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/1466689
QUICKSPIN I 2022 Husqvarna FC 450 Rockstar Edition P116 On to the electronics. The new map switch is futuristic looking and could've come off a Tesla. We like it for its slim design and how it reduces overall clutter on the bars. This chic control panel has two maps, traction control, and the quickshift. Traction control is a cool option, but the odds of you using it are slim. We threw it on late in the day as the track conditions got harder and slicker. In that instance, it's useful. As for the quickshift, I'm still split. It would be a game-changer on a long start, but it might not be as useful for normal shift points around the track. I left it on and used it to help carry speed in the faster sections of the track but resorted to normal "let off" shifting in the other areas. Most of these changes and opinions feel like deja vu if you've read our previous tests on the KTM Factory Edition. That's because they are virtually the same bike. In the past, there were some key differences like the subframe, quality of components, etc. Now the only real differences are just in the cos- metic department. Bars, grips, graphics, plastic design, and a sealed airbox set the FC 450 apart from the KTM 450 SX-F. As with Factory Editions of the past, the 2022 FC 450 Rockstar Edition is a likely preview of the 2023 production model. At $11,799, it is only $100 more than the KTM and serves as the most premium offering in the KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas debate. When it comes down to it, though, we're a bit confused as to why you'd buy one over the other. Previously, the Husqvarna came standard with more desirable specs—Magura components versus the KTM's Brembo, a carbon fiber subframe versus an aluminum one. Both bikes are virtually identical, save for Rockstar versus Red Bull, and white plastics instead of orange. Both bikes are still serious players, but at the dealership, it will come down to your favorite energy drink brand or what color fender you prefer. CN SPECIFICATIONS 2022 HUSQVARNA FC 450 ROCKSTAR EDITION ($11,799) ENGINE TYPE 4-stroke, single DISPLACEMENT 449.9cc BORE X STROKE 95 x 63.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO 13.:1 VALVETRAIN SOHC, 4-valve COOLING SYSTEM Water-cooled, STARTING SYSTEM Electric FUELING Keihin EMS TRANSMISSION 5-speed, w/ quick shift CLUTCH Brembo, hydraulic FRAME Steel central-tube frame SUBFRAME Plastic frame, aluminum mounting HANDLEBAR ProTaper FRONT SUSPENSION 48mm WP Xact REAR SUSPENSION WP Xact, single shock, linkage, fully adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVE 12.2 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 11.8 in. FRONT WHEEL 21 in. REAR WHEEL 19 in. TIRES Dunlop Geomax Mx33 FRONT BRAKE Single 260mm disc, Brembo REAR BRAKE Single, 220mm disc, Brembo TRIPLE CLAMP Split-design, anodized black SEAT HEIGHT 37.5 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 13.4 in. FUEL CAPACITY 1.9 gal. WEIGHT (DRY, CLAIMED) 228.6 lbs.