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4/1/2008
Location
Springfield, MO
US
Edited Date/Time
11/9/2013 9:17am
I've been jacking around lately on Craigslist, looking at possibly picking up a 450 to play on...looking more at Honda than any other, and have noticed several '03-'07 models out there for fairly cheap, and some that are pretty nice and clean.
I know there are guys here that have a lot of knowledge...so, which year model Honda CRF450 had the most complete package to start on? Engine, suspension & handling? I don't mind spending a little more for a better foundation to work with. I'd love to have a 2010-2012...but I flat can't afford it.
Thanks.
I know there are guys here that have a lot of knowledge...so, which year model Honda CRF450 had the most complete package to start on? Engine, suspension & handling? I don't mind spending a little more for a better foundation to work with. I'd love to have a 2010-2012...but I flat can't afford it.
Thanks.
Had an 04 crf 250 that was rock solid, and an 05 cry 450 that was rock solid when they came out. Love hondas!
One of my longtime riding buds is selling his
He is getting out of the sport once again and I will be bummed out to see her go. It has low hrs as we bought them new off the showroom as leftovers in 08. He has ridden his about 1/4 the amount of mine and raced it once.
Here is his ad that he wanted me to post:
>
> Yoshimura RS Exhaust
> MB1 Suspension (Recently serviced by MB1)
> Hot Cams 1 kit - Re-shimmed valves and new rings. Approximately (8) hours on engine
> Radiator guards
> Skid plate
> Hand guards
> After market pegs
> Extra parts (old suspension springs etc)
> $2500 OBO
> 480-430-3101
>
> John
The Shop
And I recognize that shoulda kept mine.
'08 had the steering stabilizer built in, other than that they were identical.
i had an '07, very durable and by far the best stock motor of any 450 i've ever ridden.
I have an 06, and love it. No plans on selling it anytime soon. Added some new plastics a few weeks ago, what do you think?
I love my 08..... Just getting back in to riding it was the perfect bike
Would go for an 07 and maybe throw some clamps on it. The 07's probably sell for a lot less than the 08s. Im sure everyone with an 08 thinks it belongs in a museum "last year of a carburueted Honda". BS
They were all really good with the 05 being best. The '02 needed triple clamps to turn, my neighbor bought that bike and rode it up until around 07 with no issues.
The 05's one was heavily modded by Tokyo Mods and I HATED that bike, but it had that Diamond kit RG3 suspension on it whic was brilliant and worth $3500 I hated that bike so much i bought a bone stock 05 and put the suspension on it with the RG3 clamps and the WB exhaust and it was really good although I remember being much faster on the bone stock 04 and crashing a lot less.
I rode an 06 and it handled far better than the 05 for some reason....I guess they lowered the engine? It was a good bike too
Actually thats me riding my 04 in my avatar
What he said.....
The 06 motor has a really good hit to it.
In fact while Jody and the gang put on "one more tooth on the rear sprocket" before they unload the bike off the truck, I went the other way.
I went 1 tooth larger on the C/S sprocket to stretch the gearing out while the other guy is shifting.
Worked great for me, being an old guy.....
Didn't make sense to make a 450 more of a handful.
By the time this thread is done the opinion's will be from 04 to 2010....
So from what is on here, the carbed models are better option than the FI models? Was just looking at a 2010 CRF450, what are peoples thoughts on that? Would I be better looking at the carbed 07-08, which would be fine by me if they are a better bike, can save some $$$ on the initial outlay for a few mods to it.
Pit Row
That's one of the major things that has turned me off on this sport and trying to keep up with the Joneses.
I paid 4200 for my 06 off the showroom floor OTD.
To pay close to $10, 000 for a freaken DIRTBIKE is crazy unless you're loaded with dough.
I know it's been beaten to death but the Big 4 are killing the sport I was once so obsessed with.
I'm lucky to have raced in much simpler times when the avg Joe could afford it.
I like to versify my fun in life and have four different bikes that all do something different and all total for under 10k.
I did ride a modded 09 awhile back and did luv the way it cornered.
Just my 2 cents
Here's some stuff I dug up on MXA....
2010
New mapping, less bark, easier access to module
New compression release pin
Better fork seals, more low speed comp. damping
Softer shock valving
2011
Smaller throttle body for better low end and less flame out
New linkage rate - not really a change for the better
Bigger steering damper body
Longer muffler with smaller diameter
2012
Stiffer fork springs (Kayaba)
New linkage rate and chain roller
New footpegs
One comment that MXA made which really stuck out was this...
The 2008 Honda CRF450, with its 41mm Keihin FCR carb, produced more horsepower from 8000 rpm to 10,000 rpm than the 2009, 2010, 2011 or 2012 CRF450
theres the proof , i wore a hole in the fame and the welds are wore smooth , the bike still runs perfect , got the frame welded , and i bet theres another 500 hr left in her yet
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