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I have had 8 450’s (one was a 426) since 2001. I’ve put 120-130hrs on 4 of them, and 40-50 on the others. I’ve never had a single engine failure. In fact not a single unexpected failure of anything except flat tires. I’ve had every brand except Suzuki.
The Shop
Woods Guys have it pretty rough thought, they can easily rack up +150 hours in one season. Also if you live in an area that at allows you to race 12 mouths out of the year it can be pretty difficult as well.
Fundamentally, the design is pretty much the same. Look at the YZF engines. If you put 250 and 450 side by side, most probably couldn't tell the difference other than physical size.
Immediately, became one with the bike. Confidence inspiring and probably one of the best 4-strokes for a 2-stroke lifer to transition to. I was winning races, was religious on my oil changes, valve and manual timing chain maintenance.
At just 30 hours, started hearing a knocking noise. Got it checked out by a trusted shop (ironically the same shop who helped with the recent 2016 frame breakage thread). Connecting rod / crank bearing was going. Didn't catch it early enough. Oil pumps, Crank, Cylinder and other stuff repaired replaced. Wrote the $1,400 dollar check to fix, but I was never quite the same after that. Never had that kind of failure and dollar rebuild on a 6 month old 2-stroke in the 20 years prior of racing.
Did I get a lemon? Possibly. But, I did hear of other guys having the same early hour issues on their '06's and similar experiences from the repair shop too.
Ended up selling the bike and picking up a left over '06 RM250 for $4200 OTD in March '08. Had good racing results on that too. Great bike, but you definitely have to work a bit harder against those traction torque machines of the 450 variety.
For me, if I was to get another 4-stroke, it'd probably be another RM-Z450. Just speaks my language. Handling that I prefer, power delivery I prefer, more power than I could ever use, and the price is right. Plus it looks bitchin! I've had the MX-R on my radar too, but keeping another $5K in my pocket is appealing too if I went with the Zook.
I hear you guys here with your 100 plus hour / no issues experience with your 450's and if I had that from the get go, there's no doubt in my mind I'd still be enjoying the amazing torque / traction of a 450 outdoors.
worries taking it to the track or racing it. I do change the oil every three hours along with the filter and check and clean the air filter every ride.
Pit Row
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