P98
SHOOTOUT I 2025 450CC FOUR-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
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Unfortunately, there's
always a last place in com-
parisons. In this case, it's the
GasGas MC 450F. It has good
bones but still finds itself behind
in a bit of no man's land. The
GasGas doesn't feel as premium
as the Husqvarna, and it's not
as good performance-wise as
the KTM. Its lower MSRP, how-
ever, is appealing. It's $800 less
than its next Austrian relative.
With three similar versions of
the same bike, the GasGas ends
up feeling like a toned-down ver-
sion of the KTM. It has the same
frame as its Austrian cousins,
has a very similar engine pack-
age, and ergos feel comparable.
Still, with softer suspension
settings, a less aggressive ECU,
and cheaper components all
around, it was impossible for us
to rank the GasGas higher than
the Husqvarna and KTM.
Finishing last doesn't mean
we wouldn't buy this bike.
We liked the way the throttle
felt smooth and connected to
the rear wheel, similar to the
other Euro engines. The mo-
tor is easy to manage, and
since the GasGas is again sold
without the mapping switch, its
ECU is effectively locked in the
less-potent "map one." GasGas
owners can buy the map switch
as an accessory or get an ECU
flash done to their stock unit,
but those are all aftermarket so-
lutions. Nearly all of our riders,
aside from the self-proclaimed
vets, preferred the more aggres-
sive "map two" (green light) on
the KTM and Husqvarna, which
in turn made the GasGas feel
a tick slower when comparing
these bikes back to back. Still,
the vet riders liked the friendly
powerband and noted they
GASGAS MC 450F
M
Six Place
