Didn’t take long to figure out I’m not a 450 guy……bet I’m not the only one.

X2. 57 years old, been racing my whole life. Never owned a 450 until I bought a 26 Honda in March. Rode it 6 times, and at 154 lbs it was just too tiring for this old man. Promptly sold it to my kid and went back to my beloved 300 and 350.

This is why the 350 is so popular….

You’re definitely not alone. I went back to a 250F about five years ago and don’t regret that choice one bit. I’m riding longer motos and I feel more comfortable on the bike. At my weight and skill level, if I can’t get it done with 40hp, I shouldn’t be doing it.

I've been 250F for years... love how easy they are to ride... 450s and smokers are more fun, but take a lot more energy to ride... anybody 50 plus is likely better off 250 or 300 smoker or 350... 

🎯

I bought a KTM SX300 and absolutely hated riding it at the track. The XC300 is my bike of choice for single track/ offroad, but that SX300 didn’t agree with me. I’ve had at least a dozen 250 2-strokes and never had any issues, but that 300 was just a bit too much for this 60 year old dude. 
I had to give up the motocross riding, I have a neck and back that just won’t let me do it any longer, it’s a bummer. 

🎯 🎯

I primarily ride small bore two strokes, but I do enjoy hopping on someone’s 450 often. Small bores are hard enough as it is, but 90% of the tracks near me are sand or deep loam, so I am riding my balls off just to barely clear everything on the track. Riding someone’s 450 is great because I can just coast wherever I want, and then whack the throttle up the face of a jump to clear it no problem. They’re awesome to ride lazy, but it gets a pretty boring and I can’t wait to hope back on my two stroke. I’d like to have a cheap 450 to keep around on those days when I want to ride, but not try and kill myself. The operation costs of a 450 are great though, pump gas, longer oil change and engine intervals. Then if you don’t like the engine characteristics, invest in ECU work and you can get back a completely different bike. 

tree fiddy 

I like the idea of ripping a 450 once again. ( to my level of ripping) but being a mostly offroad guy it just doesn't make sense.  They get hot and are just alot to hang onto after a while.  Its not so much the power as it is all that rotating mass.

I still own a CR250 two stroke but, I have to admit the KTM350 is a magical engine...

I've ridden all the modern 450s and of them the Husky felt closest to comfortable. All of them were just too much HP for my age and riding style. 

My favorite four stroke that I've owned is a KTM 350 sx. It felt like a 250F but with a bit more everywhere. It was controllable and fun, and not tiring. I felt like a pro riding it even if I wasn't going all that fast 

About 10 or so years ago all of the 450's started to come with really tall gearing, it makes them hard to ride. 

Before you get rid of the 450, try testing 1 tooth smaller front sprocket, let us know if it changes things for you.  It's a game changer in my experience.

Yep, I’m not either. A 450 weight and power are closer to a 500 than a 250. You’re on the brakes more than you’re on the gas. Try lugging a 500 around a track for several laps. 

Even so, I’m like you. I still kind of want a 24-26 KX450. Go figure

I've heard all the reasons why other manufacturers don't make a 350 but I still dont get it. If Yamaha or Honda made a 350 they would fly out the doors. I love my 25 350sxf but I'd still buy a Red or Blue 350 if they made one.

Japan is only gonna make motocross models that can be raced in the US AMA Pro Racing. 

yes

350cc is legal in the 450 class, as long as the bike is homologated...

I’m 61, not in great shape and don’t ride a lot. I’ve had 250 and 500 smokers, 450s and ridden 350s enough to know how they work. And I love my KTM 500 (stock except a slip on and a vortex), it’s torque is deep enough that it’ll pull hard from just above idle all the way to the peak, or it’ll be as docile as I want. Super versatile.

So I’m not a 450 guy, I like 500s. Might be the only one, lol..

I have always preferred the smaller displacement offerings. Easier to manage.

Indeed :

We are gathered here today, to celebrate a thing called a 350....

Been a 350 guy for years. Decided to try going back to a 450 two seasons ago for whatever reason. Guess I thought I was missing something. Second time at the track a buddy wanted to ride it so I hopped on his newer 350SXF while he took the 450 out.  In half a lap I instantly knew I made a huge mistake and wasn’t going to spend the next few seasons miserable on a 450. Went back to the dealer a few days later and traded my two week old 450 for a heritage 350 and that was that. Expensive lesson learned. 

The reasons are ridiculous in my opinion. At this point it’s more about them just being pig headed and not wanting to give in to the fact they were wrong. Just dumb

Coming off a two-stroke 250 to a 450 four-stroke was a massive shift. The 2008 RMZ450 was way heavier than my RM250 and pushed in the turns no matter how I tried to fix it.I was raised on two-stroke powerbands and handling but jumps were easier on the 450. 

I first raced the 450 in amateur AX, which was a crazy place to learn and found I could just leave it in second around the whole track. It was like riding an automatic. I have raced 250fs too and I think they have more usable power in the right range for most amateur riders. 

Yeah I agree. And i really don't think it would take them much development at all. Most bikes these days use the same or very similar chassis/suspension on there 250 and 450. They would just need to make a 350 engine based off there 250

For me the only place a 450 is useful is at the dunes.

250 and 350 have more than enough power and are more fun to ride.