Best production privateer bike!

gotwings
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gotwings 1/25/2011 1:30pm
1/25/2011 1:30pm
Regal killed it last year on the Honda
burn1986
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burn1986 1/25/2011 2:07pm
1/25/2011 2:07pm
I don't know why anyone asks which 250/ 450 is the best? They are all super competitive - even the KTMs. I guess people just have gobs of money to throw around. For the rest of us, I would just go with the best deal. Man, there are tons of left over 4-strokes out there. I know of a new 08 YZ450F for $4999 (Livingston, TX) right now that will be as competitive as anything out there.

Of course, white knuckle has the most logical plan out of all these replies.
GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 1/25/2011 2:25pm
1/25/2011 2:25pm
The best bike is the one that fits you and your riding style the best. There is no right or wrong answer to this question.
Pool-eh
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Pool-eh 1/25/2011 2:31pm
1/25/2011 2:31pm Edited Date/Time 1/25/2011 2:32pm
If you think that you would be competitive as a privateer on a 250 2stroke against factory 450s then you're fucking high on airplane glue.

All the bikes are so good from production that most privateers(remember guys, these are the non picky riders not the ones who spend countless hours on the nicest test tracks with separate suspension and motor mechanics) could pick pretty much any new brand and race it at their normal level. The only one that isn't much of a privateer choice is the yz250f, due to it still having a carb and the motor being fairly outdated. A yer ago I wouldn't said all ktms but there are a few of 250fs out there. Not so many 350/450s if any at all

The Shop

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Holigan
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Holigan 1/25/2011 2:39pm
1/25/2011 2:39pm
If you are a Pro (eat what you kill), you go with Honda. They are the only OEM paying any real contingency.
miedosoracing1 1/25/2011 3:00pm
1/25/2011 3:00pm Edited Date/Time 1/25/2011 3:05pm
The real problem is, that if you are truely a privateer, the 450F's are great bikes, but it doesn't matter, because you have a slim chance in hell even qualifying for a supercross in the 450 class. That class is stacked. So go after what bike wins you weekend money at the local races instead. Because that is where you pay for it, at the local races. Not the major races. You have a better chance, in the 250 class in supercross. But then you risk the money problem, because it costs more to upgrade and upkeep. So it is kinda rock and hard place in my personal opinion.
in2mx
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in2mx 1/25/2011 8:55pm
1/25/2011 8:55pm
kawasakis cause they have best engines
T-Fish
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T-Fish 1/25/2011 9:40pm
1/25/2011 9:40pm
R-acer wrote:
Kawasaki... both the KX250F and the KX450F. But the 2011 KX250F is really an amazing, fun, snappy bike.
Gee, real big shocker that you'd choose Kawasaki.
bd
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bd 1/25/2011 11:21pm
1/25/2011 11:21pm Edited Date/Time 1/25/2011 11:24pm
If I were a "true" privateer.... I am racing a CRF. By far the most expensive mod is putting a pig on a diet. A lot cheaper to buy engine mods, exhaust, and suspension instead of carbon fiber and titanium.
bd
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bd 1/25/2011 11:24pm
1/25/2011 11:24pm
Furthermore, even with a RMZ, KXF, YZF, KTM............. you have to mod the engine, exhaust, and dial in the suspension. Now come up with the money to put the pig on a diet.
trentmanracing 1/26/2011 6:20am
1/26/2011 6:20am
We (trentman racing) are running stock bikes in arenacross and we finished 2nd place at dayton ax last weekend. Nothing on the bike was aftermarket! Pipe-Kawi Stock, Handel Bars- Stock, even tires- stock. He also almost won the race. So i do not anyone telling me that the 2011 Kawasaki 250f is not a great bike off the floor.

Brittany
Trentman Racing
zippy895
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zippy895 1/26/2011 6:32am
1/26/2011 6:32am
very hard for me to believe magazine test shootouts. i bought bikes that won those shootouts and half the time felt better on another brand.
some bikes feel better for taller or shorter riders ,plus riding styles.
best bet ,go w/ lightest bike for your choice of racing. but also consider geometry needed for say sx racing.
for privateers, contingency money on a brand plays a big part.
zippy895
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zippy895 1/26/2011 6:36am
1/26/2011 6:36am
also, r you asking best sx or motocross 250/450.
R-acer
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R-acer 1/26/2011 6:41am
1/26/2011 6:41am
trentmanracing wrote:
We (trentman racing) are running stock bikes in arenacross and we finished 2nd place at dayton ax last weekend. Nothing on the bike was aftermarket! Pipe-Kawi...
We (trentman racing) are running stock bikes in arenacross and we finished 2nd place at dayton ax last weekend. Nothing on the bike was aftermarket! Pipe-Kawi Stock, Handel Bars- Stock, even tires- stock. He also almost won the race. So i do not anyone telling me that the 2011 Kawasaki 250f is not a great bike off the floor.

Brittany
Trentman Racing
The 2011 KXF's are BADASS!!
R-acer
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R-acer 1/26/2011 6:43am
1/26/2011 6:43am
R-acer wrote:
Kawasaki... both the KX250F and the KX450F. But the 2011 KX250F is really an amazing, fun, snappy bike.
T-Fish wrote:
Gee, real big shocker that you'd choose Kawasaki.
Not sure what you are trying to say
lumpy790
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lumpy790 1/26/2011 8:17am
1/26/2011 8:17am
Holigan wrote:
If you are a Pro (eat what you kill), you go with Honda. They are the only OEM paying any real contingency.
A lot of truth to this statement. How a bike performs stock does not matter much when they are going to totally mod the bike anyway.

Ax is another story.....short and tight so it must be easy to ride and put the power to the ground. Suspension must get you threw the woops.
lumpy790
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lumpy790 1/26/2011 8:19am
1/26/2011 8:19am
trentmanracing wrote:
We (trentman racing) are running stock bikes in arenacross and we finished 2nd place at dayton ax last weekend. Nothing on the bike was aftermarket! Pipe-Kawi...
We (trentman racing) are running stock bikes in arenacross and we finished 2nd place at dayton ax last weekend. Nothing on the bike was aftermarket! Pipe-Kawi Stock, Handel Bars- Stock, even tires- stock. He also almost won the race. So i do not anyone telling me that the 2011 Kawasaki 250f is not a great bike off the floor.

Brittany
Trentman Racing
cool......what did you do to the suspension?
Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 1/26/2011 8:32am
1/26/2011 8:32am
GrapeApe wrote:
The best bike is the one that fits you and your riding style the best. There is no right or wrong answer to this question.
BINGO !

KTM's are " Ready to Race " out of the box.
If your racing pro then I would put part support above any stock bike performance...

Pit Row

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nc_mx_kid
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nc_mx_kid 1/26/2011 10:42am
1/26/2011 10:42am
R-acer wrote:
Kawasaki... both the KX250F and the KX450F. But the 2011 KX250F is really an amazing, fun, snappy bike.
agreed
253
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253 1/26/2011 11:26am
1/26/2011 11:26am
I like everyones info on this... I'm actually looking for a 2010 450 at this point. And being Honda now, I naturally want to get a 10 crf 450. I rode a friends at the track before any mods were done and I thought it was great! Very light, & I didnt feel the negative handling issues that I always hear of ( Im about 190 lb so maybe thats why..?) Anyhow, I just saw a 2010 Yz 450 at a local dealer for $5500 and am wondering if its worth considering because of the price.. Any thoughts on the 2010 models?
(Btw I'm on a 06 crf 450)
mxb2
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mxb2 1/26/2011 12:32pm
1/26/2011 12:32pm
253 wrote:
I like everyones info on this... I'm actually looking for a 2010 450 at this point. And being Honda now, I naturally want to get a...
I like everyones info on this... I'm actually looking for a 2010 450 at this point. And being Honda now, I naturally want to get a 10 crf 450. I rode a friends at the track before any mods were done and I thought it was great! Very light, & I didnt feel the negative handling issues that I always hear of ( Im about 190 lb so maybe thats why..?) Anyhow, I just saw a 2010 Yz 450 at a local dealer for $5500 and am wondering if its worth considering because of the price.. Any thoughts on the 2010 models?
(Btw I'm on a 06 crf 450)
You can t go wrong on any 2010 models IMO! The fuel injection is really good, i had a 07 crf 450(great bike), and i have a 09 rmz 450 and i like it better than the crf! If you can get a new 2010 yammy 450 fro $5500 i would get it , thats a great deal, most leftover 2010 models are going for around $6600 otd in this area! Each model has its pro s and con s and need s a little bit of mods to have that personal touch!
mxb2
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mxb2 1/26/2011 12:35pm
1/26/2011 12:35pm
zippy895 wrote:
also, r you asking best sx or motocross 250/450.
I was asking 450 and 250f , just a question from a privateers perspective? quality, performance, least money to make it the best bike etc! and of course contingency would come into play.
bd
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bd 1/26/2011 12:43pm
1/26/2011 12:43pm
253 wrote:
I like everyones info on this... I'm actually looking for a 2010 450 at this point. And being Honda now, I naturally want to get a...
I like everyones info on this... I'm actually looking for a 2010 450 at this point. And being Honda now, I naturally want to get a 10 crf 450. I rode a friends at the track before any mods were done and I thought it was great! Very light, & I didnt feel the negative handling issues that I always hear of ( Im about 190 lb so maybe thats why..?) Anyhow, I just saw a 2010 Yz 450 at a local dealer for $5500 and am wondering if its worth considering because of the price.. Any thoughts on the 2010 models?
(Btw I'm on a 06 crf 450)
2011 YZ250F and YZ450F are identical to the 2010 models (save white plastic). Save the money and buy a 2010 CRF or YZF instead of a 2011. Use the savings to fix the chasis (linkage) and suspension.

Personally.... I would go YZ or KTM 250 Two Stroke
mxb2
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mxb2 1/26/2011 12:54pm
1/26/2011 12:54pm
The only difference in the 2010/2011 450 yamaha is the gas tank is a little big bigger and a new clutch arm!, About $1200 difference. that savings can get you suspension mods, tires pipe etc! Rebates on rmz s and crf s in this area!
IceMan446
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IceMan446 1/26/2011 12:59pm
1/26/2011 12:59pm
YZ250 two stroke. No diet to put that bike on and under a grand you can make the thing rip, not that it doesn't to begin with.

How much for an exhaust on a 4 stroke again???

If I were racing am and need support Kawi is the only way to go. Good payout from them and their rider support is top notch.
253
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253 1/26/2011 1:08pm
1/26/2011 1:08pm
Thanks for the info guys.... Do you all know what bikes have the best contingency programs..? (been a while since a got a new bike, so Im wayy out of the loop!)
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 1/26/2011 1:18pm
1/26/2011 1:18pm
bd wrote:
If I were a "true" privateer.... I am racing a CRF. By far the most expensive mod is putting a pig on a diet. A lot...
If I were a "true" privateer.... I am racing a CRF. By far the most expensive mod is putting a pig on a diet. A lot cheaper to buy engine mods, exhaust, and suspension instead of carbon fiber and titanium.
So, you wouldn't go with a RS4 Ti/Carbon if ya could?

Look, I agree with most of your statement; however, -2- birds, One-Stone...Loose weight (at the outter-most area of the bike with the RS4 silencer) and get a helluva good pipe.

Then there's a glide plate from Willy (Light-Speed): Light and effective.

Put about $2K in strategically located Ti and you've got some proper weight savings/mass centralization goin' on.

Replace the disposable frt rotor with a Glafer Wave (Add's a lil' rotating mass, tho!)

Enzo suspenders.

Tires are a non-claimer: yer gonna run Dunlops at any AMA event...most likely...about $100 a set, pro-price.

Piston, program and a lil' head-work.

The "Cheaper" approach to a Hinson (Jus' the p-plate/plates & springs).

The usual bars and levers (Altho ALL of it ADDS weight).

Cost: $5K on a bad-day for a decent Pro.

What did ya get?

A bike that can run competively in the SX or Nat's series.

Btw, "Yes", the CRF450R would be the easiest to accomplish the task with...and it "Pays" better!

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