New bike tomorrow.. 350 or 450

Captainc
Profile picture for user Captainc
Posts
219
Joined
10/4/2012
Location
GB
Captainc
Edited Date/Time 5/1/2021 10:50am
Good evening nice people. Looking for a bit of advice. Old man (50 years old) quite large (240 pounds but getting lighter) am going to buy myself a new bike tomorrow and don’t know if I should get a 350 or 450. I need to decide tomorrow so any advice from anyone of similar age and stature would be gratefully appreciated
3
2
|
GrapeApe
Profile picture for user GrapeApe
Posts
6988
Joined
6/7/2010
Location
Mc Kinney, TX US
Fantasy
551st
GrapeApe 4/29/2021 2:56pm
4/29/2021 2:56pm
Ride them both and buy the one you like better
1
2

The Shop

See All »
skeef
Profile picture for user skeef
Posts
1208
Joined
7/18/2018
Location
AZ US
Fantasy
1407th
skeef 4/29/2021 3:16pm
4/29/2021 3:16pm
Modern 450s should only be riden by crazy people. That being said I ride a 450
18
1
Blue Groove 4/29/2021 3:19pm
4/29/2021 3:19pm Edited Date/Time 4/29/2021 3:21pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Ride them both and buy the one you like better
I am always curious on these comments. How are you guys able to do back to back demos on new bikes??
Your dealer actually let you take them out to the track to try?
6
GrapeApe
Profile picture for user GrapeApe
Posts
6988
Joined
6/7/2010
Location
Mc Kinney, TX US
Fantasy
551st
GrapeApe 4/29/2021 3:34pm
4/29/2021 3:34pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Ride them both and buy the one you like better
Blue Groove wrote:
I am always curious on these comments. How are you guys able to do back to back demos on new bikes?? Your dealer actually let you...
I am always curious on these comments. How are you guys able to do back to back demos on new bikes??
Your dealer actually let you take them out to the track to try?
Do a KTM demo day, or make friends at the track and swap bikes. Hard to do the night before you buy, though.
1
3
Bigoldbeef 4/29/2021 3:46pm
4/29/2021 3:46pm
IMO if you aren't sure you shouldn't be buying yet.

I'd get a 350.
1
yz133rider
Profile picture for user yz133rider
Posts
4471
Joined
8/1/2013
Location
Avondale, PA US
yz133rider 4/29/2021 3:56pm
4/29/2021 3:56pm Edited Date/Time 4/29/2021 3:58pm
So I’ve had 350s before and am on a gasgas 450 now and the gasgas is so easy to ride. The power is so mellow but still has the low end grunt to get over obstacles.

Because of the low end power and ability to pull 3rd nearly everywhere I find it even easier and less tiring than a 350.

I would have voted 350 every time before but this slightly mellower and softer gasgas is really really good.

They are all so good now though that I don’t think you can go wrong either way. If you like to lug and aren’t a revver the 450 is the choice, if you’d like to let her eat and rev it a bit more the 350 is the way to go.

By no means do you need to rev a 350 like a 125 but you can’t carry 3rd from the slowest and deepest of corners with no drama like the 450 can from idle it seems.
9
DA498
Profile picture for user DA498
Posts
1572
Joined
10/11/2008
Location
Milliken, CO US
DA498 4/29/2021 4:19pm
4/29/2021 4:19pm
yz133rider wrote:
So I’ve had 350s before and am on a gasgas 450 now and the gasgas is so easy to ride. The power is so mellow but...
So I’ve had 350s before and am on a gasgas 450 now and the gasgas is so easy to ride. The power is so mellow but still has the low end grunt to get over obstacles.

Because of the low end power and ability to pull 3rd nearly everywhere I find it even easier and less tiring than a 350.

I would have voted 350 every time before but this slightly mellower and softer gasgas is really really good.

They are all so good now though that I don’t think you can go wrong either way. If you like to lug and aren’t a revver the 450 is the choice, if you’d like to let her eat and rev it a bit more the 350 is the way to go.

By no means do you need to rev a 350 like a 125 but you can’t carry 3rd from the slowest and deepest of corners with no drama like the 450 can from idle it seems.
^This, and I have 350. I’m 170lbs and if I was 240 I’m not sure I’d like the 350 as much. I long for the extra grunt now and then and if I was 13 years younger I’d be in your shoes and looking at the milder 450s.

A couple guys in my crew have the new 450KX and say it has a forgiving power band.

Just some more information for you to hash over
2
soggy
Profile picture for user soggy
Posts
4894
Joined
12/3/2018
Location
UT US
Fantasy
3857th
soggy 4/29/2021 4:44pm
4/29/2021 4:44pm
350. You can ride a 350 aggressively and not feel like it’s going to bite you. The motor on the 350 is super fun great mid range screaming top end and very usable bottom.
1
3
Pirate421
Profile picture for user Pirate421
Posts
1820
Joined
7/26/2015
Location
MA US
Pirate421 4/29/2021 4:46pm
4/29/2021 4:46pm
350 for sure you’ll have so much more fun. Yes you can lug a 450 but they are so much bike. I rode a ktm 450 and it was not fun at all so much inertia and just lazy. The 350 will feel so light
1
2
theToothPerry
Profile picture for user theToothPerry
Posts
538
Joined
11/23/2010
Location
Santa Clarita, CA US
theToothPerry 4/29/2021 4:48pm
4/29/2021 4:48pm
I know no one wants to talk about it, but what about skill level? The average guy no matter the weight doesn't need a 450.
8
crusher773
Profile picture for user crusher773
Posts
1760
Joined
12/23/2009
Location
Coweta, OK US
crusher773 4/29/2021 4:50pm
4/29/2021 4:50pm
350 for sure dude. I've had one for 10 years now and I won't ride anything else again.
2

Pit Row

See All »
luckypunk
Profile picture for user luckypunk
Posts
19
Joined
2/25/2018
Location
Boise, ID US
luckypunk 4/29/2021 5:05pm
4/29/2021 5:05pm
what about considerations of engine maintenance/repairs. (assuming KTM-Husky-Gas here) to me the 450 unicam looks easier for things like valve checks/shimming and even piston replacements. I believe the 250/350 motors have to be pulled for piston swap?
TheVetGuy 4/29/2021 5:32pm
4/29/2021 5:32pm
Go for 350. If you think it's not enough, you can go with a 366 big bore for a top end rebuilt. I ride 4 years my SXF350 2017 on the stock trim and now, I upgraded recently. It's so amazing !
Blue Groove 4/29/2021 5:33pm
4/29/2021 5:33pm
GrapeApe wrote:
Ride them both and buy the one you like better
Blue Groove wrote:
I am always curious on these comments. How are you guys able to do back to back demos on new bikes?? Your dealer actually let you...
I am always curious on these comments. How are you guys able to do back to back demos on new bikes??
Your dealer actually let you take them out to the track to try?
GrapeApe wrote:
Do a KTM demo day, or make friends at the track and swap bikes. Hard to do the night before you buy, though.
Last KTM demo days I know of up here that had MX bikes was at least 3 years ago. No way I would let someone ride my bike in that scenario so I couldn't imagine asking to ride someone else's.

Anyway, for the OP, if you suck at corners and carrying speed just like me, then a 450 is the right choice.


Brad460
Profile picture for user Brad460
Posts
3679
Joined
5/15/2012
Location
Richfield, WI US
Fantasy
736th
Brad460 4/29/2021 5:46pm
4/29/2021 5:46pm
240lbs plus gear is closer to 250 lbs riding weight..

450 best option...

3
CG118
Profile picture for user CG118
Posts
630
Joined
6/27/2014
Location
Kennesaw, GA US
CG118 4/29/2021 6:09pm
4/29/2021 6:09pm Edited Date/Time 4/29/2021 6:09pm
Captainc wrote:
Good evening nice people. Looking for a bit of advice. Old man (50 years old) quite large (240 pounds but getting lighter) am going to buy...
Good evening nice people. Looking for a bit of advice. Old man (50 years old) quite large (240 pounds but getting lighter) am going to buy myself a new bike tomorrow and don’t know if I should get a 350 or 450. I need to decide tomorrow so any advice from anyone of similar age and stature would be gratefully appreciated
Skill level?
1
CG118
Profile picture for user CG118
Posts
630
Joined
6/27/2014
Location
Kennesaw, GA US
CG118 4/29/2021 6:11pm
4/29/2021 6:11pm
Type of riding, racing?
1
mxracer666
Profile picture for user mxracer666
Posts
680
Joined
10/28/2010
Location
NE Iowa, IA US
mxracer666 4/29/2021 6:40pm
4/29/2021 6:40pm
450 dude. It's as fast as you want it to be. Just need a little throttle control. The ability to lug it around the track means the engine will last forever. Really , either way, you can't go wrong. With the 350, you need to push it a little more.
1
moto551
Profile picture for user moto551
Posts
175
Joined
4/4/2018
Location
Fort Wayne, IN US
moto551 4/29/2021 7:43pm
4/29/2021 7:43pm
My vote 350. Not even close unless your in very good moto shape then I would recommend 450.
CG118
Profile picture for user CG118
Posts
630
Joined
6/27/2014
Location
Kennesaw, GA US
CG118 4/29/2021 7:45pm
4/29/2021 7:45pm
mxracer666 wrote:
450 dude. It's as fast as you want it to be. Just need a little throttle control. The ability to lug it around the track means...
450 dude. It's as fast as you want it to be. Just need a little throttle control. The ability to lug it around the track means the engine will last forever. Really , either way, you can't go wrong. With the 350, you need to push it a little more.
I agree. Just wanted to add that you can get at G2 throttle cam to modify the amount of power you apply to the rewr wheel.
1

Post a reply to: New bike tomorrow.. 350 or 450