what is a good 450 years 06-09

resetjet
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resetjet
Edited Date/Time 2/22/2020 9:44am
Buying a used 450 from 06-09. Can be any brand. Which ones are best, when did they get EFI,, any bikes to avoid.
Gonna try the 4T bandwagon........
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 1/16/2014 6:02pm
1/16/2014 6:02pm
Ive never had one but everyone always raves about
the 2008 CRF450R
ive never heard one bad thing about it ever
Carb bike . I think the last year with a carb
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TbonesPop
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TbonesPop 1/16/2014 6:04pm
1/16/2014 6:04pm
08 CRF450 or any 07-09 YZ450. Great years for both bikes.
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Crush
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Crush 1/16/2014 6:05pm
1/16/2014 6:05pm
The 09 RMZ is the same as the current bike really. If you get one in good nick!

Honda obviously ended up with a great bike in the 9-12 generation, lots of parts and there are heaps of them down here down up to the nines for fuck all. Should be able to find a deal.

Cheers,
Alex
jess.wilder711 1/16/2014 6:06pm
1/16/2014 6:06pm Edited Date/Time 1/16/2014 6:11pm
The 07-08 Hondas were absolutely amazing. I'd avoid the 09 though. The stock one needs a lot of work done to get it working decently. Plan on having to do a complete suspension job, the stock stuff just wasn't balanced at all, putting in a complete clutch (Honda had an idiotic four spring design that would start fading the second you pulled the bike off the stand), and the power delivery was really weird. It had a great low to mid but nothing whatsoever on top. With the Hondas, they were great 07-08 (I never really gelled with my 06 for some reason) and I've heard good things about the 11-12 but haven't personally ridden any of them so I can't give direct feedback on those, my 09 ran me off to the color orange.
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husky125
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husky125 1/16/2014 6:06pm
1/16/2014 6:06pm
I hear the same things about the 08 Honda. I had a fuel injected 08 Suzuki that was fantastic. I did have to replace the fuel pump but that is the only issue I had with the bike. Great handling, strong motor and decent suspension once you get it set up. I'd buy another one for sure.
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Outsider
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Outsider 1/16/2014 6:07pm
1/16/2014 6:07pm
I had an '06 YZ.. good bike but much preferred my '05 CRF
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 1/16/2014 6:07pm
1/16/2014 6:07pm
I always hear good things abouth the 2009
YZF450 as well
supposed to be super reliable and powerfull
I have a good friend that is on his 2nd 09
And loves it
Also you can find em really cheap
on the ole interweb
ive seen em as low as $2000
And lots under $3000
Brapp
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Brapp 1/16/2014 6:12pm
1/16/2014 6:12pm Edited Date/Time 1/16/2014 6:13pm
jess.wilder711 wrote:
The 07-08 Hondas were absolutely amazing. I'd avoid the 09 though. The stock one needs a lot of work done to get it working decently. Plan...
The 07-08 Hondas were absolutely amazing. I'd avoid the 09 though. The stock one needs a lot of work done to get it working decently. Plan on having to do a complete suspension job, the stock stuff just wasn't balanced at all, putting in a complete clutch (Honda had an idiotic four spring design that would start fading the second you pulled the bike off the stand), and the power delivery was really weird. It had a great low to mid but nothing whatsoever on top. With the Hondas, they were great 07-08 (I never really gelled with my 06 for some reason) and I've heard good things about the 11-12 but haven't personally ridden any of them so I can't give direct feedback on those, my 09 ran me off to the color orange.
Agree with this- I had one, (08) raced HS with it. Great bike. I still own my 09 KTM, but no moto with it, only off road and it is a fantastic, durable bike as well.
SoCalMX70
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SoCalMX70 1/16/2014 6:14pm
1/16/2014 6:14pm Edited Date/Time 1/16/2014 6:16pm
Tarz483 wrote:
I always hear good things abouth the 2009 YZF450 as well supposed to be super reliable and powerfull I have a good friend that is on...
I always hear good things abouth the 2009
YZF450 as well
supposed to be super reliable and powerfull
I have a good friend that is on his 2nd 09
And loves it
Also you can find em really cheap
on the ole interweb
ive seen em as low as $2000
And lots under $3000
Really wish they stuck with that design, or at least didn't drastically change it into the ugly beast they have today... What a bitchin' machine!

Anyway, 09 RMZ, 08 CRF, or 09 YZF imo.
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JOHN CHOATE
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JOHN CHOATE 1/16/2014 6:21pm
1/16/2014 6:21pm
06-09 YZ's were great bikes. Kayaba SSS suspension and very reliable. The '09 could benefit from an aftermarket exhaust as the stock one was choking the bike up pretty bad. I also believe the hop up shops would use an '06 cam in the '09 as well if the exhaust wasn't enough.
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GeorgiePorgie 1/16/2014 6:29pm
1/16/2014 6:29pm
Blue or Red. I had an 07 CRF 450. Was great. 08's were better. Had an 09 yz 450, was really nice as well.
Highsider
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Highsider 1/16/2014 6:57pm
1/16/2014 6:57pm
Tarz483 wrote:
I always hear good things abouth the 2009 YZF450 as well supposed to be super reliable and powerfull I have a good friend that is on...
I always hear good things abouth the 2009
YZF450 as well
supposed to be super reliable and powerfull
I have a good friend that is on his 2nd 09
And loves it
Also you can find em really cheap
on the ole interweb
ive seen em as low as $2000
And lots under $3000
I found a new 2009 YZ450 in '11.
Bought it for $5k.

Great bike.
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NorcalVet
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NorcalVet 1/16/2014 8:50pm
1/16/2014 8:50pm
TeamGreen wrote:
Injected?

'08.5 RMZ450
..... 08.5+ RMZ 450 FI (graphics, seat cover, sff stickers on forks= looks like a '14 Wink )

-- just needs a revalve & remap for a yosh rs4 and you're golden
mattmoto441 1/16/2014 9:27pm
1/16/2014 9:27pm
To be honest I didnt know how much I hated my hondas untill I got off of them. I did so much work to the chassis and suspension to get it to work for me and they still did not do what I wanted . I had a 06 and a 08 crf450. I rode a few 06-09 yamaha 450s and for me the chassis was better then the honda . They turned well and just felt better. But now im on suzukis and they are by dar the best 4strokes I have ever ridden (chassis wise ) handle like a 2stroke and feel super light on the track and can turn on a dime .
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GoonSquad250x
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GoonSquad250x 1/16/2014 9:35pm
1/16/2014 9:35pm
I have an 09 yz450f. Super smooth power & solid motor. Really easy to ride without wearing you out. Defiantly have to put an exhaust on it (muffler at least) & a lot of guys run the 06 CDI box. Supposedly has the best all around power. $60-90 on eBay used. I ride/race mine in the woods 100% of the time. Great woods bike because of the smooth power, reliability & suspension. Love this bike!
jeffro503
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jeffro503 1/16/2014 11:49pm
1/16/2014 11:49pm Edited Date/Time 1/16/2014 11:50pm
Tarz483 wrote:
Ive never had one but everyone always raves about the 2008 CRF450R ive never heard one bad thing about it ever Carb bike . I think...
Ive never had one but everyone always raves about
the 2008 CRF450R
ive never heard one bad thing about it ever
Carb bike . I think the last year with a carb
I have an 08' right now.....and love the thing. Best bike I have ever owned , but I am picking up a 2012 KXF450 here real soon to replace it. Just need to get onto something a little newer.

As far as the newer Honda's go....I couldn't stand the 09' or 10' Honda's. They just did not feel right at all. I actually bought my 08' brand new ( last one in the NW I think at the time ).....and I had a choice between that bike , the 09' or the 2010.......I went with the 08'.

Fwiw....I also owned a 2010 Yamaha " before " I bought my 08' Honda. I had a bad get off and decided to sell it and was never going to ride again ( I just came back after 6yrs off )......BUT.....A very good buddy of mine talked me into getting back into it , so I went and picked up the Honda and have had it ever since.

Tarz....yes the 08' was the last carbed bike. EFI from 09' and up.

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mrquick
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mrquick 1/16/2014 11:52pm
1/16/2014 11:52pm
The 2007 crf450 was the best by far. Don't believe in the talk of the 08 being the better bike...It wasn't. The 07 hit harder rev'd
better and didn't have that awful Honda Progressive Steering Damper. The 22mm clamps (07's were 24mm) sucked or maybe it was a Band-Aid fix for the horrible front forks.The 08 carb needed to be jetted every time the weather changed 5 degrees
and you never got the bog out of it after landing off jumps. The 07 carburetor was flawless.

The 07 handled better,rev'd higher,had a 100% better front end,didn't bog and the rear brake didn't squeal all the time.Honda messed up the front end on the 08 and tried to fix it with a different clamp and when that didn't work they put a steering damper on it and ...out the door. Honda detuned the 08...big mistake.

So if you've never heard a bad word about the 08 crf450...I'll make you a list.
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Brent
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Brent 1/17/2014 12:49am
1/17/2014 12:49am
06 to 08 CRF 450 - haven't ridden the 13 or 14, but my 08 was lots better than the 12 I rode last year.

Best Honda I ever tried was Donn Maeda's 06 CRF 450 with Enzo sub tanks, fell in love with that suspension.
tmauto769
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tmauto769 1/17/2014 4:15am
1/17/2014 4:15am
meh, don't believe all the bullshit about the 09 crf, chances are at this point somebody has already fixed some of the bugs, if not are you fast enough to notice the flaws in it? We have a local pro who was riding one last year spanking guys on '13's routinely. The bike was still close to stock. The 09-12 models feel like bicycles compared to the tanks from 03-08. IMO the 05 had the absolute fastest motor out of the bunch.
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racerhansen 1/17/2014 4:18am
1/17/2014 4:18am Edited Date/Time 1/17/2014 4:20am
The 07 Honda 450s were really really good bikes, very powerful and reliable. There are still many of them around, they are bulletproof.
IWreckALot
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IWreckALot 1/17/2014 5:06am
1/17/2014 5:06am
I had an 08 YZ450. I put 300-350 hours on it without doing a think to the motor. Just changed the oil and air filter very often. I believe it was pretty comparable to the 09 if I remember correctly. I'd definitely get another one if I wasn't curious about the 2 stroke world.
resetjet
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resetjet 1/17/2014 12:23pm
1/17/2014 12:23pm
Thanks guys, I am a total idiot when it comes to 4T,

How about EFI. I know it is only on the 8.5 suzuki and up, but how much better or worse is an EFI bike vs a carb. I also, generally don't buy first year tech as it normally sucks......Did it suck first year?????
NV825
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NV825 1/17/2014 1:18pm
1/17/2014 1:18pm
I regret selling my '07 KX450. That bike is easily in the top two of bikes I've ever owned. It had great power and good handling to me.
Titan1
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Titan1 1/17/2014 1:25pm
1/17/2014 1:25pm
Tarz483 wrote:
I always hear good things abouth the 2009 YZF450 as well supposed to be super reliable and powerfull I have a good friend that is on...
I always hear good things abouth the 2009
YZF450 as well
supposed to be super reliable and powerfull
I have a good friend that is on his 2nd 09
And loves it
Also you can find em really cheap
on the ole interweb
ive seen em as low as $2000
And lots under $3000
I have that exact bike...and its a great motorcycle. Perhaps even one of my favorites.

Well under powered compared to the other 09 450's (I heard that was by design as Yamaha wanted more "manageable" power rather than just a ton of power)...but its as planted and stable and reliable and confidence inspiring as any bike I've ever owned.
racerhansen 1/17/2014 2:24pm
1/17/2014 2:24pm
Whatever you do, don't get a KTM SXF 450 from 07-08, racing has never been as expensive as it was the two seasons I raced those bikes, they got a lot better from 09 and newer
Yamaharider1474 1/17/2014 2:24pm
1/17/2014 2:24pm
Titan1 wrote:
I have that exact bike...and its a great motorcycle. Perhaps even one of my favorites. Well under powered compared to the other 09 450's (I heard...
I have that exact bike...and its a great motorcycle. Perhaps even one of my favorites.

Well under powered compared to the other 09 450's (I heard that was by design as Yamaha wanted more "manageable" power rather than just a ton of power)...but its as planted and stable and reliable and confidence inspiring as any bike I've ever owned.
I have the same bike and love it for all the same reasons. I too thought the power was down so i did the 06 CDI and Exhaust swap and boy it really gives the bike more mid to top. Best 150 bucks ive spent on the thing.
resetjet
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resetjet 1/18/2014 6:10am
1/18/2014 6:10am
That yz is beautiful...... I am primarily a hare scramble enduro guy, I want something I can take to the track and practice motorcross and just generally check out a 4T to see if it is for me before I plop down $8k on a new one and regret it.

The yz is very interesting as I don't need that much power, but suspension is key for me. So between the CRF and YZF depending on what I can find.

Thanks
Titan1
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Titan1 1/18/2014 6:31am
1/18/2014 6:31am
resetjet wrote:
That yz is beautiful...... I am primarily a hare scramble enduro guy, I want something I can take to the track and practice motorcross and just...
That yz is beautiful...... I am primarily a hare scramble enduro guy, I want something I can take to the track and practice motorcross and just generally check out a 4T to see if it is for me before I plop down $8k on a new one and regret it.

The yz is very interesting as I don't need that much power, but suspension is key for me. So between the CRF and YZF depending on what I can find.

Thanks
I'm a hare scramble/hare and hound guy, and the bike has plenty of power for that, almost ideal power.

I revalved the suspension, and put a rekluse clutch, GPR stabilizer, and IMS oversized tank, some hand guards...and race it. Stock gearing, stock pipe (I did put a sparky end cap on the stock exhaust)...and it's just a great off-road bike.

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