Am I the only one who can't ride a 450?

JBrockman856 6/10/2019 6:40am
6/10/2019 6:40am
In my opinion, 85% (or higher) of the moto community has zero business being on a 450.

That being said, my lazy self sure does enjoy only having to exert a fraction of the energy necessary, in comparison to a 250
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Turbojez
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Turbojez 6/10/2019 7:01am
6/10/2019 7:01am
You are not alone OP, I cannot ride the 450 either. I barely ever have to shift on that thing, and it feels like I'm riding a nuclear powered cargo train. I am pretty sure it is one of the slowest 450's in the business (2016 RMZ), still too fast for me.
I am a squid though, it could be different if I was a better rider.

Yes, it is way more stable than my two strokes, feels very planted.
Yes, my laptimes are faster on it.
Yes, it is easier to ride, until you get even a little tired, or get slightly out of shape. Then it bites you in the ass.

I think there's a pretty thick layer of dust covering this thing now though, as I always choose to take the smokers to the track with me.
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Asselstine 6/10/2019 7:08am
6/10/2019 7:08am
I used to hate 450s was always faster on my 250fs, but the new ones are so smooth and handle so well it's unbelievable.
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kb228
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kb228 6/10/2019 7:09am
6/10/2019 7:09am
Have an 09 kx450. No real issues with comfort on it. Ive never had a bike ive ridden smoother and with more precision than this one.
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chewy4063
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chewy4063 6/10/2019 7:19am
6/10/2019 7:19am
Loved my 13 RMZ450. Thing was butter and my first four stroke big bike. But the weight and the pain in the ass it is to start after laying it down turned me off. Next bike will be a new model 250f with e-start. Hopefully the best of both worlds.
Denn700
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Denn700 6/10/2019 7:23am
6/10/2019 7:23am
A 450 is the easiest bike to ride but after 2 laps I am done. The weight of the bike wears me. I am 44 and only ride once or twice a month. A 250F just isn’t enough stock. I would have to ride it so hard to keep up with my friends that it would wear me out. I spent tons of $$$$ and time trying to build fast 250’s that weren’t as reliable. A 250 two stroke also wore me out. You have to shift them more than a four stroke.
Now I have my 350 and it is the best of both worlds. It’s light and can still pull me easily over any jump on the track.
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Brent_Apodaca 6/10/2019 8:22am
6/10/2019 8:22am
WW444 wrote:
I own a 19 KX450, 18 kx250f and a fire breathing 04 kx125. I love all 3 and I all 3 serve a different riding style...
I own a 19 KX450, 18 kx250f and a fire breathing 04 kx125. I love all 3 and I all 3 serve a different riding style and purpose. I do ride 450s most but on tighter stuff I love my 250. I had an 09 kx450,16 kx450 and now a 19. The 09 was my favorite bike of all time. It had the smoothest power and I could put that bike anywhere. I haven't gotten enough seat time to really break in my 19 yet but it seems to hit pretty hard similar to my 16. But this 19 is soooo much better than the 16 was.
This to the T. I have a 16 crf 450 that is great for being competitive on , or going to the dunes on. I have a 07 cr 250 with the 01 motor in it , this bike is my favorite to ride due to it being well rounded. My 05 kx 125 lets me know I can still rap a bike out , and makes me feel faster than I actually am. Each bike has its own fun factor and each bike serves its own purpose. I have fun on all three and look forward to riding all three.
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Sheriff245 6/10/2019 8:28am
6/10/2019 8:28am
JBrockman856 wrote:
In my opinion, 85% (or higher) of the moto community has zero business being on a 450. That being said, my lazy self sure does enjoy...
In my opinion, 85% (or higher) of the moto community has zero business being on a 450.

That being said, my lazy self sure does enjoy only having to exert a fraction of the energy necessary, in comparison to a 250
And why is that? Some people just prefer a more powerful bike even though they can't push it to its limit. It's all about what is most fun for each rider right?
agn5009
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agn5009 6/10/2019 8:38am
6/10/2019 8:38am
Ride what you’re comfortable on and have the most fun on. None of us here will be the next Ken Roczen so it’s all about the fun for us.
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NJKawi913
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NJKawi913 6/10/2019 9:21am
6/10/2019 9:21am
I would have to agree with you. I made a switch recently back down to a 250F and it was the best thing i could have done for my riding. I found that the power of a 450F allowed me to ride with poor technique and still hang with the majority of the other weekend warriors. Since the switch I have spent a lot of time recently getting back to the basic's and hammering on my technique. Now I line up against the same guys on 450's and find that i can keep the same pace as before, but the biggest factor is how much long i can ride that pace on a 250F before fatigue sets in.
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kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 6/10/2019 9:53am
6/10/2019 9:53am Edited Date/Time 6/10/2019 5:37pm
Denn700 wrote:
A 450 is the easiest bike to ride but after 2 laps I am done. The weight of the bike wears me. I am 44 and...
A 450 is the easiest bike to ride but after 2 laps I am done. The weight of the bike wears me. I am 44 and only ride once or twice a month. A 250F just isn’t enough stock. I would have to ride it so hard to keep up with my friends that it would wear me out. I spent tons of $$$$ and time trying to build fast 250’s that weren’t as reliable. A 250 two stroke also wore me out. You have to shift them more than a four stroke.
Now I have my 350 and it is the best of both worlds. It’s light and can still pull me easily over any jump on the track.
Why are you carrying the 450 around the track?

If you sit on it and let the bike carry you it’s easier to do a lot of laps! Smile

People get tired because they are going faster, stopping a faster bike is harder on your arms, coming out of the turns faster is harder on your arms.
Learn to ride with your core, will help you ride more laps
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 6/10/2019 10:16am
6/10/2019 10:16am Edited Date/Time 6/10/2019 10:17am
I made the switch to 450's back in 2002. And had been on them all the way up to just a couple years ago. Found that the 2 strokes were just more fun for me and sort of revived my love for riding.

As I got older , the 450's just got better and better and got even easier to go fast on. Riding one tired towards the end of the Moto is something I didn't
want to deal with any more. Beyond awesome bikes for sure , but down right scary when your worn out and trying to push hard. I also found out that when I have more fun on a certain bike , I'll ride better , which makes me faster around a track for long motos.

So to the OP.......no , you are not alone.
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Steve125
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Steve125 6/10/2019 10:33am
6/10/2019 10:33am
I had an 11 KXF and I hated it. Felt like I was going to die 3 times a lap. I went back to a 2 stroke for the next 8 years and had a blast. Finally bought a new RMZ last fall and I haven't gone back to the smoker since my first ride on it. Night and day better than that old KXF.
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526
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526 6/10/2019 10:58am
6/10/2019 10:58am
Justin Hill Also
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TSCHAM101
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TSCHAM101 6/10/2019 11:29am
6/10/2019 11:29am Edited Date/Time 6/10/2019 11:31am
im selling my 450... i have way more fun on my 250f.. and my lap times are better, and i dont get arm pump anymore.. 450's are too fast for almost everybody other than pro's... if you go slow and grab a handful of throttle to hit jumps.. its just a matter of time before you end up in the hospital because you dont carry enough momentum...

just my .02... and im a 200lb in shape 30+ Vet Intermediate/Expert.
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Falcon
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Falcon 6/10/2019 11:41am
6/10/2019 11:41am
For some of us, it isn't the abundance of power that a 450 has, but the engine braking. For me, it's too much like a light switch between power on/power off. I seriously can't ride a 4-stroke through the pits comfortably; how am I going to jump the thing?
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WW444
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WW444 6/10/2019 12:21pm
6/10/2019 12:21pm
526 wrote:
Justin Hill Also
He must have been doing that quad in Tampa on a 250..
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cbuehler767
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cbuehler767 6/10/2019 1:21pm
6/10/2019 1:21pm
SLAPAHO wrote:
hopped off of a 250 2smoke and onto a 450 in 2004, felt like i was cheating. the 450 was the easiest bike to race on...
hopped off of a 250 2smoke and onto a 450 in 2004, felt like i was cheating. the 450 was the easiest bike to race on most any track.., never looked back.

now i do love me some 125 tho.
Same here. Except with me I took about 10yrs off from riding. I got back into it in 2007 on a CR250, I forget what yr it was but it was in good shape. Rode that for a bit then one day figured I'd see what all the fuss over 4-strokes was about. Rode my buddies decked out 2007 CRF450. I was like wtf this is cheating! Loaded my bike up and drove to the dealership on my way home and bought a brand new 450 haha!
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FI2T
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FI2T 6/10/2019 1:43pm
6/10/2019 1:43pm
I can rip a 450 all day at the dunes! Anywhere else it's just not as fun. I wanna ride aggressively. To go consistently fast I feel like I have to ride a 450 slow. They take alot of the joy out of riding for me.
level
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level 6/10/2019 2:12pm
6/10/2019 2:12pm
A 250 four stroke is a better comparison than a 250 2 stroke vs 450. If you ride a 250f you would be surprised how easy and fun it is. Then when you jump to a 450 you will he used to it.
Sierra Ranger
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Sierra Ranger 6/10/2019 2:19pm
6/10/2019 2:19pm Edited Date/Time 6/10/2019 2:19pm
450s work best at high speed- at slower (Vet B/C) speeds you are going to feel the weight a lot more, landing like a ton of bricks instead of wide open.
I'll take my 215 lb. RM250.
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kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 6/10/2019 2:58pm
6/10/2019 2:58pm
526 wrote:
Justin Hill Also
Ouch 😂
dirtywardog 6/10/2019 3:05pm
6/10/2019 3:05pm
I've been on 250 2smokes for a while sometimes i get the bug in my head thinking those new fancy lookin 4 joke 450's look nice then I ride a buddys and remember how there such heavy turds that feel like a harley compared to a flickable dirtscoot
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Alex.434
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Alex.434 6/10/2019 3:40pm
6/10/2019 3:40pm
You're not alone. I prefer a 250F over a 450 on the MX track (if I had to choose a four stroke) but for my money I bought and ride a 2017 TC250 two stroke.

Just overall dislike 450's on the motocross track, don't jive with me. Give me a pro level 450 supermoto though.... and I'll flog that sucker to within an inch of it's life.
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cody41
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cody41 6/10/2019 4:27pm
6/10/2019 4:27pm
I think the 450 is boring to ride. I’ve had 4 and always end up back on a 250 smoker.
peltier626 6/10/2019 4:31pm
6/10/2019 4:31pm
The pro's detune their 450's. Enough said.
Titan1
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Titan1 6/10/2019 4:49pm
6/10/2019 4:49pm
I love my 450's! I'm on a 15 KX450 right now...works great! Is a blast to ride...turns just fine...

I'm curious, how many people that hate 450's are C class or lower...seems guys with lesser talent and with poorer technique, would have far more issues riding 450's. I honestly don't of any any fast guys that hate 450's (not saying there aren't any...I just don't personally know of any. All of the fast guys that I know that ride two strokes, They all still love riding 450's, they just prefer a two stroke).

I'm also confused by people who say a 450 is super easy to ride...but they can only ride them for a few laps (if they are so easy to ride you should be able to ride them longer)...or say that only a handful of people (pros) can ride them to their potential (if they are so easy to ride more people should be able to ride them to their potential.

I'm equally confused by people who say they are so hard to ride...but then say anyone can go fast on them.



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Dropbear
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Dropbear 6/10/2019 5:01pm
6/10/2019 5:01pm
I’m getting déjà vu all over again.
chewy4063
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chewy4063 6/10/2019 5:05pm
6/10/2019 5:05pm
Titan1 wrote:
I love my 450's! I'm on a 15 KX450 right now...works great! Is a blast to ride...turns just fine... I'm curious, how many people that hate...
I love my 450's! I'm on a 15 KX450 right now...works great! Is a blast to ride...turns just fine...

I'm curious, how many people that hate 450's are C class or lower...seems guys with lesser talent and with poorer technique, would have far more issues riding 450's. I honestly don't of any any fast guys that hate 450's (not saying there aren't any...I just don't personally know of any. All of the fast guys that I know that ride two strokes, They all still love riding 450's, they just prefer a two stroke).

I'm also confused by people who say a 450 is super easy to ride...but they can only ride them for a few laps (if they are so easy to ride you should be able to ride them longer)...or say that only a handful of people (pros) can ride them to their potential (if they are so easy to ride more people should be able to ride them to their potential.

I'm equally confused by people who say they are so hard to ride...but then say anyone can go fast on them.



You seem really confused.
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