05-08 best 450 MX?

[TALLIS]

Hi guys,
Thinking of getting off the road and onto the dirt for abit of fun... dont know to much
about the rep of MX bikes so the question is:

Which of the MX bike's between 05 -08 ($3000 to $5000) is best?

RMZ450
CRF450
YZF450
KLX450

Haha... open ended question... but any offering of advice would be great.

[Jay GTI]

Hi guys,
Thinking of getting off the road and onto the dirt for abit of fun... dont know to much
about the rep of MX bikes so the question is:

Which of the MX bike's between 05 -08 ($3000 to $5000) is best?

RMZ450
CRF450
YZF450
KLX450

Haha... open ended question... but any offering of advice would be great.

What's your actual offroad experience? You might be skilled onroad, but if you've not popped your dirt cherry, a 450MX of that vintage would not be where I'd start, they're pretty angry bikes. If you're ok offroad and can handle a 450, I'd go for an 08 RMZ, they're fuel injected and have a nice, friendly power delivery compared to the competition. That, or a SXF, the Kato 450s have been running electric legs for a while and again if you're not that experienced, you'd definitely appreciate a starter button the 200th time you pick the bike up off the ground on your first few rides.

Personally, I'd start with a 250, I've been riding off road for years and while I'm certainly not a top level rider (far, far from it), I can ride ok and I find 450s too much work.

[TALLIS]

Well I've only paddock hacked mates mates mx bikes in the 2
Stoker days. Im 6"2 and 100kgs so I thought 450 would be more my size.
As reliability goes, that's more the concern with 2ND hand mx bikes in that price range,
Do any of the bike stand out in this area?

[ktm84mxc]

Any of those listed would do the job , just some are easier to live/ride with an electric leg is a must for a newby so count in a WR,KLX,RMZ-X, CRF-X the powers usually a little softer and the flywheels help the stalling when going slow.

[nzspokes]

I agree with Jay, Im 100kg but a little shorter and been riding for about a year. Just got back from a ride on my 200 two stroke. Few times today it reminded me to be clam with the throttle. 250 four stroke would be where I would start.

I started on a XR200 and it could bite if treated wrong. 450 is a whole lot of bike.

[TALLIS]

ok thanks guys, now the hours on trade me looking for a 250.. Im guessing 08 rmz250s are injected?

[Shadykiwi]

6ft 4in 118 kg when started (103 kg now, thanks to MX) . Started on YZ250F 08. Reliability was great and power more than enough. Only mod I did was change out the springs, made a huge improvment in handling. Also had a 450 and found you had to be really consious of power control. All good for a seasoned rider but bites when you get it wrong.

[thorns]

Another thing to consider with a 450 would be adding a G2 throttle cam system.
Worked great for me on my 250 2 stroke (first dirtbike as well). Started off with the mellow cam, and am now on the medium cam about to change back to the standard cam profile.

Works great at taming the throttle, and any whiskey throttle moments, and lets you grow used to the bike and power. Easy to switch out the cams (takes 5 mins) for different track conditions as well.

I'm considering a move to a 450 soon, and would be my first purchase for one, and possibly a flywheel weight if they make them for it.

[FlangMasterJ]

Ktm450exc.

[Buddy L]

08 RMZ250 have a carb
09 are the fuel injected i think.

[scott411]

08 RMZ250 have a carb
09 are the fuel injected i think.

09 was the last of the carb'd 250F's,

2010 was teh first injected,

450's were carb'd till 07, and injected from 08 on

[motor_mayhem]

A really good (and as far as I've seen the only) article on buying used 450s - http://www.dirtbikemagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=31AA04B85C6144EEAF8AB54B15C999EA

Not sure if their parts pricing is still true but they do talk about a fair few other factors besides.

I pretty much started on a 450, had ridden a fair bit of off road before but only when I was at high school and then had a big break from it while I was a poor student who couldn't afford to keep a bike. The first half dozen trail rides I spent wondering if I'd aimed too high but by the dozen I was feeling like I was riding the bike and not the other way round. MX 450s are not suited for tight and gnarly stuff in the hands of competents or learners so if you thinking of doing that then look at the rmx-z, crf-x, wrf, klx-r or exc-f.

[TALLIS]

A really good (and as far as I've seen the only) article on buying used 450s - http://www.dirtbikemagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=31AA04B85C6144EEAF8AB54B15C999EA

Not sure if their parts pricing is still true but they do talk about a fair few other factors besides.

I pretty much started on a 450, had ridden a fair bit of off road before but only when I was at high school and then had a big break from it while I was a poor student who couldn't afford to keep a bike. The first half dozen trail rides I spent wondering if I'd aimed too high but by the dozen I was feeling like I was riding the bike and not the other way round. MX 450s are not suited for tight and gnarly stuff in the hands of competents or learners so if you thinking of doing that then look at the rmx-z, crf-x, wrf, klx-r or exc-f.

Cheers, good article! Think I've found a soild looking rmz250, veiwing it later on in the week

Thanks guys

[Buddy L]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/dirt-bikes/auction-576441607.htm

My friend is selling his bike
He's only rode it twice in i think about 5 months, now he's bought another boat so needs funds.

[KTM200/stevo0987]

Ive heard the 2008 crf450r was the best year for the Honda's