Seriously,

2-strokes are simply more fun, end of story.

My lap times decreased the second I hopped on one and I was smiling ear to ear. That sealed the deal for me.

After a couple of years off, and 16 previous years on a 450, I bought a '26 KX 250.  Ugh... instant regret. After 7 hours, I sold it last Friday and picked up a low-hour 450 sf-x. One ride on it Saturday, and I wasn't even complaining about the stock air forks, just smiling.

Hammakers 26 KX 250F had the fastest lap time in qualifying last Saturday. 
Beat the best riders in the world who have extra 10hp and all that torque on their 450s.  Just saying. 

Try a 350, the goldilocks bike

And that's the bottom line

Stark Varg

A large percentage of people who own a 450 are not even close to fit enough to justify one. Skills aside, simply from a fitness standpoint.  

On my first ride on a 250F, I stalled it. Then it took me a half hour to kickstart it. Just when I thought I was getting used to it, I endoed because of the engine braking. I lay there in the dirt, listening to the ticking sound of cooling metal and far-off dirtbikes and began to think I should stay on two strokes. 

If you want a 350, but don't want Austrian, a low hours 13-16 CRF450 is slow enough it might as well be the coveted, yet to be produced, Japanese 350. 

Power isn't the issue, it's crank inertia 

Ya, true. Big factor. 

I raced an "88 XR600 for many years.  As I got older the weight just got to be too much.  I bought a 2002 YZ250F and instantly felt like I was back on my "75 125 Elsinore.  It didn't take long before I missed the big torque and top end speed.  Every vet I know says the 350 is a magic sweet spot.

Can confirm, joined the 350 club this year. Other than having to un-learn my lazy ass cornering and lack of shifting I got used to in 20+ years of 450’s, I instantly had more fun. I also don’t feel like I went 10 rounds with Tyson in his prime after riding. 

As a C class squid, I was faster lugging my 450 than I ever was on reving my 250 two or four stroke. I'm a lugger.

Less maintenance, and less crashes.

REALLY liked a 16 CRF 450 that I put CRF 250 spring forks on. It was a great bike!

People told me the same about a new stock kawi 450, and they were sort of correct motor wise, except it felt 100 lbs heavier on the track than my 350. There’s a lot of truth that a 350 will never be a 450, but that also applies to the feel of a 350 vs a 450. 

I enjoy all dirt bikes, all displacements, all strokes, even electric. I destroyed my daughters' Razor moped racing a neighbor in a makeshift track around our houses. It was worth it.

They don't care.  They just want to stick it in 3rd gear and never have to shift a single time..  LOL

I actually loved it. 
On moto tracks I found it so much fun. It made me have to ride “properly” again and rail the shit out of ruts to clear jumps from the inside and I actually mastered seat bouncing on it. 450s can jump anything so seat bouncing wasn’t necessary on the tracks I rode. 
But yes on open high speed trail rides I did miss the 450. 
If Yamaha made a 350 I’d buy one tomorrow. 

I just realized I need a 450! 

Yeah I spend like half of my energy trying to ride it and not be ridden by it. It’s hard lol. 

After buying a 450 I recently rode a 250 and it felt like a mountain bike. I’m never going back lol. 

Been watching a guy on a Suzuki doing pretty good in Supercross.....Something to consider

Just sold my ktm300sx and bought a Honda 450.  I’m very fit so take it with a grain of salt, but the 450 feels way smoother and more fun for me.  I’m really excited as it’s my first 4 stroke in almost 20 years 

A dialed 250F is my favorite bike, overall. But I do really want a 450. It's been several years since I've owned one. I may give it a shot, at some point.

Been back on 250f for a few years now. Fun as hell. 

First ride on my ‘26 250FX today had me thinking about the oh so beautiful carbureted’ 25 YZ250X power…

Funny story..

I used to take racing extremely serious, was an A class rider, got burnt out on it and quit in my mid 20’s.. I sold my bikes and bought an 07 kx250 2T just so I still owned a bike and low maintenance. That bike re-ignited my love for riding.. no pressure, just fun and blasting berms.. these days I only ride a handful of times a year because of where I live, but I still love it.

Recently I got to ride back to back a Kawi factory edition 450 (I used to race 450’s and love the power) I did almost exactly the same lap times on my 250 screamer that’s nearly 20 years old, as the brand new factory edition.

I’m nowhere near as fast as I used to be, but I’m not slow either, I can tell you I had 100000x more fun blasting berms on a singing 2 stroke

i raced my sons YZ250F a few weeks ago, low hours 2014 bike, loved it , after racing a borrowed 450 the week before. 

I would love a 350, but i need a 450 for Supermoto, and it would need to do that as well.  

Best bike i had was my TM300, its a little 500 not a big 250, and was just a joy to ride. 

I may get another, as i have a new air filter in a bag for one.