Three of the six individual bike break-downs are posted! I'll also be posting up the a dyno/weight video coming at the end of the week. So hit subscribe, and I'm also giving away a few things a month through my Patreon if you want to check it out: www.patreon.com/ML512 Kawasaki Break Down: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LsnLitDAnCs.html / Yamaha Break Down: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ru6gHzeyTL0.html / Suzuki Break Down: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-OaKhdiCIAxw.html Also, if you have questions about the results, throw them in here! I'll be answering everything I can.
Thanks so much for inviting me out to be a test rider! One of the coolest experiences put on by one of the best people in the moto community. Keep doing you, Michael. Big things in the future!
honestly do u think it’s s independent?? It never is. Dont be naive. These are all very similar bikes. For the common rider its the same. Buy the cheapest or the best deal you get. Great video though
I think he meant don't be naive to the fact the dude is wearing a chap moto shirt and doing parts of the review on the showroom floor, presumably at chapparel.
Hell yeah! Yamaha all the way! They started it with the worlds first watercooled motocross bike. Yamaha yz125h 1981. Then also started the worlds first 4 stroke (real) motocross bike. Yamaha yz400f 1998. Huge respect!
@@markmagness3693 I love it! I had a kx450 2015. Now I got a 19 yz450. power and suspension is night and day difference. Especially coming from an airfork
Mark Magness I had Kawasaki Honda and Yamaha. Honda is ridiculous on going through valves not just the one I had but other ppl I know. Kawasaki went longer and a lot of ppl that had Yamaha the motors just keep going and going. Couple of friends no lie had over a hundred hours no valve jobs.. I have a 2016 yz450 the motor is amazing you can go a gear up and it pulls no problem. Suspension is amazing plus my bike pulls my friends 2019 Kawasaki 450. One rode mine now he wants a Yamaha. Also with the map changes you can do with the Yamaha saves you on buying different size sprockets and no need for aftermarket exhaust. I was an A rider a few years back when racing now I like to just hit the track and have fun.
My man Joe Carlino and Casey Davis know how to run those cameras and Joe is insane in the editing department...especially with the really small time frames I give him to work with hahaha!
Finally a shootout worth reading (watching). it's gotten to where these magazines, especially MXA, are so blah blah KTM state of art blah blah blah. makes me wonder how much KTM is paying them greasing their pockets. Good to see a individual do their own private shootout for a unbiased outcome. well done and you gained a new subscriber. keep up the good work.
Fantastic idea! I grew up with MXA and Dirt Bike magazine shootouts....always kind of buying into (sometimes literally!) their validity. Great to see something done at this level of objectivity and integrity. A long time coming, especially considering the increased expense of MX bikes.
Thanks a ton for your hard work, effort, and expense for this unbiased review! I haven't ridden in a long time but I've always been a Honda and Yamaha fan. I used to ride a 1993 Honda CR500 at the sand dunes and it was a blast. I will save my pennies to buy this new Yamaha so I can ride with my kids (also, thanks for the family-friendly content with no bad language - my family loves watching too). You're a class act man, keep it up!
Really well put together video and I love your stance on how to decide what the best bike is for the average rider. Is there a chance you will be doing a 250f shootout as well this year?
Straight up No additives!! Love it ML, you.... like always give a super honest appraisal without bias towards the popular colour choice but we love that even if that means our favorite flavor didn't do so well. Can't wait for the extra detail. Keep it going ML, big thumbs up!
Hey, still here through the end. I want to be knowledgeable and tolerant with Japanese bike riders. :) I wish I was sophisticated enough in my riding to be able to notice the nuances of the different bikes. Fascinating. Before KTMs, I only raced Yamaha, so there is a little bit of blue left in my blood.
Hand salute to all of yo guys for doing this shoot out! Looks like I will be continuing to ride blue. It was awesome that you had Jeff Walker come out and help you throw it down. Jeff's chin helmet mount footage is the best!
We can't thank you enough Michael, buying these bikes and taking the days to test. This has to be one of the realest test videos ive watched this is sick.
Thank you for the effort in this shootout! Just got a new 2020 FC 350 (been my go-to machine for awhile), but really dig your honesty and feedback on these. 🤘
This is sick! Glad to see someone who bought the bikes and isn’t heavily sponsored and being “bought” out by KTM and ranking it higher then it should be. I’ll be sure to get my info from you. I hate seeing the big magazine shoot outs say stuff that doesn’t even make sense in some of the shootouts. Clear bias in a lot of them. I know Suzuki doesn’t have a lot of good mechanical qualities and changes but you HAVE TO GIVE EM PROPS because I think they are the sickest looking bikes out there although I’ve been Yamaha guy since 2010.
The rider will always make the difference but each rider comes with different technique, skills, etc.,. And in the end, there will be a bike on which you will be faster, so it’s not just about color...
This is the best shootout I have seen since i started riding which would be 2013. I'm a huge Honda guy and I respect that the Honda got beat by the Yamaha unfortunately. Also want to say that I feel like you where restricted at vital with your creativity, not knocking them because I still watch them too but this was much much better props to your whole crew. Hope to see a 250 shootout even though it's crazy expensive
Mike, always following you. I think it is the best comparison so far that I have seen on the 450's. Super well done!!! I hope you continue doing such a great job!! Dan xx
Fantastic, I love that you got straight to the point and I know a ton of other people do too. So cool buying all those bikes that's commitment and dedication👍. The methods you used were the best I've seen in any shootout. Yamaha it is 😁 seriously, I'm a Yamaha guy because I think the quality of their bikes are probably the best and they seem to hold up better than the other bikes. Thanks
Short and sweet !! I'm a Yamaha fan so I'm excited to hear Yamaha takes it . I had a 2007 yz450f and remember all the reviews and test pilots saying it pushes some corners then takes lots of small corrections in some corners . Amazing how much has changed since then .
Compared to everyone’s shootouts last year this year was all over the place but i like it!! This in my opinion seems like the most legit shootout ive seen, well done Also at the end of the day every bike is good in its own way it just depends on who you are.
Or is the ktm almost as bad as the suzuki? Only joking, I would look into these shootouts like what bike wins or loses more as a guide to helping you choose based on the pros and cons, none of us watching this can even nearly get the best out of these bikes, so it's all about what's most Comfortable for you.
The guys where asked to give each bike a number of which they wanted 1-6 and the KTM got low scores from all riders. Doesn’t mean the zuk is close to the KTM in performance, just that that it got bad scored in the want department like the zuk.
I keep thinking this guy looks and sounds like Vilopoto. Excellent review and production! That's a PRO level shootout that doesn't have a bunch of nonsense filler and gets to the points consumers need to know.
I love this shootout compared to other ones! I ride a KTM but its still good to see that it's all not "oooohhh the KTM was the best for 10 years in a row anonymously" XD
Should do a 125 shootout and have the latest year model kx125 and Rm125 to show if they can still compete stock with the new 125's would be a cool concept
Great video content you did on this shootout. It was very clear and simply to really understand the overall positive and negatives you spoke about each bike. I am glad I went with the new Yamaha on Friday!
Wow! no... really WOW! I feel like I just graduated from a 450 101 college course. Such nitty gritty details with backstories for each bike too... GREAT work!
It's really great to have your perspective......much different that the "me-too" magazine shootouts.....good video and gives a guy something to think about.....I subscribed.
i got a 2018 honda 450r I believe Vital said it was the best Bike in 2018 and it is an amazing machine.. Rode 2 strokes my whole life until now and the thing is a beast
Thank you so much for your review/shootout. I always value your opinion more than the other outlets. Doing it by yourself this must be very rewarding, but bring it’s own challenges and responsibilities and of course outlay.
I miss the old motocross action dirtbike shoot outs from the 90s. Always was the best magazine shootout. All the bikes of the big 4 were all pretty much close
Michael - appreciate all your hard work in these tests...very useful and informative. Still a little confusing at times when one magazine can rank one motorcycle very high (ex: Honda) and another magazine say it's a dog. I am like every other consumer out there and read multiple reviews prior to purchasing. I believe at the end of the day it's really hard to buy a bad bike...and all of them are capable of winning. It's almost like picking the color you like the best. Again, appreciate all you do, and really enjoy watching.
Great work Michael and congrats on venturing out on your own. Loved your shoot outs on Vital. How about you put together a video on how to properly lower a bike? No one has really dived into how to do this in detail and the pros and cons of lowering links vs more sag vs cutting the sub frame vs shortening the suspension vs factory OEM shorter seats. You get my drift.
Dude you deserve more subs! Such an entertaining and informative vid, even though I’m not even on the market for a new bike. Keep up the great content 🤟🏻
Just purchased a 2020 YZ450F TODAY! Thanks to you i was able to figure this is the bike im dropping my hard earned cash on. Thanks again Michael You do an excellent job on reviews and the thought process on buying, riding and extracting the most from MX. #topsnappodcast approves this video
Revo lution Honda will end up needing valves shimmed once or twice if it’s like their earlier motors been there done it. Kawasaki last a little longer and Yamaha just seem to go and go way longer.
Watchin walkers gopro footage i knew ole red and blue would pull it out this year buuut i am completelt biased hahaha anyways LOOOOOVE this shootout and the way ur doing it...its changin the game and so much better for consumers who will ride straight off of showroom floor. I kno its cut the pockets but its def worth it puttin out such an amazing shootout. Cant wait to see the rest of the more in depth videos, super pumped haha. Great content amazing concept and for sure the best way a shootout can be done. Seriously you stepped up the bar this year!!!
My favorite part of the old shootouts was seeing each riders (different skill levels) ranking and lap times in a matrix. I recommend compiling that if you have it!! Great vid
The last bike of this caliber I owned was in 1981. I purchased a brand new YZ465H off the showroom floor. I owned it one week and Installed a battery powered headlamp, tail lamp and the brake light was actuated by a small push button switch on the handle bars. I don’t remember how I rigged a horn or even if it was required? I went to the Michigan Secretary of State and picked up a form and filled it out. Then took the bike to MSP post 11 on Canal rd. and had it “inspected” the trooper could care less the the tires were full off road and said right on them not intended for highway use. Things were different back then. Once that was done then back to the SOS I went with paperwork and insurance in hand. Obtained a title and license plate. At the time I worked for Oldsmobile in Lansing and rode that loud ass MX bike back and forth to work all summer long. It being a two stroke it had a crazy powerband..... my question to those who ride these new four stroke 450s is how it compares to the bike I had back then in regards to power/torque etc. I mean does the power come on like a two stroke or is it more of a broad band. I’m 60 yrs young and and contemplating a 450 four stroke or a 250 two stroke.
Which Bike, can I start in 3rd gear and am “Guaranteed”a holeshot? I can deal with the rest, with my lightning reflexes, however a bike length head start helps.
I've got another question, suggestion (again, coming from a KTM/Husky owner): could you do a test with a cleaned out muffler? I know that has helped us with the slow rev a bit (probably more noticeable than the vented side plates). It's a tedious process, but we did some comparisons, and for the 19/20 models, it is almost as good as my FMF slip-on once the stock can is cleared of the welded insert/stock spark arrestor. Just curious - digging your content. Laughing a bit at the Vital thread about this video, as well! Keep up the good work
Totally awesome!! So cool this is coming out just like anyone would buy them and not after the manufacture got to tweak. Great idea keep it up for 250!!!
I'm curious how do you separate chassis from suspension when judging "feel"? Since they both affect each other so much what's your baseline? Obviously you're not swapping chassis with a base suspension or vice versa. I'm honestly curious for my own know how when trying to correct the tuning my own bike. Thx for the informative video, hopefully Chapp will take atleast 3 bikes back....
Nice review. You think Kawi would have learned something for 2020. I grabbed the 2019 Kawi earlier this year. Stock front end blew right through the stroke to the bottom (Novice Rider - I weigh 190 lbs). Suspension sent off to Graeme Brough for a re-valve). Addressed the issue. Comfy through the chop, can handle over-clears and hard hits on the bigger stuff. Front end is predictable, no surprises. Also, the attachment point for the muffler on the sub-frame is stupidly weak. I noticed something was wrong when my FMF 4.1 Slip-on was laying on the side of the track after a big jump... Kawi would not address it stating I was not using an OEM part. I see. Anyway, I had it welded up and on my way. Luv the Bike.
am still waiting for KTM goes back to the frame in the style of the 16-18 models that flex more, I have a ktm 350 sxf 18, which is the best bike I have ever had. had the Yz450F 18s and it feels like a tractor, wide and heavy to get around with, so Japanese bikes are not made for me, found happiness in the Austrian bikes, will never ride on anything else.😀
I'm considering to go 350 but I find it like cheating since it's competes in 250 4stroke class and Im a old boy rider and I think there is a unwritten law in Denmark that you have to ride 450 as a old boy rider😂 How is the character of the 350?
I had a lot of real good green Race bike because I worked at a shop,that was using Kawi....and there was always a nice built race bike but in keeping with your ideal test which I like,I bought a brand 1997 KX 250cc two stroke in stock form...its suspension was very vague,but worst of all I am very good at getting holeshots,more on that later,but this 1997 just,in stock trim,just blew a hole in the ground and could not even get over the gate,and I was livid,it was my first new bike I was so happy and mad I could not get a hole shot on it,I ended up trading it for my beloved Honda CR 250 and was back in my happy place and the people at the track even said how much better I looked,and I said that's the handling style I learned on Honda steering it was what I was used to but my Kawi s always treated me great...but after 97 250 KX,short story the kid I trade it to sent everything to Tom Morgan Factory Connection,when it was done it was right...it was a works bike suspension was perfect and it was so fast I understood how John Dowd felt when he got his factory Yamaha and had to learn how to ride all over again because it was so fast,this KX was so good it alright berm the bike was literally able to just shoot out from under me it was so fast,but stock aarrgh,it was useless as a race bike,which hurt...funny thing is Kawi has a lot of trick tech and to here that is a bummer,just mean race day some mods are needed or recommended,for racing there always useally little to moderate adjustments u want to make,mainly because a bike can't really be set up for a 135 pound rider and a 190 pound rider,and skill level also effects how the suspension reacts or doesn't feel n skill...THANKS
I wish I had come up riding real MX when I was a kid so that I could really enjoy a beast like this. I was much more street and light trail riding. What wonderful machines, so much faster than the old Beasts when I was in my 20's but so much more manageable at the same time.
