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I have a mentally handicap son. Can you please chose a different word.
I only hate this bike because I love this sport.
And dual exhaust is just plain fucking stupid.
Increasing profit margin course #101 now in session.
After a lifetime of two strokes, I got a runout deal on a 17 yz 450 a year ago, thought I should at least try a modern 450 since the last 4 stroke I raced was an 01 yz 426.
Coming straight off my yz 125 onto that 450, two things stood out immediately....massive power by comparison and massive weight.
My very first ride on the 450 was comical, if someone had video'd me , it would make the funniest home video show for certain!
A cold morning, heavy frost and slightly uneven ground, lifted the 450 off the stand and got on , made the big jump upwards to get in a good kick on the kick starter, this necessitates that my left foot come right off the ground to do it, I'm a real shortarse, as I landed back down on my left foot, it slipped on the frosty grass, down into a slight dip in the ground and I just kept going. Once that 238 pounds , more with the gas tank half full, started to bear down on my left leg, I just kept going! No way I could hold it up having lost my balance like that. Over I went , collecting the end of my fold up table on which my tool box was sitting, it probably weighs 45 kilos... the legs on that end folded up and as I hit the ground shoulder first the tool box slid off the collapsing table right onto my head pinning me to the ground!
240 pound bike on my leg and a 45 kilo tool box on my head....took a bit to extricate myself from that one!
I actually just about pissed myself laughing ! It was hilarious really!
After that great start ,away I went...I immediately noticed just how heavy that bike feels as it landed from a decent jump onto flat ground.
My first race on the 450 was a mudder, I fluffed the start every Moto spinning up on a very wet and slippery concrete start pad, however I was able to make lots of passes and get in the top 5 in my class, only to lose the front end in a corner, go down and then struggle to get the bike upright and then lose all the places I made up trying to restart it.
Having done a fair few laps on it now on a few different tracks, I like the bike...the power is awesome, I can jump anything I want on it easy and if I downside the jump right I don't feel that big thud you get on a flat landing.
In motion on a groomed track, I don't feel the weight, in a race situation on a super rough and slippery track I notice the weight a bit more but all up the weight is no big issue in motion but a massive problem when having to re start the bike after a fall in a race situation. I race and I'm trying to improve, that's all that matters to me, not just riding for recreation on a practice track.
If I keep this 450 I may have to go for a rekluse clutch.
I wish to God I'd waited and bought the 18 450 with e start!
It would be interesting to get a chance to race a 18 KTM 450 and a 18 yz 450 back to back on a state title race day where the track is gonna get destroyed by 450's. Never ridden either bike but I do know that just riding both bikes at a practise track on a practise day wouldn't really tell me much...everything is different when you are racing.
In that way I might get a better idea as to weather the 20 pound weight difference really means much.
I wouldn't ever buy a Honda in any case...they don't make two strokes and from what I've read, Honda is mostly the reason why they won't allow displacement parity between two strokes and 4 in AMA pro racing...would pack their bags and leave the sport apparently , probably a bluff anyway......
If they are going to have that attitude, then I will never even consider buying a Honda
Allowing parity would not hurt them or any of the other manufacturers..it's a selfish and childish attitude, holding the sport to ransom when the sport needs the likely "feel good " boost that fair rules might give it
Pit Row
Would KTM, Husqvarna and Yamaha oppose parity.?..I don't know, Suzuki and Kawasaki probably yes.
Anyway, I like my four strokes, I have two now, but I will most likely go back to all two strokes in the future because I like them more.
You are right , I don't know just how much input Honda has had into opposing parity, just there's a lot of smoke on the internet about it. We have parity here in pro racing in Australia and it works fine, no one died and the world didn't end..
How much a person could pay for a leftover ‘17...
And what could they do with the money they saved.
Btw, I’d get a ‘17 RX!
I'm surprised Honda made changes to the frame since they typically run 4 yrs. of production with models before making any major changes. Anybody know what changes were made to the AF ?
https://youtu.be/EodzhnfVkXE
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