The 2024 Husqvarna FC450 Rockstar Edition must be one of many coolest wanting bikes within the present Husqvarna line–or possibly anybody’s line-up. We’ve been using one for about two weeks–or slightly our check rider Jared Hicks has. It’s been onerous to get him off it. This is the Husqvarna model of the KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition that we examined final month and has all the identical calling playing cards.

The prime of the record of latest stuff is the body itself, which is rather less inflexible. You’ve in all probability heard that every one the usual Austrian bikes within the mixed KTM-Husqvarna-GasGas line have drawn fireplace for being stiffer than the earlier era. We’ve discovered that this turns into much less of a problem with time. The metal frames require greater than 10 hours to “break in.” Actually, they carry on changing into extra compliant after that, too. Does that imply they are going to be too flexy after 100 hours? Yes, however that’s an issue for later. The 2024 Rockstar Edition begins off pre-broken-in. We nonetheless have lower than 10 hours on our check bike, however it will likely be attention-grabbing to see if it has such a dramatic change in dealing with with extra time. Right now we will report that, in back-to-back testing with a well-used customary FC450, the brand new body begins off feeling extra snug. You primarily really feel that within the rear suspension by means of the footpegs. This isn’t as massive a problem in entrance.

The Husqvarna additionally will get all of the cool Rockstar options. They embody:
New bodywork
Updated suspension settings
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing graphics
FMF Racing Factory 4.1 silencer
Factory Racing CNC-machined triple clamps with adjustable offset [20 – 22 mm]
Factory Racing wheel set with black anodized CNC machined hubs
Carbon composite skid plate
Carbon composite entrance brake disc guard
Factory Racing holeshot machine
Soft, grey ODI lock-on grips
GUTS Factory excessive grip seat cowl
ProTaper handlebar and bar pad
Connectivity Unit Offroad (CUO) with GPS and Lit-Pro (with subscription)

That final characteristic is the one that also has our head spinning. When you obtain the Husqvarna Motorcycle App in your smartphone (the equal of KTM Connect), you may modify a number of engine parameters, together with throttle response and engine braking. You can also fine-tune traction management and Quickshift response. What we actually like is the connection to LitPro. That prices $69 a yr, however you get entry to a incredible quantity of knowledge about each experience. It tells you which of them gear you employ on which sections, what RPM you dwell in and how briskly you go from flip to show, even how far you soar. The motive that’s such a giant deal to us is as a result of we check bikes on a regular basis. We want we had this sort of know-how for the whole lot. If you’re extra of a stick-it-in-gear and go kind of man, you may not care as a lot as we do.

As far as the remainder of the motorbike goes, it appears like a crisp, well-dialed FC450. The suspension is full-travel, versus the usual mannequin, which has 5mm much less in entrance and 7mm much less within the rear with a purpose to decrease the seat peak. Most riders choose the decrease seat peak, however Jared says he likes the bike to be barely taller to maintain out of the ruts. To every his personal. Regardless of that, the extra compliant body makes the rear suspension really feel prefer it’s doing a a lot better job. The motor additionally feels a little bit snappier on the Rockstar Edition, in all probability because of the FMF exhaust. The FC450 motor, in case you don’t already know, is incredible. It has as a lot energy as something within the 450 class and it’s tremendous straightforward to make use of. The value isn’t low cost. The 2024 Husky FC450 Rockstar version will value you $12,599, which is $1400 greater than the usual mannequin. For the complete check, search for the June, 20204 print version of Dirt Bike.

2004 MEGA SHOOTOUT

Eight-bike shootouts are the norm in the present day, however it wasn’t all the time that method. In 2004, we mixed 250 two-strokes with 450 four-strokes for the most important shootout so far. Most of the testing was finished in Southern California, however for the climax we traveled to Cycle Ranch, close to San Antonio Texas. We enlisted the assistance of Kent Howerton and Gary Jones amongst others. Here’s the conclusion to the check, which appeared within the January, 2004 situation of Dirt Bike.

RATINGS

POWER
1. Yamaha YZ450F
2. KTM 450SX
3. Honda CRF450R
4. Suzuki RM250
5. KTM 250SX
6. Yamaha YZ250
7. Honda CR250
8. Kawasaki KX250

This is the seat-of-the-pants model of the dyno chart. Yes, it differs from the actual dyno as a consequence of quite a lot of reasons-most importantly as a result of a dyno solely measures energy with the throttle vast open, and riders use all the throttle.

POWER USEABILITY
1. Honda CRF450R
2. Yamaha YZ250
3. KTM 250SX
4. Suzuki RM250
5. Yamaha YZ450F
6. KTM 450SX
7. Kawasaki KX250
8. Honda CR250R
This is the extremely subjective score in any other case generally known as “which motor did you like best?” The CRF is king right here, whereas the Yamaha stays a little bit bit an excessive amount of for some riders. The KTM 450 and Suzuki RM250 generated complaints about low-rpm glitches.

CORNERING
1. Suzuki RM250
2. Yamaha YZ250
3. Honda CR250R
4. Honda CRF450R
5. Yamaha YZ450
6. KTM 250SX
7. Kawasaki KX250
8. KTM 450SX
Don’t stroll away from this considering that the bikes in sixth, seventh and eighth don’t flip, In truth, all of those bikes are excel- lent in corners-it ain’t just like the outdated days. Ranking them, once more, is very subjective.

STABILITY
1. Yamaha YZ450F
2. Kawasaki KX250
3. Honda CRF450R
4. Yamaha YZ250
5. Honda CR250R
6. KTM 450SX
7. KTM 250SX
8. Suzuki RM250
The solely bikes that generated feedback about “wandering” or head shake have been the KTMs and the Suzuki.

FORK
1. Honda CRF450R
2. Suzuki RM250
3. Honda CR250R
4. Kawasaki KX250
5. Yamaha YZ250
6. Yamaha YZ450F
7. KTM 450SX
8. KTM 250SX
The Yamahas and KTMs are vastly improved over final yr, so the fork race has tightened up. We would think about the fourth by means of eighth-place bikes in practically a useless warmth.

SHOCK
1. Yamaha YZ450F
2. Yamaha YZ250
3. Honda CRF450R
4. Honda CR250R
5. Suzuki RM250 6. Kawasaki KX250
7. KTM 450SX
8. KTM 250SX
Odd, however it looks as if a little bit weight truly helps rear suspension work well-the four- strokes usually labored higher than their two-stroke counter- elements. The KTMs have a lot wager ter rear shocks than earlier than and have been solely relegated to seventh and eighth locations due to bottoming points.

DETAILS
1. Honda CRF450R
2. Honda CR250R
3. KTM 250SX
4. KTM 450SX
5. Yamaha YZ450F
6. Yamaha YZ250
7. Suzuki RM250
8. Kawasaki KX250
It solely took Renthal bars to raise the Hondas to the highest of this throw-all class. We had issues with little {hardware} on the KTMs. Suzuki a minimum of has a brand new on-the-fly clutch adjuster.

THE WORD
How the large image seems for 2004

Everyone has their favourite and their least favourite. But they don’t all the time know why. Kent Howerton defined issues objectively and systematically. Some of the youthful riders simply stated their favourite bike “flowed like a smooth rap song.” Consistently, although, the Honda CRF450R was the highest machine. Everyone beloved the motor and the suspension. Everyone appreciated the best way it felt, began and even sounded. The YZ450F swayed one rider, however most put it in second place. The Yamaha is a very nice machine, however it’s nonetheless higher for Pros than regular folks. It must be famous that the majority the riders stated they would favor a two-stroke for a decent monitor or a supercross-style race. And the votes have been all around the map for prime 250. Jones beloved the KTM 250. Marshall was solidly behind the Honda 250. Howerton made a case for the Yamaha.

Of course, we now have final veto energy over all of the check riders. This yr we’ll declare an upset winner: the RM250 has the motor and, in the event you give it the possibility, the dealing with to be prime two-stroke and third total, narrowly beating the Yamaha YZ250. The YZ remains to be higher on some tracks, particularly tough, quick ones.

And subsequent within the pecking order is one other upset. There’s completely no motive you may’t win on a KTM 250SX this yr. As regular, it doesn’t shine fairly as brightly because the others within the suspension department-but the motor makes up for it. The Honda 250, KTM 450 and Kawasaki 250 comply with in that order, not as a result of they aren’t aggressive, however every had some flaw that saved it out of the working. The Honda wants low finish, the Kawasaki wants prime finish and the KTM wants manners.

That’s the large image. Each monitor and each rider throughout the nation has a pixel or two in that body. We’re guessing, although, that nobody’s private pecking order might be that totally different, a minimum of not on the prime. We’re fortunate–when you might have such a decisive winner, it’s straightforward to be proper.

CARSON BROWN IN THE HOUSE

We have been bummed to listen to that the 2024 Fasthouse Two-Stroke Championship was postponed. We have been happy to should alternative to spend a while with defending champion Carson Brown, although. We bought to spend a few days with him and his Yamaha/BRC 500. What a beast!

See you subsequent week!