all for $8890 or $300 more
than the 2016 YZ450F.
We first tried it in box-stock
conditions without so much
as touching a clicker or even
setting the sag. Even then,
Morgan could sense its potential
as a Baja winner. "I'm coming
off a motocross bike as my
primary bike so it's a lot better,"
said Morgan. Of note was its
ability to pull long in each gear,
though he wasn't positive if
that was due to ignition/fuel
injection mapping (more likely)
or the wide-ratio five-speed
gearbox (less likely). Morgan
wasn't the only one who wished
it came with handguards while
getting slapped by bushes.
The next order of business
was to adjust the suspension
a bit to optimize the stocker's
handling. That included bleeding
the air from each fork tube
(KYB spring forks instead of the
air forks that are so popular
with manufacturers due to
less cost per unit compared
to spring forks), raising each
tube two millimeters in the
triple clamps, setting the
sag to 100 millimeters then
turning the clickers. It was very
close as is, as Morgan went
two clicks in (stiffer) on fork
compression, three clicks out
on fork rebound, and two clicks
out on shock compression.
"The valving, spring rates and
everything work really well
in stock form," said Morgan.
"It could be a lot more plush,
THOUGH IT'S GEARED LOW ENOUGH FOR FAIRLY TIGHT,
TECHNICAL TRAILS, THERE ARE BETTER CHOICES. WHERE
THE '450FX REALLY SEEMS TO SHINE IS IN PLACES THAT
ALLOW THIRD GEAR AND HIGHER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE
AVERAGE RIDER.
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