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866
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12/26/2014
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Fruita, CO
US
Edited Date/Time
12/30/2014 9:24am
I need some help choosing a new 450 and would love to get the opinion of people who have ridden the 15's. I am a 30+ a/b rider, depending on the state. But now I live in Colombia and don't have the chance to test out any bikes.
I decided to switch back to a 450 from a YZ 250 smoker, mostly because I want a change. So I am trying to decide between the Yamaha/Honda/Suzuki and would love to know what people who have some seat time think. Thanks!
I decided to switch back to a 450 from a YZ 250 smoker, mostly because I want a change. So I am trying to decide between the Yamaha/Honda/Suzuki and would love to know what people who have some seat time think. Thanks!
Seriously though... they all have great and weak points. You can't really go wrong with any of them.
If your used to Yamaha handling and suspension, go with the YZ. If you want to be able to turn under any other bike, get a Suzuki, but don't expect it to have the high speed manners of the KX or YZ. If you want the best powerband, go with the KX, but don't expect to be able to turn under any other bike in a turn. The Honda does everything pretty good, but don't expect to pull the holeshot on any other brands. The KTM is fast and handles good, but its suspension is still holding it back IMO.
It all depends on what part of a bike is more important to you and your riding style.
A good local dealer that stocks parts should be a good way to make a decision.
Ok, seriously.... I can't really speak from experience, but my brother is a damn fast B rider (top 15 at Loretta's) and has gone from '11 Honda, to a '13 RMZ, and now has a '15 YZF. He said the Yamaha is so far and away better than his RMZ it's scary. The SSS forks rock, has great stock power, and fits his 6'3" frame better than other bikes.
The Shop
Oh, they are very reliable.
In regard to the drug trade, it has pretty well moved on to other parts of Latin America. If you have never been to Colombia, you should, but I recommend leaving the wife/girlfriend at home! I am actually working on a project in the coming months to develop an MX destination resort. Think about a ski/golf resort, but for moto, where all you need to do is show up with your gear bag and ride.
Or is it a completely different air pump?
I don't have air forks, I only have 2 strokes too lol
And you're right about the women. My wife is from Venezuela but was born in Colombia.
The Honda was ok, I really did not like the vague feeling in the forks, but it was also not set up for me. It seems to ride very front end low...plus it is gutless.
The kawasaki and Suzuki I thought were the best in stock form, maybe slight edge to the kawi. The Suzuki may turn a little better but I have always found Suzukis to be a bit nervous, both low and high speed.
I own a KTM so I adapted quick and felt very comfortable on the stock, except you will need to get the forks set up. They are harsh out of the box, no way around it. The electric start is the best thing since sliced bread. I cannot tell you about the new 2015FE/2016 redesigns though, they may be a game changer...or they may pull a yamaha and wildly miss the mark.
I ride Kawis and its boat but that Yamaha felt like the actual boat anchor. Too abrupt off the bottom causes it to turn poorly, stand up in corners, chasing the front wheel into corners, and move around alot on exit. Suspension was plush but nothing awesome, just good stock but how many people here actually ride stock suspension? The RMz gear box felt really gappy to me and didn't have the strong power like kx, yz, sx. The Honda feels weird to me, bars were tall, seat was low but it could have just been the kids bike I rode because I liked a bone stock 250 other then both bikes being painfully under powered. The KTM holds a rut the best and that's just a fact, flat corners better then anything but can be a little foreign to some people and some people think it vibrates too much but I never noticed, great power though and a great turning bike. If it were me I'd go Green or Orange, then Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha. But in a different country just go with the bike that has the best dealer network and parts supply.
Pit Row
Problem solved and it will be worth more than half what you paid for it when you leave the showroom floor unlike a jap bike.
One other option I have here is a TM MX 300 smoker, which is a damn sexy machine. But I am a pretty sure that nobody on this forum has ridden one, so it's a crap shoot.
If $ is no object then pick a color although I'd still consider the 15 RMZ...it is a little older in design however still competes with the new entries.
The KTM 350sx is a great vet bike also.....
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