2016 KTM 450 XCF Versus 2016 Yamaha YZ 450 FX - Dirt Bike Magazine

For our first episode of Versus we take the KTM 450 XCF and 2016 Yamaha YZ 450 FX up against each other. Both bikes feature and electric start, 18 inch rear wheel and for this shoot out we added hand guards and a plastic skid plate for off road use. Check out the differences here and see the winner in the latest issue of Dirt Bike Magazine.
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[@sylverbullit7192]

Good, to the point review. Exactly the info I was looking for, BUT the constant background music Really sucked. Go Blue!

[@originalschmid]

Don't forget the Yamahas 100W+ available stator vs the KTMs measly 40w stator...

[@asmith0609]

Always great when the top two brands compete. Everyone wins

[@falconemoto6943]

Honestly thinking about buying the FX, been on my KTM for 4 years, Rode my friends FX the other day and was Blown away, suspension was dialed of course but just the overall geometry of the YZ was just so comfortable.

[@NigelNaughton]

KTM FTW!! for sure! I think it's awesome Yamaha is devoting time and resources to compete with KTM. No other Japanese bike had the guts to do it. It's going to push innovation forward that much more and the rider is the winner.

[@lanebates7447]

+Nigel Naughton yamaha is the best no doubt about it but the ktm is nice to but the bad part is that it has no kickstarter and it is a lot more expensive

[@jimboy449]

@@lanebates7447 you dont need a kickstart since the electric starter dont need a battery to run

[@TheMyronStube]

so would itbe a good idea to get a fx if I wanna race and do endure type riding to or would the kick stand get in the way

[@Mr.C-Mister]

1:10 starts video

[@ManAndMachine23]

23lbs is BIG,kudos KTM!

[@mtube620]

not anymore for 2019

[@bryantmacalos3208]

I love the yamaha simple..and clean..

[@jimcetnar3130]

KTM - Kill The Mechanic.. and apparently your wallet

[@dansquair8261]

more like - keep the mechanic

[@hanssanchez3893]

honda vs suzuki exelent video

[@jetdr]

Have ridden both, the Yamaha kills it. I love KTM but Yamaha had the wr450 for years and dialed that thing in. now they have this beast. with E Start... and kick start as backup.

[@roycemartin9068]

Haven’t ridden the Yamaha but ktm always trumps any other brand when it comes to weight. Everything is compared to ktm for a reason

[@roycemartin9068]

A new wr250 weighs bout 30 pounds more than a new ktm500

[@roycemartin9068]

Put thag in your pipe and smoke it

[@roycemartin9068]

Seriously though, Yamahas are sick bikes, I just prefer ktm, or actually husky, which is what I have. Same bike for the most part though

[@wvangus82]

Yammer jammer for the win! I'd love to own either bike, but if I had to choose, I'd take the YZ. I've been riding Yamahas all my life. I'm yet to own a KTM. To be honest, you'd be hard pressed to make a bad choice with any new dirt bike. Hell, even SSR has two full-size bikes most riders would enjoy. I'd like to see a video on the SR450.

[@davidnnn96]

Does the FX rev quicker than the XCF? I rode a 250FX and it rev'd insanely quick compared to other 250f's I've ridden. I wonder if that's the case with the 450FX as well

[@rileygenereux6755]

I have one and it revs very good but I have a Rekluse so im always a gear high taking advantage of the low end.

[@Natedoc808]

+Riley Genereux be careful running a gear high with the rekluse as you are likely drastically shortening the like of the friction discs as it will constantly be slightly slipping to try to maintain RPM and prevent stalling.

[@rileygenereux6755]

+Natedoc808 yep. I hate the power of the bike. Got the tuner and tuned it down. Well see how it goes but its a revving bike now. Thanx for the info. First bike with fuel injection and rekluse and im still figuring things out. Im 15 and dont know much so any help is nice!

[@Natedoc808]

+Riley Genereux No worries. This is how we learn, good info shared between riders. Be careful of the "tricks" videos on bike performance hacks and stick more with well published information from reliable channels out there like this one. The rekluse is a tricky thing at first but making sure you have it adjusted properly, exactly like it says in the instructions is the best bet with the rekluse. I am not a fan of them for my riding style but many guys I ride with run them and love them. One very simple way to slow down how fast a bike revs and to decrease the punch is to run a weighted fly-wheel which also in turn decreases the tendency to stall in corners.

[@rileygenereux6755]

+Natedoc808 yeah thanks. Currently trying to sell the 450 and get the 250fx. I like it way better and i also want to ditch thr rekluse so i can learn clutch action better.

[@cadepearson890]

Pumpkin Head for life 🎃✊💨

[@devodar2579]

These bikes provide the best music possible, so why play that cruddy background music???

[@gcragg11]

18 side by side owners watched this and realized their life sucked!

[@chriswp63]

Been out of racing for a few years now. Bikes are so damn expensive now.

[@jonafap9938]

ok?

[@chriswp63]

+Jonafap ok

[@Gavn-hl7on]

Chris Parks ok?

[@chriswp63]

acting like it's not ridiculous to drop 10k on a bike

[@DSTENDURO]

kawasaki, suzuki, Tm racing, that is all!!

[@apuetz19]

Haha. Good luck finding a suzuki or Kawi Enduro. Two terrible lineups.

[@deadeyenic6833]

So these could be used as mx bikes if you want

[@gcragg11]

Id say yes... unless your awfully frickin good and the subtle difference between these and their mx versions would actually effect your outcome

[@jasons44]

i dont understand why yamaha didnt do the FX undates to the WR bike because its the off-road enduro? guess yamaha wanted to push the YZ brand??

[@timdskibum]

World wide, there are a lot of areas that have emission control laws that do not allow closed competition bikes in their public lands. The WR, CRF-X, EXC, etc, lines of off road bikes will meet the "standard" laws for sound levels and emission requirements. Problem is that it has been difficult to make a competitive off road bike out of these regulated or MX platforms. There is a market, KTM has been dominating it and now Yamaha wants a foot in it.

[@greg657]

Jason Spears the FX is aimed at the closed course race market. the WR isn't . the FX will be lighter and suspension valved a little heavier than the WR and no lights. WR would be nicer in the Super tight, slow,ugly square edge rocks.FX would be more fun out in the more open areas where the stiffer suspension will work. I'm glad they went this route.

[@jasons44]

i mean, just look at how few really good off-road 4 stroke (Jap) bikes we got to choose from? could you name them? crf250x wr250 beta & ktm,tm,gasgas are out of the price range for most kids and working families to afford Kawasaki & Suzuki has gave up only dual sports so there's crf/wr or go with a old kdx200 or try making a old 2-stroke into a woods bike gearing,flywheel ect ect, too still not be happy with it.

[@fortheloveof2wheels873]

i love how they screwed up the weight .. its not 23lbs the ktm is 108.5kg dry (240 lbs) and the yamaha is 260lbs wet meaning full of oil and fuel. The real in shop weight difference both with 2 gallons of fuel is 4 lbs .... come again and the yz had a bash guard and hand guards on for the scale test

[@gcragg11]

hummm? are u sure the KTM is 240 dry weight? I read its was 230 dry

[@tedenduro243]

The Yamaha all day.

[@kananisA75]

WOW the price gap is so big for just a lighter bike with no kickstart, i love ktms but the yamaha seems to be a better choice here.

[@gcragg11]

yup..and i like the wide ratio tranny...the lower first can be very nice in tighter technical spots where clutching would become a pain

[@shaneberkness2743]

+g cragg they both have wide ratio transmissions...

[@gcragg11]

hummmm I woulda thought so... but my local dealer said the xc had the same gearing as the sx...the W have the wide range maybe hes mistaken. i should go on line the the KTM site and maybe I can get the gear specs. I ride a MX bike now and think the lower first maybe nice at times. Actually pretty impressed with th yz fx

[@gcragg11]

yup... I just confirmed it Shane. the XC has the same gear box as the sx.. bout the only real difference between the two is the 1/2 gal larger tank and maybe graphics. I personally think for the average rider ( thats not full on all the time) that may run into some tight technical single track the fx maybe a better all round bike. Im just choked the fx doesn't have the larger tank. Oh the weight diff is alittle more than id like though too

[@gcragg11]

xc is 221 without fuel. so add 15 lbs er so for a full tank and its 236 which is still 26 lbs lighter than the fx ( 29 actually if you only put in 2 gal like the fx holds ) so the fx is cheaper and has the wide range trany but its heavier and has less fuel capacity

[@64maxpower]

10k for a dirt bike. Somehow I had fun when bikes had cooling fins and twin shocks and cost less than 1000

[@gamer2350]

It’s also inflation

[@AntiqueMeme]

Really? No kick? Come on, KTM. Yes, you can bump start it, but that's a pain.

[@brianh8484]

I have a 12 500xcw with 200 hrs on it. I've never used the kick start once. I don't think it's an issue not having one.

[@AntiqueMeme]

Brian H 'til it is.

[@therealmrcheese]

+Brian H you obviously dont ride off rd then!! say you fall in big puddle of water and the starter fries!!?? yes it can and has happened! you'll soon wish you had that kick start!! ;-)

[@FlyGuyF119]

Why such a price difference? Im either going to buy KTM or Yama........ AHHHH which one!?!?!?!?

[@thumper4506]

only $8,000 more and that FX is MINE 😂

[@midamultitool1387]

THUMPER 450 haha right? Soo.... it's been 3 months ... how close are you to getting ur FX? ;)

[@thumper4506]

Mida Multitool sooooooo close now I can't wait!! only another 8 grand to go now :D ahhhh craps

[@midamultitool1387]

THUMPER 450 bahahahahaha same boat..

[@thumper4506]

Mida Multitool the ol 07 still gunna have to put in work for a while! lol

[@antopandong9619]

yamaha yz!

[@Sleepy.Time.]

The Yamaha needs to lay off the rice and sushi

[@Natedoc808]

+Sleepy .Time fortheloveof 2wheels 3 days ago i love how they screwed up the weight .. its not 23lbs the ktm is 108.5kg dry (240 lbs) and the yamaha is 260lbs wet meaning full of oil and fuel. The real in shop weight difference both with 2 gallons of fuel is 4 lbs .... come again and the yz had a bash guard and hand guards on for the scale test

[@MrCurryyum]

Do yz250 vs yz250f

[@123dicer]

What would be the point obviously the yz250 will destroy the 4 stroke 250

[@MrCurryyum]

Yeah man im a two stroke guy but even the 250f is getting pretty good

[@throttletube1285]

yamaha wins this in my book. but ktm still owns the twostroke xc category imo

[@Oxide333500]

22 lbs heavier? and wins in your book? really?

[@bigdot4098]

ThrottleTube Honda makes better two strokes tho!

[@TheRealKalEll]

If a bike gets so hot that it boils over you've cheaper out and designed it wrong.

[@cambo6911]

Change your song fellas....

[@connormiller9395]

So Yamaha....

[@dsmracing1]

That weight savings alone would make me spend the extra $1100. 23lbs is such a huge difference for rider feel and endurance. Yes it doesn't have an electric start but do your preventative maintenance and you'll never have an issue. Both bikes are sweet but I'll stick with my 300XC for the woods riding any day of the week...

[@Natedoc808]

+dsmracing1 fortheloveof 2wheels3 days ago i love how they screwed up the weight .. its not 23lbs the ktm is 108.5kg dry (240 lbs) and the yamaha is 260lbs wet meaning full of oil and fuel. The real in shop weight difference both with 2 gallons of fuel is 4 lbs .... come again and the yz had a bash guard and hand guards on for the scale test

[@footbalr074]

+Natedoc808 lol found the fanboy.

[@Natedoc808]

+footbalr074 fanboy huh? Funny because I ride a beta. Also before you go blabbing, notice that I reposted someone else's comment who was pointing out the mistake from a similar thread. Footbalr huh? Lemme guess, soccer; be sure to gear up extra when you ride, I'd hate for you to get a bump on the elbow and have to dive off your bike grabbing your shin and crying like a little bitch.

[@footbalr074]

Natedoc808 lol a mad fanboy

[@Natedoc808]

Bell end footbalr

[@theninja001]

I'd still prefer a KTM or Husky 300

[@Thom1883]

250 pounds god fucking damn that's a heavy ass bike

[@jerryp1392]

Thom 1883 Im thinking the chassis is built tougher on the yamaha. Not sure though. Wonder how much you can shave off with $1100?

[@isaacperez5854]

First

[@Kdiddz]

i wish i could watch this video with just the motor suck. Any music on a motorcycle video sucks

[@stevestiffler9120]

Slow motion sucks tooon a moto video. Raw is best

[@roni2811]

Nice comparison.... please.. the music is awful... a 10-12 year old kid song..

[@transcendit]

Real shame about the shit music.

[@XBOXLOVER220]

do you guys have to put terrible annoying music in every review?

[@smiteriuszryceriusz1258]

Yamaha YZ450F >>>> YZ450FX

[@roni2811]

Turn down that music... I sound like my parents..it is terrible.. didn’t watch all of your video