best 450? (real world not magazine tests)

Edited Date/Time 11/27/2012 2:55pm
Had the go ahead from my sponsor to get funds for a new 450 for next year- theres some very good deals over here at the moment on non current year 450's (well, good compared to the price of a 2013 model bike!)
Looking at the possibility of a 2011 rmz 450 or a 2012 crf 450.
- having always ridden 2 strokes and never owned a 4 stroke i'm undecided what would be the best option to go for! I have only ever ridden a handful of 450s before- rode a 2007 crf 450 a few years ago and liked it, then I rode my friends 2011 crf 450 when i went riding in spain earlier this year and was impressed with how light it felt (for a 450) and how smooth the power was (very easy to use) but didnt think it turned that great. If anything i would say the earlier model crf i rode handled better (even though it was alot heavier)
- also rode a 2011 kxf 450 the same week in spain, thought it was awful! It was very powerful but the power was too aggressive (difficult to get the power to the ground) and it didnt turn very well (or handle very well at all if im honest) - it felt real heavy too. This was on a tight supercross track though so it may have made it feel a bit more 'numb' riding it on such a tight technical track.

Has anybody here owned/ ridden both bikes? (the crf and the rmz) how do they compare? I ride in the 'A' class and I'm 6ft 1" and around 200ibs. I hear alot of people say the suzuki's are good bikes but heavy- dont think it should make too much difference to me though (with me being fairly tall/ heavy)
KTM not an option as im not convinced of their reliability, i was put off the kxf after riding one in spain and numerous stories of reliability issues from friends that own them (especially the 2013 ones)
What would be the best bike to go for? between the rmz and the crf?
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11/27/2012 3:39am
Don't kick off becasue i know this will only work as an assistant to your decision but you are going to get massively subjective replies, what is being said @ the tracks over here (UK) if you ask the question?

For me i would be asking @ the club and not on Vital - mainly because of the contingent.
11/27/2012 4:25am
Don't kick off becasue i know this will only work as an assistant to your decision but you are going to get massively subjective replies, what...
Don't kick off becasue i know this will only work as an assistant to your decision but you are going to get massively subjective replies, what is being said @ the tracks over here (UK) if you ask the question?

For me i would be asking @ the club and not on Vital - mainly because of the contingent.
most people i know that have the suzuki's love them-but same with the hondas! Everyone i know thats got one loves it.... Thats why its difficult to make a decision, could with with riding both back to back really but bit difficult at the moment with hardly any tracks open due to flooding all over the country!!!

Racing my 250 2 stroke this weekend in an open class- know im gona get frustrated racing with the 450s, if you cant beat them join them!! Smile
Huckster
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11/27/2012 4:31am
The CRF will not handle like the suzuki no matter what you do to it. On the other hand, the suzuki is a lot heavier and feels heavier when riding, IMHO. I have the 12 CRF and its a very nice bike but you have to get used to and deal with its handling issues. It feels very light and has comfy ergos. I have suspension, clamps, knuckle and all the tricks to make it work better. The suzuki I had(09) was awesome. I loved that bike and it turned on a dime. I never had to worry about where I was going or what the bike was going to do. Both motor's are plenty for 99.5% of us. If someone would trade me straight up for a '12 RMZ of equal shape and value, I probably would do it.....Hope that helps

The Shop

11/27/2012 4:41am Edited Date/Time 11/27/2012 4:44am
Huckster wrote:
The CRF will not handle like the suzuki no matter what you do to it. On the other hand, the suzuki is a lot heavier and...
The CRF will not handle like the suzuki no matter what you do to it. On the other hand, the suzuki is a lot heavier and feels heavier when riding, IMHO. I have the 12 CRF and its a very nice bike but you have to get used to and deal with its handling issues. It feels very light and has comfy ergos. I have suspension, clamps, knuckle and all the tricks to make it work better. The suzuki I had(09) was awesome. I loved that bike and it turned on a dime. I never had to worry about where I was going or what the bike was going to do. Both motor's are plenty for 99.5% of us. If someone would trade me straight up for a '12 RMZ of equal shape and value, I probably would do it.....Hope that helps
so you rate the suzuki's better then? Like i said i liked the lighweight feel on the 11 450 honda i rode but it didnt feel that great in the corners, ive ridden suzuki 2 strokes for a few years now so that might have had something to do with it.

Probably be happy with either bike to be honest! just need to decide whether i want a bike thats good round corners but heavy, or a bike thats alot lighter that doesnt handle quite as well?!!!!!!!

to be honest i'd probably take handling over weight - its not like im 5ft and 140 Ibs! dont think the extra weight would make too much difference to me
11/27/2012 4:42am
steed 2.0 wrote:
www.emxtrade.com high volume dealer (sometimes wholesale prices)
thanks for the link but the bike needs to be from a uk (vat registered) dealer, so my sponsor can claim the VAT back (advertising) - otherwise i would probably be looking at importing one (if i was paying for it myself!!)
11/27/2012 4:52am
2 stroke, for big lads like ourselves weight doesn't mean jack, the handling is what is going to win it in my opinion . if you can get a twist get one though that is my advice.
steed 2.0
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11/27/2012 5:19am
2 stroke, for big lads like ourselves weight doesn't mean jack, the handling is what is going to win it in my opinion . if you...
2 stroke, for big lads like ourselves weight doesn't mean jack, the handling is what is going to win it in my opinion . if you can get a twist get one though that is my advice.
agree,
kg / lbs don't tell the whole story, a heavier bike may feel light and vice versa ( just few kg / lbs more or less we talking about)
Overall handling and feeling is important much depends upon personal preferences, bike set-up is crucial these days

RMZ & CRF turn well (weight forward)
KXF& SXF more allround (more likely your taste as 2 stroke rider)
Pryda
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11/27/2012 7:39am
In my opinion, KTM is the best 450.
It offers the total package with good power, good chassis, good brakes, good handling and so on.
11/27/2012 7:44am Edited Date/Time 11/27/2012 7:45am
Don't take any advice from people on here... Except for advice from me. Cool

Just try and ride each one before you make a decision. Bikes and how they handle are extremely dependent on how they are ridden. The person that rides the most like you is you.

The only relevant advice I'd look to websites and magazines for would be regarding things like durability and maintenance issues.
C.Harrell341
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Snow Hill, NC US
11/27/2012 8:27am
i just bought the new '13 CRF450, i had my doubts before i bought it because i had been riding Kawi's a little and they were awesome and seemed to fit me better than my '11 CRF450 (im around 6'2" 205lbs) the '11 CRF450 also was WAY slower and i seemed really cramped riding it (didnt do my research before purchasing). I decided tho in the end for some odd reason to stick with Hondas since i had been riding them my whole life. and personally im glad i did the motor in the '13 CRF450 is 10x's better and i have yet to put an aftermarket exhaust on it, air forks are a tad complicated to get pumped ride but are definitely worth the trouble, the bike also seems to have a bigger riding compartment than the '11 CRF so it fit my big ass way better. But also i havent ridden the Suzuki so my advice may be a little off but honestly i have ridden an '07, '08, '09 and '11 CRF450 and the '13 is way better than all off them, also seems to turn better than my buddys 250F's, (Honda, Kawi, Yam.)
Huckster
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Woodstock , NY US
11/27/2012 10:29am
Huckster wrote:
The CRF will not handle like the suzuki no matter what you do to it. On the other hand, the suzuki is a lot heavier and...
The CRF will not handle like the suzuki no matter what you do to it. On the other hand, the suzuki is a lot heavier and feels heavier when riding, IMHO. I have the 12 CRF and its a very nice bike but you have to get used to and deal with its handling issues. It feels very light and has comfy ergos. I have suspension, clamps, knuckle and all the tricks to make it work better. The suzuki I had(09) was awesome. I loved that bike and it turned on a dime. I never had to worry about where I was going or what the bike was going to do. Both motor's are plenty for 99.5% of us. If someone would trade me straight up for a '12 RMZ of equal shape and value, I probably would do it.....Hope that helps
so you rate the suzuki's better then? Like i said i liked the lighweight feel on the 11 450 honda i rode but it didnt feel...
so you rate the suzuki's better then? Like i said i liked the lighweight feel on the 11 450 honda i rode but it didnt feel that great in the corners, ive ridden suzuki 2 strokes for a few years now so that might have had something to do with it.

Probably be happy with either bike to be honest! just need to decide whether i want a bike thats good round corners but heavy, or a bike thats alot lighter that doesnt handle quite as well?!!!!!!!

to be honest i'd probably take handling over weight - its not like im 5ft and 140 Ibs! dont think the extra weight would make too much difference to me
I rate them different. I am also 6'1" and 215lbs. I rode the 09 RMZ and a '11 CRF back to back on the same track. The weight was very noticable and it was a night and day difference. That is why I decided to buy a '12 CRF and not the RMZ. I have put a lot of money into the CRF since and it doesnt turn as well as the RMZ did. I have not had the chance to ride a '13 Honda so I can't comment on that but if I did have to choose one to RACE, I probably would take a '11/12 RMZ over a '11/12 CRF. Just because I think RACES are won and lost in the corners especially at my level, VET B rider......
Tyler313
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11/27/2012 10:44am
I owned a 2009 CRF450R, essentially the same bike but the '12 is supposed to be a bit smoother on the throttle. The corning you can adjust using the steering damper (I'm guessing you didn't adjust the '11 you rode given it was a friend's). Factory Connection even offers finer tuning on Honda Steering dampers as I had mine done on my 2010 CRF250R. I don't know much about the RMZ450 but from what has been said and tested it is also a reliable bike. I think you got a choice between a pretty good bike and a very good bike... You'll like it whichever way you go.
Denn700
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11/27/2012 12:26pm
The 12 KX handles way better than the 11. The RMZ is a great bike too. The 09-12 Honda can be great with a little work. I haven't ridden the 13 yet so I don't know.
CamP
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Colleyville, TX US
11/27/2012 1:03pm
The 2008 CRF450 is still the best bike on the track.
GuyB
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11/27/2012 1:09pm
You can add your own reviews in the Product section, too.
mxb2
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11/27/2012 1:18pm
CamP wrote:
The 2008 CRF450 is still the best bike on the track.
What 12/13 450 s have you ridden to comparing the 08 to? Stock or modded? I had an 07 crf 45 great bike
But imo. My current rmz and kawy are better bikes.
WaitForIt
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11/27/2012 1:25pm
I love my '10 Kx450, but I'm slow and don't know shit.
ehr400
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11/27/2012 1:29pm
My 2011 RMZ is great. Love it. I rode a '12 KX450 and really liked it too. I am wanting to try a '13 SXF350. Might be my next bike
CamP
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11/27/2012 2:11pm Edited Date/Time 11/27/2012 2:11pm
CamP wrote:
The 2008 CRF450 is still the best bike on the track.
mxb2 wrote:
What 12/13 450 s have you ridden to comparing the 08 to? Stock or modded? I had an 07 crf 45 great bike But imo. My...
What 12/13 450 s have you ridden to comparing the 08 to? Stock or modded? I had an 07 crf 45 great bike
But imo. My current rmz and kawy are better bikes.
Keep telling yourself the bikes get better every year. The OEM's desperately need new bike sales.
mxb2
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11/27/2012 2:55pm
CamP wrote:
The 2008 CRF450 is still the best bike on the track.
mxb2 wrote:
What 12/13 450 s have you ridden to comparing the 08 to? Stock or modded? I had an 07 crf 45 great bike But imo. My...
What 12/13 450 s have you ridden to comparing the 08 to? Stock or modded? I had an 07 crf 45 great bike
But imo. My current rmz and kawy are better bikes.
CamP wrote:
Keep telling yourself the bikes get better every year. The OEM's desperately need new bike sales.
I just said it was my opinion. Like you have one. . And i just asked simple question on how the 08 compares to the 12/13 450 s that you rode. Dam dude get laid.

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