350 vs 450

steverogers
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steverogers
I'm new to racing. I have a 2014 Suzuki RMZ 450. My trainer said a KTM or Husky 350 might be a better bike for me. Is there a big difference in power between the two cc's. Are any riders out there pleased with their 350's? Thanks
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Bigoldbeef 7/11/2019 2:12pm
7/11/2019 2:12pm
If you enjoy your bike riding you, keep the 450.

If you prefer to be in control of your bike, get a 350.
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mxryan25
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mxryan25 7/11/2019 2:20pm
7/11/2019 2:20pm
Compared to your 450 a 350 will feel quite a bit more mellow and less torquey on initial roll on throttle, after the mid range the 350 will pull as hard if not harder than the rmz from my experience. Great bikes, Easy to ride and plenty of power Smile
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MPJC
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MPJC 7/11/2019 2:23pm
7/11/2019 2:23pm
I have a 350 and have ridden a few RMZ 450s. I really don't think that the 350 has much less power. Instead it makes power at a higher RPM. The 350 certainly makes a lot less low end torque. On a straightaway, I don't feel like I'm at a power disadvantage to the 450s, and the 350 feels quite a bit lighter and easier to handle in the corners. All of this being said, a properly set up RMZ is a great bike, in my opinion.
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motokiwi
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motokiwi 7/11/2019 2:30pm
7/11/2019 2:30pm
A 450 is way to much bike for a n00b thats for sure. I would get a 250 MAXIMUM

As far as 450's go though - The RMZ 450 of that generation is widely regarded as one of the best platforms ever made.
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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 7/11/2019 2:33pm
7/11/2019 2:33pm
Shift up a gear or two and save your money. The power delivery will be much easier to deal with.
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mxman
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mxman 7/11/2019 2:41pm
7/11/2019 2:41pm
How much do you weigh ?
soggy
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soggy 7/11/2019 2:46pm
7/11/2019 2:46pm
why does your trainer think a 350 would be more suitable? they are great bikes, will def feel lighter then your 450, need to be ridden in the upper rpm range to get full benefit.
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steverogers
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steverogers 7/11/2019 2:47pm
7/11/2019 2:47pm
I weigh 240lbs. I feel like I'm never in control of this bike! I feel like I'm hanging on for dear life in the low gears. I'm sure its partially due to me not have ridden in 32 years. lol
steverogers
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steverogers 7/11/2019 2:48pm
7/11/2019 2:48pm
soggy wrote:
why does your trainer think a 350 would be more suitable? they are great bikes, will def feel lighter then your 450, need to be ridden...
why does your trainer think a 350 would be more suitable? they are great bikes, will def feel lighter then your 450, need to be ridden in the upper rpm range to get full benefit.
He said it would be easier to handle than the 450, due to weight of bike and power in the low end. Especially since i am just getting on the bike in 32 years.
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steverogers
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steverogers 7/11/2019 2:50pm
7/11/2019 2:50pm
I was told from others in my class (50+) who race 350's that 350's don't hit as hard in the low end.
soggy
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soggy 7/11/2019 2:53pm
7/11/2019 2:53pm
soggy wrote:
why does your trainer think a 350 would be more suitable? they are great bikes, will def feel lighter then your 450, need to be ridden...
why does your trainer think a 350 would be more suitable? they are great bikes, will def feel lighter then your 450, need to be ridden in the upper rpm range to get full benefit.
steverogers wrote:
He said it would be easier to handle than the 450, due to weight of bike and power in the low end. Especially since i am...
He said it would be easier to handle than the 450, due to weight of bike and power in the low end. Especially since i am just getting on the bike in 32 years.
the 350 has much less low end and needs to ridden more like a 250 (high in rpms,wrung out) to get the most benefits. it will def feel lighter and smoother engine, so all in all it probably would be easier to ride then the rmz.
mxman
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mxman 7/11/2019 2:56pm
7/11/2019 2:56pm
I'm also 240lb. I recently got a chance to ride a Husky 350 and loved it's weight but at my size it was just a bit low on power. That being said I was riding a 2013 KX 450f which rips your arms off. I just picked up a new KTM 450 and it's amazing to ride, easy manageable power. I'd choose a KTM or Husky 450.
DA498
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DA498 7/11/2019 3:11pm
7/11/2019 3:11pm
Put that 450 into 3rd and leave it there and see how that feels. Im currently on a 350 but have had 450s and know what your saying. Im 170 lbs and the 450 is just too heavy feeling for me at my ripe old age of 61. The 350 rips but no low end in comparison.
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Hammer 663s
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Hammer 663s 7/11/2019 3:18pm
7/11/2019 3:18pm
You could put a Steahly heavy steel clutch basket on the 450. That will mellow the hit a bit. Run the softest coupler. The RMZ is known for a vet-friendly motor that's pretty mellow. Most of the other 450s are worse IMHO.

I just went from a 450 to a 350 this year cause at 56 YO the 450 was getting to be too much power and weight. I'm 185 lbs so the 350 has plenty of power for me. It's way lighter than the 450, but you do have to ride it higher in the revs to go fast. Which I like anyway. Makes me feel faster/racier even if I'm not. Smile
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Shawn142
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Shawn142 7/11/2019 3:46pm
7/11/2019 3:46pm
I would really go for a 250. You don't start your riding career on something that will rip your arms off. You're better served learning to ride a slow bike fast, then adapting to bigger faster bikes.
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bents 7/11/2019 8:34pm
7/11/2019 8:34pm
I think that getting on to a 450 after being off a bike for 32 years is crazy, not that you are crazy! A 350 or even a 250 as Shawn suggested would be much easier to ride, and much safer. Lets face it, no one on this forum is in line for a factory ride. Get on a bike that is safe for your level, and enjoy the hell out of it.
HusqFan3
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HusqFan3 7/12/2019 3:40am
7/12/2019 3:40am
I also got back into riding about a year ago after taking a quarter century hiatus(10-35yrs old) and while I’m not quite as heavy as you at 195, I’m not exactly a twig either. I went with a FC250 and a year in haven’t regretted my decision for a minute. The bike has more power(46HP per manufacturer) which is plenty & if I’m being honest, more than I’m capable of using at this point. i.e. I’m holding the bike back, not the other way around...
kb228
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kb228 7/12/2019 3:53am
7/12/2019 3:53am
steverogers wrote:
I weigh 240lbs. I feel like I'm never in control of this bike! I feel like I'm hanging on for dear life in the low gears...
I weigh 240lbs. I feel like I'm never in control of this bike! I feel like I'm hanging on for dear life in the low gears. I'm sure its partially due to me not have ridden in 32 years. lol
Give it time. At your weight a 450 is what youll eventually want. What will happen is youll go down to a smaller bike for maybe a year and jump back up to a 450.
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buzz06
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buzz06 7/12/2019 4:14am
7/12/2019 4:14am
I know this isn’t directly answering your question but at the same time kind of is. You need to ride what you feel comfortable on, go to an open practice and chat with some people and see if someone will let you spin a moto on their 350, then do the same thing with a 250f. 20min isn’t a ton of time but it’s enough to tell you if you gel with that bike or not.

Not every rider is the same, when I started riding MX I was 23 (I’m 29 now), my only experience on motorcycles at that point was road racing a 2006 R1. My first dirtbike was an 06 yz250f. It was a fun bike and good for learning, but after 6 months I jumped onto an 07 yz450f and went substantially faster right away. The 450 just suited my riding style better.

So what I’m getting at here is you really need to ride them and see for yourself, we can all tell you different scenario’s about going from this to that but overall your riding style and personal preference is gonna make the difference.
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dgmx
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dgmx 7/12/2019 6:29am
7/12/2019 6:29am
I currently race a 350 and have managed to do well in the vet class at some of the amateur nationals on it. Might not have as much low end hit as a 450 but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have enough.
steverogers
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steverogers 7/12/2019 7:29am
7/12/2019 7:29am
Thank you guys! Valuable info you all gave me. I'll need to sell my 450 before I can buy a 350. We'll see. Until then, I'll keep hanging on for dear life. LOL
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AZRider
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AZRider 7/12/2019 7:36am
7/12/2019 7:36am
Im 46 racing 45+ classes on a 2017 FC350. I came off an rmz450. Im not gonna lie, I miss the 450 on starts. It has taken me a year + to get to the point I am getting decent starts on the 350. My own fault, but the 450 made it easier. That being said, I can ride the 350 much longer at race pace and love it. I am only 180 lbs, so there is a difference there. I consider myself to be in pretty good shape for 46 as I still run quite a bit and am pretty active. So I give up a little on starts, but by lap 2 am using passing most of the guys who got a great start on their 450, but dont have the fitness to ride it hard.
Jimfunn
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Jimfunn 7/12/2019 8:11am
7/12/2019 8:11am
350. Less weight, plenty of power still. a 250f is enough power for 90% of us on here. Just turn the throttle further for longer. Just means you;ll be more in control, less likely to smash yourself up & less fatigued. You might go slightly faster on a 450 (you might not) but you'll be in control of a smaller HP bike and be able to ride for longer. 450 torque is too much for most
yz133rider
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yz133rider 7/12/2019 9:02am
7/12/2019 9:02am
Id go to a 250 and at the same time get serious about dropping the weight. Getting to under 200lbs and being on a 250f itll be an entirely different experience then 240 on a 450.
Dixon893
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Dixon893 7/12/2019 9:25am
7/12/2019 9:25am
Im 230lbs and a vet rider, had a 14 RMZ450 sold it for a 17ktm350, yeah I'm in control now, haha.
peltier626
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peltier626 7/12/2019 9:40am
7/12/2019 9:40am Edited Date/Time 7/12/2019 9:41am
250f is enough but the 350 is the ultimate vet bike. I'm 37yrs old 165lbs. I have owned both and am currently on a yz250f. My personal opinion is that the 450 is to much power, inertia, and weight for the purpose of mx/sx.
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Tenacious P
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Tenacious P 7/12/2019 10:58am
7/12/2019 10:58am
I think the 2014 RM 450 still comes with CPU coupler plugs. Have you tried the milder coupler? You could also mess with gearing and go down a tooth in the rear. I’m about your weight and rode a KTM350 for a while and never liked it. Not enough torque.

It’s an interesting bike. Has 250F torque down low and 450 HP up top but keeps revving past where a 450 checks out.

Power progression feels a lot like a 250 2 stroke, ok torque down low (clutch for us big guys) then the power hits hard, once the power hits, it keeps on climbing hard, and climbs about 3x as long as the 2 stroke.

Honestly, I would just keep riding your bike. Try the mellow coupler. Ride a gear up and shift early to mellow out the bike.

Good luck!
coastie44
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coastie44 7/12/2019 11:14am
7/12/2019 11:14am
At 53y now and I have a 350 and two 450's. I prefer the 450's.

YMMV

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