08 vs 09 CRF 450 - any thoughts?

TheWeapon
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TheWeapon
Edited Date/Time 1/14/2012 7:24am
Anyone here upgraded their 08 crf to the new 09?

Any thoughts or comments on how the new one compares? How about reliability? I have heard quite a few people have had cam-related issues (supposedly from incorrect idle adjustment) and also heard mention of a couple of other minor issues.
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mxracer32
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mxracer32 1/22/2009 7:47am
1/22/2009 7:47am
i did. i love my 09. i have about 20 hours on the bike. the kyb's are much better imo over the showas off the showroom. i think that is one of the biggest changes. no mid-stroke harshness. bike handles great. motor doesnt have the 'hit' of the '08, but i still feel its faster. it seems to rev quicker, and the power is very strong but more broad. brakes are excellent. finally they went back to a black mud gaurd. (white ones always look like junk after a few rides). i dig the bike and so far no regrets.
Foster576
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Foster576 1/22/2009 8:31am
1/22/2009 8:31am
I love my 09 also! The motor pulls real smooth. Turns great. The suspension is too soft for me right now but Ill be getting that revalved soon so then it should be awesome!!! My only complaint is the clutch burns out quicker than last years, but I think Im going to order a Hinson to fix that problem.
mxracer32
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mxracer32 1/22/2009 10:20am
1/22/2009 10:20am
Foster576 wrote:
I love my 09 also! The motor pulls real smooth. Turns great. The suspension is too soft for me right now but Ill be getting that...
I love my 09 also! The motor pulls real smooth. Turns great. The suspension is too soft for me right now but Ill be getting that revalved soon so then it should be awesome!!! My only complaint is the clutch burns out quicker than last years, but I think Im going to order a Hinson to fix that problem.
you already toasted yours? how many hours?
Foster576
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Foster576 1/22/2009 10:25am
1/22/2009 10:25am
mxracer32 wrote:
you already toasted yours? how many hours?
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a problem Ive been hearing about. Honda went from a 6 spring pressure plate to a 4 spring pressure plate and the clutch gets smoked alot faster. Im really not sure how many hours to tell you the truth, I just ride the thing. haha.

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Cygnus
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Cygnus 1/22/2009 10:40am
1/22/2009 10:40am
Foster576 wrote:
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a...
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a problem Ive been hearing about. Honda went from a 6 spring pressure plate to a 4 spring pressure plate and the clutch gets smoked alot faster. Im really not sure how many hours to tell you the truth, I just ride the thing. haha.
Don't lie! You don't just ride the thing. You thrash that bad boy.Cool
vet954
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vet954 1/22/2009 10:54am
1/22/2009 10:54am
I love my 09 but there are some maintenance issues with them. First off, after only 9 hours I had to replace the chain and sprockets. After 10 hours I had to replace the tires. After 15 hours I had to replace the grips. At 17 hours I had to replace the brake pads. After 20 hours I had to replace the clutch. And to top it all off after 25 hours I even had to change the oil. Now at under 30 hours the thing is blowing smoke and is hard to start. Talk about a high maintenance machine. Sheeesh. lol
123
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123 1/22/2009 11:22am
1/22/2009 11:22am
I know of a couple people who have them. One guy thinks that once he has the suspension done, he'll like it. The other one doesn't know what to think. In his words "I think I like my '08 better". He specifically likes the power of the '08 better than the '09, along with most everything else.
mxracer32
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mxracer32 1/22/2009 11:26am
1/22/2009 11:26am
Foster576 wrote:
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a...
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a problem Ive been hearing about. Honda went from a 6 spring pressure plate to a 4 spring pressure plate and the clutch gets smoked alot faster. Im really not sure how many hours to tell you the truth, I just ride the thing. haha.
yea, i actually think the clutch pull was a bit easier on the 08, with only 4 springs each one had to be stiffer. the hinson is a 6 spring conversion isnt it? i think i read that somewhere....that will be interesting.
Foster576
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Foster576 1/22/2009 12:23pm
1/22/2009 12:23pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2009 12:23pm
Cygnus wrote:
Don't lie! You don't just ride the thing. You thrash that bad boy.Cool
Ive been know to throw down some decent laps from time to time. heh.
Foster576
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Foster576 1/22/2009 12:26pm
1/22/2009 12:26pm
123 wrote:
I know of a couple people who have them. One guy thinks that once he has the suspension done, he'll like it. The other one doesn't...
I know of a couple people who have them. One guy thinks that once he has the suspension done, he'll like it. The other one doesn't know what to think. In his words "I think I like my '08 better". He specifically likes the power of the '08 better than the '09, along with most everything else.
I personally like the power of the 09 over the 08 because it is alot smoother. Still has a good pull but very smooth and makes it easy to ride. I never really liked a real hard hit off the bottom. To each their own thats for sure.
Foster576
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Foster576 1/22/2009 12:27pm
1/22/2009 12:27pm
mxracer32 wrote:
yea, i actually think the clutch pull was a bit easier on the 08, with only 4 springs each one had to be stiffer. the hinson...
yea, i actually think the clutch pull was a bit easier on the 08, with only 4 springs each one had to be stiffer. the hinson is a 6 spring conversion isnt it? i think i read that somewhere....that will be interesting.
Yes the Hinson is a 6 spring. Im pretty sure that Im gonna order it soon and Ill let you know if it works...
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Tiki 1/22/2009 1:29pm
1/22/2009 1:29pm
mxracer32 wrote:
i did. i love my 09. i have about 20 hours on the bike. the kyb's are much better imo over the showas off the showroom...
i did. i love my 09. i have about 20 hours on the bike. the kyb's are much better imo over the showas off the showroom. i think that is one of the biggest changes. no mid-stroke harshness. bike handles great. motor doesnt have the 'hit' of the '08, but i still feel its faster. it seems to rev quicker, and the power is very strong but more broad. brakes are excellent. finally they went back to a black mud gaurd. (white ones always look like junk after a few rides). i dig the bike and so far no regrets.
You mean my bike came stock with a white mud guard? Damn that was like five guards ago.
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sharkey 1/22/2009 7:06pm
1/22/2009 7:06pm Edited Date/Time 1/22/2009 7:07pm
123 wrote:
I know of a couple people who have them. One guy thinks that once he has the suspension done, he'll like it. The other one doesn't...
I know of a couple people who have them. One guy thinks that once he has the suspension done, he'll like it. The other one doesn't know what to think. In his words "I think I like my '08 better". He specifically likes the power of the '08 better than the '09, along with most everything else.
my buddy said the same thing about the motor but loves the rest of the bike, i think if you threw the kawi motor in the honda it would be the ultimate. he rode a 09 kawi and said the power was great but didnt care for the rest of the bike
The Rock
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The Rock 1/22/2009 8:48pm
1/22/2009 8:48pm
Foster576 wrote:
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a...
Yeah, I wouldnt say completely toasted but I did feel it start slipping so I decided to swap it before it got worse. Its been a problem Ive been hearing about. Honda went from a 6 spring pressure plate to a 4 spring pressure plate and the clutch gets smoked alot faster. Im really not sure how many hours to tell you the truth, I just ride the thing. haha.
Cheapest insurance you can buy is an hour meter. Check out hour meters and other cool products at:

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mxracer32
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mxracer32 1/23/2009 6:32am
1/23/2009 6:32am
i got one for my last bike at northern tool and equipment, i think it was $14 bucks...the one on my 09 is from the dealer because they actually had some in stock for once.

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