from
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/11/325/Motorcycle-Article/2008-450-Motocross-Shootout-4MM.aspx
For My Money
Alvin Zalamea - 5'8"/150 lbs/Vet Pro - 4MM
I'd probably take the Suzuki. You just seem to get so much for your money with the RM-Z. I really like the technology with the fuel injection. I love the Suzuki as the Best Change for 2008. It comes with a trick new frame design, aluminum tank, Renthal Fatbars, gold chain, wave rotors, and more. This bike is sweet.
Adam Waheed - 6'0"/180 lbs/Novice - 4MM
You've heard it a million times, so here we go again: All of these bikes are insanely good. The performance you can get out of these machines is far higher than my or the majority of motorcyclists' skill level. The days where when a manufacturer's bike was significantly better than another's are gone - for now. Basically the choice should come down to what type of rider you are, what type of riding you wish to do, and perhaps the manufactures race contingency if you're a haul-asser. It can even come down to which one best matches your new lifted Ford F-250.
Even though the Kawasaki didn't get the most top marks I still really enjoyed riding it. and of course with that green plastic and blacked-out wheels it looks the most bad-ass at every angle. It doesn't hurt either that it's the least expensive coming in at just under 7 Grand. So when you see that shiny KX450F in the back of that black, Super-Swamper equipped pickup you'll know it's me.
JC Hilderbrand - 5'11"/180 lbs/Novice - 4MM
That Honda is certainly the fastest damn machine in my opinion, but that isn't everything that I look for when choosing my personal money pit. I always feel instantly comfortable on red bikes, but I just can't hold onto the damn thing for very long. I really like the Suzuki simply for the technology factor, and the motor is definitely the most usable for my riding style. However, when the whole week of testing was finished the one bike that I found myself constantly going back to for extra helpings was the Yamaha.
Traditionally, I don't like the way Yammies feel, but this year the whole package really suits my tastes for one reason or another. Just a few final gearing changes and a different set of bars would make that bike about perfect for this scribe. Even though it's a highly refined motocross weapon, my bike is going to spend lots of time off-road, especially in the woods. The YZ-F's super-suspension has me convinced that it will go just about wherever I tell it to, on the track or off.
