VOL. 54 ISSUE 8 FEBRUARY 28, 2017 P81
Weighing 264 pounds with
a full tank of gas, three pounds
less than the FX, the Honda
CRF450RX does indeed feel
lighter and more agile on the
trail. The chassis is narrower
and the suspension is more
balanced, keeping the bike
more planted and predictable.
Turning on the CRF450RX is
excellent and precise, adding to
the nimble feel. The CRF450R
is also more stable on higher
speed terrain and handles ag-
gressive hits and large whoops
with ease. The ability to handle
higher speeds also gives the
CRF450R a little more of a harsh
feel over little bumps and trail
hack. The YZ450FX has more
plush and comfortable suspen-
sion feel through slow to mid-
speed bumps and hits.
The bottom line is that both of
these bikes beat to the heart of
a 450cc motocross bike. They
are straight up rocket ships.
Not many mortal riders need
any more power; what most
need is a way to properly deliver
that power. The YZ450FX and
CRF450RX require a delicate
throttle hand and aggressive
clutch work to control the abun-
dance of power in tight, techni-
The Honda features an
on-the-fly adjustable
engine map switch—
with three choices—on
the handlebar; the
Yamaha requires an
accessory tuning
tool but you have
near-endless tuning
adjustability.
