Choices choices

pmmhd3
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pmmhd3
That age old question, 250 or 450? More recently - 350?

Having decided to start racing again I have blown my mind with bike reviews, group test reviews, pros and cons and no nearer to choosing a bike.

At the age of 46, 220ibs kitted (but getting down to 200) is it as simple as blue, red, orange etc??

Thinking back to what I liked in my racing days....hard off the bottom and all mid range oomph on a 450 (never got near the top end) hard off the bottom and a linear flow to the top end on a 250.

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ElliotB16
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ElliotB16 6/24/2019 6:00am
6/24/2019 6:00am Edited Date/Time 6/24/2019 6:01am
450 for sure. They’re all good bikes. Each one has its pros and cons
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ElliotB16
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ElliotB16 6/24/2019 6:01am
6/24/2019 6:01am
kb228
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kb228 6/24/2019 6:03am
6/24/2019 6:03am
450 is probably the easiest to own maintenance wise. If i were undecided thats what i would look at. Whether or not youre ok with being thrown down hard is the question.
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danman
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danman 6/24/2019 1:17pm
6/24/2019 1:17pm
I'm a tick lighter than you and a bit older, but I had/have the same question. I'm a Vet B rider. My question though is 250 or 350.
I went out riding with friends a couple of weeks ago, and my bike was not rideable, so I rode a friends 2017 KTM FE 450. Wow was that a handful. Yes, I can handle it, but I got really tired really quickly because of the sheer power. I also rode my friends 2018 Ktm350. Much better. I couldn't get comfy on the bike because the suspension was so different, but the power was way more manageable. Lastly, I rode my sons 2011 KTM 250SXF with a 290 kit on it. Didn't have the 350 power, but I had way more fun on this bike than the other two.
After all that, I'm looking for a 350. I figure I can get the power configured the way I want with an aftermarket ignition. That should make the bike fun and easy to ride at the same time.

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kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 6/24/2019 1:19pm
6/24/2019 1:19pm
If it’s a kawasaki, it doesn’t matter! They are all so easy to ride it’s almost cheating!
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kb228
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kb228 6/24/2019 1:22pm
6/24/2019 1:22pm
kkawboy14 wrote:
If it’s a kawasaki, it doesn’t matter! They are all so easy to ride it’s almost cheating!
Dude my kx450 with the rekluse auto clutch is so freaking easy
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kkawboy14
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kkawboy14 6/24/2019 1:28pm
6/24/2019 1:28pm
kkawboy14 wrote:
If it’s a kawasaki, it doesn’t matter! They are all so easy to ride it’s almost cheating!
kb228 wrote:
Dude my kx450 with the rekluse auto clutch is so freaking easy
See...... I rest my case! Sometimes I just let my KX450 show me the fast way around the track, then I hop on!
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byke
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byke 6/24/2019 1:37pm
6/24/2019 1:37pm
I think an important piece of language he used was that he liked a 250 being hard off the bottom and linear into the top end, because they're not like that at all, especially as rider weight increases. I'd say that he should probably get a 250 and if he reeeaaally thinks he wants a 450, then he should get the 350.
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pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 6/24/2019 3:42pm
6/24/2019 3:42pm
kkawboy14 wrote:
If it’s a kawasaki, it doesn’t matter! They are all so easy to ride it’s almost cheating!
kb228 wrote:
Dude my kx450 with the rekluse auto clutch is so freaking easy
Really interesting view. Pleas explain more...does the auto clutch help that much?
pmmhd3
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pmmhd3 6/24/2019 3:43pm
6/24/2019 3:43pm
byke wrote:
I think an important piece of language he used was that he liked a 250 being hard off the bottom and linear into the top end...
I think an important piece of language he used was that he liked a 250 being hard off the bottom and linear into the top end, because they're not like that at all, especially as rider weight increases. I'd say that he should probably get a 250 and if he reeeaaally thinks he wants a 450, then he should get the 350.
Makes sense, somewhat heavier than when I last rode for sure. 350 sounds a good option....but those 450’s call me
byke
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byke 6/24/2019 4:20pm
6/24/2019 4:20pm Edited Date/Time 6/24/2019 4:20pm
You know yourself better than we do, so do you frequently find yourself saying, "I wish I would have just...", or do you normally guess right the first time? I'll get the cool tool because I think I'll use it again, then it sits and I wish I'd have just rented one instead. I'll order the big meal because I think I can eat it all, but then it's not even close. If you're the type that guesses right the first time and your gut says to get a 450, then get a 450. You can always put a 30 tooth rear on it and make it slow as hell.
kb228
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kb228 6/24/2019 4:22pm
6/24/2019 4:22pm
kkawboy14 wrote:
If it’s a kawasaki, it doesn’t matter! They are all so easy to ride it’s almost cheating!
kb228 wrote:
Dude my kx450 with the rekluse auto clutch is so freaking easy
pmmhd3 wrote:
Really interesting view. Pleas explain more...does the auto clutch help that much?
Yes. You literally do not need to touch the clutch. It auto feathers perfectly all the time. Its probably similar to an ebike
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Eddie S
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Eddie S 6/24/2019 6:50pm
6/24/2019 6:50pm
How do guys get up to 200 lbs plus? Man, diets have to change.
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feelit2morrow 6/24/2019 7:49pm
6/24/2019 7:49pm
kb228 wrote:
450 is probably the easiest to own maintenance wise. If i were undecided thats what i would look at. Whether or not youre ok with being...
450 is probably the easiest to own maintenance wise. If i were undecided thats what i would look at. Whether or not youre ok with being thrown down hard is the question.
OK. I LOL'd at the back end of this...

Also I was just in Mansfield early June for K9 certs. Mostly at the speedway.
Last Braaap
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Last Braaap 6/24/2019 11:24pm
6/24/2019 11:24pm
I am disappointed that none of the regulars here did suggest the obvious real man's choice: 2000 Honda CR500

Who needs maintanence, tops and bottoms when you can fight for your bare life from corner to corner?
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bugnboo
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bugnboo 6/25/2019 6:36am
6/25/2019 6:36am
Eddie S wrote:
How do guys get up to 200 lbs plus? Man, diets have to change.
Some of us aren't built like little schoolgirls...
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kb228
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kb228 6/25/2019 6:46am
6/25/2019 6:46am
Eddie S wrote:
How do guys get up to 200 lbs plus? Man, diets have to change.
Because not everyone is 5’5” deadlifting 215lbs like an 8th grader.
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Pirate421
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Pirate421 6/25/2019 6:48am
6/25/2019 6:48am
I went through this two years ago. I have ridden 250 two strokes the last 4-5 years and ll my buddies were getting 450s. The local dealership was blowing out 2017s and I went for it and got the 350.

The two with 450s are fast dudes and in their early 20s, I’m 30 and a slower intermediate. The 350 was absolutely the best choice for me, super fast, super light, turns great and still has the map switch and Tc. One of the great things about 350 is that i just didn’t get tired on it, I could go out and ride for 30+ minutes consistently, whereas my one buddy on the 450 would be having his arms ripped out after 15 minutes.

He even said the 350 was the most fun bike he’s ever ridden. Another buddy went through the same predicament, always a 450 and 250 2t rider. He’s over 6’ and 200# and I told him he wouldn’t regret a 350. It hauls him around more than fast enough and he loves it.

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