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I agree with all the guys above! I actually am currently riding the 06-08 gen CRF450R and having a ball in it!
(I actually bought and prepped a 2019 KX450 with the intent to do a vet series and some other stuff then covid washed em all away! The new KX is a great bike too!)
I was lucky to find an 07CRF that was a one owner in mint shape and got a very good deal on it and I really enjoy the bike! Other than kick start, its as competitive as my Vet 50+ B-C butt will ever need!
I would definitely enjoy riding another 2009 YZ450 as well! Great suspension out of the box, very stable at speed and reliable as a ball peen hammer!
And the 2012 RMZ450 was a great bike too!
Last year before a stiffer chassis setup and going to the air fork! That bike was also a blast and one I would ride again if I could find a clean unmolested bike for a fair price!
There’s lots of great choices and many of the older bikes are still very competitive and definitely worth considering!
I’m having just as much fun on my 07 as I was on my 2019 but I’ve got about 1/3 as much $$$ tied up in my scooter right now, & FUN is the whole point anyway!😎
First pic is my current 07 CRF450R.
Second is the 09 YZ450F I bought new back then!
Third pic is the 2012 RMZ450 that I actually bought from a fellow Vital member a few years ago!
All were great bikes with many great memories!
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It’s fun pulling up to a start line with a 16 year old bike and running up front, a lot of 50+ intermediate riders have really nice bikes and I definitely get some sideways looks.
I think the last gen CR250s are still a competitive bike, I like the chassis and suspension a lot. Not as fast as a new orange bike, but the 05-07 is pretty fast stock.
These are 2020/21 Fantics - Simply modified Yamahas that were introduced in 2005 (re the aluminium frames). Cripes, wasn't / isn't the 250 motor essentially a 2001 (or earlier) one? The 125 was a then new engine in 2005, and was only replaced for the 2022 year model. It does makes one wonder about the "huge" improvements in MX / Dirt Bikes in the last 18 years, at times.
My list for the best older/used but competitive and reliable Bikes:
YZ250
YZ125
YZ450 08-09, 14-
YZ250 2014-
CRF450 carb
KXF250/450 09
Pit Row
Yamaha: ‘06 YZ250
Suzuki: ‘07 RM250
Kawasaki: ‘11 KX450F
Honda: ‘08 CRF450R
KTM: ‘13 450 SX-F
Husky: ‘14 TC250
If I could find a 96/97 CR125 for a steal id scoop it up all day long.
2015 RMZ450 with a spring forks.
I’d race an 07-08 CRF450 with zero regrets. I had the opportunity to ride one a few years back. They are certainly mellow in the engine department compared to most modern FI 450s, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing, especially for longer motos.
As far as starting, I never had issues, but I also disassembled and cleaned my carb a couple times a month, which I read really helped (I believe there was an article citing advice of HRC about this).
The valve complaints always puzzled me. I know many had issues, but between my dad and I, we owned 9 CRF450s from 02-07, and dad had another in 18 as he got back into riding. We had to adjust valves twice. I checked them frequently and they never moved. We do/did air filters every ride, changed oil and filter every other, and didn’t ride them like a 125…I’m guessing any/all contributed to our longevity, but who knows.
I said it in another thread, but in my opinion those two years of CRFs were the best bikes ever made. Had Honda slapped FI on their 08 for 09 and left everything else alone, I’d have stayed on Honda. Instead, they came out with the biggest pile of cow dung since the 97 CR250, and I haven’t owned a Honda since.
As an aside, if I wanted to go older two-stroke, hands down I’d either go 98 KX250, or 96 CR250. I like the 02-07 CR (and love the handling), but that engine requires way more effort to ride fast than I’m willing to give at this point.
I agree with this assessment. I have one, and while its more of a top end bike, it pulls forever. Forks are better than the later years departure. Fantastic brakes. This year model was more like a built 250. Later on, they developed the bottom end, but screwed up the suspension.
I agree with this. I had a 2011 RMZ450. Rode it for three years and never had to do anything to it. Just normal stuff (chains, sprockets, tires, oil, filters etc.).
I bought a 2012 KTM SXF350 about three years ago for $3000. Motor had been completely gone through so it was fresh. I haven't rode it a lot because of health issues but I'm back to riding more this year and so far no issues with it other than I had to replace the fuel injector. It's a really light feeling and fast bike. No complaints.
My 2011 RMZ 450 was the easiest 450 kickstart bike I ever had.
Over the last year I rebuilt both the 96 125 and 250, and I am surprised how quick the 125 still is. It is a total blast to ride
If you find a good low hour bike any of them can be competitive, it's mostly rider. An a speed rider on an 85 can easily beat a c class rider on a modern 450, the bike's not the limiting factor for most people.
The reason I say low hour, don't think you're going to find an old bike to rebuild and save a bunch of money vs a new bike unless someone gives it to you. Even a 2 stroke gets expensive if you gotta do a full chassis and engine rebuild. Plus some manufacturers are harder to get parts on bikes over 10 years old vs others. Yamahas in my experience are easy to find parts for, or get parts off newer models that surprisingly still fit, I have a 1978 125 I still ride! I just got a low hour roller for a parts bike that I decided was too nice so I bought an engine to get it going. There were lots of small missing parts that really add up, in the end I'm about where I'd be if I had found a complete bike with the same hours on it...
The w009 was an incredible bike ....if only they would've fuel injected it before redesining it....what could've been
Post a reply to: Oldest bike (2007-2015) That's still competitive and not dated