So I have a 24 Yamaha yz450F that so far I have put on the FCP engine mounts, Ride eng clamps, FMF exhaust and the Jamie Ellis map via the yamaha tuner app. Overall I like the bike but there are just a few small things that still kind of bother me, I can live with them but they are a kind of annoying and have got me looking around a bit. I've listened to all the pod casts and read all the articles and can't help but wonder if maybe I would like a 2025 Honda CRF450 more. I loved the previous gen YZ450F in terms of its chassis feel and power delivery but this new one can be a bit of a handful at times.
So I have a few questions out there for those of you that have rode both the new generation YZ450f and the new 2025 Honda CRF450. Which did you like better? Which do you think had a better power delivery and does the honda have that third gear lugability? Which bike do you think had a better more connected to the track feel and wasn't as harsh of a chassis feel? Which bike had that better rolling through the corner feel? Which one tracked better and had better stability and not that weird little wiggle? Which bike do you have just my trust in?
Thanks for the help and information anyone may have.
You're trying to make the Yamaha more comfortable? I don't think jumping on a Honda is what you're looking for, sounds more KX. It doesn't have the power of the Yamaha though, so you'll be looking for more bottom end power if you like to lug.
Thanks for the information. Not really into the kawasaki's even though they have great pricing right now. Even if someone hasn't rode both the yz and the crf I would be interested to hear what 25 CRF450 owners think about the bike
The suspension alone is enough to keep me on Yamaha after owning a 21 works edition.
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Better comfort and easier to ride is the Kawasaki 😀 I’m on blue but I think about going green next year.
I tried a 23sr for those reasons. Too lethargic feeling. Ended up back on 24 blue after 7 hours of green.
Only thing I have found the tames the power of the YZ 450 giving it better rolling capabilities is getting a new ECU. I got one from twisted development and it made the bike way more rideable. If you have tried that, then the KX has more rideable motor, but if you haven’t, I would try that.
I'm a Honda guy through and through. I've tried other bikes, but I always end up going back to Honda. I really dislike the Kawi and previous YZ. That said, I really like the new YZ. Out of the box, it's a better bike than the Honda because the suspension is setup way better. I would still buy a Honda for myself and plan on needing suspension and triple clamps to be happy, but that's just because I'm old and my reflexes are tuned to the Honda and don't seem to reprogram easily. Honda just feels like home to me.
As for power, Honda was at their peak in 2022 and has detuned them and used smaller throttle bodies since then. If you overlay the 2022 CRF450 dyno with the 2025 YZ thy are almost identical, except everything on the YZ is shifted about 100 RPM. In 2025, the YZ is a faster bike. That said, Yamaha gives you such easy access to ECU options you can make it what you want for rideability.
Chassis feel…. Yamaha all day.
I have detuned my Yamaha quite a bit using Vortex from Twisted and it’s much more user friendly. I haven’t tried to detune Honda, but chassis was not as compliant. Suspension did move very well in stock form
If comfort and rideability are what you’re looking for, go find a friend with a 2024-25 KX450 and try it. It is the easiest bike to ride, and I’ve ridden them all. Way more stable than the Honda and will turn under the Yamaha. If you want more power, it is just a muffler away. As a vet who still actively races, I feel like the rougher the track gets, the bigger advantage my KX gives me. IMO, the Honda was twitchy and not confidence inspiring in rough sections. The Yamaha didn’t turn as well, and the “hit” of the motor was too much for me. It kept wanting to climb out of turns when I got on the gas. Whatever you do, good luck!
Buy a NuAxle for your YZ.
The Honda is at least equally busy/nervous feeling and isn't likely to give the feel you're looking for.
I love my ‘23 YZ450 with a vortex from TD! I was on Honda for ~20 years and it was amazing how easy it was to adjust to the YZ.
I still don’t like the way it looks but riding the YZ is great!
OP - what are some of the small things you find annoying?
Thanks everyone for all the information and the replies. For the most part I actually enjoy the bike but there are two things that seem to just keep popping up that annoy me from time to time. The first is just how abrupt and touchy the power is. I enjoy how much power it is it's just touchy at that first crack of the throttle and upsets the bike through the corner if that makes sense. I have to use the clutch more than I would like to keep the front end down. I really enjoy though being able to use third gear to roll the corners though. That is why I'm not really interested in the KX because I would lose that third gear lugability. I liked the previous gen yamaha's delivery and heavier crank feel as it had good power but wasn't so touchy and you could still use third gear.
The other thing that I notice at times is just how harsh the chassis feels on really rough parts of the track or slap down landings. Also at times the front end doesn't feel super planted going into the turn when I start my lean so it doesn't give all that much confidence.
I know the previous gen honda's were super harsh and just as snappy but I have read and heard good things on the 25 in terms of it's delivery, chassis feel and stability so it kind of peeked my interest a bit. I have some ptsd from my last honda in 2011 so I am a bit cautious and apprehensive. I know the 25 Honda front fork is soft so I would def get springs in it just trying to get an idea how the new bike compares. I would have no problem staying on the YZ450 but the new Honda has me wondering how the two bikes stack up
I rode an 09 CFR 450 for 12+ years and the bike I was last on before the ‘23 YZ450. So the power delivery, jolt off throttle is something I’m very familiar with
The vortex helpa with the on off throttle control. I’m planning on adding a flywheel weight at some point from Bundy Built
I was hoping for better but just used the same technique I had mastered on the 1st gen EFI CRF
To me the suspension is light years better than my ‘09 CRF so that’s not a concern for me.
i have a 24 yz450f, with similiar upgrades( xtrig, fmf, keefer map on stock tuner), my suspension is redone by enzo...my buddy has a 25 works edition crf450 with suspension redone by FC, exhaust, and clamps. to me the crf vibrated way more which made it feel not as smooth, the suspension did not feel nearly as comfortable( i rode them both on the same day, same vet track, and was just cruising as his bike isnt set up for me), I did notice the honda had better brakes, and turned in a lot better, i wasnt going at a pace quick enough to really feel how it "held a line"...the motor was strong but seemed to rev out quicker...to me the yamaha was better in almost every area.
What do you weigh? And what springs does Enzo use for you? Is your shock “cut” shorter?
Thanks this is very helpful. I am curious how the new 26 YZ450F will be and if maybe that will solve the few issues I do have. I think they are testing them sometime in early-mid August
Yamaha front end still feels a little vague to me. I own a 24 yz, have rode the 25 Honda but not enough to get a real feel. The Honda front end feels good, connected. The Yamaha is so plush and confidence inspiring on jump landings and bumps, even at 220lbs on totally stock stuff. The Honda still felt more harsh to me. This is a completely stock to stock comparison, barely even clicker changes.
Pit Row
I have been debating on getting another 450 but the last YZF 450 (2020) was a beast and just to aggressive for me. I did have 21 KTM FE and I really liked the motor but hated the front forks.
After reading the reviews about the Honda I was interested but I want to ride my friends KX 450. I’m 170lbs so the slower motor may suit me well. I’ve heard some people complaining about the vibration etc. but I need to form my own opinion.
Yamaha all day long. I rode a couple of hours on a friends 2025 CRF. First when it was completely stock and then a couple of months later with KYB kit suspension, Akrapovic exhaust and GET electronics mapped to smoothen the engine character and i could never get comfortable on it in either trim.
I felt like it oversteered a lot. I guess that is why many say it turns good but that depends on the tracks you ride and your riding style. I did not like the aggressive turning from the Honda.
Heavier crank on old yz450? Why not a small flywheel weight on 23- yz. Sounds like what you need. They arent just for woods guys.
Flywheel weight, and a TD ECU tuned for your style of riding. Not the cheap way out, but it will make you happier than spending new bike money and fixing all the foibles on the new ride. Just my two cents.
215lb, shock isnt cut, 58nm rear shock and .52 on the front springs.
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