As a 450L owner I agree that it's overweight, mostly because of Honda's over the top approach at meeting and exceeding DOT standards. Change the exhaust, slap on a Vortex ECU and adjust the suspension clicks and it's a completely different bike. It gets rid of the twitchy throttle down low, opens it up so that it can breath and IMHO, the Showa suspension is better than the rest in the group, it flat out eats whoops for breakfast. I have already dropped nearly 20 lbs from the bike putting it within 10 lbs or so of the others. It's a bike that needs a few more mods to outclass the others, but it's also the cheapest, in it's infancy, and has the best dealer network, service intervals, and likely the best reliability in the long run. It is also without a doubt the smoothest on road bike and by far the quietest as well. The orange 500 thumper always wins this group and it's hard not to when it has more power and it should for its top dollar price tag. It's funny how all over the board these shoot outs are with this group of bikes, I can definitely smell some sponsor bias in some of these videos. I don't understand why they never mention the cost of ownership in regards to maintenance intervals, dealer network, and parts pricing and availability when they discuss these shoot outs. The after the purchase costs can be drastically different and that matters to most weekend warriors.
Tex Lee, that would seem to be a fair set of adjustments to make to make it compete fairly--however, the other three bikes would also at that point deserve to be customized for best possible outcome as well. CRF450L would still lose. (In theory.)
Stimpy's Garage I believe that that’s exactly the reason I’d like to see a follow up shootout with a limited list of mods, with price tags, and then redo the shootout! Let’s say spending $1500 into each bike with most common performance mods, like clutch on the Honda and exhausts etc.. because most dudes I know mod their bike and nobody does shootout vids like that with modded bikes! (Not cheap either) I’d love to see a follow up vid then, to see if the Honda ‘caught up’ or if with similar respective mods, the Euro Bikes still improved that much more, leaving the Honda still behind.. at the end of the day it does come down to rider preference and terrain as well! Power isn’t everything!
Honda had one job, but completely stuffed it up! I find mine is top-heavy and have added a lowering kit which means I can touch the ground in tight technical terrain. Helps keep it upright. I agree with changing the exhaust ( Yoshimura or FMF) and I have ordered a Vortex ECU to suit, but there's a long queue in front of me for this fix! I so hate the stalling with the stock ECU which is caused by the lean settings to meet emissions. (I am told this is a common issue with current model bikes, with dealer work-arounds) 32,000km/20,000mile rebuild interval is a strong motor, but the oil change every 100km/600 miles could be longer with the fitment of an oil cooler(there's a bolt at the front of the casing for this) The CRF450L also has a decent size stator for adding extra lights.(up to about 60W)
@@StimpysGarage According to some reviews it would be at the top of the list with less weight. It has one of the best motors, best suspension, Honda reliability, I am just not seeing where it would flat out lose with less weight? Not a single one of these bikes embodies the overall best option for everyone, it's all dependent on what you deem the most important attributes in a bike and where and how you plan to use it. I'd be happy to own any of them and I came close to buying the Husky and KTM instead, but I am happy with the red bike and I don't have any regrets with the purchase, YMMV.
i ridden all of them, but I think either beta or crf 450L would be best for my taste. Clearly the crf450L is capable, yes heavier but also most likely to be the most reliable if you want a do it all bike. the beta though feels very planted on rocks and technical stuff.
CycleCruza so true! I think Honda did good, considering the other Manufacturers have had years to develop their bikes to this point! It hopefully only gets better from here for Honda with a good diet and performance accessories etc, and hopefully Suzuki and Kawi join this category soon as well.. And good to see you Cruza
@@meals24u Agreed, for Honda's first swing at it, they did quite well. The Japanese manu's are always more conservative on their bikes than the Euro stuff so I am not surprised by the heavier weight and lower power ratings. The Japanese build for durability and reliability and always exceed government standards, this will obviously lead to heavier, more restricted bikes out of the box. Honda will likely drop the weight in the coming years and the aftermarket will catch up with the model and before long a lightly modified 450L will be neck and neck with the KTM and Husky.
I absolutely love my 2014 KTM 500. 400+ hours and never a problem and I ride tough single track here in Colorado and Utah. This is my third ktm and I'm a happy customer
@@shiftlove I like to lug or stay at the lower rpms mostly. The engine has a certain personality. Being long stroke it has plenty of torque/ power without the need to wring it's neck. I replaced the piston at about 320 hours just to be on the safe side but it looked fine. No excessive skirt or cylinder wear. I use motul 300v 15w50 and change it every hand full of rides, maybe 40 hours or less. Valves haven't really required any adjustment however i did change a shim to bring it to the other end of spec where i was more comfortable.
@@themotofixery so you change the oil every 40 hrs? I'm new to the KTM world. The high maintenance schedule is the only thing I am kinda scared about KTM.
@@76tigga Ya, i use a high quality oil like Motul 300v and change it after maybe 4-5 rides. I don't really keep track of the hours. If your not racing than the recommended maintenance intervals are way over conservative. The Motul 300v is expensive but it has a bright green color and it still looks really good after a hand full of rides. Last time i changed it I took note of the milage and hours. I plan to ride what i would consider a long time on this oil and than send in a sample to an oil testing laboratory like Blackstone and see what they say about the condition. That way I can make more of a scientific "claim" about this oil's ability to handle an "extended" interval. Just looking at the color isn't very scientific but this stuff looks fine after at least 40 hours and the top end looked great at more than 300+ hours. A good place to read up is bobistheoilguy.com
@@76tigga Frankly any "race bike" is going to reccomend a similar conservative maintenance schedule. If your not spanking it non stop than you can stretch things out way longer.
@@scottdrew6403 I do but they have only required one adjustment. The exhaust side was in spec but on just so I re-shimmed both to be in the middle and they haven't required any adjustment for the last 300+ hours. I'm pretty up on keeping clean air filters and oil in the bike which is no drama for maintenance, takes more time for the oil to drain than anything else. I do eat up rear wheel bearing but with the first couple months of the riding season being mud and water its to be expected.
just bought a KTM 500 two months ago... after watching this I know I made the right choice for me. so far the only limitation I've seen with the bike, Is the rider! - KTM convert
It's funny, cause I'm still doing all of this technical stuff on my oversized xr650r. Honda should've brought back the xr range and just updated them. Solid bikes.
@M M yeah no kidding the xr400 is a awesome dual sport I converted mine to E-start over the winter and absolutely love it even more. I did a 150 mile dual sport ride to day it was epic.
Eddie Kwiecien all these pansies crying about weight get on a xr 650r and single track it I did it for years the 450l is perfect to me and yes I do miss my xr it was a great bike might buy another one 😂
Im so sad I sold my XR650R back in the day but at least ive got my 1999 XR400. Ive had many XRs over my lifetime and they are simply Awesome bikes period imo. Maybe not the most high performance like KTM but so reliable and will go anywhere. If you could only have one bike to do everything its pretty hard to beat an XR.
I have to say that all the worries about ktm being high maintenance is because the Austrians are OCD just like the Germans when it comes to build quality and under normal conditions the service interval for ktm is about the same as Japanese bikes. I am a rancher and an intermediate/expert rider that uses a 2016 500 exc for a ranch horse, a timbersled powerplant and a recreation bike all in one. I own a 990 adventure R and this is my 3rd ktm dirt bike. I used to ride Honda. I have owned Honda motorcycles since I was 5 years old and they never failed me. So no complaints from me about Honda, but in 2008 I bought my first 450 ktm dirt bike and also the 990. Wow, I didn't know what I was missing. The orange bikes always interested me and now I wish I had switched years ago. The KTM bikes have all the stuff that I would have to mod the Honda bikes with to be acceptable for my level of riding. All in all you get what you pay for....KTM makes some badass bikes that produce serious power and handling that are durable as hell. I can make that statement because I have now logged 60,000 miles on my KTM bikes and will never own a Honda for a serious performance ride again. KTM rules!
I think this would have been a better comparison video if you would have put bikes in of equal standing. The 430 beta vs the 500 ktm? Why not the 500 beta? Seems like this was sent up for the ktm to win.
I hate how ALL dual sport reviews are always done off-road. If I wanted a bike for just off-roading I would buy a motocross bike. Most people buy dual sports to mostly drive on the road and take it off-road when they have time or just want to have some fun
But as soon as the moniker "DUAL" sport is used, it had better have off-road chops. You can easily ride an off road motorcycle on the road, it's not hard to do, but you can't always do the same with a bike who's intended purpose is ON road. My easy guess is they all ride on road the same. Not nearly as good as a cruiser or street bike. And all identically on road otherwise I bet they are the same. Ride the road to the trail, ride trail, ride the road home. It's the "trail" bit that is most important part of "dual" sport.
My friend brought the beta. His reasoning was the durability of the motor. His concern was the KTM is more of a racer and may not have the longevity of other motors. That’s his opinion.
I would have bought a beta if they had a dealer within 200 miles of me. I’m in Pittsburgh too there is no excuse for that.so I bought a Honda put a fmf exhaust and Vortex ECU very happy with my choice
I like this videos, just would have liked to get a campfire discussion of all the riders? some short and to the point like pros and cons or favorites among the riders, but otherwise keep up the good work!
I'm pretty sure every Honda XR ive ever owned is still running out there somewhere. Sold every one only to upgrade to another XR . had a 1979 XR500, 1996 XR600, 2001 XR650R 😭 can't believe I sold that bike! And finally my current 1999 XR400 which has been converted to street legal with title. Love Honda! I know those other bike are awesome as well but I admit I'm a honda fan and will probably be picking up a used 450L down the road when I can take advantage of the non new price.
The ktm 500 needs a little uncorking and tuning to get good hp numbers and full performance. Mine was a night and day difference when I added a fuel rail, fuel controller pipe end cap, and manifold flange. It's a little scary now actually.
I wish they uncorked the bikes for these tests, i dont know many guys who leave the stock exhaust on a dual sport. Literally can change the entire characteristics
I think "Adventure Bike" is the new definition of the old dual sport title. 80% road - 20% dirt/gravel. They excel at road manners and comfort. The new "Dual Sport" is 80% dirt/gravel - 20% road. Great off road, OK comfort on road. Trail/Enduro bikes are 100% NOT road. Actually they are kind of awful for long stretches of road. But excel on trail, manners, weight, handling. I also think the intended purposes of the bikes are deliberately blurred to make it confusing. If you buy the wrong one and aren't satisfied, the manufacturers hope you buy another until you are satisfied. I know guys are in love with huge displacement, lug-gable engines, but 500 pounds of bike sucks off road for half a day of riding. And small displacement DS bikes don't do trail great, just meh ok.
2018 500 exc-f owner here with 130 hours on the bike. Running really well! If anyone is in the Massachusetts/Rhode island/new Hampshire/Connecticut area message me reddy88888@yahoo.com I know a ton of trails in all of those states and I'm always trying to grow my riding group.
I enjoyed the video. Only two things stand out to me.1: CRF450L and CRF450X have the same compression ratio. 2: Dual Sport may not be the best term for any of these bikes. Enduro is more proper. WR250R, CRF250L, DRZ400, KTM 690, etc I think better suit the term 'Dual Sport.'
Yeah, I was always under the impression that proper dual sports are in the lines of DRZ/DR, WRR, XRL, etc. These reviewed bikes should be labeled "enduros" not "dual sports".
The CRF450RX is Honda's Enduro. The CRF450L is dual sport because you can commute with it on the freeways. That's not only what the lights and mirrors are all about, but also what the vibration compensation engineering was for. It's a 30/70 bike. That said, the other bikes are definitely 10/90 bikes. True enduros are almost always 0/100 from factory. I would consider anything designed for inside of 70/30 (Africa Twin) to 10/90 (those other three) is legit dual sport, but that's purely subjective opinion.
@@StimpysGarage Interesting point of view. Maybe I should add 'street legal enduro' instead of strictly enduro. To me, a dual sport is a dirtbike that has long maintenance intervals, capable of distant highway trips and likely passenger/cargo ready. A street legal enduro has short maintenance intervals, not recommended for long distance highway travel, and no passenger/cargo support. An adventure bike is essentially the same as a dual sport, but with more luxurious comfort options, typically heavier built, more wind breaking fairings, smooth as butter vibes. Rally is a term that could be added to any of the classifications, meaning that more wind protection, comfort mods, electronics, cargo, etc.
The street legal Beta RR-S is just a detuned version of the RR, exhaust and mapping change is the only performance difference. Agreed that true 'dualsports' are less a race worthy mount than a street legal enduros like these.
Nice review of dirt bikes, but these are dual sports. Would be nice to know how they do on the road. Obviously these are all primarily dirt bikes with a plate, but that might be where the Honda in particular differentiates itself from the others as weight on the road is actually helpful in some cases. The review is definitely slanted towards a bike you put in the back of the truck and occasionally link trails on the road, rather than the bike you ride out of your garage to the trail.
The honda is smoother and a more comfortable daily commuter. But if that's what you're looking for, why buy a plated dirt bike? It would make more sense to do that comparison up against less extreme dirt worthy bikes like the WR and DRZ. But there you're comparing a plated dirt bike against true enduros which are less capable but require less maintenance. The crf450l is going after the big dogs.
@@bradleythomsen3083 not looking for a daily commuter, looking for a serious off roader that can handle a descent amount of road miles at the same time. My purpose for buying a bike like this would be to avoid the truck and just leave from my garage, be it 5 miles down the road or 50, maybe even 100! Sure you can do it on all of these machines but something that can do it well and not need a rigorous maintenance schedule would be phenomenal! Not to mention it would make for a more comfortable ride home after hitting the trails hard. Not sure I would be happy with one of the 250 dual sports and the DRZ lacks descent suspension, wide transmission, FI, etc...
I was not interested in a dual sport until Honda built the 450l and I absolutely love it. I should say though that I bought it for street use as it is perfect for bombing around town. It’s super quiet, has a superb transmission and the fit and finish is all Honda. When I want real dirt bike fun I load up the YZ 250x because it spanks all 4 strokes in the sound, weight and fun factor departments. That’s just my opinion after 40 years of riding street and dirt.
@@scottervin9433 Great point. I think Honda fits the empty ground between the street legal European enduros (KTM, Beta, Husqvarna) and the Japanese dual-sports (KLX, DRZ, WR250R). Look at the specs, weight and power are right inbetween. I'd be curious to know about the maintenance schedule, tough to have a big mile bike that needs oil change every 15 hours and valve checks every 30.
I switched from a crf450x to a husky fx350 and I have not regretted it. Off road only. Honda for whatever reason is falling behind in this category an I'm not sure why they let it happen.
They are slow to adapt and like Yamaha with the current aluminum frame it’s getting hard to lose much more weight. Honda is ditching the twin pipe system for 2021 to lose an extra 3 pounds.
This review ended prematurely. For sure I was expecting thoughts on these bikes when ridden on tarmac. After all, they are called “Dual Sports”, am I right? They are mean’t to be ridden TO and FROM the trails on public roads, hence the headlights, turn signals, & plates.
@@joseresendez6402 I change the oil every 15 hours give or take. Changed fork and shock oil at 104.6 hrs ( I was late but everything was good). It's a pain having to do the oil often but it's very easy to do.
@@joseresendez6402 I have a '16 500EXC with about 9800 miles on it. Maintenance items so far: Oil changes (how often depends on the type of riding I'm doing), fork seals once, wheel and swingarm bearings once each, periodic valve checks (just because it's so easy on this engine, I've never had to do any adjustments). Can't think of much other than that! My stock cam chain still has plenty of life on it but I'll be replacing it soon just to be preventative.
@@shiftlove On the street I bang the gears pretty hard. I probably have about 65% of the miles on the street. Through the trails the bike is a lugging machine so I rarely rev it out much offroad.
You should of put a SWM 500 RS in the mix I think most of your test riders would of been surprised at its handling, suspension and overall price package. I still know the KTM would have taken the crown but would have made a nice addition to the test.
We need a video to compare real life engine rebuild schedules between these bikes for 2020! I wanna ride more than wrench. The honda is the only one that doesn’t require a full rebuild every 3500 miles as per the ktm/husky and beta user manuals.. or is that fake news? Does anyone with a beta or ktm have any actual experience with these maintenance requirements?
mike s Really KTM helped Beta get started years ago with KTM engine's? Not bad mouthing Beta as they make awesome off-road cycles but I guess it's really a matter of opinion and I'm just used to KTM's more.
@@jeffflick2573 Beta vs. KTM is about the same as Husky vs. KTM. All three are essentially variants of each other even though two come off the same production line. A new Beta is much closer to a new KTM than a ten year old KTM is to that same brand if that makes any sense.
It’s bullshit putting a 500 vs a 450 in a 450 ds shootout. Put a Beta 500 RS in there and make it fair.. if you want a 500 street legal dirtbike shootout then put only 500’s. If you want a 450 shootout then put only 450’s. Duh
painmagnet1 Beta is just straight a different machine. It’s a different company and different everything. All bikes made now are good bikes from whatever brand though.. but a Beta is different. Its not like a ktm and husky that are really the same company . Beta is not a variant of the same company like husky and ktm which are the same company.
@@woodsrider117 I agree and the argument that KTM doesn't have a standard 450 in this class is BS, the 450 6 Day's simply has fancy bits, throw that bike in as the Orange offering for a more fair comparison. As long as they keep tossing the KTM 500 in the 450 shootout it will keep winning. Both Beta and Husky make 500cc bikes, keep them in their own shoot outs, this isn't rocket science yet for some reason KTM gets the pass here and in every other 450 shootout.
I’d love to see these bikes put up against each other with each getting $1500-2000 in aftermarket parts. Exhaust probably sheds some good weight off the Honda as well as the others. Like most people will throw some bux at the new bike. Fixs some of the small issues. Like imagine the Honda for instance. You do an easy pull clutch, exhaust with tune, suspension sprung and valved. That would be cool to see. Good review though. I enjoyed it.
Ah, familiar trails one and all! Moab is awesome. I would not want to only ride Moab, but it is a cool change of pace. The Husky 450 with the EPA stuff uncorked (start by removing the bottle cap from the exhaust) is a good choice as it has a linkage, which is generally better than PDS. The Husky is a "balanced" bike. The Honda as the most "stuff" to undo, with lots of extra weight from closely rule following Honda, the Beta the least. All are good, some owner involvement is required to get at what any of them are truly capable of.
@@scottdrew6403 I have owned both and find the linkage is more progressive and much better in high speed whoops. I went from a '13TE 300 (PDS) to an '18 XC 300, the XC suits me much better. As they say though and especially with suspension, mileage varies. I do like the simplicity of PDS - no linkage to clean and grease, and a PDS shock comes off the bike in about 30 seconds.
Thank you for comparing these bikes! I’ve been looking for a decent and relatively unbiased review before buying my first dual sport. Keep up the good work!
Funny that nobody ever considers to test the best selling dual sport to even this day. DRZ400. Does it all but not the best at anything but everyone can afford it and it’s bullet proof.
Your so lucky to live in America we struggle for places now that are not over populated in the UK and if you have one of these in London you would probably have it stolen or you would be dragged from it and stabbed by some work shy shit house from out of town, wish I had enough funds and skills to enable me to come and live in your country I can only dream.
With 2019 leftover CRF450Ls selling for $8k, you can put the extra money into weight loss and performance and still have the Honda reliability. Ive owned dozens of bikes from Yamaha, KTM, Husky, GasGas, and Suzuki and regardless, Im so stoked on this CRF. Especially with the deals on them right now. Id never put down the KTM 500 because its an amazing bike but we’re looking at quite a difference in price where initially the CRF was pretty hight up there. I wonder how the 2020 CRFs listed at full MSRP will sell...
It looks like they may have done their best to keep it in the 450cc range for the sake of the Honda? KTM doesn't have a street legal 450 anymore so that may be why they went with the 500 here. Just guessing here.
Tyler Nicholson what? Since when did KTM drop the 450 excf?? I didn’t even know that! I have one but it’s already a few years old.. That makes sense why they then chose the 500
I haven't even watched this video yet i can see it's already flawed. You're comparing machines of dissimilar capacity. If it's a 450 review, level peg the bikes by using their 450s. If it's a 500 review you could at least have used Beta's 480 RR and Husqvarna's 501. Now I'm going to watch and enjoy.
6spd? My 10 ktm530 is a 6 speed, I guess I could look up the others but it's very handy to have close gears and a high gear. Now, as far as driving mostly back roads and few pastures the super motard 400 with aggressive street tires and a yosh 450 kit, makes a more relaxing ride with endless miles of wheelies tons of fun. It also weighs a lot, shave it down. As a comparison, I absolutely love my 04 450 yammy quad bored to 500 to catch the newer larger 450s But an all day ride on Suzuki's 400 ltz 400 is just more all around fun with much power and again awesome wheelies with a smooth motor and long gears
I'm an old guy(51) and a KX500/450 rider. Would transferring to one of these for dual sport capabilities be as disappointing as I imagine. With the Beta only coming in at 44hp I'm concerned. Irrational fear or realistic expectations? Or is 44 the new 60-70....
The KTM 500 will not disappoint. However, these are enduro bikes, not motocross, so the power delivery isn't as immediate and abrupt. They're designed for woods riding. They still rip though. I am a 2018 KTM 500 exc-f owner. I've ridden 250 2 strokes growing up. The big 4 stroke engines are very enjoyable to ride compared to a purely motocross bike. I think you'd love it. I have some videos on my channel showing my rides.
@@scottdrew6403 Groovy! I'm too old to ride motocross anyway I ride my 500'sand450 in harescrambles! Is there enough torque for it to wheelie by just rolling into the throttle? I'm sure it's adequate. I can't afford another helicopter ride anyway!
Great commentary, imo I think you have a Bruce Brown / Dana Brown On Any Sunday kind of feel. I appreciated your straight forward descriptions of the bikes. I wasn't sure what bike I liked more, the Honda or the KTM, now I know I want the KTM.
I'd love to see how they shake out in the tight woods, wet roots, rocks, and logs of the PNW. Plus lots of elevation changes out here in the mountains.
I'm assuming this was with the bikes mostly stock? Would be cool to see another comparison with all of the EPA stuff removed as most people end up running them.
noControl So true! Set a budget, a list, redo shootout!! Would love to see that! But I realize that that would require more funds, sponsors and time! Might be well worth it though and definitely new in the review/shootout community! I’d pay
Why do people say Progressive Dampening System when it comes to KTM's PDS rear shock? It "DAMPING" damnit? Progressive "Damping" System. Dampening means to make something damp/moist or wet?
Awesome video, I'm pretty sure that I would love any of these bikes (I'm not a skilled rider), so I wonder which ones will prove to be more reliable/durable over time...
This is awesome info! What would you do to make the Honda top notch? I have a KTM and love it but that Honda could be great, GOTA like even. What would you do to make that happen???
Whatever Rad change the tires and exhaust that muffler is literally almost 10 lbs lol and tune it with either Tokyo mods of vortex then you have a perfect bike!
So glad to hear the 450l is the opposite of the 250l. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 250l it’s just not a bike for aggressive riders.. not to say it can’t be ridden aggressively, obviously it’s just got physical differences that don’t allow you to ride it as aggressively as a race bike (or more aggressive bike like the 450l, 450r or almost anything else😂). that being said guys looking for a killer bike for a lower pice, the 250l is a sweet bike. I had a 05 yz450f (race bike) it was great but I have back problems and it would hurt my back lol, but you can’t beat the handling of a race bike.. I mean you can ride the race bikes on ice.. literally. The 250l was plush, and because of the suspension it didn’t have the handling of the race bike, but it was comfortable and I never had any issues with my back on it! Next bike I get will be the 450l tho... seems like it’s somewhere between a race bike and the typical dual sport from 1995😂
This is the best riding I've seen on these bikes on a review. Most of the reviewers lack the technical skill to see just how far these bikes will go. Like that trails section in the video.
Finally, Japan is bringing something to the table 10k for a honda dual sport 450 with old MX copy paste no thanks. But I like that they have the guts to bring a bike.
Can’t get a desert tank for that Honda-meaning you can’t do any real extended off roading. Also 290 pounds??!?!? Damn heavy bike! I do like the Beta as an option.
I bleed red. Honda for me. Showa suspension best. No air forks for me (no flats). Fill forks with oil, and forget about them, until next oil change. Pds suspension garbage. Linkage suspensions far better. Why did KTM mx team go to linkages?? Because better, can be tuned better. Honda for me. Wing and a prayer. Cheers.
John Conner completely disagree with you. Always checking, air adding every week. White Power suspension is garbage. Even KTM pro mx team went back to WP spring/oil fork.
@@lmtada its really not that bad for the average guy. Mine might change 2psi in 2 weeks. I bleed it like you do a normal fork. Most say they dont like the arifork because its a dead feel. Once again 17 and up airfork seal can leak oil and still able to ride unlike what was on the kawi 450 a few years back.
If you're having flameouts on the Honda, try adjusting the TPS (throttle position sensor). This works miracles on KTM's that had flameout issues. TPSTool.com has tools and how to videos that help a lot.
find out the best 2019 450 dual sport by reading our review: www.cycleworld.com/honda-crf450l-vs-ktm-500-exc-f-vs-husqvarna-fe-450-vs-beta-430-rr-s
Cycle World would love to see an AJP bike between those
4k
As a 450L owner I agree that it's overweight, mostly because of Honda's over the top approach at meeting and exceeding DOT standards. Change the exhaust, slap on a Vortex ECU and adjust the suspension clicks and it's a completely different bike. It gets rid of the twitchy throttle down low, opens it up so that it can breath and IMHO, the Showa suspension is better than the rest in the group, it flat out eats whoops for breakfast. I have already dropped nearly 20 lbs from the bike putting it within 10 lbs or so of the others. It's a bike that needs a few more mods to outclass the others, but it's also the cheapest, in it's infancy, and has the best dealer network, service intervals, and likely the best reliability in the long run. It is also without a doubt the smoothest on road bike and by far the quietest as well.
The orange 500 thumper always wins this group and it's hard not to when it has more power and it should for its top dollar price tag. It's funny how all over the board these shoot outs are with this group of bikes, I can definitely smell some sponsor bias in some of these videos. I don't understand why they never mention the cost of ownership in regards to maintenance intervals, dealer network, and parts pricing and availability when they discuss these shoot outs. The after the purchase costs can be drastically different and that matters to most weekend warriors.
honda all the way
Tex Lee, that would seem to be a fair set of adjustments to make to make it compete fairly--however, the other three bikes would also at that point deserve to be customized for best possible outcome as well. CRF450L would still lose. (In theory.)
Stimpy's Garage I believe that that’s exactly the reason I’d like to see a follow up shootout with a limited list of mods, with price tags, and then redo the shootout! Let’s say spending $1500 into each bike with most common performance mods, like clutch on the Honda and exhausts etc.. because most dudes I know mod their bike and nobody does shootout vids like that with modded bikes! (Not cheap either)
I’d love to see a follow up vid then, to see if the Honda ‘caught up’ or if with similar respective mods, the Euro Bikes still improved that much more, leaving the Honda still behind..
at the end of the day it does come down to rider preference and terrain as well! Power isn’t everything!
Honda had one job, but completely stuffed it up!
I find mine is top-heavy and have added a lowering kit which means I can touch the ground in tight technical terrain. Helps keep it upright.
I agree with changing the exhaust ( Yoshimura or FMF) and I have ordered a Vortex ECU to suit, but there's a long queue in front of me for this fix! I so hate the stalling with the stock ECU which is caused by the lean settings to meet emissions. (I am told this is a common issue with current model bikes, with dealer work-arounds)
32,000km/20,000mile rebuild interval is a strong motor, but the oil change every 100km/600 miles could be longer with the fitment of an oil cooler(there's a bolt at the front of the casing for this) The CRF450L also has a decent size stator for adding extra lights.(up to about 60W)
@@StimpysGarage According to some reviews it would be at the top of the list with less weight. It has one of the best motors, best suspension, Honda reliability, I am just not seeing where it would flat out lose with less weight?
Not a single one of these bikes embodies the overall best option for everyone, it's all dependent on what you deem the most important attributes in a bike and where and how you plan to use it. I'd be happy to own any of them and I came close to buying the Husky and KTM instead, but I am happy with the red bike and I don't have any regrets with the purchase, YMMV.
i ridden all of them, but I think either beta or crf 450L would be best for my taste. Clearly the crf450L is capable, yes heavier but also most likely to be the most reliable if you want a do it all bike. the beta though feels very planted on rocks and technical stuff.
KTM always wins! Kudos to Honda for stepping outside the box and making a street legal 450 dual sport, the other Japanese brands need to follow suit!
CycleCruza so true! I think Honda did good, considering the other Manufacturers have had years to develop their bikes to this point! It hopefully only gets better from here for Honda with a good diet and performance accessories etc, and hopefully Suzuki and Kawi join this category soon as well..
And good to see you Cruza
@@meals24u Agreed, for Honda's first swing at it, they did quite well. The Japanese manu's are always more conservative on their bikes than the Euro stuff so I am not surprised by the heavier weight and lower power ratings. The Japanese build for durability and reliability and always exceed government standards, this will obviously lead to heavier, more restricted bikes out of the box. Honda will likely drop the weight in the coming years and the aftermarket will catch up with the model and before long a lightly modified 450L will be neck and neck with the KTM and Husky.
They had been street legal in Oz for ......ever.
Lol ive seen a guy in yt riding an XR650 that will take names. Is not about the bike but more power to you
they have! just not in America lol
I absolutely love my 2014 KTM 500. 400+ hours and never a problem and I ride tough single track here in Colorado and Utah. This is my third ktm and I'm a happy customer
have you gone into the top or bottom end yet? also. how do you ride it? bouncing it off the limiter, or lugging it in the woods?
@@shiftlove I like to lug or stay at the lower rpms mostly. The engine has a certain personality. Being long stroke it has plenty of torque/ power without the need to wring it's neck. I replaced the piston at about 320 hours just to be on the safe side but it looked fine. No excessive skirt or cylinder wear. I use motul 300v 15w50 and change it every hand full of rides, maybe 40 hours or less. Valves haven't really required any adjustment however i did change a shim to bring it to the other end of spec where i was more comfortable.
@@themotofixery so you change the oil every 40 hrs? I'm new to the KTM world. The high maintenance schedule is the only thing I am kinda scared about KTM.
@@76tigga
Ya, i use a high quality oil like Motul 300v and change it after maybe 4-5 rides. I don't really keep track of the hours. If your not racing than the recommended maintenance intervals are way over conservative. The Motul 300v is expensive but it has a bright green color and it still looks really good after a hand full of rides.
Last time i changed it I took note of the milage and hours. I plan to ride what i would consider a long time on this oil and than send in a sample to an oil testing laboratory like Blackstone and see what they say about the condition. That way I can make more of a scientific "claim" about this oil's ability to handle an "extended" interval. Just looking at the color isn't very scientific but this stuff looks fine after at least 40 hours and the top end looked great at more than 300+ hours. A good place to read up is bobistheoilguy.com
@@76tigga
Frankly any "race bike" is going to reccomend a similar conservative maintenance schedule. If your not spanking it non stop than you can stretch things out way longer.
Do love my 500 exc, 400hrs of dirt and not a hiccup. That said I'm happy to see all the other brands coming out with some seriously nice bikes.
Good to hear! Have you been checking the valves?
@@scottdrew6403 I do but they have only required one adjustment. The exhaust side was in spec but on just so I re-shimmed both to be in the middle and they haven't required any adjustment for the last 300+ hours. I'm pretty up on keeping clean air filters and oil in the bike which is no drama for maintenance, takes more time for the oil to drain than anything else. I do eat up rear wheel bearing but with the first couple months of the riding season being mud and water its to be expected.
just bought a KTM 500 two months ago... after watching this I know I made the right choice for me.
so far the only limitation I've seen with the bike, Is the rider!
- KTM convert
It's funny, cause I'm still doing all of this technical stuff on my oversized xr650r. Honda should've brought back the xr range and just updated them. Solid bikes.
That is b/c you are such a beast Eddie. The bike is still has copious back fat.
@M M yeah no kidding the xr400 is a awesome dual sport I converted mine to E-start over the winter and absolutely love it even more. I did a 150 mile dual sport ride to day it was epic.
Eddie Kwiecien all these pansies crying about weight get on a xr 650r and single track it I did it for years the 450l is perfect to me and yes I do miss my xr it was a great bike might buy another one 😂
They did its named it the CRF450L
Im so sad I sold my XR650R back in the day but at least ive got my 1999 XR400. Ive had many XRs over my lifetime and they are simply Awesome bikes period imo. Maybe not the most high performance like KTM but so reliable and will go anywhere. If you could only have one bike to do everything its pretty hard to beat an XR.
I have to say that all the worries about ktm being high maintenance is because the Austrians are OCD just like the Germans when it comes to build quality and under normal conditions the service interval for ktm is about the same as Japanese bikes. I am a rancher and an intermediate/expert rider that uses a 2016 500 exc for a ranch horse, a timbersled powerplant and a recreation bike all in one. I own a 990 adventure R and this is my 3rd ktm dirt bike. I used to ride Honda. I have owned Honda motorcycles since I was 5 years old and they never failed me. So no complaints from me about Honda, but in 2008 I bought my first 450 ktm dirt bike and also the 990. Wow, I didn't know what I was missing. The orange bikes always interested me and now I wish I had switched years ago. The KTM bikes have all the stuff that I would have to mod the Honda bikes with to be acceptable for my level of riding. All in all you get what you pay for....KTM makes some badass bikes that produce serious power and handling that are durable as hell. I can make that statement because I have now logged 60,000 miles on my KTM bikes and will never own a Honda for a serious performance ride again. KTM rules!
I think this would have been a better comparison video if you would have put bikes in of equal standing. The 430 beta vs the 500 ktm? Why not the 500 beta? Seems like this was sent up for the ktm to win.
So much for the road testing they talked about in the intro...
I was thinking the same thing. How it drives on the road is pretty important, other wise I would just be checking out straight up dirt bike vids.
I hate how ALL dual sport reviews are always done off-road. If I wanted a bike for just off-roading I would buy a motocross bike. Most people buy dual sports to mostly drive on the road and take it off-road when they have time or just want to have some fun
Ya pretty crappy review of a dual sport when they don't even go on the road...
Absolutely no dual sport comparison here. Single sport and rigged by model choices to boot. Poor review.
But as soon as the moniker "DUAL" sport is used, it had better have off-road chops. You can easily ride an off road motorcycle on the road, it's not hard to do, but you can't always do the same with a bike who's intended purpose is ON road.
My easy guess is they all ride on road the same. Not nearly as good as a cruiser or street bike. And all identically on road otherwise I bet they are the same. Ride the road to the trail, ride trail, ride the road home. It's the "trail" bit that is most important part of "dual" sport.
My friend brought the beta. His reasoning was the durability of the motor. His concern was the KTM is more of a racer and may not have the longevity of other motors. That’s his opinion.
I would have bought a beta if they had a dealer within 200 miles of me. I’m in Pittsburgh too there is no excuse for that.so I bought a Honda put a fmf exhaust and Vortex ECU very happy with my choice
Why compare the 430cc beta to the 510 ktm when there is a 500cc beta?
Exactly.
Or why not use the 450 EXC-F? haha weird
Same. Just like they use the 450 husky instead of the 501.
and even a husky fe 501 ...
Ktm bought, I mean, won another comparison. Even though it had more displacement, costs more etc.....
I like this videos, just would have liked to get a campfire discussion of all the riders? some short and to the point like pros and cons or favorites among the riders, but otherwise keep up the good work!
Well said
The Honda will still be running in 40 years though, and it would be the last to break
Yes sir nothing outlast a honda. Beta and ktm will start having problems in about a year
I'm pretty sure every Honda XR ive ever owned is still running out there somewhere. Sold every one only to upgrade to another XR . had a 1979 XR500, 1996 XR600, 2001 XR650R 😭 can't believe I sold that bike! And finally my current 1999 XR400 which has been converted to street legal with title. Love Honda! I know those other bike are awesome as well but I admit I'm a honda fan and will probably be picking up a used 450L down the road when I can take advantage of the non new price.
Who be here in 40 years 😂😂
Things have changed, Honda doesn't have a monopoly on reliability like it once had.
Sean Duncan shit I’d love to find a an XR 350 too
The ktm 500 needs a little uncorking and tuning to get good hp numbers and full performance. Mine was a night and day difference when I added a fuel rail, fuel controller pipe end cap, and manifold flange. It's a little scary now actually.
I wish they uncorked the bikes for these tests, i dont know many guys who leave the stock exhaust on a dual sport. Literally can change the entire characteristics
Finally a review with some true hard numbers! Thank you for the dynos and facts
Tony Scar yeah but there a beta 500 that they could have used but instead Gave Ktm the upper leg
Unless the definition has changed, this is a street legal enduro review. Dual sport riders tend to log many more miles on pavement than dirt.
And that is why I bought a used DRZ......
I think "Adventure Bike" is the new definition of the old dual sport title. 80% road - 20% dirt/gravel. They excel at road manners and comfort.
The new "Dual Sport" is 80% dirt/gravel - 20% road. Great off road, OK comfort on road.
Trail/Enduro bikes are 100% NOT road. Actually they are kind of awful for long stretches of road. But excel on trail, manners, weight, handling.
I also think the intended purposes of the bikes are deliberately blurred to make it confusing. If you buy the wrong one and aren't satisfied, the manufacturers hope you buy another until you are satisfied. I know guys are in love with huge displacement, lug-gable engines, but 500 pounds of bike sucks off road for half a day of riding. And small displacement DS bikes don't do trail great, just meh ok.
i think beta is the best bike !
Agreed, ktm 500 exc is a fantastic machine. Almost 250 off-road happy hours on mine '17 model.
I have the 18 model and slightly more hours than you. But damn i agree
But it’s a 500 in a 450 comparison.. should be in a 500 comparison test..This way it makes no sense.
2018 500 exc-f owner here with 130 hours on the bike. Running really well! If anyone is in the Massachusetts/Rhode island/new Hampshire/Connecticut area message me reddy88888@yahoo.com I know a ton of trails in all of those states and I'm always trying to grow my riding group.
Anyone notice the flickering lights on the Husqvarna? 💡
^ I didn't notice, but as the previous comment said, this is normal. Practically all lights flicker, especially LED, A/C, or PWM powered lights.
@@pets4489 You sure? It seems, that Husqvarna use incadescent bulb in its headlight that normaly doesn't flicker. LED on the other hand do.
@@compprufus The output to the bulb could be dirty DC (rectified without capacitors), or straight up AC.
I think he was talking about the lights going off on the Dyno 6:10 ... that has nothing to do with shutter speed
I enjoyed the video. Only two things stand out to me.1: CRF450L and CRF450X have the same compression ratio. 2: Dual Sport may not be the best term for any of these bikes. Enduro is more proper. WR250R, CRF250L, DRZ400, KTM 690, etc I think better suit the term 'Dual Sport.'
Yeah, I was always under the impression that proper dual sports are in the lines of DRZ/DR, WRR, XRL, etc. These reviewed bikes should be labeled "enduros" not "dual sports".
The CRF450RX is Honda's Enduro. The CRF450L is dual sport because you can commute with it on the freeways. That's not only what the lights and mirrors are all about, but also what the vibration compensation engineering was for. It's a 30/70 bike. That said, the other bikes are definitely 10/90 bikes. True enduros are almost always 0/100 from factory. I would consider anything designed for inside of 70/30 (Africa Twin) to 10/90 (those other three) is legit dual sport, but that's purely subjective opinion.
@@StimpysGarage Interesting point of view. Maybe I should add 'street legal enduro' instead of strictly enduro. To me, a dual sport is a dirtbike that has long maintenance intervals, capable of distant highway trips and likely passenger/cargo ready. A street legal enduro has short maintenance intervals, not recommended for long distance highway travel, and no passenger/cargo support. An adventure bike is essentially the same as a dual sport, but with more luxurious comfort options, typically heavier built, more wind breaking fairings, smooth as butter vibes. Rally is a term that could be added to any of the classifications, meaning that more wind protection, comfort mods, electronics, cargo, etc.
The street legal Beta RR-S is just a detuned version of the RR, exhaust and mapping change is the only performance difference. Agreed that true 'dualsports' are less a race worthy mount than a street legal enduros like these.
Nice review of dirt bikes, but these are dual sports. Would be nice to know how they do on the road. Obviously these are all primarily dirt bikes with a plate, but that might be where the Honda in particular differentiates itself from the others as weight on the road is actually helpful in some cases. The review is definitely slanted towards a bike you put in the back of the truck and occasionally link trails on the road, rather than the bike you ride out of your garage to the trail.
No footage from the ledge bomb drop in crash on the ktm? Booooooooooo
The honda is smoother and a more comfortable daily commuter. But if that's what you're looking for, why buy a plated dirt bike?
It would make more sense to do that comparison up against less extreme dirt worthy bikes like the WR and DRZ. But there you're comparing a plated dirt bike against true enduros which are less capable but require less maintenance. The crf450l is going after the big dogs.
@@bradleythomsen3083 not looking for a daily commuter, looking for a serious off roader that can handle a descent amount of road miles at the same time. My purpose for buying a bike like this would be to avoid the truck and just leave from my garage, be it 5 miles down the road or 50, maybe even 100! Sure you can do it on all of these machines but something that can do it well and not need a rigorous maintenance schedule would be phenomenal! Not to mention it would make for a more comfortable ride home after hitting the trails hard. Not sure I would be happy with one of the 250 dual sports and the DRZ lacks descent suspension, wide transmission, FI, etc...
I was not interested in a dual sport until Honda built the 450l and I absolutely love it. I should say though that I bought it for street use as it is perfect for bombing around town. It’s super quiet, has a superb transmission and the fit and finish is all Honda. When I want real dirt bike fun I load up the YZ 250x because it spanks all 4 strokes in the sound, weight and fun factor departments. That’s just my opinion after 40 years of riding street and dirt.
@@scottervin9433 Great point. I think Honda fits the empty ground between the street legal European enduros (KTM, Beta, Husqvarna) and the Japanese dual-sports (KLX, DRZ, WR250R). Look at the specs, weight and power are right inbetween. I'd be curious to know about the maintenance schedule, tough to have a big mile bike that needs oil change every 15 hours and valve checks every 30.
I switched from a crf450x to a husky fx350 and I have not regretted it. Off road only. Honda for whatever reason is falling behind in this category an I'm not sure why they let it happen.
They are slow to adapt and like Yamaha with the current aluminum frame it’s getting hard to lose much more weight. Honda is ditching the twin pipe system for 2021 to lose an extra 3 pounds.
Why did you compare the KTM 500 EXC-F to a bunch of other brands 450’s when KTM does produce a 450 as well?
I guess I missed the second part of the test, all saw was the single sport of off-road. Where is the second part of dual sport?
I missed it to. I must have blinked somewhere during the video.
This review ended prematurely. For sure I was expecting thoughts on these bikes when ridden on tarmac. After all, they are called “Dual Sports”, am I right?
They are mean’t to be ridden TO and FROM the trails on public roads, hence the headlights, turn signals, & plates.
Damm they get strangled for power in the US. Stock 500 in Australia makes 60hp easy.
Sae correction factor produces lower dyno numbers than euro bullshit.
I have a 2017 KTM 500 EXC-F and almost have 3000 miles on it. 10/10 recommend.
Very interested hows the maintenance been so far?
@@joseresendez6402 I change the oil every 15 hours give or take. Changed fork and shock oil at 104.6 hrs ( I was late but everything was good). It's a pain having to do the oil often but it's very easy to do.
@@joseresendez6402 I have a '16 500EXC with about 9800 miles on it. Maintenance items so far: Oil changes (how often depends on the type of riding I'm doing), fork seals once, wheel and swingarm bearings once each, periodic valve checks (just because it's so easy on this engine, I've never had to do any adjustments). Can't think of much other than that! My stock cam chain still has plenty of life on it but I'll be replacing it soon just to be preventative.
@@tylernicholson5319 how do you ride it though? aggressive or no?
@@shiftlove On the street I bang the gears pretty hard. I probably have about 65% of the miles on the street. Through the trails the bike is a lugging machine so I rarely rev it out much offroad.
For the love of God, someone tell this dude it's not "dampening", it's *damping*
I would *_of_* preferred it!
You should of put a SWM 500 RS in the mix I think most of your test riders would of been surprised at its handling, suspension and overall price package. I still know the KTM would have taken the crown but would have made a nice addition to the test.
We need a video to compare real life engine rebuild schedules between these bikes for 2020! I wanna ride more than wrench. The honda is the only one that doesn’t require a full rebuild every 3500 miles as per the ktm/husky and beta user manuals.. or is that fake news? Does anyone with a beta or ktm have any actual experience with these maintenance requirements?
Good comparison, glad to see the KTM 450 doesn't need testing, we all know they're the BEST! 😃
true!!! I myself have 05 450exc and hasnt let me down 💪
You said the Kim is the best in the trai because of its torque. You claimed the beta had the most torque. Not sure what to believe
NO. VS Beta 500 rr-s nothing like giving Ktm a leg up on the competition!!!! REAL fair cycle world. Geez.....
mike s Really KTM helped Beta get started years ago with KTM engine's? Not bad mouthing Beta as they make awesome off-road cycles but I guess it's really a matter of opinion and I'm just used to KTM's more.
@@jeffflick2573 Beta vs. KTM is about the same as Husky vs. KTM. All three are essentially variants of each other even though two come off the same production line. A new Beta is much closer to a new KTM than a ten year old KTM is to that same brand if that makes any sense.
It’s bullshit putting a 500 vs a 450 in a 450 ds shootout. Put a Beta 500 RS in there and make it fair.. if you want a 500 street legal dirtbike shootout then put only 500’s. If you want a 450 shootout then put only 450’s. Duh
painmagnet1 Beta is just straight a different machine. It’s a different company and different everything. All bikes made now are good bikes from whatever brand though.. but a Beta is different. Its not like a ktm and husky that are really the same company . Beta is not a variant of the same company like husky and ktm which are the same company.
@@woodsrider117 I agree and the argument that KTM doesn't have a standard 450 in this class is BS, the 450 6 Day's simply has fancy bits, throw that bike in as the Orange offering for a more fair comparison. As long as they keep tossing the KTM 500 in the 450 shootout it will keep winning. Both Beta and Husky make 500cc bikes, keep them in their own shoot outs, this isn't rocket science yet for some reason KTM gets the pass here and in every other 450 shootout.
I’d love to see these bikes put up against each other with each getting $1500-2000 in aftermarket parts. Exhaust probably sheds some good weight off the Honda as well as the others. Like most people will throw some bux at the new bike. Fixs some of the small issues. Like imagine the Honda for instance. You do an easy pull clutch, exhaust with tune, suspension sprung and valved. That would be cool to see. Good review though. I enjoyed it.
The compression is lower on the honda
The exc 500 would destroy all once uncorked, de smoged, piped,and fuel tuned with a fuel rail. They dyno at 63 horse with those upgrades.
So the best 450 is a 500! Where is the Husky 501 then?
Yamieguy64 .. and where is the Beta 500 RS??? Bullshit test
Ah, familiar trails one and all! Moab is awesome. I would not want to only ride Moab, but it is a cool change of pace.
The Husky 450 with the EPA stuff uncorked (start by removing the bottle cap from the exhaust) is a good choice as it has a linkage, which is generally better than PDS. The Husky is a "balanced" bike. The Honda as the most "stuff" to undo, with lots of extra weight from closely rule following Honda, the Beta the least. All are good, some owner involvement is required to get at what any of them are truly capable of.
Why is linkage generally better than pds? Properly tuned I notice no difference.
@@scottdrew6403 I have owned both and find the linkage is more progressive and much better in high speed whoops. I went from a '13TE 300 (PDS) to an '18 XC 300, the XC suits me much better. As they say though and especially with suspension, mileage varies. I do like the simplicity of PDS - no linkage to clean and grease, and a PDS shock comes off the bike in about 30 seconds.
My friend, USA is not all the world, but at the end, regarding your Comparison, I like it. Thanks...
Thank you for comparing these bikes! I’ve been looking for a decent and relatively unbiased review before buying my first dual sport. Keep up the good work!
Funny that nobody ever considers to test the best selling dual sport to even this day. DRZ400.
Does it all but not the best at anything but everyone can afford it and it’s bullet proof.
Your so lucky to live in America we struggle for places now that are not over populated in the UK and if you have one of these in London you would probably have it stolen or you would be dragged from it and stabbed by some work shy shit house from out of town, wish I had enough funds and skills to enable me to come and live in your country I can only dream.
Thanks for the reminder. I feel very blessed to live in the western US. Plenty of room to get lost in.
yes!!! i knew it! i ride a 2018 KTM 500EXCf and had no doubt about the winner
On the open road though the Honda would trounce the others. Stable, quite and super smooth.
Forgot to mention super boring too
With 2019 leftover CRF450Ls selling for $8k, you can put the extra money into weight loss and performance and still have the Honda reliability. Ive owned dozens of bikes from Yamaha, KTM, Husky, GasGas, and Suzuki and regardless, Im so stoked on this CRF. Especially with the deals on them right now. Id never put down the KTM 500 because its an amazing bike but we’re looking at quite a difference in price where initially the CRF was pretty hight up there. I wonder how the 2020 CRFs listed at full MSRP will sell...
I'm in the same boat as you. Just not sure if I should wait for the 2021 CRF450RL
I love my exc, I ride it on the street cuz I love wheelies!
power levels are funny, they are super restricted. 500exc unrestricted has almost 60hp.
63 if you go with the k&h kit. I have it on my 18' 500 and it rips super hard.
Why not include the Husqvarna 501?
It looks like they may have done their best to keep it in the 450cc range for the sake of the Honda? KTM doesn't have a street legal 450 anymore so that may be why they went with the 500 here. Just guessing here.
Tyler Nicholson what? Since when did KTM drop the 450 excf?? I didn’t even know that! I have one but it’s already a few years old.. That makes sense why they then chose the 500
@@meals24u They still have it in Euro markets, just not US markets. It happened relatively recently I think.
Which was the best on the road?
Honda
I’m either going for the CRF or the EXC depends how much money I have after saving for 3 years
‘Murican crf!
I haven't even watched this video yet i can see it's already flawed. You're comparing machines of dissimilar capacity. If it's a 450 review, level peg the bikes by using their 450s. If it's a 500 review you could at least have used Beta's 480 RR and Husqvarna's 501. Now I'm going to watch and enjoy.
Anyone else notice the Husky's headlight going out on the dyno??? Wat lol
Did anyone else notice the husky's headlight flickering during the dyno test? I wonder why.
If off-roading was a video game, the KTM is a cheat code!
Where is the 501 husqvarna this was not a fair comparison.
6spd? My 10 ktm530 is a 6 speed, I guess I could look up the others but it's very handy to have close gears and a high gear.
Now, as far as driving mostly back roads and few pastures the super motard 400 with aggressive street tires and a yosh 450 kit, makes a more relaxing ride with endless miles of wheelies tons of fun.
It also weighs a lot, shave it down.
As a comparison, I absolutely love my 04 450 yammy quad bored to 500 to catch the newer larger 450s
But an all day ride on Suzuki's 400 ltz 400 is just more all around fun with much power and again awesome wheelies with a smooth motor and long gears
I'm an old guy(51) and a KX500/450 rider. Would transferring to one of these for dual sport capabilities be as disappointing as I imagine.
With the Beta only coming in at 44hp I'm concerned.
Irrational fear or realistic expectations? Or is 44 the new 60-70....
The KTM 500 will not disappoint. However, these are enduro bikes, not motocross, so the power delivery isn't as immediate and abrupt. They're designed for woods riding. They still rip though. I am a 2018 KTM 500 exc-f owner. I've ridden 250 2 strokes growing up. The big 4 stroke engines are very enjoyable to ride compared to a purely motocross bike. I think you'd love it. I have some videos on my channel showing my rides.
@@scottdrew6403
Groovy! I'm too old to ride motocross anyway I ride my 500'sand450 in harescrambles! Is there enough torque for it to wheelie by just rolling into the throttle? I'm sure it's adequate. I can't afford another helicopter ride anyway!
Bloody excellent filming / content ! Thanks
One thing that drives me CRAZY:......people that say Husq"A" varna. There's no freakin A in the middle. Phew, I 'm ok now.
Great commentary, imo I think you have a Bruce Brown / Dana Brown On Any Sunday kind of feel. I appreciated your straight forward descriptions of the bikes. I wasn't sure what bike I liked more, the Honda or the KTM, now I know I want the KTM.
Wow the epa stuff killed stock power compared to 12 to 16 ktms
KTM, is such an over rated bike.
I'd love to see how they shake out in the tight woods, wet roots, rocks, and logs of the PNW. Plus lots of elevation changes out here in the mountains.
I'm assuming this was with the bikes mostly stock? Would be cool to see another comparison with all of the EPA stuff removed as most people end up running them.
noControl So true! Set a budget, a list, redo shootout!! Would love to see that!
But I realize that that would require more funds, sponsors and time! Might be well worth it though and definitely new in the review/shootout community!
I’d pay
KTM would dominate even more
The Honda is the only one classified as a dual sport. The rest are race bikes.
Which requires the least maintenance?
Honda
Why do people say Progressive Dampening System when it comes to KTM's PDS rear shock? It "DAMPING" damnit? Progressive "Damping" System. Dampening means to make something damp/moist or wet?
Very common mistake, even among pros. Even my instructor at college said "dampening", making my ears bleed every time lol
What mods did you do to the rear fender license plate holder on the 500 EXC-F?
Why not the Beta 500 rr-s (478cc) if you throwing in the KTM 500?
Because then it would bs fair and they wanted to cheat 😂
Would love to see the dual sport Rokon Ranger included in a shootout.
Did you guys run these on the dyno with knobbies?
The slick rock is slick when it rains.
Great comparo thanks boys , you could see that KTM shining in all the shots cheers
Awesome video, I'm pretty sure that I would love any of these bikes (I'm not a skilled rider), so I wonder which ones will prove to be more reliable/durable over time...
WoOsKii 1 many would say the Honda! But who knows
In Europe they diliver around 50 rwhp
This is awesome info! What would you do to make the Honda top notch? I have a KTM and love it but that Honda could be great, GOTA like even. What would you do to make that happen???
Whatever Rad change the tires and exhaust that muffler is literally almost 10 lbs lol and tune it with either Tokyo mods of vortex then you have a perfect bike!
Does beta need a safety throttle-kill cable? I only saw one
So glad to hear the 450l is the opposite of the 250l. Don’t get me wrong, I love the 250l it’s just not a bike for aggressive riders.. not to say it can’t be ridden aggressively, obviously it’s just got physical differences that don’t allow you to ride it as aggressively as a race bike (or more aggressive bike like the 450l, 450r or almost anything else😂). that being said guys looking for a killer bike for a lower pice, the 250l is a sweet bike. I had a 05 yz450f (race bike) it was great but I have back problems and it would hurt my back lol, but you can’t beat the handling of a race bike.. I mean you can ride the race bikes on ice.. literally. The 250l was plush, and because of the suspension it didn’t have the handling of the race bike, but it was comfortable and I never had any issues with my back on it! Next bike I get will be the 450l tho... seems like it’s somewhere between a race bike and the typical dual sport from 1995😂
This is the best riding I've seen on these bikes on a review. Most of the reviewers lack the technical skill to see just how far these bikes will go. Like that trails section in the video.
Orange looks the best.
Anyone know which Moab trail that is at 3:26 ?
Any off-road moto tour / rental companies in Moab? Would love to spend a week there and ride those awesome trails?
Finally, Japan is bringing something to the table 10k for a honda dual sport 450 with old MX copy paste no thanks. But I like that they have the guts to bring a bike.
Why not comparing the KTM450 ?
What does a 450 sxf make for power on your dyno?
Can’t get a desert tank for that Honda-meaning you can’t do any real extended off roading. Also 290 pounds??!?!? Damn heavy bike! I do like the Beta as an option.
Very very good test! Good job!
Why is the hp so low? Is it because they're ds not race bike3s?
you yanks should try a real 500exc with 63hp uncorked
screw the bikes, I now want that truck camper in the back at 0:26
I can’t decide to get the husky fe 350 or the crf 450l
Look at the beta 390rrs
I bleed red. Honda for me. Showa suspension best. No air forks for me (no flats). Fill forks with oil, and forget about them, until next oil change. Pds suspension garbage. Linkage suspensions far better. Why did KTM mx team go to linkages?? Because better, can be tuned better. Honda for me. Wing and a prayer. Cheers.
the air fork doesnt go flat. Ktm has pds so you dont bust the shock or linkage. I rarely have to check my air forks on my fx450
John Conner completely disagree with you. Always checking, air adding every week. White Power suspension is garbage. Even KTM pro mx team went back to WP spring/oil fork.
@@lmtada its really not that bad for the average guy. Mine might change 2psi in 2 weeks. I bleed it like you do a normal fork. Most say they dont like the arifork because its a dead feel. Once again 17 and up airfork seal can leak oil and still able to ride unlike what was on the kawi 450 a few years back.
Where is the WR450
Peak numbers mean precisely dick on a motorcycle that isn't designed for racing. What matters is how, where, and when the power is delivered.
Awesome test ride!
No wr450f???
Why does Honda continue to let KTM rule
If you're having flameouts on the Honda, try adjusting the TPS (throttle position sensor). This works miracles on KTM's that had flameout issues. TPSTool.com has tools and how to videos that help a lot.