Hello!
When I was 8 years old, I started riding a dirtbike. My first one was a 70cc bike from Honda. I have ridden with it for like 1 / 1,5 years. But then it got all too expensive for my family and I quit with dirtbikes for a long time. I am 26 years old now and I'm wanting to get into Motocross again. But since it's ages ago that I've been on a dirtbike and a 70cc is like literally nothing compared to a 450 (obviously), I wanted to ask if this is a good option for me.
Is it true that a 450 even at very low speed can pull it's way out in 3rd gear a whole track length without having to shift to a lower gear? Is it good for me as basically a beginner to step on a 450? Because I have heard on a 250 you have to shift a lot more and I heard that both bikes in 1st and 2nd gear have very powerful torque. I've seen other people on the track where I live (Track = MXGP Lommel, Belgium) ride very slow and calmly with a 450 without any issues. And if there is no race event the track is very beginner friendly. The bike that I'm highly interested in is the CRF450R 2022 from Honda.
But, since I don't know much about it, I just wanted to ask this question here and if there are more experienced individuals that could help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this through. 
Ps: Some more information about myself if it can help, I am 183 cm tall and I weigh around 85 kg's.
Stark Varg might be a good alternative. You can increase the power as you get use to it. No shifting and low maintenance.
No. There is no way you can harness the power. And there is a 99% chance you will grab a handful of throttle on a sand whoop in 3rd and the 22CRF450R from Honda will end up 100 ft away with broken bars, pipe and subframe.
Get a 250f for a few years.
I wouldn’t recommend opting for a 450 just because you don’t want to learn proper riding technique. Get a 250F, learn how to shift, and make a decision on trading up to a 450 later.
I run the same gear on both the 250F and 450. No more shifting unless you are on a 125..
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absolutely not… with your lack of skill you will go from mellow 3rd gear to the hospital quicker than you can imagine. Do yourself a favor and get a 250 and learn how to ride again, heck i would even recommend a 125 or 150 for a year or two before the 250.
Hey all
Thanks for the messages, I want to keep myself safe so if that means no 450 then that's okay. A 250 will be a better choice then? Cause I have heard 125's and 150cc 2 strokes are very brutal as well and difficult to ride for a beginner.
You are not "safe" on a 250 either, both will screw you into the ground in a blink of an eye so don't be fooled thinking a 250 is safer.
Yeah, I have a friend who recently just started with Motocross as well and his first ever bike was a 250F Kawasaki from 2017 I believe. And he has ridden with it for like 1-2 years and now he's on a 450 and he's fine he says. He had no big crashes whatsoever only some tip overs in the corner cause he didn't have the speed.
My vote would be a CR500
the small 2strokes are harder to ride than a 250 4 stroke - because they dont have much bottom end power - the rider needs to full throttle and hanging off the back of the bike (in a constant wheelie almost) to extract the power - and this is too chaotic for learning.
That is the dumbest think I have ever heard. So A 250 doesn't have the speed. You and your buddy sound right for each other.
Ofcourse I know these bikes have a lot of power and torque. I didn't mean the bike doesn't have enough speed. I meant the rider himself. He went with very little speed into the corner and that made him tip over. He just hadn't had any huge crashes or anything since these 250 and 450 bikes are very powerful.
I should have been more clear in that post, please forgive me.
if you want to be a better rider, buy a 125 and learn to ride it, as it will help with things like corner speed,
a 250F would be the easiest to learn on
a 450 is way to much power for a learner,
Its easy. Either you control the bike or the bike controls you. No matter what you get you need to take your time and LEARN to ride the bike and be in control. Now when racing its easy to loose control very quickly so the best think you can do is master the craft before racing and that will slow how fast things are happening in your head so you will be more in control. RIDE RIDE RIDE and then go race.
Yeah you’re good dude
Hey, thanks for the reply. So if, let's say, I skip the 125, a 250 would be good for me to start on then? Cause I heard some people say the 125 is very difficult to ride and Motokiwi posted this:
"The small 2strokes are harder to ride than a 250 4 stroke - because they dont have much bottom end power - the rider needs to full throttle and hanging off the back of the bike (in a constant wheelie almost) to extract the power - and this is too chaotic for learning."
I will definitely take the time to learn cause racing won't be there for me in the next few years to come. I want to learn it all in a slow pace and take my time to get used to the bike itself.
Best way to do it and you will have way more fun.
Pit Row
Thanks for helping me out all.
I'll let you guys know with which bike I ended up buying since I still have to earn a little bit more money since I'm able to buy one. I'll definitely go used since they are already a few thousands of euros cheaper than the '23 ones.
I feel like you will enjoy a 250f /125 a lot more than a 450 , 250f is a good bike for learning on or even competing at a high level on
A 450 would be fine- leave it in one gear and darn near ride the whole track. For the most part a 450 has a very linear power delivery (but will pull hard at peak HP), so keep the rpms lower and just lug it around the track.
A 250 2 stroke is the worst bike for a beginner ..a 125 is fine but you need to keeps the revs up to keep it going, a 450 much easier to ride.
A 350 might be your best option..
My two cents! Don’t get a 450 until you’re ready! A 250 has plenty of power, and a modern 250 actually has a broader power band the the 450, if you get out of shape on a 250 you might be able to get away with it! Much less likely to on a 450, it’s about having fun, & not getting hurt!
Cr500 would probably be better.
Good lord, bunch of Karen's in here .
If you know how to ride a motorcycle, and aren't a complete numpty, you'll be fine on some of the 450s like the husky... keep it stock, use the slow throttle cam and mild map and go have fun. Just treat it with respect and you'll be fine.
When my kid had just moved to 125s at 11 years old, he flooded it and instead of missing his session, I stuck him on my 450 and the only problem he had was over jumping stuff.... just waiting for the calls of child abuse from vital lol.
Oh, and this 125 is better for beginners, I've got a ktm 150 and it's down right scary to ride.
Thank you. Chug the entire track in 3rd.
Give the guy some credit. He is trying to do it right until he learns his craft.
A 250f is a perfect beginner bike. I have a 144 2 stroke and it’s much harder to ride than a 250. A 450 would be great until you get a bit out of shape and whisky throttle. I miss my 250f - it was a very fun bike and I’m too old and slow to have the requisite aggression to be fast on the 144.
I agree with this ^^^.
Read between the lines here: a 250F is the bike most recommend and fewest take issue with. That's telling right there.
Yes, you "could" get a 125 2T, 250F, 250 2T, 350F, 450F, CR500, on and on.
Having personally owned and or ridden all except a 350F, I also believe a 250F is about as easy to ride as they come and is actually the most fun, too. There's a lot to be said for lightweight flickability coupled with user-friendly power.
The 250F really is a marvel of balance, and that's an amazing starting point you can really build on (I still haven't personally decided if I like a 250F or 450F more).
Good luck in your decision!
My thought too, something smoother, mellower and easier to start.
Get, a XR or CRF air cooled bike.. Run that for a couple of seasons. Have fun.
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