GasGas MC 450F 2023 Review

In the quest for 450cc four-stroke supremacy, it seems there is no electronic aid or smartphone app too excessive in 2023.

In the face of smart new packages from Yamaha, Honda, KTM, Husqvarna and soon Kawasaki, here we have one of the few unchanged 450cc motocross weapons – the GasGas MC 450F.

Based on a KTM blueprint dating back to 2019, the 2023 GasGas MC 450F could present to some as old hat, with no traction control, no riding modes, cast triple clamps and silver rims.

The short story is the MC 450F remains one of the surprise packets of the 2023 cohort – and a bike that is as relevant as ever to intermediate and vet pilots alike.

Let’s get to it.

Tech talk

GasGas was reborn in Australia in 2021 as a subsidiary of KTM.

But while KTM and its boutique Swedish offshoot Husqvarna upgraded to sleek but racey new 450cc packages for 2023, the GasGas persists with an older platform that dates back as far as 2019.

That means the GasGas MC 450F is relatively simple when it comes to equipment: electric start but no traction control, switchable riding maps or launch control.

It employs a steel frame with cast triple clamps, while suspension comes in the form of WP XACT 48mm air forks and a WP XACT shock with linkage.

Visually, plain silver wheels and a relatively simple, straightforward colourway tell you a lot about GasGas as a brand: it’s less ceremony, more purpose.

You could conceivably upgrade those components at your own discretion. In any case, the real substance comes from things like a Brembo hydraulic clutch, ODI lock-on grips, Brembo brakes and braided brake lines. Neat CNC-machined hubs are another cool detail.

The MC 450F is shod with Maxxis MaxxCross MX-ST rubber, and is fitted with Neken handlebars.

The GasGas MC 450F currently retails for $14,118 ride-away.

However, GasGas is currently offering a $1500 rebate that takes the MC 450F’s price to $12,618 ride-away.

That means it undercuts many Japanese options by almost $2000, and its Austrian and Swedish siblings by closer to $3000.

Quality where it counts

It might be short on headline-grabbing fanfare, but the GasGas MC 450F sure feels well put together.

The panels on our test bike align nicely and feel sturdy and premium in their appearance (withstanding a handful of outings with only minor scuffs from knee braces). Standard frame guards go some way in protecting the steel frame from abrasive boot inners.

The MC 450F lacks a little grip in its seat cover material, and its plastics feel slipperier through the middle for those that like to take control with their legs and knees. However, the basic ergonomics are sound and there is conceivably ample adjustment for all shapes and sizes.

Furthermore, the GasGas persists with less common Torxs-head fork bleed screws rather than the trusty Phillips head provisions, which is plain annoying for the uninitiated.

That said the GasGas wins back valuable points with tool-less air filter removal and tool-less suspension adjustment for both fork compression and rebound.

The GasGas seemingly provides minimal adjustment to get comfortable on and is thought to be the lightest 450 in the segment at present.

Ride time

We’ll be honest: there was some hesitancy into taking on the GasGas MC 450F, especially in light of the stiff, very fast new machinery from KTM and Husqvarna.

The truth is we’d need not worry.

The GasGas MC 450F quickly affirms itself as being softer-edged than KTM and Husqvarna’s newest big-bore siblings, and a bike that is generous with its stability.

The engine pulls in a linear, predictable fashion and the steel frame and slim ergos conspire to deliver a 450cc machine that is surprisingly big on flex without being overbearing with its feedback.

The engine eeks no nasty surprises in its delivery, working well with the five-speed transmission and hydraulic clutch to deliver predictable, seamless traction. By the flip of the coin, the brakes are snappy and powerful while clutch feel is about as light and user-friendly as they come.

Initial throttle openings are resoundingly smooth, meaning there’s no jerkiness through tighter ruts, no overbearing engine inertia and less susceptibility to conking out through tight stuff. Read: it feels predictable, which promotes a more confident, relaxed pilot and higher gears.

The GasGas offers ample power when called upon, but down low it offers a gentler power curve that is easier to meter out of ruts and up to obstacles. Higher up in the rev spectrum comes the typical KTM crescendo but given the engine’s happy mid-range cadence, exploration of the higher echelons isn’t really a condition of entry here.

The forged triple clamps are another key ingredient. We wouldn’t pretend to be able to feel the difference over superior CNC-machined offerings, but what we do know is that the bike just feels more agreeable over bumps and under heavy braking. It just works.

Of all the KTM Group products we’ve ridden with the WP air forks in recent memory, the GasGas MC 450F is probably the best combination yet too.

We rode with 100mm sag and set the air fork at the recommended 10.7 bar (about 156PSI) pressure.

The forks feel quite dull on feedback at the initial part of the stroke, but beyond that point are consistent through the remainder of the stroke and resistant to big blowouts.

While that might not sound like high praise, the initial dullness means the MC 450F telegraphs less feedback to the riders hands, meaning the entire experience on track feels less manic than it should, and perhaps promotes a false sense of security in rut entry and corner approach in general.

Colour us naïve, but in many ways it’s a match made in heaven for the greater percentage of riders.

The exception to the rule here will be for faster riders, who will find the MC 450F slower to change direction and less agreeable to inputs than they might demand. Those same pilots perhaps won’t find immediate comfort in the same way less experienced riders might either.

The verdict

Don’t simply write-off the GasGas MC 450F as a KTM in red.

This longstanding motocross bike offers welcome and tangible difference over its Austrian sibling and indeed the broader 450 class, with a softer, more agreeable side that intermediate and vet riders alike will find confidence-inspiring and less fatiguing.

That could soon change with the advent of the new MY24 GasGas range, but in the meantime, if you can pick-up an 2023 MC 450F with a healthy rebate and perhaps some additional discounts from your local shop, you have a bike that will conceivably keep you happy for years to come – fanfare or not.

ENGINE
Type: Four-stroke, single-cylinder
Capacity: 449.9cc
Bore x stroke: 96/63.4mm
Fuel supply: Keihin EFI, 44mm throttle body

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five-speed
Final drive: Chain
Clutch: Wet, multiplate, hydraulic

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Double-cradle steel
Front suspension: 48mm WP XACT air fork, 310mm travel
Rear suspension: WP XACT Monoshock with linkage, 300mm travel
Front brake: 260mm disc
Rear brake: 220mm disc
Tyres: Maxxis MaxxCross MX-ST – Front 80/100-21, Rear 120/80-19

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed kerb weight: 107kg (approx.)
Seat height: 950mm
Ground clearance: 370mm
Fuel capacity: 7.0 litres

OTHER STUFF
Ride-away price: $14,118 (or $12,618 after current rebates)
Colour: Red, white