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Lehi, UT
US
All right...I'm way torn on this...I'll be picking up a new bike in the next three weeks or so...I'm looking at roll over 2019's...and I'm down to a YZ450FX, CR450RX, or the KX450. Which would you buy?
I'm a Vet A/Expert rider...I'm not winning my class, but I'm usually in the top quarter to third in my local series...mid pack at the national events with the out of state guys. I'm racing-for the most-my local desert series which covers virtually all off road racing disciplines (hare and hounds, hare scrambles, GPs, and a could sprint enduros). So we are talking fast hare and hounds, to moto tracks, to technical enduro special tests.
I'm currently on a 2015 KX450...it works great for me...but I spent a ton of money on the suspension (air forks...I should have done a spring conversion to start and probably would have saved me some money) and added a ReKluse Core EXP 3.0 to really make it work for the technical riding that I do.
I'm seeing pros and cons to each bike...but can't make up my mind:
Yamaha: Offroad bike (18 inch rear wheel, kick stand, wide ratio tranny, etc.) Best suspension (I'd ride it stock and wouldn't have to touch it). But the fuel tank set up limits fuel capacity (without getting crazy and turning the radiator shrouds into fuel tanks...and I'm not interested in that).
Honda: Off road bike. I do love Honda's. Duel pipes is a major bummer. I'd have to have some work done on the suspension as its a fairly stiff.
Kawasaki: Cheapest around (I'm seeing left over 2019's for under $7K)...but its a moto bike...I'd probably need a ReKluse (adds a grand), lost of suspension work (more money), 19 inch rear wheel. But I love the "planted" feeling of the 19's (I love a planted feeling bike). It's on here because everyone that has them REALLY likes them.
Any thoughts on this? Feed back on any of these bikes from an offroad perspective?
I'm a Vet A/Expert rider...I'm not winning my class, but I'm usually in the top quarter to third in my local series...mid pack at the national events with the out of state guys. I'm racing-for the most-my local desert series which covers virtually all off road racing disciplines (hare and hounds, hare scrambles, GPs, and a could sprint enduros). So we are talking fast hare and hounds, to moto tracks, to technical enduro special tests.
I'm currently on a 2015 KX450...it works great for me...but I spent a ton of money on the suspension (air forks...I should have done a spring conversion to start and probably would have saved me some money) and added a ReKluse Core EXP 3.0 to really make it work for the technical riding that I do.
I'm seeing pros and cons to each bike...but can't make up my mind:
Yamaha: Offroad bike (18 inch rear wheel, kick stand, wide ratio tranny, etc.) Best suspension (I'd ride it stock and wouldn't have to touch it). But the fuel tank set up limits fuel capacity (without getting crazy and turning the radiator shrouds into fuel tanks...and I'm not interested in that).
Honda: Off road bike. I do love Honda's. Duel pipes is a major bummer. I'd have to have some work done on the suspension as its a fairly stiff.
Kawasaki: Cheapest around (I'm seeing left over 2019's for under $7K)...but its a moto bike...I'd probably need a ReKluse (adds a grand), lost of suspension work (more money), 19 inch rear wheel. But I love the "planted" feeling of the 19's (I love a planted feeling bike). It's on here because everyone that has them REALLY likes them.
Any thoughts on this? Feed back on any of these bikes from an offroad perspective?
Honda- Liked everything about the bike except for the dual pipes and it felt sluggish compared to the KX.
Yamaha- Didn't like ergos of the bike. Just felt uncomfortable on it.
I think it comes down to how comfortable you feel on the bike. Did you get a chance to ride the RX and FX? I spent the better part of a year finding demo days to ride each bike before I bought one.
What type of riding/racing do you do, and what class?
What mods did you make to the KX? (It's honestly the front runner at this point)
I really appreciate your feedback and input.
On my KX I have oversized tank, tuned suspension(Father has a shop), rad braces, full skid plate, FMF silencer, Rekluse Radius Cx clutch.
I want to do an 18 inch wheel and flywheel weight as well but I am rebuilding a 05 kx250 from the frame up so all of my money is currently going to that.
The Shop
Is that rekluse and auto clutch? Or is it one of their manual clutches? (Curious about how it handles the slower technical stuff without a rekluse). Interestingly enough the KTM 450 SX and XC share the same engine and transmission. So a moto set up may not be all that bad.
Calling around today...I’ve got quotes as low as $7900 out the door for the KX and as low as $9500 for the FX. Is the $1500 savings worth it?
So it looks like I need to add a grand to the price of the KX...and I wouldn’t on the FX with the wide ratio transmission. That levels the playing field a bit.
You are right though, the thing is a freaking rocket ship in the open stuff. So smooth as well. Great for GP and hare scrambles. What kid of terrain do you ride. Here in Maryland and PA some courses can be really tight and technical rocks and roots. I feel like I'm wrestling a pig on the 450. I am just getting into hard enduros. They are a different animal.
I enjoy two strokes, but decided to make a change. I have to say the Honda 450RX takes all the abuse I can dish out and comes back for more. It's been reliable as a hammer
As an Endurocross pro, he’s a fast Expert/slow pro in the fast less technical terrain GP’s. He preferred the Honda for its motor and overall chassis feel. It didn’t win the shootout though. The other guys weren’t quite as fast and a little smaller.
https://youtu.be/9Rt_lhpzZ-E &app=desktop
First time I've checked out the offroad sub-forum, good to see some activity here!
Pit Row
I ended up picking up a 2019 YZ450FX today...I spent a grand more than I would have on an RX and about $1500 more than I would have on the KX...
But I went with the FX because of the shootouts and magazine reviews...not because of where it finished in the shootouts-though it did well in all of them-but because, without fail, everyone raved about the suspension (if suspension is the most important part of a bike, why not buy the bike with the best suspension?), but also because virtually every used words like "stable", "planted", "solid" to describe how the bike rides. Those are all of the qualities I love in a dirt bike.
I'd of likely had to spend at least a grand on the RX and KX Suspension to make it work for me...the FX suspension will be raced stock (at 180lbs it's sprung for my weight...and the valving is perfect). All testers said the RX suspension was stiff (I've got a buddy that is a legit pro-raced Baja, Dakar, NHHA, BITD, etc...and he said the RX suspension was stiff), and the KX is a moto set up, so it's obviously stiff.
The FX has a very low first gear...the RX and KX don't, which means I'd of had to put a rekluse clutch in those to make them manageable in the slower/technical trail sections. The FX will work stock. Another grand out the door on those bikes. (Though, simply for racing purposes-not ever stalling-I may put a rekluse in this bike anyway...time will tell).
Seat time will tell me if I made the right decision...hopefully I did!
Post a reply to: 450FX, 450RX, or KX450