250 vs 350 vs 450 - Share your experience pls

Hammer 663s wrote:

It's the torque that wears me out. Even the 350s now have too much - I get death grip arm pump in 3 laps. Got to spend...

It's the torque that wears me out. Even the 350s now have too much - I get death grip arm pump in 3 laps. 

Got to spend some time with Mayson last weekend at Hangtown. Did a fresh top end in the KTM 1`25sx we gave him last Fall, and he's good for another 30 hours. 

j368 wrote:

That was an awesome deal you started for him. I’m sure he’s extremely grateful for that to this day.  That was a great video you posted...

That was an awesome deal you started for him. I’m sure he’s extremely grateful for that to this day.  That was a great video you posted when you gave it to him. Hats off to you!

Ted722 wrote:

I’ve been reconnecting with Mayson a bit too.  Lost my Dad this year and living life with a new appreciation for it.  Mayson might see a...

I’ve been reconnecting with Mayson a bit too.  Lost my Dad this year and living life with a new appreciation for it.  Mayson might see a drag boat race or two this year and of course we’ll see each other at the moto track.  🙂

cwel11 wrote:

You said you want a bike you be aggressive with and not pump up. 350 is my vote. I bought a brand new Rockstar Husky 450...

You said you want a bike you be aggressive with and not pump up. 350 is my vote. I bought a brand new Rockstar Husky 450 after years on 350s. Hated the feeling of it being heavy and when I would try and ride it aggressively like my 350s it wanted to kill me. I traded it back in two weeks after I bought it on a 25 350 heritage and made it look like my 450 FE. (Hate the blue frames) First few laps was nothing but a big feeling of relief and fun again.  I don’t think you’ll regret a 350!

cwel11 wrote:

You said you want a bike you be aggressive with and not pump up. 350 is my vote. I bought a brand new Rockstar Husky 450...

You said you want a bike you be aggressive with and not pump up. 350 is my vote. I bought a brand new Rockstar Husky 450 after years on 350s. Hated the feeling of it being heavy and when I would try and ride it aggressively like my 350s it wanted to kill me. I traded it back in two weeks after I bought it on a 25 350 heritage and made it look like my 450 FE. (Hate the blue frames) First few laps was nothing but a big feeling of relief and fun again.  I don’t think you’ll regret a 350!

Lillefty27 wrote:

Does the lowered suspension on the Husky stand out to you at all, good or bad? I'm having the same idea as you here with getting...

Does the lowered suspension on the Husky stand out to you at all, good or bad? I'm having the same idea as you here with getting the heritage edition for the white frame. 

cwel11 wrote:

You said you want a bike you be aggressive with and not pump up. 350 is my vote. I bought a brand new Rockstar Husky 450...

You said you want a bike you be aggressive with and not pump up. 350 is my vote. I bought a brand new Rockstar Husky 450 after years on 350s. Hated the feeling of it being heavy and when I would try and ride it aggressively like my 350s it wanted to kill me. I traded it back in two weeks after I bought it on a 25 350 heritage and made it look like my 450 FE. (Hate the blue frames) First few laps was nothing but a big feeling of relief and fun again.  I don’t think you’ll regret a 350!

Lillefty27 wrote:

Does the lowered suspension on the Husky stand out to you at all, good or bad? I'm having the same idea as you here with getting...

Does the lowered suspension on the Husky stand out to you at all, good or bad? I'm having the same idea as you here with getting the heritage edition for the white frame. 

Ted722 wrote:

Hmmm, I haven’t had that issue, but I do make sure I’m in proper gear in slow corners.  With the power / torque delivery it’s tempting...

Hmmm, I haven’t had that issue, but I do make sure I’m in proper gear in slow corners.  With the power / torque delivery it’s tempting to slow corner in 4th gear because of the meaty midrange.

As far as being "slow", it's all about lap times and confidence.  I've yet to call a 55+ horsepower motorcycle slow.  If I'm in the proper gear and riding it the way it likes to be ridden (low adrenaline), it gets around the track pretty darn good.  My buddy and I who are equally skilled(local 65 Expert/52 Expert), him on his "works FE"  whatever they call it  KTM 450 and me on the Suzie, we pass each other back and forth at will.  Maybe the 350 "feels" fast because it whines to the moon.  

Either way, I like being an underdog, contrarian if you will. Passing an Austrian bike is one of my favorites as the Yellow Zonker is barely turning 8,600 RPM and putting all that "slow" power to ground in the form of forward motion. No wasted energy.  Good for long motos.

Broke in my new boots on Sunday and put an hour on the meter, no stalls. 

sandman768 wrote:

Boot review please… I”m about to buy a pair of these…thanks….Yes…Suzukis are awesome!

Boot review please… I”m about to buy a pair of these…thanks….Yes…Suzukis are awesome!

Ted722 wrote:

Right from the get-go, they were super comfortable and supportive.  My SiDi Crossfires held up well, but they were long in the tooth.  I would have...

Right from the get-go, they were super comfortable and supportive.  My SiDi Crossfires held up well, but they were long in the tooth.  I would have gotten the SiDi's, but my supplier switched to Gaerne. These two boots have been the most comfortable / supportive / easy to latch boots I've had my previous 40+ years of riding.

Local tip from the guy / supplier I bought them from.  They SG22's run a 1/2 larger than the SiDi's.  So, my 12 1/2 SiDi's equate to 12 for the Gaerne SD22.  They fit perfect Sunday, no pressing on ankle / foot / etc and a lot of support.  Very happy out of the chute.

sandman768 wrote:

Boot review please… I”m about to buy a pair of these…thanks….Yes…Suzukis are awesome!

Boot review please… I”m about to buy a pair of these…thanks….Yes…Suzukis are awesome!

Ted722 wrote:

Right from the get-go, they were super comfortable and supportive.  My SiDi Crossfires held up well, but they were long in the tooth.  I would have...

Right from the get-go, they were super comfortable and supportive.  My SiDi Crossfires held up well, but they were long in the tooth.  I would have gotten the SiDi's, but my supplier switched to Gaerne. These two boots have been the most comfortable / supportive / easy to latch boots I've had my previous 40+ years of riding.

Local tip from the guy / supplier I bought them from.  They SG22's run a 1/2 larger than the SiDi's.  So, my 12 1/2 SiDi's equate to 12 for the Gaerne SD22.  They fit perfect Sunday, no pressing on ankle / foot / etc and a lot of support.  Very happy out of the chute.

tmauto769 wrote:

I agree with what Ted said about comparing sidi's to Gaerne, I wear an 11.5 in sidi's which I still have, and an 11 in SG22's...

I agree with what Ted said about comparing sidi's to Gaerne, I wear an 11.5 in sidi's which I still have, and an 11 in SG22's. I wear the Sidi's for offroad riding/racing as they are really good about keeping water out, the Gaerne's not so much, if I so much as run through a puddle my feet are soaked. So I use those for moto. The memory foam just hugs your ankle, they are the most comfortable boots I have ever worn.

AH387 wrote:

This has been an interesting thread for me to read. I have hopped around and seem to always settle on a YZ250F. This last one has...

This has been an interesting thread for me to read. I have hopped around and seem to always settle on a YZ250F. This last one has been amazing. I did a TD Vortex/dual injector and it has probably been my favorite bike that I've ever owned. That being said, I always think about what to do next (whenever that time comes.) I think it would be hard to go back to a stock 250F. I've had GYTR 250Fs also, but this current set-up I think is better. But I also sometimes don't really want to mod the bike and sink the $ into it, at this point in my life. So i was really considering a new 450FX. I do ride some MX/woods combined and it seems the FX can handle vet MX just fine (I'm average speed for a 40yr old.) But then I read a lot of people's opinions on 450s in general (wearing you out, feel the inertia, don't turn as easily, not as lively/fun etc) and that all really makes me think I'd regret it. But I watch videos of the new 450F/FX and it sounds like I would love it. It's tough. I did the 350 thing and it's just not on my radar, so I'll probably do another 250F/FX and mod or just roll the dice on a 450. I love everything about the 250F but sometimes it would just be nice to have the big bike torque. Also, a little more longevity than a 250F w mods etc. But the handling and playful feel of the 250F is a lot of what makes them fun. And I feel like I race my 250F better than my 350 and potentially even a 450 because I don't wear out in 2 laps etc. I almost wish Yamaha made a GYTR kitted 250F from the factory. I'd just spend it up front and then leave it alone lol. 

RightHookNoCandy wrote:

Long story short, I am looking at moving from a kx450 to a 350. I am a vet A rider and have been on 450s for...

Long story short, I am looking at moving from a kx450 to a 350. I am a vet A rider and have been on 450s for over 10 years. Last time I rode a 250F was when I was still young and fast enough to need more power. I don't ride very much nowadays maybe 5 times a year the past 2 years, I want to downgrade to a bike that I can still be aggressive with and not get arm pump on the second lap. 

I rode a 350 years ago that I thought was awesome but again that was when I was in the peak physical shape and racing every single weekend trying to accrue pro points. How much slower is a ktm 250 vs a 350? How close is a 350 to a 450? I don't have any friends that own a 350 to ride one before I buy one. 

PRM31 wrote:

I think you just described a Yamaha 350! 🤩

PRM31 wrote:

I think you just described a Yamaha 350! 🤩

AH387 wrote:

I'd sign up for that as well. Lol.

PRM31 wrote:

I think you just described a Yamaha 350! 🤩

AH387 wrote:

I'd sign up for that as well. Lol.

ithinkitsbroke wrote:

My local Yamaha dealer couldn't take my money fast enough. Maybe we all get lucky if the Triumph rumors are true.

Smith246 wrote:

I just picked up a new TF450-RC, but whoever is the next to bring a 350 to market is getting my money.

Smith246 wrote:

I just picked up a new TF450-RC, but whoever is the next to bring a 350 to market is getting my money.

A_Wise1 wrote:

Standing by for the review 🙃

Smith246 wrote:

I just picked up a new TF450-RC, but whoever is the next to bring a 350 to market is getting my money.

A_Wise1 wrote:

Standing by for the review 🙃

Smith246 wrote:

Was going to wait till I've got more time on it and maybe make a info/review thread about the TF450.But for now I have 3hrs on...

Was going to wait till I've got more time on it and maybe make a info/review thread about the TF450.

But for now I have 3hrs on it, some at my personal deep sand fast flowy track. And today about an hour on a lower speed hardpack choppy track.

So far I'm pretty happy with it. Like most have said it is a very smooth linear power but with really good midrange torque. Haven't messed with any mapping yet. Gearing was the biggest negative for me, always felt inbetween gears, have started messing with this already. 

Handling wise it doesn't seem to do anything great or anything really bad. Except for the forks, they are terribly harsh. Suspension will definitely need some work.

I've had all sizes and colours of bikes in the last few years but always had and been a fan of the 350. I chose the TF450 over another 350 partly because of the ktm situation and partly just for something different. Time will tell if I made the right call.

A_Wise1 wrote:

Standing by for the review 🙃

Smith246 wrote:

Was going to wait till I've got more time on it and maybe make a info/review thread about the TF450.But for now I have 3hrs on...

Was going to wait till I've got more time on it and maybe make a info/review thread about the TF450.

But for now I have 3hrs on it, some at my personal deep sand fast flowy track. And today about an hour on a lower speed hardpack choppy track.

So far I'm pretty happy with it. Like most have said it is a very smooth linear power but with really good midrange torque. Haven't messed with any mapping yet. Gearing was the biggest negative for me, always felt inbetween gears, have started messing with this already. 

Handling wise it doesn't seem to do anything great or anything really bad. Except for the forks, they are terribly harsh. Suspension will definitely need some work.

I've had all sizes and colours of bikes in the last few years but always had and been a fan of the 350. I chose the TF450 over another 350 partly because of the ktm situation and partly just for something different. Time will tell if I made the right call.

Flatliner wrote:

Solid review... I'm sure you know this but before any suspension work get the chassis broken in, things might change.