The 2018 450 Shootout is LIVE!

ML512
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ML512
Edited Date/Time 9/24/2017 9:07pm
Here you all be! It's nearly 25,000 words long, a quarter of the average novel published...it took some serious work!

The article: http://www.vitalmx.com/features/2018-Vital-MX-450-Shootout,5510

And we're hosting a QNA this year!

The topic (it's stickied at the top of the forum): http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Forum-QNA-Vital-MX-450-Sh…

ENJOY!



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thorns
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thorns 9/14/2017 6:46pm
9/14/2017 6:46pm
well, there goes a productive afternoon at work.....
PastranaWho
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PastranaWho 9/14/2017 6:50pm
9/14/2017 6:50pm
Damn i was hoping for a better report on the zook.

The Shop

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CarlinoJoeVideo
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CarlinoJoeVideo 9/14/2017 7:14pm
9/14/2017 7:14pm
Wow, lots of great info. Bummer about the RMZ, it looks so good! I wonder if you replace that rear shock how it would rank up?
ob
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ob 9/14/2017 7:22pm
9/14/2017 7:22pm
Honda has a big budget this year, obviously.
twotwosix
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twotwosix 9/14/2017 7:26pm
9/14/2017 7:26pm Edited Date/Time 9/15/2017 10:00am
Some idiot (sorry, not very nice) put the Husky last...

Other than that, great job!
JWACK
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JWACK 9/14/2017 7:27pm
9/14/2017 7:27pm


I could have told you so.! I've got about 5 hours on mine and it's just getting better. Overall I'm very happy with it. It has handling trates of a gen 3 cr 250 mixed with a 2008 Crf 450. The forks pretty much suck for my standards but the shock is decent. And the engine just flat out rips when your on the "pipe".
twotwosix
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twotwosix 9/14/2017 7:27pm
9/14/2017 7:27pm Edited Date/Time 9/14/2017 7:28pm
ob wrote:
Honda has a big budget this year, obviously.
Have you ridden it? I spent an afternoon on a '17 CRF with an FMF system and RX hangers and was throughly impressed. Awesome chassis.
Mm471
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Mm471 9/14/2017 7:27pm
9/14/2017 7:27pm
Is there a noticeable difference between the electric start bikes starting time between the brands?
TeamGreen
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TeamGreen 9/14/2017 7:30pm
9/14/2017 7:30pm Edited Date/Time 9/14/2017 7:31pm
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
Wow, lots of great info. Bummer about the RMZ, it looks so good! I wonder if you replace that rear shock how it would rank up?
I honestly think a simple revalve/changing the rebound stack will fix it right up.
H4L
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H4L 9/14/2017 7:37pm
9/14/2017 7:37pm
JWACK wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/09/14/214772/s1200_image.jpg[/img] I could have told you so.! I've got about 5 hours on mine and it's just getting better. Overall I'm very happy with it. It...


I could have told you so.! I've got about 5 hours on mine and it's just getting better. Overall I'm very happy with it. It has handling trates of a gen 3 cr 250 mixed with a 2008 Crf 450. The forks pretty much suck for my standards but the shock is decent. And the engine just flat out rips when your on the "pipe".
Interesting feed back. I haven't ridden a better all around chassis / suspension combo than the 02-07 3rd gen AF CR250r. This shoot out pretty much convinced me to upgrade my 10 CRF450r model to the 18...
ob
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ob 9/14/2017 7:38pm
9/14/2017 7:38pm Edited Date/Time 9/14/2017 9:08pm
ob wrote:
Honda has a big budget this year, obviously.
twotwosix wrote:
Have you ridden it? I spent an afternoon on a '17 CRF with an FMF system and RX hangers and was throughly impressed. Awesome chassis.
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels comfy except that seat is hard as a rock. One of the best bikes I've ridden. Besides a ktm husky
JWACK
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JWACK 9/14/2017 7:47pm
9/14/2017 7:47pm
JWACK wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/09/14/214772/s1200_image.jpg[/img] I could have told you so.! I've got about 5 hours on mine and it's just getting better. Overall I'm very happy with it. It...


I could have told you so.! I've got about 5 hours on mine and it's just getting better. Overall I'm very happy with it. It has handling trates of a gen 3 cr 250 mixed with a 2008 Crf 450. The forks pretty much suck for my standards but the shock is decent. And the engine just flat out rips when your on the "pipe".
H4L wrote:
Interesting feed back. I haven't ridden a better all around chassis / suspension combo than the 02-07 3rd gen AF CR250r. This shoot out pretty much...
Interesting feed back. I haven't ridden a better all around chassis / suspension combo than the 02-07 3rd gen AF CR250r. This shoot out pretty much convinced me to upgrade my 10 CRF450r model to the 18...
You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to ride mine again!
MX558
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MX558 9/14/2017 8:12pm
9/14/2017 8:12pm
Ok so I have to buy 4 bikes now Cool
ob
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ob 9/14/2017 8:23pm
9/14/2017 8:23pm
I take it back, I rode the 17 Honda. Is the 18 fork better now? I'm sure the clutch is the same.
aeffertz
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aeffertz 9/14/2017 8:25pm
9/14/2017 8:25pm
Only watched the video so far but great work as always! Surprised with the results.

Pit Row

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MX558
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MX558 9/14/2017 8:26pm
9/14/2017 8:26pm
I think I'll still get the yamaha. I'll suck on all of em but I can get a good deal on one .
Barry_Smith 9/14/2017 8:33pm
9/14/2017 8:33pm
ob wrote:
Honda has a big budget this year, obviously.
twotwosix wrote:
Have you ridden it? I spent an afternoon on a '17 CRF with an FMF system and RX hangers and was throughly impressed. Awesome chassis.
ob wrote:
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels...
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels comfy except that seat is hard as a rock. One of the best bikes I've ridden. Besides a ktm husky
But what advantages does this bike have over, say, a 1,000cc sports bike, which I could also afford?
tempura
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tempura 9/14/2017 8:48pm
9/14/2017 8:48pm
Weldone everyone involved, good write up.
I'm not surprised much with the final outcome from the riders.
Although ML512 will be grey or balding by 30, you're doing a hell of a job with the shootouts, front runner in the shootout leauge. Enjoy that fresh mullet while you can..lol jk..
ob
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ob 9/14/2017 8:50pm
9/14/2017 8:50pm
twotwosix wrote:
Have you ridden it? I spent an afternoon on a '17 CRF with an FMF system and RX hangers and was throughly impressed. Awesome chassis.
ob wrote:
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels...
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels comfy except that seat is hard as a rock. One of the best bikes I've ridden. Besides a ktm husky
Barry_Smith wrote:
But what advantages does this bike have over, say, a 1,000cc sports bike, which I could also afford?
Every advantage possible, and way cooler
Barry_Smith 9/14/2017 9:11pm
9/14/2017 9:11pm
ob wrote:
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels...
Yes I've ridden it a bunch. 17 Stock one. Terrible clutch, super soft fork, (sounds like it's stiffer this year) average brakes. But good ergos, feels comfy except that seat is hard as a rock. One of the best bikes I've ridden. Besides a ktm husky
Barry_Smith wrote:
But what advantages does this bike have over, say, a 1,000cc sports bike, which I could also afford?
ob wrote:
Every advantage possible, and way cooler
malachi177
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malachi177 9/14/2017 9:19pm
9/14/2017 9:19pm
CarlinoJoeVideo wrote:
Wow, lots of great info. Bummer about the RMZ, it looks so good! I wonder if you replace that rear shock how it would rank up?
TeamGreen wrote:
I honestly think a simple revalve/changing the rebound stack will fix it right up.
Agreed about the shock, and I don't care about the bloody E start! They start super easy now anyways. It's a safe bet there will be a new '18 RMZ in my shop before next summer.Cool
drt410
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drt410 9/14/2017 9:21pm
9/14/2017 9:21pm
Basically they said if you go up a tooth in the rear on the yamaha and change the bars its just as good as any other bike.
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 9/14/2017 9:54pm
9/14/2017 9:54pm
What I took from this was, everyone says the new Yamaha feels like a couch. And the RMZ and KXF still finish behind it.

Myke
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Myke 9/14/2017 10:04pm
9/14/2017 10:04pm
Great Job! Lots of info.
jeffro503
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jeffro503 9/14/2017 11:17pm
9/14/2017 11:17pm
Damn ML....good job! I haven't read it yet but it sounds like you guys really went to town on this one.
Crush
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Crush 9/15/2017 12:07am
9/15/2017 12:07am
Oooof, that's gonna be a hard hit for the Zook.

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