I need advice on rmz or kxf or rm

racingfortheson
I have and opportunity to trade my RM250 with Eric Gore 295cc big bore kit for a 2013 KX450f (which has the PSF forks) or 2011 RMZ450 with older A-kit suspension. I've had my RM for 4 years and know everything is good. I like the bike but thinking of just trying something new. I know there are a lot of post like this but I'm leaning on the MX community to help make up my mind.
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Bruce372
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Bruce372 6/26/2016 3:51pm
6/26/2016 3:51pm
I would base it on which 450 in best condition. Which bike is best is a moot point if you get the one that is ready to blow up.
mingham97
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mingham97 6/26/2016 5:15pm
6/26/2016 5:15pm Edited Date/Time 6/26/2016 5:16pm
Do not swap your clean RM for a 450 with more than 50 hours. Because a 4 stroke engine gets expensive after 50 hours and even pricier after 100 hours. I swapped my clean 07 YZ 250 for a 2013 kx250f in 2015. Biggest regret ever
chump6784
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chump6784 6/26/2016 5:19pm
6/26/2016 5:19pm
I'd stick with the RM. Go and ride some mates 450's first to see if you like them. I see posts on here all the time of people going from 2 stroke to 4 stroke and then back to 2 stroke again.

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TbonesPop
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TbonesPop 6/26/2016 6:11pm
6/26/2016 6:11pm
mingham97 wrote:
Do not swap your clean RM for a 450 with more than 50 hours. Because a 4 stroke engine gets expensive after 50 hours and even...
Do not swap your clean RM for a 450 with more than 50 hours. Because a 4 stroke engine gets expensive after 50 hours and even pricier after 100 hours. I swapped my clean 07 YZ 250 for a 2013 kx250f in 2015. Biggest regret ever
I don't think a properly taken care of 450's are an issue after 50 hours. It just comes down to how well they were maintained from new. Most riders should do a top end plus timing change around 100 hours which is about $250 in parts and if you have a shop do the labor, another $500. So if you are pretty mechanical, you're only talking about $250 in parts. Outside of that, the newer 450's are pretty solid engines and that's not a lot of coin IMO. Change the oil AND oil filter every 5-7 hours and keep the air filter clean, and they run like a champ for a long time. That said, I've had multiple 250Fs and they get the piss wrung out of them, and usually need head work from the 50-100 hour mark (all depends on how they are ridden and maintained though). The newer ones are better, but 250Fs just get ridden harder, and it's hard to ride a 450F by 95% of the riders out there. I would completely agree going from a 07 YZ250 to a '13KX250F would have been a mistake - especially if you ride the KX like the YZ is supposed to be ridden. Swap that out to a KX450F and you likely would have been fine. JMHO
mingham97
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mingham97 6/27/2016 2:10am
6/27/2016 2:10am
TbonesPop wrote:
I don't think a properly taken care of 450's are an issue after 50 hours. It just comes down to how well they were maintained from...
I don't think a properly taken care of 450's are an issue after 50 hours. It just comes down to how well they were maintained from new. Most riders should do a top end plus timing change around 100 hours which is about $250 in parts and if you have a shop do the labor, another $500. So if you are pretty mechanical, you're only talking about $250 in parts. Outside of that, the newer 450's are pretty solid engines and that's not a lot of coin IMO. Change the oil AND oil filter every 5-7 hours and keep the air filter clean, and they run like a champ for a long time. That said, I've had multiple 250Fs and they get the piss wrung out of them, and usually need head work from the 50-100 hour mark (all depends on how they are ridden and maintained though). The newer ones are better, but 250Fs just get ridden harder, and it's hard to ride a 450F by 95% of the riders out there. I would completely agree going from a 07 YZ250 to a '13KX250F would have been a mistake - especially if you ride the KX like the YZ is supposed to be ridden. Swap that out to a KX450F and you likely would have been fine. JMHO
I just hate the gut feeling of buying a used 4 stroke. All the points you say "if it has been properly maintained". You honestly just never know about the previous owner. When a 4 stroke detonates, it detonates. Thats just my opinion. I'm also slightly biased because I miss the simplicity of a 2 stroke haha
RussB
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RussB 6/27/2016 5:19am
6/27/2016 5:19am
racingfortheson wrote:
I have and opportunity to trade my RM250 with Eric Gore 295cc big bore kit for a 2013 KX450f (which has the PSF forks) or 2011...
I have and opportunity to trade my RM250 with Eric Gore 295cc big bore kit for a 2013 KX450f (which has the PSF forks) or 2011 RMZ450 with older A-kit suspension. I've had my RM for 4 years and know everything is good. I like the bike but thinking of just trying something new. I know there are a lot of post like this but I'm leaning on the MX community to help make up my mind.
If you like the RM and have put a fair bit of time and money into it, which it sounds like you have, then don't sell it. Your RM is the last of its kind and it will become harder and harder to find one in similar condition. Also you will most likely loose most if not all of the money that you have put into the RM if you sell it

Keep it and get the RMZ. I've got both an 08 RM250 and 15 RMZ450 and I cant see myself buying another bike for a long long time!
Quite a few parts interchange (brakes, some clutch parts, filters/cages) which is handy.

Having the best of both is awesome, if you're a 2 stroke die hard you will miss the sound and aggressiveness of a 2 stroke in no time so it's nice to still have the old RM there for when you want to ride with a massive grin on your face!

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