Not gelling with a bike?

BobPA
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BobPA 9/24/2020 10:24am
9/24/2020 10:24am
Never got fed up enough with a bike to sell it. I always like my '11 350sx-f....but after buying my '17 450sx-f I realized that I was outclassed on the old chassis. I see a lot of people in here who hated their 2015 or older KTM...the bikes from 2017 and newer arent even on the same level.

Never rode a YZ 250 two stroke I liked, just feel awkward on them. Love the 250f Yamahas, indifferent on the YZ450...RMZ's feel like a foreign object when I ride em, don't know how anyone is comfortable on them.
GeorgiePorgie 9/24/2020 3:42pm
9/24/2020 3:42pm
Makes sense, I’ve never rode a yz250 I DIDNT like.....as for the fart machines 2013 yz450 I sold it at 9 hours because I couldn’t ride it. Damn thing tore my arms off.
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H4L
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H4L 9/24/2020 6:28pm
9/24/2020 6:28pm Edited Date/Time 9/25/2020 6:46pm
jtiger12 wrote:
22mm offset clamps, revalve, and 14/52 gearing. You would have loved it.
I'm in the minority as well & never really gelled with the 05, 06 & 08 CRF450r's owned. I had 22mm offset triple clamps on an 06 & 08, but they still didn't feel good. I actually preferred the 09-10 efi models also owned that were dialed vs. the 05-08 carbed models.

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nascarnate326 9/26/2020 2:16am
9/26/2020 2:16am
I had a 17 KX250F and loved it, went to a 17 CRF450R and it was just too much. Got an 18 KX250F and instantly got that mojo/ confidence back.

If you don’t feel good on it, sell it. Life’s too short.

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davis224
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davis224 9/26/2020 5:14am
9/26/2020 5:14am
jtiger12 wrote:
22mm offset clamps, revalve, and 14/52 gearing. You would have loved it.
H4L wrote:
I'm in the minority as well & never really gelled with the 05, 06 & 08 CRF450r's owned. I had 22mm offset triple clamps on an...
I'm in the minority as well & never really gelled with the 05, 06 & 08 CRF450r's owned. I had 22mm offset triple clamps on an 06 & 08, but they still didn't feel good. I actually preferred the 09-10 efi models also owned that were dialed vs. the 05-08 carbed models.

Only had my 07 450 for a few months before I traded it in on an 09 KX450, I ended up going with softer springs in the forks and initially loved how stable it was and the suspension, but I'm a big fan of bikes that are very nimble feeling and just started growing less and less fond of how boat like the KX felt. Got a 10 CRF 450 and fell in love with how nimble it felt. Didn't turn quite as sharp as my friends RMZ, but was much lighter/narrower feeling. Stiffer fork springs and a linkage later, I was in love. Later test rode a '12 KXF and '13 CRF and went running back to my 2010 each time.

Barely ride anymore and it's collecting dust, but seeing new models come out each year, no bikes have made me think, "damn, I want to try that" until the recent KTM/Husqvarna and the new Honda. Handling above all else for me, as long as it can knife through a turn, I can get the suspension dialed or twist the throttle harder. I guess suspension complaints are making me a little wary or the KTM family, but I would love to try out a 350 to see if it sparks the itch again.
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JM825
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JM825 9/26/2020 6:29am
9/26/2020 6:29am
No matter what I tried I could never gel with my ‘16 Yz450, it was a great desert bike, but I couldn’t figure it out on a track. Too heavy and bulky feeling and like a previous post stated the cockpit felt off. Likewise my ‘05 RM 250 was easily the nicest bike I ever owned mods wise and I wanted to love it, but something just always felt off.

On the opposite end of the spectrum my bone stock ‘06 CRF250 and ‘14 YZ 250 were the most comfortable bikes I ever owned straight off the dealer floor. Really regret selling the YZ 250
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Thisusernameisavailable 9/26/2020 6:43am
9/26/2020 6:43am
1993 KX100- After two previous seasons riding RM80s, stepping on to the KX100 with no exhaust valve was a struggle. So much so I went back to an RM80 for 1994 with a big wheel conversion kit and raced it in the 100cc class and done much better.

2001 RM250- I swear from day one (brand new) the thing jumped out of gear! But the local dealer wasn't hearing of it and was blaming me/my boots. Anyway, I never rode it with confidence and after a high-speed over the bars off a drop off my season was done. Knowing what I know now, Id have parked it in the showroom after the first day and demanded that Suzuki took a look at it.

2003 YZ450- I raced a YZ426 in 2002 and loved it! At the time the new CRF450 was lighter and more powerful, so when Yamaha announced they were releasing a 4 speed, YZ450 which was lighter and more powerful for 2003 I just knew I had to have one! BIG mistake!! The thing was so powerful I couldn't ride it for more than ten minutes!
Flywheel weights dumbed it down a bit, but not enough. Nah... sold it mid-season (The one and only time I changed bikes mid-season in twenty years!) and bought a new 2003, wait for it.......... RM125! Total contrast to the big 450, I could throw it in to corners again and was riding with a smile again! Super!

Markopolo400
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Markopolo400 9/26/2020 9:25am
9/26/2020 9:25am
Jbulz wrote:
Man I tried like hell too! Probably tried 5 different bar bends, clamps, spring rates. Shipped suspension back and forth to Enzo a few times. Big...
Man I tried like hell too! Probably tried 5 different bar bends, clamps, spring rates. Shipped suspension back and forth to Enzo a few times. Big old money pit for me, but it sure sounded sweet on the pipe!
I liked your Suzuki 😂😂😂
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CrashMaster01
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CrashMaster01 9/26/2020 10:55am
9/26/2020 10:55am
Loved my 2007 kxf250 didn’t really like the feel of the 09 crf450, granted there’s a difference in handling from a 250 than a 450 I just didn’t like the feeling of the chassis comapared to the Kawasaki.
H4L
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H4L 9/26/2020 11:09am
9/26/2020 11:09am Edited Date/Time 9/26/2020 2:06pm
davis224 wrote:
Only had my 07 450 for a few months before I traded it in on an 09 KX450, I ended up going with softer springs in...
Only had my 07 450 for a few months before I traded it in on an 09 KX450, I ended up going with softer springs in the forks and initially loved how stable it was and the suspension, but I'm a big fan of bikes that are very nimble feeling and just started growing less and less fond of how boat like the KX felt. Got a 10 CRF 450 and fell in love with how nimble it felt. Didn't turn quite as sharp as my friends RMZ, but was much lighter/narrower feeling. Stiffer fork springs and a linkage later, I was in love. Later test rode a '12 KXF and '13 CRF and went running back to my 2010 each time.

Barely ride anymore and it's collecting dust, but seeing new models come out each year, no bikes have made me think, "damn, I want to try that" until the recent KTM/Husqvarna and the new Honda. Handling above all else for me, as long as it can knife through a turn, I can get the suspension dialed or twist the throttle harder. I guess suspension complaints are making me a little wary or the KTM family, but I would love to try out a 350 to see if it sparks the itch again.
Liked the 09-10 CRF450r’s owned so much I picked up a 12 model back in June with about 5 hrs. since new.
My suggestion would be to ride the newer KTM’s if possible.
I was looking to upgrade the 10 CRF in 17 to a KTM 450sxf, but after test riding a fellow riders 17 1/2 FE I ended picking up an 18 CRF450r instead. I felt that the 10 CRF450r with mods was a better bike. IMHO the KTM’s are overrated bikes like the 08 CRF450r.
fcr
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fcr 9/27/2020 1:06pm
9/27/2020 1:06pm
davis224 wrote:
I might be the only person who never got along with my 07 CRF450. To be fair, it had been set up for a bigger vet...
I might be the only person who never got along with my 07 CRF450. To be fair, it had been set up for a bigger vet rider and I didn't keep it long enough to really get it set up properly for me. Couldn't turn it.
jtiger12 wrote:
22mm offset clamps, revalve, and 14/52 gearing. You would have loved it.
I still have my 05, I also put on rear shock linkage and knuckle, in addition of the 22* offset triple clamps. Made a huge difference
Ingjr1
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Ingjr1 9/27/2020 1:10pm
9/27/2020 1:10pm
inthebadboycorner wrote:
1979 YZ125, 1982 CR125, 2003 KTM SX250.
sf702/410 wrote:
The 03 ktm250sx was like riding a radical saw horse, with 500cc handle bar vibes. Lol
Funny, I had a 03 250sx and other than the bike having stiff forks I loved it. They are adjustable you know. Besides, I figured the forks were stiff because I wasn't riding it like it was made to be ridden. Fast. That 250 motor was a beast, never got beat in a holeshot and that's in the senior class when most were 450's.
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sf702/410
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sf702/410 9/27/2020 2:38pm
9/27/2020 2:38pm
inthebadboycorner wrote:
1979 YZ125, 1982 CR125, 2003 KTM SX250.
sf702/410 wrote:
The 03 ktm250sx was like riding a radical saw horse, with 500cc handle bar vibes. Lol
Ingjr1 wrote:
Funny, I had a 03 250sx and other than the bike having stiff forks I loved it. They are adjustable you know. Besides, I figured the...
Funny, I had a 03 250sx and other than the bike having stiff forks I loved it. They are adjustable you know. Besides, I figured the forks were stiff because I wasn't riding it like it was made to be ridden. Fast. That 250 motor was a beast, never got beat in a holeshot and that's in the senior class when most were 450's.
Thanks, it wasn't my bike. And my 03 crf450 walked that thing every time. Lol.

Certainly stiff, buzzy handle bars and rock hard seat.
MX558
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MX558 9/27/2020 2:46pm
9/27/2020 2:46pm
03 yz450 had big power but wore me out . I quit riding that thing mid moto after getting past by guys I would normally beat . Also 10 yz450 was a handling nightmare
1
cheapsmack 9/27/2020 4:05pm
9/27/2020 4:05pm
Moto520 wrote:
97 CR250......fuck me
Had the 98, The motor was so good I didnt care about the rest.
coastie44
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coastie44 9/28/2020 8:57am
9/28/2020 8:57am
davis224 wrote:
I might be the only person who never got along with my 07 CRF450. To be fair, it had been set up for a bigger vet...
I might be the only person who never got along with my 07 CRF450. To be fair, it had been set up for a bigger vet rider and I didn't keep it long enough to really get it set up properly for me. Couldn't turn it.
jtiger12 wrote:
22mm offset clamps, revalve, and 14/52 gearing. You would have loved it.
I also didn't really care for my '07 CRF450. I had '04, '05, and '07 and struggled with all of them. It wasnt until I took my '13 KX450 on it's first set of laps that I realized that the "honda way" of handling just wasn't my bag. The Kawi on the other hand fit my riding style perfectly and I was immediately comfortable and faster.

And yes, I had revalved suspension and tried different offset triples, etc. I just always felt the front end was too light feeling and the bike was nervous. Once I got on green, that all went away. Now I just keep buying green bikes and liking them!
Thisusernameisavailable 9/28/2020 10:47am
9/28/2020 10:47am
MX558 wrote:
03 yz450 had big power but wore me out . I quit riding that thing mid moto after getting past by guys I would normally beat...
03 yz450 had big power but wore me out . I quit riding that thing mid moto after getting past by guys I would normally beat . Also 10 yz450 was a handling nightmare
See my post above, RE: 2003 YZ450.

Other side of the Atlantic, same problem!🤣

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mx317
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mx317 9/28/2020 11:07am
9/28/2020 11:07am
MX558 wrote:
03 yz450 had big power but wore me out . I quit riding that thing mid moto after getting past by guys I would normally beat...
03 yz450 had big power but wore me out . I quit riding that thing mid moto after getting past by guys I would normally beat . Also 10 yz450 was a handling nightmare
Thisusernameisavailable wrote:
See my post above, RE: 2003 YZ450.

Other side of the Atlantic, same problem!🤣
Same here, hated my 2003 YZ450
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