Anyone here switched from 450F down to 250F?

2strokerider 8/25/2015 4:06am
8/25/2015 4:06am
2strokerider wrote:
have you tried the 350 rob? I went from 450 to 350, and find the 350 to be the easiest to ride/ best compromise. Im too...
have you tried the 350 rob? I went from 450 to 350, and find the 350 to be the easiest to ride/ best compromise. Im too big/ heavy for a 250f really. I enjoyed the 450 when the tracks were smooth, but on really rough tracks I would find it difficult to ride at the end of a race. That seems to be a lot easier on the 350. Also find the 350 to be more fun, you can rev it a lot more if you like, or lug it up a gear and use the torque when you get tired/ when its slippy hardpack conditions. I found the 450 to be a little bit boring at times (riding it round in the torque at quarter to half throttle most of the time)

do you find the 450 a lot easier than the 500? only ask, as im restoring an 89 cr500 at the minute (never actually ridden one before)
Robgvx wrote:
Yes, I actually raced a 350 at Glen Helen a few years ago. However I found it underpowered for my style. I'm used to open class...
Yes, I actually raced a 350 at Glen Helen a few years ago. However I found it underpowered for my style. I'm used to open class bikes and like to have plenty of bottom and mid, and have enough power when I need it. Better to have enough power to pick the bike up rather than running out of power just when you need more.

Yes the 450 is way, way easier to ride than the 500. The power is a similar amount, I'd guess, but the way the four stroke puts it down is so predictable and linear and there's no explosision and consequent step-out like you get with a 500 when it comes into the meat of the power. Strange, as when you blip the throttle in neutral the four stroke revs so quickly you'd expect it to be really snappy.

But that does mean a change in riding style. You ride a two stroke in anticipation of that hit when it comes on. If you ride like that with a four stroke, and the hit never comes, then I'm sure you'll go slower.

Anyway, awesome traction, awesome brakes, great suspension, great handling, superb quality and equipment. And electric start. What's not to like?

But it does baffle me that GL and FIM have got it into their minds that the bikes are too powerful. A 450 is infinitely better, smoother and safer than the 500s we used to race. I think they're looking for answers in completely the wrong place.
have you tried a newer model 350? a 15 or 16 model one? I rode one of the first ones (2011 I think?) and hated it! thought it felt underpowered, heavy etc. The 15 one I have now is a hell of a lot better. Much more power off the bottom and through the mid range. Wouldn't have even considered getting one of the earlier model 350s, the later model ones are very, very good!

I agree about bikes NOT being too powerful for gp riders!!!! the 450s are very smooth, easy to rider due to the way the power is put down (most run different mapping in the hardpack stuff to make them even smoother/ easier to ride too) - compared to the old 2 strokes. I've had 15 years racing 250 2 strokes, and riding my 350, or even my old 450 it was like cheating it was so easy! its the traction and ease to get the power to the ground that makes them so good!

do you think if they are thinking about safety, they should lower the speed of the tracks/ not put huge jumps everywhere? rather than looking at getting rid of the 450s? it seems to me the 'old school' tracks tend to provide better racing than the jumpy supercrossy type new design tracks anyway. And less injuries too? anyone else agree?

c0ncEpT
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c0ncEpT 8/25/2015 6:23am
8/25/2015 6:23am
Dan-The-Man wrote:
How do you like the 350? I'm in a dilemma' I have an 03 crf450, 02 cr125 and an 04 cr250. I have fun on all...
How do you like the 350? I'm in a dilemma' I have an 03 crf450, 02 cr125 and an 04 cr250. I have fun on all of them but I want something new. I'm torn between 250f or 450f and 150sx or 350. So many choices. This will be a bike I race 30+.
IMO a 2015 or 2016 250F is damn near just as fast as an 03 450F. The power is different but the newer 250F's really rip.
Dan-The-Man
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Dan-The-Man 8/25/2015 7:04am
8/25/2015 7:04am
I'm about 170-175 without gear. I'm thinking I'm right on the cusp of too heavy for the 250F. I need to ride a new one and decide. I want a new bike now. I need it.
Bret
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Bret 8/25/2015 11:23am
8/25/2015 11:23am Edited Date/Time 8/25/2015 11:48am
I prefer a 250 over a 450 for MX. I can ride the 250 harder whereas the 450 tends to take me for a ride. In the desert I prefer a 450. For what it's worth I weigh 220 pounds.

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bents
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bents 8/25/2015 12:11pm
8/25/2015 12:11pm
jeffro503 wrote:
Well , I " [i]haven't[/i] " as of yet , but the Kawi 450 is up for sale. I've gotten to the point ( of where...
Well , I " haven't " as of yet , but the Kawi 450 is up for sale. I've gotten to the point ( of where I think a lot of you guys are at , or have been ) I just don't need / want that much power under me any more. The 450 is great for the first 5 - 8mins , I have a lot of fun. After that , if I push myself into a longer ride , I get tired and that's where mistakes happen.

Having a LOT of fun on my old 06' RM250 and as soon as my Kawi 450 sells , I'll either get a new 15' YZ250 2 stroke , or possibly a 250F of some type. There are some decisions I need to make , and I need to make up my mind. God damn it why can't I be rich and just buy them all??!!

@Robgvx , are you considering getting on something smaller ( thinking you may be riding a 450 right now? )
I went from the land of 450's back to the 250 2 strokes, and now have a 2013 crf250, and a 2002 cr125 (Joel Ard's old bike). The 450 is just too much bike for me and I feel like a passenger and not a rider. The 250f is like motocross for dummies as it is sooo easy to ride, and not in any way scary. The 125 is a beauty, and a ton of fun. It feels like I ripping but in reality, alas, I am not. But the grin factor is way high.

The reason I quoted you Jeffro, is that I did have the occasion to ride a 2016 Yamaha 250F, and having owned all kinds of 250f and 450f Yamaha's over the years, this bike blew me away. If you are going the 250f route once you sell that big Kawie, I couldn't recommend this bike highly enough. Revs like a 2 stroke, hardly any engine braking, it is light, it handled, and the suspension embarrassed my Honda. All I can do is think of ways to add that bike to my stable. Now I understand what all the fuss is about.
Blais Bubba Lawson 6/8/2018 2:28pm
6/8/2018 2:28pm
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
I've never owned a 450. Why less mantaince than a 250f?
Because the 250 is revved higher and gets abused it needs more clearance adjustments . The 450 doesnt get ripped on as hard cuz u will go insane fast like an MX pro does !
d394
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d394 6/8/2018 3:07pm
6/8/2018 3:07pm
Novice and Am riders seem to do well on the smaller bikes. I've been riding 250f's for 8 years and recently switched to a 450 and its much easier to ride. I feel as if i can maintain the same speed wth much less effort.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 6/8/2018 3:39pm
6/8/2018 3:39pm
Although I didn't switch to a 250F ( switched to the 250 2 stroke )......I haven't regretted it since then. Been about 2yrs now and I don't miss the 450's at all in long , hard moto's. If was to get another 4 stroke , it would definitely be a 250F.

There is some wisdom behind the old saying...." More fun to ride a slow bike fast.....then ride a fast bike slow ".

When I was younger , the 450's weren't as fast as they are now. With me getting older , the bikes getting faster......the gap just kept growing.
Forty
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Forty 6/8/2018 4:05pm
6/8/2018 4:05pm
I’ve been on the big bore bikes since the 426 came out. This is the first year I feel like the 450 could put me in trouble. I just ordered the new YZ 250 F.
swtwtwtw
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swtwtwtw 6/8/2018 4:17pm
6/8/2018 4:17pm
Yup... and back to 450. Switched because of the results of a serious injury and I still wanted to ride for the extended healing process.
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 6/8/2018 4:37pm
6/8/2018 4:37pm
a 250f with a big bore cams ignition is the hot ticket.
moto#52
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moto#52 6/8/2018 4:40pm
6/8/2018 4:40pm
I’ve just gone from a 2018 sxf 450 which I absolutely hated down to a 2018 sxf 250 and love it, I wish I bought a 250f years ago. The 450 was way too much for me, I can ride the 250f a lot harder and is way more fun
BR8ES
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BR8ES 6/8/2018 4:43pm
6/8/2018 4:43pm
I am contemplating a 250f from a 250 2 stroke for vet/Sen class stuff. Will keep the 2 stroke on hand however if I get the 250f.
Pete11
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Pete11 6/8/2018 4:46pm
6/8/2018 4:46pm
I just made the switch from a 2016 RMZ 450 to a 2017 YZ 125. Love the 125!!
BR8ES
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BR8ES 6/8/2018 4:49pm
6/8/2018 4:49pm
Pete11 wrote:
I just made the switch from a 2016 RMZ 450 to a 2017 YZ 125. Love the 125!!
Yeah, my last 125 was 2012 and 250f 2011... stayed on 125s longer than many... a 2019 TM 125 sure would be nice.
Pete11
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Pete11 6/8/2018 4:54pm
6/8/2018 4:54pm
I’m having so much more fun on the 125 then any other bike right now. I ride mostly at a sand track too and it’s definitely work to make it go fast, but the light weight is worth it. A little more grunt down low would be cool though!!
BR8ES
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BR8ES 6/8/2018 4:59pm
6/8/2018 4:59pm
Pete11 wrote:
I’m having so much more fun on the 125 then any other bike right now. I ride mostly at a sand track too and it’s definitely...
I’m having so much more fun on the 125 then any other bike right now. I ride mostly at a sand track too and it’s definitely work to make it go fast, but the light weight is worth it. A little more grunt down low would be cool though!!
Yeah, good points! Nothing like screaming a 125, sure makes you feel good.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 6/9/2018 1:57am
6/9/2018 1:57am
Pete11 wrote:
I just made the switch from a 2016 RMZ 450 to a 2017 YZ 125. Love the 125!!
Can't argue with that! Love mine too , especially since I got some work done on it. Little bike pulls like a raped ape now!

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Squirrelings 6/9/2018 4:52am
6/9/2018 4:52am
brimx153 wrote:
really feel it comes down to what kind of style you have . if you are smooth rider i feel you can use less energy on...
really feel it comes down to what kind of style you have . if you are smooth rider i feel you can use less energy on a 450 . you go fast on a 250 you has to ride the stones out of it . the problem is when you try ride a 450 like a 250.
Exactly. If you are smooth and efficient, there is no better MX bike than a 450. It's the ultimate vet class weapon. Just have to know how to ride one. Aggressive is not always the answer.

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