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My son is about to turn 18. Been on the 250F for almost 3 years. He is still a C rider, had over a years worth of down time due to injuries. However he rides a lot, we have a nice track here at home so I spend a lot on just up keep on the 250's. He has recently stopped riding as much and his stamina has suffered, so wants to get back to riding more so this kinda leads into my question.
He had a very nice gentleman offer to let him ride his new KTM 450SFX this weekend. He only did 3 laps. I told him to go out and just be easy. He listened for 1 lap, I saw him rip out of turn and I could tell he liked it. He proceeded to rip off 2 laps as fast or faster than his YZ250F hitting all the big jumps like he had rode it for weeks. He loved it.... I have a 08 CRF450 that he rides great, but he laughed at it later and said it didn't compare to that new KTM lol! He has always rode my 450 well...
He can ride and handle the bigger bike but I have had many friends advise me against buying him a 450, as he is still relatively young, as race/seat time goes.
I intend to keep our YZ250F's for him to race this year and possibly next at AMA events. However I am really considering buying a 450 for him to practice on maybe some local races. Gonna make one of the 250's an AX bike...
If we do get a 450 he wants to ride the Honda, and maybe if the new Yamaha get here soon try that too.... Right now he is all about that KTM....
I am looking serious opinions from experienced riders, trainers, parents, no jokes please....
He had a very nice gentleman offer to let him ride his new KTM 450SFX this weekend. He only did 3 laps. I told him to go out and just be easy. He listened for 1 lap, I saw him rip out of turn and I could tell he liked it. He proceeded to rip off 2 laps as fast or faster than his YZ250F hitting all the big jumps like he had rode it for weeks. He loved it.... I have a 08 CRF450 that he rides great, but he laughed at it later and said it didn't compare to that new KTM lol! He has always rode my 450 well...
He can ride and handle the bigger bike but I have had many friends advise me against buying him a 450, as he is still relatively young, as race/seat time goes.
I intend to keep our YZ250F's for him to race this year and possibly next at AMA events. However I am really considering buying a 450 for him to practice on maybe some local races. Gonna make one of the 250's an AX bike...
If we do get a 450 he wants to ride the Honda, and maybe if the new Yamaha get here soon try that too.... Right now he is all about that KTM....
I am looking serious opinions from experienced riders, trainers, parents, no jokes please....
If he feels like he can ride a 450 without feeling like a passenger on the bike, go for it! It's also way cheaper to maintain a 450 compared to a 250 so it will probably save you some money.
personal opinion, i think 450's are great for some people and terrible for others.. if your kid is strong enough and is smart enough to ride within his abilities, i dont see a problem with a 450..
but if hes a little guy that needs more strength i wouldnt put him on a 450, that could turn into a disaster or a really steep learning curve
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Some are more forgiving than others though!
Maybe the best thing to do is look into a 350 if he liked the KTM so much though since they do need to be ridden more like a 250F so he won't lose that aggression while having a more reliable motor.
I agree with TSCHAM. If he's just wanting to stay local and enjoys the 450 more and is faster, I wouldn't shy away. But that's a lot of power so he just needs to learn the abilities and not ride outside of them.
I like your idea of keeping the 250 as well as buying the 450, that's really the ticket. Learning to ride the different displacements develops you as a rider - with the slower bike, you have to focus more on momentum which is great for your corner speed on the big bike. With the faster and heavier bike, you get stronger and feel much more aggressive when you switch back to the smaller displacement. It ain't cheap, but if you make sure he is getting seat time on both, I think it will pay off in making him a better/faster rider all around!
It really comes down to how he likes to ride. I do not like ridding at high rpm's. I like lugging and rolling through corners to carry momentum and then get into the mid range exiting corners. Railing on a 250f 3rd gear topped out just doesn't suit me at all. I generally run a gear higher than most people do on a 250f and carry my momentum more. So if your son is like that and has loved riding the 450's then I'd say get him one.
Two of my fiends just bought brand new 2017 hondas and I can already see them going faster than they were on their 250f's. Their body language says it all on the bike. I can't speak on the KTM450 but from what I've heard/read you're better off getting the factory editon of that bike. A lot of reviews compare the 2017 Honda 450 and Factory Editon KTM450 as the two best bikes this year.
It really comes down to how he likes to ride. I do not like ridding at high rpm's. I like lugging and rolling through corners to carry momentum and then get into the mid range exiting corners. Railing on a 250f 3rd gear topped out just doesn't suit me at all. I generally run a gear higher than most people do on a 250f and carry my momentum more. So if your son is like that and has loved riding the 450's then I'd say get him one.
Two of my fiends just bought brand new 2017 hondas and I can already see them going faster than they were on their 250f's. Their body language says it all on the bike. I can't speak on the KTM450 but from what I've heard/read you're better off getting the factory editon of that bike. A lot of reviews compare the 2017 Honda 450 and Factory Editon KTM450 as the two best bikes this year.
Pit Row
An 60/80 Expert can get on a big bike and get used to it in a few minutes.
I had a big tall 250 at 11. Got on and off by riding up to a jump. I could touch the pegs. Ground not even with tip toes.
First time I rode it, I was clearing the triples I couldn't do on my minis.
He is a local C rider, and wants to be a local pro, A rider maybe try for LL's one year. No pro career dreams or anything...
He seems to do better at the lower RPM's, I have always tried to teach him not to ride the rev limiter. One reason he liked the YZF so much, is that bottom end power.
It is strange you guys mention the 350. I just hired a mechanic to work on some bikes, and our stuff, at one of my shops. If it works out we are going to fully open to the public. Anyway he is a KTM GNCC rider. He happen to trade for a 16 350 SFX with around 60 hours on it. He needs around 6k for it. I just have never been a fan of buying used 4 strokes, plus knowing it was a practice bike for a GNCC kid scares me...
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