Mud, Sweat & Gears
Six-Day Enduro Test: Honda CRF45OX vs. Husqvarna TE450 vs. KTM 450 EXC) vs. Yamaha WR450F
WAKE up! Wake up! Oh no, it's catterson! Busting my berries for sleeping on the job. Job? Where am I? What's going on? I think it's Tuesday, no...maybe it's Wednesday. Is this some bizarre "Twilight Zone" episode? Why do I have red bumps all over my body? Oh yes, now I remember... Once again, I found myself lucky enough to be the first to encounter poison oak on the trail. Now, sitting here as a desk jockey, I'm trying to recollect what happened this past week. We'd ridden four enduro 450s six days in a row, and had minimal sleep, ar for the course.
RYAN DUDEK
Hey, who needs rest when you can be exploring new trails, rid ing insane endi~ro-cross loops, hammering braad-ii~w motorcycles that belong to meone else? You call this wöti~?! Still, my body itches like mad.:.. History tells us that the first International Six Days Trial took place in England in 1913, held to prove~ the durability of motor cycles, to show they could be a reliable form of daily transporta tion. Now called the ISDE, it's the most grueling enduro event of the year, testing machine and rider over the most difficult ter rain under God's great sky. Cycle :~ Wçrld would use the basic con eept~six straight days of riding, 60 hard miles r day--to find the Best Enduro Bike of 2005.
Mud, Sweat & Gears
CW COMPARISON
HONDA
CRF45OX
$7199
New and exciting Race-ready right now Lightweight feel ifs a Honda
Downs
Not for Beginners/Novices
Wide fuel tank
Brittle clutch cover
Typical Honda air-cleaner hassles
We gathered up four 450cc Enduro Thumpers, mapped out six locations and hit the trails for some non-stop fun.
First bike pick was a nobrainer, the all-new Honda CRF450X, probably the most anticipated off-road bike since the XR400 in 1996. Derived from the award-winning CRF450R motocrosser, this was one bike every rider wanted to get his hands on. Having already tested the X (CW, April, 2005), we knew it was up to the challenge-a twin-spar aluminum frame and 449cc four-valve Unicam engine make this bike a lightweight fire-breather.
Always a front-runner in every enduro comparison is KTM with its broad range of enduro bikes. We chose the 450 EXC to go up against the others. This year KTM changed frame tubes to oval-profile in hopes of improving handling and control while decreasing rider fatigue. Attached to the frame is a freshly redesigned swingarm said
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around the world and was sure to be a contender here.
Next choice, one of the pioneers in latter-day four-stroke enduro bikes, was the Yamaha WR450F. Not wanting to be left in the dust like last year, the now-California-greensticker-legal WR received numerous changes for ’05.
Frame height is reduced by .4-inch, and seat height is down .8-inch, giving the bike a lower center of gravity, which usually means better handling-not to mention making it a little easier to reach the ground, especially for shorter riders. Also, a new slimmer fuel tank and radiator shrouds increase comfort and mobility-no more bulbous WR tank! New fork tubes, a Renthal handlebar, and changed carburetor and ignition settings were also part of the upgrade package.
Last but not least, CWs 2004 Ten Best winner, Husqvarna’s TE 450. Although this bike shined brightly last year, Husqvarna went ahead and took steps to improve an already stellar motorcycle. The ’05 model comes with a 41mm Keihin FCR carburetor, a completely new crankshaft and larger-diameter titanium valves. The chassis is now fitted with a Sachs shock and a stronger, lighter aluminum swingarm.
So, bikes picked, ready to ride, right? No, first things first: bike prep. Handguards were added to all the bikes to help prevent bent levers and broken fingers. If you’ve ever ridden off-road, you know that guards are a must-have.
Each bike was ridden one or two days prior to the test for suspension setup and pre-test photos. In addition, every bike received some minor modifications to unleash the power that emissions/noise standards hold back.
The Yamaha was considerably plugged up, so it underwent the most changes-something your dealer should know about called a Closed Course Power Upgrade. This involves opening up the airbox, removing the exhaust restrictor, changing the throttle-stop, adjusting the fuel-mixture screw and snipping the gray wire from the CDI unit.
The KTM needed less work. First, the pilot jet was switched from a #42 to a #45, then the breather hose going from the crankcase to the carburetor was undone, leaving the crankcase venting to atmosphere. The Honda’s carb got a new needle (part #16233-MEN-671) and the fuel screw was adjusted l5/8 turns out to coincide. The Husky needed a couple of carburetion changes; the needle clip was repositioned one step richer to cure a small, off-idle stumble, and the pilot jet went from a #45 to a #42. Also changed were the TE’s tires. Street-legal in European countries, it comes standard with DOT-approved Michelins that don’t work all that well in the dirt. So the guys at Husqvama put on some trail-friendly Dunlops, a D756 in the rear and a D742 up front.
First stop was Southern California’s Moto Ventures Ranch, home of an AMA national championship trials meet. A park for feet-uppers makes for a torturous enduro loop lacking only in high-speed sections. The 5-mile course was full of everything-deep creek crossings, rock ledges, Black Water-
type mud holes, trees, boulders... just about everything in the Enduro Layout Handbook, Expert s Edition. The Yamaha took home the most votes here, probable cause being its new slim design and mellow-but-snappy power, letting riders maneuver around or over any obstacle with ease. The other bikes scrambled for second spot, but it was the KTM just beating out the Honda and Husqvarna.
Next day we traveled to Jawbone State Park in California’s Mojave Desert. Spectacular stuff as we started in sand and ended up in the Piute Mountains, where we encountered snow. Back down in the dez, we aimed the bikes up some of the gnarliest sand hills known to man. No bike was a real standout on the hills-it was more up to rider and technique to make it over the top. Loading up after a long day, the KTM was the favorite this time. Max respect to an engine that never stops barking, complemented by super-plush suspension. This bike is a joy on long two-tracks and desert trails.
Day Three had us on the central Cali coast, where a 2.5-mile > Grand Prix-style course was set up. Now we’re testing! True, a fast GP track is a little out of character for these trailbikes, but lucky for us, heavy rains the week prior helped smooth the track and keep it nice and moist. They had no trouble scooting along at a good pace. New winner for the day was the Honda, judged the outright “funnest” bike on the course. No surprise, really: The X’s lightweight feel and stiffer suspension settings make it more of a racer than a trail bug.
HUSQVARNA
TE 450
$6889
IJ~
Exotic yet competitive No hill too tough Fancy extras such as magnesium hubs
"owns r Second-rate plastic r Er, where's my dealer? r Long legs a must No headlight adjuster
KTM
450 EXC
$7298
footpegs)
Fun to ride Sleek and stylish Big Boy power Sixth gear
Got earplugs? (Loud exhaust)
No skidplate
Bottoms hard at speed
Day Four, another desert location, Red Mountain, home to this year’s 50th-annual Prospectors Enduro. A good change of pace, with the bikes negotiating a 6-mile loop, including some top-gear stretches, rough chop and monster whoops. It was a toss-up for best bike here, with the Honda and Yamaha just edging out the KTM in high-speed handling characteris-
tics. The Husqvama’s power was unleashed here, boasting a potent top-end that had us screaming across the desert. The TE’s suspension was, however, no match for its speed, feeling a bit nervous, a most un-Husky-like trait.
Our Super Secret Spot was the venue for Days Five and Six. No, we won’t tell you where, don’t ask us; we’re tired of trail-pigs soiling our territory! It is choice terrain, though, an 8-mile course comparable to an enduro-cross on major-league ’roids. If the bikes were ever put to the test, this was it.
Just like Day One, the Yamaha stood out here, a tad ahead of the others. Being quick and agile, yet mellow (read: easy to ride), it turned the fastest lap times, just in front of the Honda. The X’s downfall? It’s more of an Expert’s bike, making some obstacles a little tough to get over-if you keep Big Mo on your side, no problem, but if you slow or miss your marks, you can find yourself struggling.
As for the KTM and Husky, close but no cigar. The EXC has loads of controllable power and a suspension package that rides like a Cadillac. However, a Cadillac is not always what you need-the bike felt a tad unstable at high speeds, and blew through its suspension stroke on any big hits or g-outs. The Husqvarna is a little wide in the seat and leg area, plus its geometry makes for a tall ride, nice for clearing rocks, but a major downfall for vertically challenged riders.
Day Six was supposed to be an extra-long trail ride, a chance to collect thoughts and make final assessments. Unfortunately, our ride was shortened due to heavy snowdrifts that proved impassable. The now-26-mile loop was, however, still plenty enough to play bike swap and get the last impressions needed to complete the test.
After five dawn-to-dusk days plus a sixth half-day, no bike (or body) was left untouched, unscuffed or unbattered. > Cycle World has stated previously, “An enduro bike is a bike that does just about everything,” so we did our best to get in every conceivable condition-fast to technical to hills to streambeds to sand to mud to snow-with hopes of finding the Best Enduro Bike of 2005.
YAMAHA
WR45OF
$6599
Ups
Nicely narrow, nimble Grade-A kickstand Low MSRP Quiet (even with battle removed
Downs
Exposed oil line
Engine needs unplugging
Odo reset a pain
Plastic gets worn-out tast
Last year’s top choice, the Husky TE, ran into rabid competition this year, namely an all-new Honda, a heavily revised Yamaha and a thoughtfully tweaked KTM. This bike has personality, and we love the motor, but with no outright wins during the CW Six Days, fourth place it is.
Choosing between third and second place was a nail-biter. In the end, it really comes down to your kind of riding. The
better all-’round ride is the KTM 450 EXC with that great power delivery and a suspension tuned to trail riding. It was the clear winner on Day Two, our most fun day of testing. The Honda on the other hand, with 1 Vi wins, would be better for Grand Prix or desert racing, while its stiffer suspension is not optimal for trails. Its motor is phenomenal, but wasn’t always usable, causing extra wheelspin in some situations. The CRF450X needs a little less moto to make it more appealing for every off-road need.
So, the bike that leads the pack this year, offering the most versatility, is Yamaha’s quietly revised WR450F, winner of 2Vi of our Six Days. Its new, slimmer feel also comes with the slimmest price tag of the group, making it great for tight woods as well as tightwads. Factor in plenty of easy-toaccess power, glitch-free handling from a crawl to cripesawmighty! and the Yamaha wins this one going away.
Now, where did Catman hide my calamine lotion...? □
