Easiest/mellowest 450 to ride?

groggylbc
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groggylbc
Edited Date/Time 2/22/2019 9:27am
Im looking to "baby step" into the 450 world to see if it's something i'm interested in. I have always been a little timid about riding a 450. I have a 350 now and race vet nov or intermediate depending if its Moto or GPs....any whoooo, Thinking about getting a 450 but dont want arm breaking brutality....Just more then what my 350 is giving me. thanks
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zehn
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zehn 2/19/2019 10:56pm
2/19/2019 10:56pm
Suzuki
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Rotaholic
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Rotaholic 2/19/2019 11:00pm
2/19/2019 11:00pm
RM-Z 450 super smooth roll on power, no hard hit. Great bikes
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zehn
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zehn 2/19/2019 11:05pm
2/19/2019 11:05pm
rongi#401 wrote:
2004 yz450.......
Because buying a 15 year old four stroke is always a good idea
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Turbojez
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Turbojez 2/20/2019 1:43am
2/20/2019 1:43am
I just got a 16' RMZ450 and with a grey coupler this bike is VERY user friendly and easy to ride. I was actually surprised it was that mellow (grey coupler is a rich ignition map, tones the power down a bit and smoothens the delivery).
Jimfunn
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Jimfunn 2/20/2019 2:41am
2/20/2019 2:41am
groggylbc wrote:
Im looking to "baby step" into the 450 world to see if it's something i'm interested in. I have always been a little timid about riding...
Im looking to "baby step" into the 450 world to see if it's something i'm interested in. I have always been a little timid about riding a 450. I have a 350 now and race vet nov or intermediate depending if its Moto or GPs....any whoooo, Thinking about getting a 450 but dont want arm breaking brutality....Just more then what my 350 is giving me. thanks
It's definitely a different attitude to bike power this side of the pond but I would just turn the thing in your right hand a little further. A 350 is more than enough power for any of us, let along a vet novice.
All a 450 is going to do is slow down your corner speed and speed up your fatigue.

BUT, if you really want a 450 then RMZ seems to be the most mellow in every shoot out / review out there
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Yeti365
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Yeti365 2/20/2019 2:46am
2/20/2019 2:46am
I too say Suzuki, 2012-current. That or, if you don't mind a carb bike, 2007-2008 crf450.

Both very reliable, very broad, useable power.
Talisker
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Talisker 2/20/2019 4:37am
2/20/2019 4:37am Edited Date/Time 2/20/2019 4:38am
16-18 Kx450 is also smooth and easy to ride. Electric type motor.
kb228
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kb228 2/20/2019 4:49am
2/20/2019 4:49am
Theyre as easy as you want them to be. Dont turn the throttle so far.

350 to a 450 isnt really that much
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Meister
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Meister 2/20/2019 5:00am
2/20/2019 5:00am
They're all forgiving in stock trim.
RNagy052
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RNagy052 2/20/2019 5:46am
2/20/2019 5:46am
Get a new Yamaha and then download the app to your smartphone and mellow it out yourself to the way you like it. That is what I did with my 18 YZ450F. Then if you want to later on, you can load in a different map and make it not so mellow.
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bingerfang
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bingerfang 2/20/2019 5:47am
2/20/2019 5:47am
Get a new Ktm or husky and run it on map 1. Once you are ready to unleash the beast put it on map 2.
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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 2/20/2019 5:55am
2/20/2019 5:55am
Nothing is smoother than the Beta line of 4t's. See if you can arrange to go to the demo tour? The 390 is a torque monster (think XR400) and the 430 is a bit softer than a 450 by design. The Racing Editions have dual injectors and more punch than the RR-S dual sports, but both have a rain map that makes a huge difference.

I know they aren't marketed as "Moto", but they've got plenty of race results like last weekend's West Hare Scrambles win by Max Gerston, with Beta taking 4 of the top 10 and winning the 250 2t class. The lights come off easy and the number plate is included.
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lumpy790
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lumpy790 2/20/2019 6:03am
2/20/2019 6:03am
If you want mellower go with a 450 that is carbureted.

When I went from my carbureted 08YZ450F to a FI factory edition I could not believe the instant snap FI gave it.

Find someone local that will let you take a spin on one. The 05-08 CRF450R was also a great bike
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Moto man
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Moto man 2/20/2019 6:08am
2/20/2019 6:08am
lumpy790 wrote:
If you want mellower go with a 450 that is carbureted. When I went from my carbureted 08YZ450F to a FI factory edition I could not...
If you want mellower go with a 450 that is carbureted.

When I went from my carbureted 08YZ450F to a FI factory edition I could not believe the instant snap FI gave it.

Find someone local that will let you take a spin on one. The 05-08 CRF450R was also a great bike
These are the posts that make me scratch me head. What horrible advice. “You need to check out 20 yr old 450’s...”
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lumpy790
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lumpy790 2/20/2019 6:11am
2/20/2019 6:11am Edited Date/Time 2/20/2019 6:14am
lumpy790 wrote:
If you want mellower go with a 450 that is carbureted. When I went from my carbureted 08YZ450F to a FI factory edition I could not...
If you want mellower go with a 450 that is carbureted.

When I went from my carbureted 08YZ450F to a FI factory edition I could not believe the instant snap FI gave it.

Find someone local that will let you take a spin on one. The 05-08 CRF450R was also a great bike
Moto man wrote:
These are the posts that make me scratch me head. What horrible advice. “You need to check out 20 yr old 450’s...”
Funny math bro lol

He wanted mellow. If you want mellow ride a carbureted 450.
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MOTO732
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MOTO732 2/20/2019 6:15am
2/20/2019 6:15am
The easiest 450 is called a 250. I ride a 450 and I'm no monster. You just need to learn a bit more throttle control.
Tarz483
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Tarz483 2/20/2019 6:16am
2/20/2019 6:16am
Ive never Ridden a 450 is there a huge difference in power over the past years ?
Like from say a 2008 CRF450 to a 2019?
I remember reading at one point that they went down a little bit it power at one point because they were getting to be too much i specifically remember reading that at one point about Kawasaki's and Yamaha's
Justin Barcia used to say he was trying to tame the beast
When talking about his JGR Yamaha
atrdrvr7
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atrdrvr7 2/20/2019 6:23am
2/20/2019 6:23am
9-16’ Honda 450. I would probably skip the 09’ with flameout issues. Hands down easiest 450 to ride. Suspension just needs a couple of tweaks and these bikes are great.
MPJC
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MPJC 2/20/2019 6:34am
2/20/2019 6:34am
A lot of people mention the RMZ but I don't see how an RMZ 450 is an upgrade over a 350. I've ridden them back to back and while the 450 has more low end grunt, it feels like a tank in comparison, and I actually thought that the 350 felt like it had more overall power - you just have to rev it to get there. The 450 felt like someone dropped an anchor when I tried to rev it compared to the 350. You're not getting more from a 450 (at least not from an RMZ) - you're just getting it at a different rpm.
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 2/20/2019 6:40am
2/20/2019 6:40am
MPJC wrote:
A lot of people mention the RMZ but I don't see how an RMZ 450 is an upgrade over a 350. I've ridden them back to...
A lot of people mention the RMZ but I don't see how an RMZ 450 is an upgrade over a 350. I've ridden them back to back and while the 450 has more low end grunt, it feels like a tank in comparison, and I actually thought that the 350 felt like it had more overall power - you just have to rev it to get there. The 450 felt like someone dropped an anchor when I tried to rev it compared to the 350. You're not getting more from a 450 (at least not from an RMZ) - you're just getting it at a different rpm.
Well if there even close someone could save a lot of cash
By going with An RMZ450 over a KTM
350 New or used
Ive seen really Good Condition 2012-2016 RMZ450'S
From $2500 to $3500
And New from $5500 to $6000
Im not sure what used 350's go for but im sure its more than that and new are more too
OR Racer46
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OR Racer46 2/20/2019 6:42am
2/20/2019 6:42am
So Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Husky, KTM , are all the easiest 450 to ride ? At least there are no Biased opinions .
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MPJC
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MPJC 2/20/2019 6:47am
2/20/2019 6:47am
MPJC wrote:
A lot of people mention the RMZ but I don't see how an RMZ 450 is an upgrade over a 350. I've ridden them back to...
A lot of people mention the RMZ but I don't see how an RMZ 450 is an upgrade over a 350. I've ridden them back to back and while the 450 has more low end grunt, it feels like a tank in comparison, and I actually thought that the 350 felt like it had more overall power - you just have to rev it to get there. The 450 felt like someone dropped an anchor when I tried to rev it compared to the 350. You're not getting more from a 450 (at least not from an RMZ) - you're just getting it at a different rpm.
Tarz483 wrote:
Well if there even close someone could save a lot of cash By going with An RMZ450 over a KTM 350 New or used Ive seen...
Well if there even close someone could save a lot of cash
By going with An RMZ450 over a KTM
350 New or used
Ive seen really Good Condition 2012-2016 RMZ450'S
From $2500 to $3500
And New from $5500 to $6000
Im not sure what used 350's go for but im sure its more than that and new are more too
For sure. And I'm by no means saying that an RMZ is a bad bike. I can see why someone might actually prefer it. But if you already have a 350 (as the OP does), I would be hesitant to part with it to get an RMZ.

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