2018 CRF450 or 2018 SXF450

sebastianer
Edited Date/Time 10/29/2018 5:00pm
im looking in to one of thees two, which would you choose and why ? im going to buy one used with around 20 hours on. which is more reliable ? think im going 18 or maby a 17 if i find one for an awesome price.
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cody41
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cody41 10/26/2018 11:42am
10/26/2018 11:42am
The Honda is more reliable/will not “roach out” as fast. It has better suspension, cheaper oem parts, and the radiator shrouds are sleeker. I’ve rode both from several different people and could not gel with the ktm at all.
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mattyhamz2
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mattyhamz2 10/26/2018 11:42am
10/26/2018 11:42am
What kind of riding do you do? What is local dealer support like?

Personally, I've never ridden a ktm and they feel weird to me when I've sat on them. I can adapt though, which isn't a big deal. But overall a solid bike.

Honda- I rode a 17. Bike feels light and nimble. Easy to put it where you want it and has a great motor. With that said, I am not a fan of the chassis. Granted the bike was new and not setup for me, but I got tons of head shake any time I barely chopped the throttle going into corners with small chop leading up to it.

I am a firm believer that you can basically pick a color and be fine once it's setup for you.
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Ing
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Ing 10/26/2018 11:54am
10/26/2018 11:54am
Personally I'd pick the KTM. However, I wouldn't be averse to owning the Honda either. Both good bikes that are more than capable.
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MPJC
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MPJC 10/26/2018 12:08pm
10/26/2018 12:08pm
Most of the "Honda is better and more reliable" vs "No, KTM is better and more reliable" posts will be about as useful as this:

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BobPA
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BobPA 10/26/2018 12:12pm
10/26/2018 12:12pm
What color do you like better? Both are great bikes. I have a KTM and have ridden the Honda's. Would not hesitate to buy either.
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BroFoSho
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BroFoSho 10/26/2018 1:04pm
10/26/2018 1:04pm
Get the Honda. And if you don't like it, let it sit out in the sun for a few weeks and the plastics will fade to Orange. Then Boom... you have a KTM
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Motofinne
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Motofinne 10/26/2018 1:31pm
10/26/2018 1:31pm
The KTM resell value will be better and the support from dealers is in most cases better for KTM in Finland.

I would however say that the best thing is to ride both bike before. Ask someone you know if they can lend a KTM or Honda for a day. If you don't have a friend with one, ask someone at your local track.
Eddieg15
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Eddieg15 10/26/2018 1:32pm
10/26/2018 1:32pm
cody41 wrote:
The Honda is more reliable/will not “roach out” as fast. It has better suspension, cheaper oem parts, and the radiator shrouds are sleeker. I’ve rode both...
The Honda is more reliable/will not “roach out” as fast. It has better suspension, cheaper oem parts, and the radiator shrouds are sleeker. I’ve rode both from several different people and could not gel with the ktm at all.
Not
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CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/26/2018 4:03pm
10/26/2018 4:03pm
I love KTMs, I'm a KTM guy. But that Honda suspension is veryyyyyy good!
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MxKing809
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MxKing809 10/26/2018 4:41pm
10/26/2018 4:41pm
Honda. I bought an ‘18 450 after riding a couple ‘17 KTMs. Air forks blow - and as a few other mentioned the KTMs are meticulously engineered to be light - and that shows up around 40 hours.
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H4L
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H4L 10/26/2018 5:07pm
10/26/2018 5:07pm
cody41 wrote:
The Honda is more reliable/will not “roach out” as fast. It has better suspension, cheaper oem parts, and the radiator shrouds are sleeker. I’ve rode both...
The Honda is more reliable/will not “roach out” as fast. It has better suspension, cheaper oem parts, and the radiator shrouds are sleeker. I’ve rode both from several different people and could not gel with the ktm at all.
+2. I was looking to upgrade in 2017 from a 10 450 model & considered both. After test riding a 17 1/2 450sxf fe I wasn't impressed. The ergos felt weird to me with the front end having a vague feeling especially in the corners. The amount of cracked frames was a negative as a consumer when it came to safety.
I ended up waiting for the 18 CRF450r as I figured Honda would refine the new model.
The new chassis is very good in both the stability & turning catagories. The new Showa suspension is also very good from the showroom floor.
In my case I feel I made the right decision.
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lostboy819
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lostboy819 10/26/2018 5:15pm
10/26/2018 5:15pm
Can't beat Honda quality.
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H4L
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H4L 10/26/2018 5:21pm
10/26/2018 5:21pm
lostboy819 wrote:
Can't beat Honda quality.
Yup. In 4 decades of buying new or used Japenesse mx bkes the red bikes have been the most bullet proof in my experience. Fellow riders that have owned the pumpkins seem to have poor quality build on their bikes.
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H4L
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H4L 10/26/2018 5:39pm
10/26/2018 5:39pm
Forgot to mention the engine is very fast in stock form..
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Eddieg15
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Eddieg15 10/26/2018 6:53pm
10/26/2018 6:53pm
MxKing809 wrote:
Honda. I bought an ‘18 450 after riding a couple ‘17 KTMs. Air forks blow - and as a few other mentioned the KTMs are meticulously...
Honda. I bought an ‘18 450 after riding a couple ‘17 KTMs. Air forks blow - and as a few other mentioned the KTMs are meticulously engineered to be light - and that shows up around 40 hours.
Funny at over 85 hrs mine is great
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Eddieg15
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Eddieg15 10/26/2018 6:54pm
10/26/2018 6:54pm
lostboy819 wrote:
Can't beat Honda quality.
Oh yes you can
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JohnnyD13
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JohnnyD13 10/26/2018 6:55pm
10/26/2018 6:55pm
I have an 18 crf450r with 5.6 hours. I’ll make you a deal. Email me at Debski.j@yahoo.com

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BobPA
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BobPA 10/26/2018 7:24pm
10/26/2018 7:24pm Edited Date/Time 10/26/2018 7:32pm
MxKing809 wrote:
Honda. I bought an ‘18 450 after riding a couple ‘17 KTMs. Air forks blow - and as a few other mentioned the KTMs are meticulously...
Honda. I bought an ‘18 450 after riding a couple ‘17 KTMs. Air forks blow - and as a few other mentioned the KTMs are meticulously engineered to be light - and that shows up around 40 hours.
Eddieg15 wrote:
Funny at over 85 hrs mine is great
44 on mine and she still feels brand new.

So all of a sudden because something is engineered to be light, it turns into junk after 10 hours? Vital logic 101.
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Yeti365
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Yeti365 10/26/2018 8:42pm
10/26/2018 8:42pm
Idk, I'm considering a KTM at the moment. The Honda just feels way too narrow to me personally.

If the Honda's egros didn't bother me, I'd literally flip a coin to decide.
Lastander
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Lastander 10/27/2018 12:17am
10/27/2018 12:17am
Buy the one that is the most bang for buck, what dealers are close by.
Are you planning on keeping it for a while?
Here in sweden you basically cant sell a used KTM or a Yamaha, i have a friend with 3 yamaha -17 bikes up for sale since last year, and another one that has 2 -17 sxf450 and a -18 sxf for sale with no luck.
Meanwhile i always seem to sell my hondas with no fuss
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mx317
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mx317 10/27/2018 6:43am
10/27/2018 6:43am
Lastander wrote:
Buy the one that is the most bang for buck, what dealers are close by. Are you planning on keeping it for a while? Here in...
Buy the one that is the most bang for buck, what dealers are close by.
Are you planning on keeping it for a while?
Here in sweden you basically cant sell a used KTM or a Yamaha, i have a friend with 3 yamaha -17 bikes up for sale since last year, and another one that has 2 -17 sxf450 and a -18 sxf for sale with no luck.
Meanwhile i always seem to sell my hondas with no fuss
Seems to be the opposite here
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Anonymous (not verified)
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Anonymous (not verified) 10/27/2018 7:31am
10/27/2018 7:31am Edited Date/Time 9/1/2026 6:11pm
You guys that think Honda’s are so high quality are living in the 80s. Honda is only concerned with profit margins these days.
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mxb2
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mxb2 10/27/2018 8:05am
10/27/2018 8:05am
Anonymous wrote:
You guys that think Honda’s are so high quality are living in the 80s. Honda is only concerned with profit margins these days.
Most are stuck in the seventies lol
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sebastianer 10/27/2018 11:54am
10/27/2018 11:54am
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is it true ? could you fit a steering damper from the older hondas to make them more stable ? how is the new honda engine holding up exept the clutch seems very weak.
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Lastander
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Lastander 10/27/2018 12:06pm
10/27/2018 12:06pm
sebastianer wrote:
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is...
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is it true ? could you fit a steering damper from the older hondas to make them more stable ? how is the new honda engine holding up exept the clutch seems very weak.
The new Honda is great except the usual weak clutch, the older hondas had some headshake but i dont feel it on my -18.
Power and suspension is great, stock exhaust is loud and sounds quite ”bad”, compared to a yoshi
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 10/27/2018 12:33pm
10/27/2018 12:33pm
Anonymous wrote:
You guys that think Honda’s are so high quality are living in the 80s. Honda is only concerned with profit margins these days.
Absolute rubbish, and every manufacturer is concerned about profit margins, that is how they run a business
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 10/27/2018 12:37pm
10/27/2018 12:37pm
sebastianer wrote:
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is...
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is it true ? could you fit a steering damper from the older hondas to make them more stable ? how is the new honda engine holding up exept the clutch seems very weak.
I raced a '18 last year with zero issues with reliability, yes the clutches are crap, I replaced that with Rekluse almost straight away. As for headshake, no doubt about it the Honda chassis can be tricky to get a balance sometimes, but I didnt have a lot of issues with headshake personally.
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Myke
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Myke 10/27/2018 12:40pm
10/27/2018 12:40pm
sebastianer wrote:
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is...
thanks quys, right now im leaning more to the honda. but what im concernd is that i have read that they suffer from bad headshake is it true ? could you fit a steering damper from the older hondas to make them more stable ? how is the new honda engine holding up exept the clutch seems very weak.
Lastander wrote:
The new Honda is great except the usual weak clutch, the older hondas had some headshake but i dont feel it on my -18. Power and...
The new Honda is great except the usual weak clutch, the older hondas had some headshake but i dont feel it on my -18.
Power and suspension is great, stock exhaust is loud and sounds quite ”bad”, compared to a yoshi
I have an '18 crf450 and no headshake either. If you are always riding hardpack that gets hard square edge bumps you may want to consider the KTM otherwise the Honda is awesome.
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Wolfey
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Wolfey 10/27/2018 3:32pm
10/27/2018 3:32pm
The stock Honda triple comes ready for steering damper if you choose to mount one. I have a 18 with 10 hours and love everything except the clutch pull was extremely stiff compared to my yz250f. I went with the magura hydraulic clutch and that helped a lot.The other thing to do on these bike is remove the judder springs in the clutch and add a additional friction plate.Very simple to do and cheap.I read that some judder springs were breaking so I removed them when I bought mine.Other than that it’s a great bike.
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