08 YZ450F or 06 EXC450. Any thoughts?

[barty5]

im $1500 away from new 08 yzf but mate keeps point out all the ktm450s that pop up on trade me $$ i guess there slightly cheaper any thoughts on preferances kinda made up mind but any xtra input would be good

[dammad1]

2 very different bikes, what sort of riding are you going to do the most of?

[barty5]

mostly trail ride etc not racin but then i have had the 426 which i find great and never had any probs out on the trails with it has a bit of snap to which i do like and my guess would be that teh exc is going to weight more all though the old push button start dosnt sound bad (never really bothered me never had on) then there is the whole haven a brand new bike thing as well as most people ive seen with the exc have ended up needin to fitt steering dampner which is more money which puts it up to close to the new bike $$

[Danger]

Yeah but the good thing with the steering damper is that you can transfer it from bike to bike with a change of fitting kit. And if you don't need or want one on the YZF you won't need or want one on the KTM with correct bike setup. Most people don't understand a steering dampers true function and usually fit one to over come short comings in their suspension. Thats not what a steering damper should be used for. Are they a good investment? Most definatley. But they are not a necessity.
A 450KTM will have way more friendly power for off road riding than a YZF450. But it may not be exciting enough for you after having your YZF426. The KTM will give you longer life between rebuilds, both will need the suspension worked on for optimum performance for what you want to use it for. If you are mainly riding the sands of Woodhill the YZF may suit you more. If you want to do a few rides like Riverhead and Maramarua the KTM would suit you more.
Or you could make a smart move and get one of the last RM250's! But I'm guessing you ain't that smart. :devil2:

[barty5]

ive had a few bike frm team yellow and not a huge fan also not going back to a 2S had my share of them and will be staying 4 stroke

[Danger]

You should take mine for a ride sometime. Might change your mind. But fair enough. I just can't get exited over the diesels.:whistle:

[Wellyman]

200! meh you need a 250! seriosuly for trail riding I would reccomend the 450EXC as it has trail bike based setup, A YZF may need to be softer sprung and can also be a great woods weapon. If I was going to choose I would by the KTM.
WM

[crazyxr250rider]

YZ450F...buy new at all costs. EXC will be a nana bike next to ur 426

[cheese]

I don't think you could call a 450 exc a nana bike!!

I think that would would jump off teh YZF either grinning your ass off or shitting your pants, and I think that you would jump of the EXC just grinning your head off adn laughing at your mates that have to kick start their bikes.

[Henk]

Buy the KTM. if you are going to do mostly trail riding the Enduro bike will kick the MX bike into touch every time

[Quicker_with_age]

It really comes down to what suits you best, If it were me theres no question I would choose the YZF, Just a more refined bike in my opinion although the ktm does have its strong points.

[motorbyclist]

same here; if your yzf experience is anything like me and my mates', get the yzf

[barty5]

At last im going bike shoppin monday or tuesday next week no im going to pick up have put 08 yz450f in white on hold. cant wait only bummer is dont think ill get to ride till week of the 29/30th

[NZsarge]

Dude, it sounds like you're set on a YZF to me but with the kinda riding it sounds like you're doing i'd be tryin' to get a scoot on a WR450F before you buy, won't have as bigger hit as the YZ I presume but it sounds like it would be the best suited to riding you're doing.

[barty5]

have thought about in but then there is another 16.5 kg to throw around and after a trick out cr250 then the 426 which was awsome and even better after the rebuild and mild port good done to it kinda dont want to loose the kapooow factor an dthe wr cost more than i have most of all i hate the yamaha blue which is why i have chosen white and yes i know it will be a prick to keep clean but who cares ive worked my arse off for the last 5 years to het to a new bike

[Reckless]

Barty this is only my opinion take it or leave it.

I have a mate thats recently bought an 07 Wr450 and put the yz white plastics kit on it. It looks really good and he gets to keep the original kit stored for when he resells it.
I have only ridden it once at Woodhill but it did seem a bit tame. Like pickin up the front over roots etc compared to the CR hit. I have also noticed at places like Ardmore, Harrisville and Kimis watchin the Wr450's they seem quite soft for MX track type stuff and open fast trails.
We went to Thunder x and it was really really muddy, weekend before last. Like the Vids of the Pussy Pounder. The Wr took those conditions much better than the CR. The WR was handling it quite well where my Cr was like a thoroughbred, more tempremental, to High off the ground, skitish, wheel spun extra quick. And I have got revalved suspension and a fly wheel weight.
Finally, I rode with a mate at a Trailbalzer who is a really good rider and him and his mates even though its a trail ride basically end up racing around the tracks flat out. If you are a good rider that likes to push it, I don't think the Wr would flick your switch. Get the yz and revalve the suspension for your riding stlye.

So if you like the more technical cross country stuff Wr or Exec but if you like a good hit and the fastest pace you can manage the YZ450. The Honda 450 is a damn good bike as well.

My 10c only

[NZsarge]

have thought about in but then there is another 16.5 kg to throw around and after a trick out cr250 then the 426 which was awsome and even better after the rebuild and mild port good done to it kinda dont want to loose the kapooow factor an dthe wr cost more than i have most of all i hate the yamaha blue which is why i have chosen white and yes i know it will be a prick to keep clean but who cares ive worked my arse off for the last 5 years to het to a new bike

Fair enough bro, enjoy:yes:

[cheese]

Get a honda (in my best "get a rotor" voice)

[chris]

mostly trail ride etc not racin

As others have said, WR450.

[avgas]

Dont you find 1st and 5th gear a bitch with your YZ? if not then just get the new YZ cos they havent addressed that problem yet.

[barty5]

Dont you find 1st and 5th gear a bitch with your YZ? if not then just get the new YZ cos they havent addressed that problem yet.

whats wrong with 1 an 5 cant say i have had any problems

[avgas]

whats wrong with 1 an 5 cant say i have had any problems
First is too long - apparently to the point where people stall going up hills (i can not confirm this i just have 'heard' it through a mate who has a 425 - i've only ridden the 450) but 5th has always been too short a gear in my mind. Especially in comparison to the wr

[barty5]

First is too long - apparently to the point where people stall going up hills (i can not confirm this i just have 'heard' it through a mate who has a 425 - i've only ridden the 450) but 5th has always been too short a gear in my mind. Especially in comparison to the wr

nail the hills in 2 or 3rd and yeh you do lose a bit of top end speed on a long open straight but you get there a lot quicker

[motorbyclist]

i heard that the first 450 they made was only a 4 speed

never had any problems with any of the four 400s and one 426 me and my mates ride, although my 1998 model's 1st is a bit high for the really tight stuff she sure doesn't stall on hills!

and on open straight i do look for a 6th gear, but when you're just doing a straight line what's the point (where's the skill/challenge) in doing 100k? that's what my roadbike is for...

[barty5]

i heard that the first 450 they made was only a 4 speed

never had any problems with any of the four 400s and one 426 me and my mates ride, although my 1998 model's 1st is a bit high for the really tight stuff she sure doesn't stall on hills!

and on open straight i do look for a 6th gear, but when you're just doing a straight line what's the point (where's the skill/challenge) in doing 100k? that's what my roadbike is for...

there was one or two years that only came with 4 speed but there 5 now and as you say no skill dion straight lines so what if mate passes you cause he has more top end speed still has to catch you 1st cause sure as hell youll be out front till he gets it wound up your allways got the snap of power to get the jump out front 1st

[motorbyclist]

biggest advantage i find over smaller bikes like the yz250f is the sheer power AND torque - you can hit any hill in any gear and aslong as you keep the throttle open she'll keep on climbing.... that said when it's muddy there's no way to put even half of that power through to the ground

and reliable too - it seems all yamaha's bikes have been rock-solid for the past 10 years, whereas i hear the crf range is a bit higher maintenance (puts on flame suit)