MXA RACE TEST

The 2024 KTM 350SXF can be ridden flat out at high rpm like a 250 or torqued in the midrange like a 450.
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The 250 class is all about horsepower, and Kawasaki found a ton of it. Unfortunately, you need to ride the KX250 like a 125 two-stroke to get the most out of the high-rpm  powerband
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The Swedish brand, ended up in Italy, got bought by the Germans and then, 2013 became the last year for the Swedish/Italian/German breed — until KTM stepped in to put Austria into the equation
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MXA was of the opinion that KTM had sandbagged the first 350SXF. If the 2011 KTM 350SXF had run as well as the 2013 350SXF, there would be a lot more 350cc bikes on the racetracks today
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The 2024 KTM 450SXF is a thing of beauty. It has a luscious powerband, and even though it makes almost 60 horsepower, it is super manageable and handles like a dream. No oversteer, no understeer; it is super accurate in all situations.
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After the errors of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 CRF450 models, the 2006, 2007 and 2008 CRF450s have become industry standards.
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Looking back a decade ago at the 2013 RM-Z250: There's no denying that the 2013 RM-Z250 was a winner—unless you were seeking maximum horsepower
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Taking testing to the nth degree—inside MXA's Yamaha YZ450F as set-up fo the Pala 450 National
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No bike could be worse than the 2009-2012 CRF450, so the 2013 Honda CRF450 had that going for it, along with a nice powerband that was easy to use, but those are phrases that are always bantered about to describe “slow” bikes
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Since it’s a “Factory Edition” and they only produced 400 units of this MC250F to meet the AMA homologation rules, the pencil pushers at GasGas decided to put KTM suspension on this bike
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This is the first-ever GasGas Factory Edition, but let’s not get too misty-eyed about the GasGas version of the Factory Edition because it is just a red version of the 2023-1/2 KTM 450SXF Factory Edition
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The limited Heritage Edition model comes with a blue seat and white plastics with traditional Husqvarna blue and yellow graphics, paying homage to its Swedish roots.
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Most of the positive handling attributes are linked to the engine power being more linear, with the updated Showa suspension sharing the credit. Still, the handling isn’t perfect
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The glorious era of Honda’s two-strokes, which started in 1973, will end in 2007. That makes this more of an obituary than a bike test, but test we must
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The CRF250RX is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It looks like an off-road bike, but underneath the big tank, kickstand and hand guards is a CRF250 motocross bike waiting to pounce.
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If you have “first-year-model” jitters about the next-gen KTM 350SXF and Husky FC350, you should consider the 2023 GasGas MC350F—before they are all gone
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The price-tag question is a sensitive one — at $12,699, the KX450SR is worth the upcharge, but only if you would have used the parts that Kawasaki upgraded the "Special Racer" to.
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The 2023-1/2 Husqvarna FC450 Rockstar Edition isn’t as unique as the stock 2023 FC450 with its lowered suspension, since it shares all of KTM’s suspension settings
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This is just the start of a whole new era of two-stroke technological leaps, but we're not sure that we are fully onboard with the weight gain and locked ECUs
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We had hoped that GasGas would be smart enough to recognize that the two-stroke faithful don’t want a more complicated, more expensive, heavier, fuel-injected smoker. Two-stroke guys aren’t the same as four-stroke motocross racers; they…
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No fuel injection, no electronic power valve, no anti-squat, no electric start...nada, just the best 125 two-stroke of 2023
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Every test rider who raced the 2023 CRF450 raved about how easy the power was to use. At low rpm, the throttle worked like a rheostat. No more hyper-60-horsepower craziness.
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No carburetor, no main jets, no needles, no clips and no pilot jets are joined by the acronyms EFI, ECU, EMS, CDI, TPS, TPI and TBI. This isn't you granddad's two-stroke
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When short-shifted, kept in the meat of the powerband and kept off the rev limiter, the RM-Z450 has a very usable, pleasant and effective 450cc powerband.
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If Yamaha wanted to engage in a horsepower war with the Austrian bike, they would have no choice but to pursue KTM’s stronger pull from idle to the middle, but going all-out to match the KTM 250SX would be a mistake
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Yamaha’s willingness to address the human element and eliminate the grievous flaws of the previous models is what sets the 2023 YZ450F apart from its 12 predecessors
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The YZ250F suspension is balanced and the setup is foolproof, making the YZ250F one of the easier bikes feel comfortable on after you get used to the ergos.
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The 2010 Husaberg FX450 was too heavy, too slow and too weird to be taken seriously by motocross racers. On the other hand, it is like no other machine on the planet—and because of that, it deserves some attention as it fades into obscurity
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The Showa spring forks are far too stiff, and the CRF250 handling issues start there. We appreciate that the new-generation Honda was made lighter, which helps with hopping over bumps and clearing jumps, but the rigid suspension and frame…
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This isn’t the only BNG bike on the showroom floor for 2023, but “BNG” is supposed to stand for “Bold New Graphics,” and the 2023 KX450 graphics are a far cry from bold
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