ERGONOMICS
Cutting the fastest lap of the race is cool, but the winner is the one who consistently cuts the fastest laps. With the power that these 450cc thoroughbreds deliver, such seemingly unimportant items as control location, handlebar rise, seating comfort, chassis width and the overall size feeling of the machine can profoundly influence rider comfort. The right ergos can help preserve a rider during a long moto while a cramped or large-feeling bike can contribute to sapped energy and less comfort.
For the most part, the Honda CRF450R received favorable feedback with regard to its fit and feel.
“Hondas have always been known as ‘small’ bikes, and that has always worked for me,” Abbatoye said. “The CRF just feels great in the cockpit. It’s easy to move around on the bike however you need to.” Garvin concurred, saying that the Honda fit his 5’11” frame perfectly. Stover noted that the Honda was easy to move around aboard, especially front to rear. Turner, on the other hand, had some pointed complaints about the CRF’s ergonomic features.
“I really hate the stock footpegs on the Honda,” and “The old-school 7/8-inch handlebar with crossbar also leaves something to be desired,” Turner said. “If you want to install an oversize bar—which I definitely would—you not only have to buy the bar, but new mounts as well. An oversize tapered aluminum bar (like the Suzuki’s!) is a much better stock option, in my opinion.”
The Husqvarna FC 450’s ergos were less of a favorite, generally speaking.
“I wasn’t a fan,” Abbatoye said. “I don’t know whether it is the Husqvarna’s bars or triple clamps, but the bars are set too high for my tastes, and the seat is pretty hard compared to the seats on the other bikes. And again, there’s also the engine vibration. But I liked the Husqvarna’s electric starting system.”
Stover noted that while the FC 450 has a nice, flat feel in the saddle, he noticed that it was too easy to accidentally hit the engine map switch and the electric start buttons when he was riding the Husky. Burch praised the FC’s thin feel but noted that the location of the footpegs left his legs cramped while also mentioning his difficulty in finding the shifter on the Husqvarna.
While Abbatoye said that the Kawasaki KX450F looks big and long, “You don’t really feel it as much as you see it.” But he may have been the one rider who liked the Kawasaki the most, as the others weren’t as enthusiastic.
“The KX feels wide through the middle and long in back to me,” Garvin said. “It just has an odd feel in the cockpit.” Stover said pretty much the same thing: “The KX feels long, like it is set up for a larger pilot. I felt decent on it, but not at home.” While not necessarily complaining, Burch also mentioned that the bars on the Kawasaki feel much higher than some of the other machines in the class. “
Turner added, “The good thing about the KX footpegs is that they are adjustable. If I had all day to ride just the KX, I would have tried it out. But the quality of the pegs themselves isn’t great. The 7/8 bar with crossbar is, again, not my preference. And it’s a pain to have to buy different bar mounts when you inevitably swap out the bar for a tapered one. I like the stock seat, though. It’s comfortable and has good grip.”
Once again, while you would think that the KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition and the Husqvarna FC 450 would elicit the same responses due to their very similar design, the KTM’s ergonomics received wide range of comments from the group.
“The KTM feels very comfortable, and everything just falls into place for me,” Abbatoye said. However, Garvin said he found that the KTM “sits a bit taller and has a funky overall feel.” Stover noticed that his right foot “kept snagging the rear master cylinder, and it felt like the rear brake lever was hidden under the KTM’s motor.” Burch was more in line with Abbatoye, noting that the KTM “is very slim-feeling,” and he was able to move back and forth and side to side with ease.
Of the KTM, Turner said, “Fit and finish is superb—bar, grips, footpegs, seat, levers, everything! There’s no fuss, nothing to replace straight from the dealer floor on the KTM. It feels a little tall at the front, and feels like you’re sitting more upright than others. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it is still an extremely agile bike.”
Despite its lack of updates, the Suzuki RM-Z450’s ergos were largely approved of by our test crew. Abbatoye said that the Suzuki’s cockpit feels as small and comfortable as any bike in the class, and Garvin offered that its riding position, highlighted by its low bars and smallish feel, was more than acceptable.
“I don’t have any major complaints about the Suzuki’s ergos,” Stover added. “The bars feel a little low and the footpegs feel a little high.” Burch also said that the Suzuki “feels pretty slim to me.”
Turner also commented about one aspect of the Suzuki ergos that others on our test team mentioned but did not place in their notes: “The kickstarter was long and kind of awkward, with a long stroke to start it. But the RM-Z lights up very easily. Also, I like the stock handlebar—the tapered Renthal bar is nice.”
When it comes to the Yamaha’s cockpit, our test crew’s consensus pretty much pointed toward the middle of the road.
“The Yamaha just feels big when you’re just sitting on it, but that goes away on the track,” Abbatoye said. “Overall, it’s a nice ergonomic package, but it isn’t as good in the corners as some of the other bikes.”
“What can I say?” Stover said. “I like the YZ’s bar bend, and I think it has the best footpegs, but overall the bike feels wide.” Burch agreed that the YZ felt wide. “It was harder to squeeze with my legs than the other bikes,” he said.
Turner felt the same about the YZ, saying, “It’s a little wide at the front, which takes a little getting used to at first if you’re used to a slim tank. The wide shrouds make it a little harder for me to grab on with my legs and hold myself forward.”
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