Do you find that a 250f is easier to ride and corner than a 450? When I last had a 250f I could put it where I want, scrub, whip, and rail ruts with some great speed. But can't seem to get to that comfort level on the 450 and rail ruts like I could on the 250. Is the 450 actually more challenging to corner because of all the rotating mass and inertia?
Been seriously debating on going back to a 250f just to feel that flow state again and get back to feeling totally in control. I can ride my 450 fine but I sometimes get a little scared of it when I'm tired and it's gotten away from me and caused me to crash twice because I was too tired to hang on. 90% sure I'll be going back to a 250 but was curious on your thoughts on ridability/corner a 250f vs a 450f
Buy the 350....
As someone who rides a 350..
I tried a 22 YZ450F, CRF450, and 23 YZ450F and honestly hated them for all the reasons you stated. As Press said above I bet you'd love a 350. 350's feel just like 250Fs until you hit the midway point of the RPM range. At that point they pretty much turn back into a 450 only not scary when you started getting tired, best of both worlds.
Just went thru this all summer - 2023 YZ450f.............tried to get along with all season. Pre plan before every corner - small prayer - some well wishing and best line selection (nope-fail mostly lol) ! ! yeh, maybe works 2/10.
I just bought a 250f......apparently i can still ride a little ! ! FUN is back.
23 YZ250f......kinda feels like cheating, it just works. With the 450 every moto or practice i was constantly fiddling and tweaking or looking for the "set up" - a few weeks on the 250 and i'm basically checking to see if it has enough gas for another moto.
Man I would love a 350 but not a fan of the steel frame. The rigid stiff feel and I feel alot a vibration and chatter through the bars into my arms. But I would LOVE to get a ktm or husky 350. Hopefully the steel frame is something i can get use to or help with some mods
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Man that was well said. Getting me hyped hahaha
A lot of topics and opinions on this. I've basically come to terms that I'm not a 450 guy. Basically for all of the reasons that you states. Tried a 350 and liked it, but I just feel like YZ250Fs are home for me. I ride my best, overall, on those bikes. If I don't quite have that abundance of power to get me over something or if I make a mistake etc, then so be it. More often than not, the YZ250F has great recovery to get me out of those situations. Also, I can still get decent starts on it against 450s. Everyone has their preferences but I just feel like 250Fs work best for me, Yamis especially. I was tempted to try the 23 YZ450F but I think once the honeymoon wore off, I'd miss my 250F.
Added bonus - no arm pump. NONE.
Ya I'm starting to accept that I'm not a 450 guy. I have an aggressive style and not a slow and smooth style that fits the 450. I'm currently extremely sore and banged up because I crashed yesterday because the bike got away from me and I whiskey throttled and flew off a berm and got thrown over the bars. I'm almost certain if I had a 250f that wouldn't have happened. Was turning right and the bike stood up on me and went left and I just couldn't control it enough to avoid the crash. Im likely going to get a yz250f
Bought my first 450 this summer. I had a 350 then two 250f and I had never ridden a 450f before. The 450 is so much easier to ride than a 250f. I can do faster and feel a lot more in control also I was suffering badly from armpump and I never have armpump on the 450.
Some people are 450 riders and some 250. It's hard to be good on both unless you're a pro. Look at Jett. Sure he was good on 250s but not as good as he is on the 450. Wold how that works
I think how you described above, being aggressive and wanting to toss the bike around etc is what makes you better suited to a 250 (same with me.) Some guys can run a 450 in 3rd and be smooth and it works for them. A lot of guys don't want to shift more on a 250F or work the corners more to keep momentum. So that's always interesting how some ppl do better on a 450 and get tired more on a 250F but others like us, are the opposite.
to answer all questions: yes
its physically heavier and has more rotating mass/power
I recently was on a 450. I ride occasionally so Im never really in ride/race shape with a good comfort level built up so i wanted a bike I can get over jumps and be able to cruise without working hard.
i switched to a 250f, the 250f's from the last 10 yrs have more than enough power to get over any jump around with reasonable effort and its light enough im no getting tossed off.
I’m the opposite. Absolutely despise 250F’s. Love 450’s. A lot of this is likely due to the fact that I have more of an open-class riding style where I tend to short-shift and ride the torque as opposed to RPM. I’ve never liked hitting jumps wound tight. I tried my buddy’s 350, thinking it might be a good middle ground, but it felt more like a fast 250F than a mellow 450f. Wasn’t a fan.
Buy one of each, figure out which one ya like, then donate the ones ya don’t like to Salvation Army. How hard is it!
I find the 450 a bit easier to ride. The 250F is more work, corners a hair better. Speed is about the same.
Because he needed more power on the small bike.
Well I'm a 2 stroke guy.
IMHO, both are truly amazing and fun for different reasons - and I ride them accordingly.
Mountain single track? 250F all day. Tight MX track, 250F again. Wide open, sandy MX track? 450F. Open desert riding? 450F all day, every day. "Everywhere, do-it-all machine?" 450F. Sand dunes? 450F. Hill climbs and wheelies? 450F. Less maintenance? 450F. Mood plays a big role for me, too. Want to feel like a hero and flick the bike around like a mountain bike? 250F. Big jumps with short approaches you're scared of? 450F. Love the feeling of monster torque? 450F. Want to ride aggressive to the max? 250F.
If you can swing it, you really should try owning a 250F and 450F simultaneously for a duration to come to terms with what meets your overall riding needs best. They are both so awesome and different, you may end up keeping both! ...and then there is the 350F, too ... decisions, decisions.
I haven't pulled the trigger on a 350F yet (have planned to for the last few years, still working out the plan), but this is a must-read for a guy in the OP's situation:
Should have got a 350 years ago... - Moto-Related - Motocross Forums / Message Boards - Vital MX
Last thought: All my 450F bikes get Rekluse RadiusCX clutches, a 1-tooth larger counter sprocket, a little extra play in the throttle cable, and a Motostuff 280mm front rotor. This combo has become my "special sauce" for taming 450s for my less-than-pro reflexes. Collectively these mods make the 450F as fun as the 250F for me by "taking some of the edge off."
Pit Row
Get 2 bikes? Hmmmm 🤔 I like the way you think
You misunderstood ... AT LEAST 2 ... 3 is probably best 😃
Just ride a 250 2 stroke for a bit & a 450’ will seem easy.
Seriously thou just learn where the power is relative to rpm. Short shift, change the rear sprocket, ride more flowing lines, break less.
You just gotta ride each bike to it’s strength not your weakness.
I like how you put that!
I am a slow learner, but I've noticed being deliberate in my thinking when I ride each type of bike helps A LOT. For example:
(1) 250F - attack corners, brake late, keep revs up, manhandle away, use agility to your advantage/be aggressive
(2) 450F - short shift / ride torque curve, flow around the track as much as possible and apply power gradually, remember braking requires more effort/distance, use lower revs to keep chassis calm to enable "bulldozing" whoops, track litter, etc.
I talk a far better game than I ride though. It always takes me a couple of laps to switch "modes" when I switch bikes. But it really does help.
OVERALL POINT: YOUR THINKING/RIDING APPROACH HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HOW WELL YOU CAN RIDE EACH DISPLACEMENT ... which equates to your fun factor.
Good gawd I spend too much time behind a desk...
Why stop at 3
. 6 is better!
That all makes so much sense and I'm trying to ride it like a 250f and it's biting me in the ass. Thanks for breaking it down like that.
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