2018 Husqvarna FC 450 | Dirt Rider 450 MX Shootout

The 2018 Husqvarna FC 450 dropped one position from last year’s shootout, finishing sixth this year behind the new Suzuki RM-Z450. The Husqvarna has lots of positive traits including a nimble, lightweight chassis and good suspension. While the Husqvarna does share a lot of similarities to the KTM, it has a different subframe, swingarm, airbox, and muffler. Each of those similarities contributes to a different feel and performance on the track, with perhaps the most noticeable being the restrictive airbox and Euro-spec muffler. These two parts make the bike feel significantly less powerful on the track and nearly every test rider felt it was lacking in power compared to every other bike in the class.
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The two-day shootout took place in Southern California at Pala Raceway on day one and Cahuilla Creek Motocross on day two. On the first day we had eight riders and on the second nine, ranging in skill levels from vet to pro.