Dirt Wheels has their long-awaited shootout of the major high-performance 450 sport quads in their April 2008 issue. Despite the "and the winner is..." teaser on the cover, I would say the piece is more a "party" involving seven awesome machines than a true shootout! No clear winner is declared, which I agree would be difficult anyway. But this also allows me to give you my own breakdown of the data and as I read and re-read the article, I thought a "visual guide" would help...
First, the seven machines to keep straight:
- Can-Am DS 450
- Honda TRX 450
- Kawasaki KFX 450
- KTM 450 XC
- Polaris Outlaw 450MXR (straight axle)
- Suzuki LT-R450
- Yamaha YFZ 450
Key differentiating specs (since most are the same)
EFI - DS450, KFX450, LT-R450
Reverse - KFX450, 450XC, 450MXR
In order of cost
- TRX450 ($6850)
- YFZ450 ($7100)
- 450MXR ($7200)
- KFX450, LT-R450 ($7400)
- DS450 ($7500)
- KTM 450XC ($8800)
Drag test
- TRX450, YFZ450
- 450MXR, LTR-450, DS450, 450XC
- KFX450
Top speed
- TRX450, YFZ450 (78mph)
- DS450 (77mph)
- KFX450, LTR450 (74mph)
- 450XC, 450MXR (73mph)
Trail loop
- KTM450, DS450, YFZ450 (34min)
- TRX450 (34.25min)
- KFX450
- 450MXR, LT-R450
Suspension
- 450XC, 450MXR
- DS450, YFZ450
- KFX450
- TRX450, LT-R450
Jumping
- 450XC, DS450, LT-R450
Handling
- 450XC
- YFZ450
- LTR450, 450MXR, DS450
- TRX450
- KFX450
So now you can make your own call on the winner or check out the full article for plenty of good comparative photos and more comments.
