Since its introduction in 2017, the FX 450 has served as Husqvarna’s flagship closed-course off-road competition model. The Austrian brand gave its highest-displacement cross-country racer a complete overhaul for 2023, which included a new fuel-injected liquid-cooled SOHC four-stroke 450cc engine.
There’s no shortage of electronic options and aids on this model with two engine maps, traction control (TC), launch control, and a new-for-2023 quickshifter (QS). Before we put those features to the test in the dirt, we ran the FX 450 on our in-house Dynojet 250i rear-wheel dynamometer, where it produced 53.3 hp at 10,400 rpm and 32.2 lb.-ft. of torque at 7,500 rpm.
“The FX 450′s linear and controllable power delivery is ideal for trail riding and open terrain alike,” test rider Cody Johnston said. “I found map 1 (white light illuminated) to be perfect for the trails as it didn’t tire me out in the relatively tighter confines of bushes and trees. On the motocross track, the aggressive map 2 (green light illuminated) was the preferred option for the deeper soil and more wide-open terrain.”
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