CRF450R...or...CRF250R

Ok you dirt guys. I have ridden a dirtbike a grand total of maybe 5 times. I'm glad when I was younger my parents said no to a dirtbike. I see lots of younger kids all broken and beat up from their bikes when I go see my girlfrined at work. So now that I'm a little older and wiser I want to take up a new hobby. I really wanted to get another sportbike for track days but the more I see Supermoto the more interest I have in that. I'm having troubles deciding between the 450 and the 250. The bike will see dual duty between dirt and street/track. Mainly I'll ride it in the dirt for a few months to get used to it then get motard wheels, brakes and so forth. Would the 450 be a bit much for someone who has never ridden much? I don't want to get the 250 and end up saying it's too slow or doesn't have enough gusto. Of course I also don't want to get the 450 and wish I had less. I'm strongly leaning towards the 450, something to grow into. All my friends that ride dirt and have for many years all say to get the 250. They think it will be too much power....apparently they haven't seen that I ride a 954 . Like I always say, It'll only go as fast as you make it go!" Hmmmmmm...maybe I just answered my own question.

Dano

{edit} Any opinions would be helpful as well as advise. TIA

[fl-929]

If you used the bike for only dirt and tight trails I would say the 250, but since you want to put it on the street get the 450. You might not miss the extra power in the dirt, but you probably will on the street.

Little write up on the 05's

Doesn't the 450 have a pretty grueling maintenance schedule, akin to a two stroke? It supposedly has gobs and gobs of power, and an on/off temperament. Any chance that you could test ride both, or at least one? Not in dirt, but at least some...

[SomeStrangeGuy]

The 450f (out of the box) is a pretty serious dirty ride. I've been riding a few years (trails, hare scramble type stuff, etc.) and tip the scales a hint over 250# and mine (albeit a Yam YZf) still scares me sometimes. As for supermoto, I don't think you'd want anything under a 450 though.

The 250f or fX are going to be a bit more tame, forgiving, and still a ton of fun in the nasty stuff. Though desert rides and the supermoto stuff I imagine would get boring quick.

The new X 250 has a little thumb button to bring it to life too



re: maintenance: define grueling? 2 stroke level - I suppose if you MX it and feel the need to tear it apart you could, but it really doesen't require it unless you're WFO most of the time. Small thin skirted pistons in a high rpm environment do require a bit more maintenance then the XR's of old though.
I know someone that rode a YZ (2smoke) in the woods for 3 years without doing anything besides the fluid changes and adjustments, its all about how you ride and what you ride.

Bear in mind the above I speak is in reference to trail riding only. But the Honda's are cheap for parts anyways, so who cares - but I'd wait till '05 regardless

[SomeStrangeGuy]

unrelated sidenote: If you're interested in the best of both worlds, like this week I have a friend with a 2004 WR450f, plated and titled, miles so low it's embarrasing, and owned by one of the most anal folks I know. 5500$ It's blue...but did I mention its quite a well mannered woods/street oriented 450? shipping is cheap too

I've had 3 CR250's, '87, '91, '96, I now have a CRF450, the 250's don't begin to compare to it, the maintenance isn't that bad at all if you know the basics.

edit...hell, my CR500 didn't really compare to the 450...

Mainly itwill be used as my track bike in a supermoto form. Looks like they changed a few theings for the 05's. Huh, I'll have to go to my dealer and put some money down on one before they are sold out like the 04's are right now. However with all the changes to the 05 maybe some 04 owners will be lookig to get rid of theirs...ah ha.

Dano

Wow looks like somebody got you pretty hooked on this Supermoto idea, heres my 2 cents you live in the desert the 450 should be fine out there, hell ppl ride the 450 in the trails here in NH so I'm saying the 450 ALL DAY. I wont even consider the 250 when I get mine, which I better hurry up and get one so I can say I had mine first. Still a toss up 20's or a 450?????

The "grueling maintenance" myth on the CRF's is not true in my experience. Most of my A class MX racing buds have the CRF. One friend of mine is still running his 02 CRF, has a bunch of A class motos on it, and has had no problems. They don't hold very much oil so it is a good idea to change the oil often (which is no big deal).

As far as 250 vs 450, get the 450. It is better to have more power and not need it than to need more power and not have it. With the smooth power delivery of a fourstroke I doubt you'll have any trouble.

Originally Posted by johnnycrash

The "grueling maintenance" myth on the CRF's is not true in my experience. Most of my A class MX racing buds have the CRF. One friend of mine is still running his 02 CRF, has a bunch of A class motos on it, and has had no problems. They don't hold very much oil so it is a good idea to change the oil often (which is no big deal).

As far as 250 vs 450, get the 450. It is better to have more power and not need it than to need more power and not have it. With the smooth power delivery of a fourstroke I doubt you'll have any trouble.

Ditto--I ahd been off dirt bikes for 15 yrs---the power of the 450 is just about right for me, and they make screamin motards (if you are into that gay-ass shite )

[smkeatr]

I couldn't imagine my 250 with street tires with that 2 stroke hyper active power band with real traction. I've ridden the 450's and if I ever replace my dirt bike, it will be a 4 stroke. Ditto if I'd ever make a motard out of it. The thought has crossed my mind...with a 4 stroke.

[SomeStrangeGuy]

Originally Posted by MrX954

Still a toss up 20's or a 450?????

jokes like this are pointless without a punchline

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

jokes like this are pointless without a punchline

Wants to be rollin on dubs in his truck. That's a touugh call...NOT...go with a bike. That way when you come back out we can tear it up supermoto style on the track.

Dano

So get this, a friend tells me about this YZ450 MOTARD on consignment, said it had the wheels, bars, steering stabalizer and even the Baja Designs light kit...everything under the sun alreay on it for $3500. ...I didnt even think I was just like KA-CHING my 4th bike has arrived! So I go check it out after work today what a joke, it was a YZ426 with stock suspension, stock bars, no stabalizer and semi-street tires on the stock wheels, but it did have the Baja light kit and it was $4299 or something.
To top it off he also said they had a CRF450 for $3500, that they had been sitting on for a month or so, well that was actually $5000 and they havent even got it in yet....WHAT A DOPE , get my hopes up for nothing. The search for a 450 continues......