VOL. 53 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 20, 2016 P145
>>SUZUKI RM-Z 450
The long-in-the-tooth Suzuki RM-Z450
has proven it can win; Ricky Carmi-
chael, Chad Reed and most recently
Ken Roczen are fine examples of that
over the years. The RM-Z450 has
also remained relatively unchanged
for nearly a decade and 2017 isn't any
different. It unfortunately holds the title
as one of the heaviest of the six 450
motocrossers, but is still one of the
best cornering bikes out there.
>>HUSQVARNA FC 450
Like the KTM, the Husqvarna FC
450, which rolled off the same as-
sembly line as the SX-F, received the
3.5-pound lighter AER 48 air fork,
making it the second lightest bike in
the shootout. It now shares more with
its KTM clone than it used to. It now
shares Dunlop MX3S tires (last year
the Husky used MX52 tires) and the
same suspension settings. Will these
changes help it jump up in the ranks?
>>KAWASAKI KX450F
In 2016, the KX450F
received a complete over-
haul. It lost weight and the
engine saw improvements in
power. For 2017, the KX450F
remains virtually the same
minus a few small revisions.
Like the RM-Z450, the
KX450F uses Showa's TAC
air forks but with different
internal settings.
Husqvarna FC 450
KTM 450 SX-F
