOLUME 57 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 8, 2020 P59
C
reating the ultimate 450 motocrosser
means striking a perfect balance. A bal-
ance between raw power and rideabili-
ty. A balance between compliance and stability.
A balance between technological advancement
and overall user friendliness. Balance is best,
but it's not exactly an easy thing to achieve.
Just ask the five manufacturers that participat-
ed in the 2021 Cycle News 450 Shootout.
Our shootout placed an emphasis on just
that–balance. The testing crew found itself
balanced out into two familiar groups—the fast
guys and the not-so-fast guys. And by fast
we mean three of our six testers have right-
fully earned points at an AMA National. Yeah,
like that kind of fast. Our other testers are no
slouches either; a grand prix / desert pro, a
working-class weekend racer, and a handful
of quick vets aren't exactly used to getting the
blue flag. But it's easy to see the line drawn in
the sand, or should we say in the dirt at Ca-
huilla Creek and Glen Helen Raceway. These
tracks were hand-picked for their perfect mix
of natural terrain and man-made obstacles that
can easily sift out a machine's imperfections.
Two groups of riders, five brand new 450 moto-
cross bikes, one winner.
You might notice that the 2021 Suzuki RM-
Z450 was not included in this year's shootout.
Suzuki was eager to participate but did not have
BY RYAN NITZEN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER