'09 TXC450 Impressions

Got a chance to ride the leftover Demo '09 TXC450 I picked up.Being it was a demo I didn't have to worry about heat cycling so was able to let it rip from the get go.To give you a background I'm a 160lb 50y/o vet moto and occasional trail ride/dualsport rider,midpack "B" level.I rode it at a friends sandy vintage friendly grass track.Lots of turns and a couple of small jumps.Here's my initial impressions after running a tank of gas thru it.
Motor:Due to the electric start,starting is a breeze.Jetting seems good and I put the S/A back in as I don't like loud bikes and 450s have enough power.The power is electric with the ability to get up and go when the throttle is wacked open.Buttery smooth with a rush on tap is how I'd describe it.Really good stuff and something that makes it a great all around engine.Gearing seems good and the clutch and shifting worked flawlessly.All in all the motor overall strikes me as the strongest part of the package.
Suspension/Handling:As I suspected it feels too stiff for my weight and ability.I'm thinking lighter springs may be in my future.I backed out the compression on the forks to almost full soft and slowed down the rebound which helped but it was still a little too stiff for my liking.Softened the rear as well which again helped but I'll need to get further into this area as it was a little hard and didn't settle into turns consistently due to this.In spite of that the handling was predictable and I can tell once I find my happy zone with the suspension it'll be one fine turning machine.It carries it's weight well and doesn't do anything funny and gives you confidence that things will stay planted as you try different angles and approaches.
Misc:Brakes work well and the front is a one finger affair and demands respect.Clutch is butter and works flawlessly.Bars,grips and the like are all top shelf and the bar bend is fine for me.Wish Husky would go to a different style petcock though as I'm not a fan of the one they use.I've never understood why they as well as everyone else don't have the hot start on the bars? Seat was good for me firm but not cement like ala KTM.Brake pedal and shifter were postioned well and easy to use.Stock tires aren't the best but they're good enough to use until I get a little more wear on them.I'm thinking a pair of MT32s will help the overall feel of things when I wear the stockers out.Electric start is the tits and how did we ever do without it? It's nice to have the backup kicker as well but it ain't gonna get any use as long the buttons operating.
Overall:It certainly lived up to my expectations as a great do it all weapon as after I get the suspension sorted for my weight it'll do whatever(Moto,Hare Scramble,Dualsport etc.)it is that I choose on a given weekend.IMO if a 450 do all weapon is what you're looking for then the TXC450 should be on your short list.

Great ride report very well done. I have the 09 TXC510 and it's a great bike and I love the smooth strong power delivery myself. My suspension on the front was way stiff like you reported but now after some riding on a MX track a few times I have actually had to stiffen the settings back up. I also agee on the tires; I have changed mine and the bike is much better. Great bikes.