New bike

[morg_nz]

So I still havent sold the 125 - well hopefully it will be gone this afternoon if the guy shows up, but i've bought another bike anyways...

Got myself an 03 CRF450 - its a little faster than the 125

I bought it because I knew the guy selling it and that the bike was in mint condition - its done less than 100 hours! He'd rebuilt it last year then only ridden it twice so it is in perfect condition.

Took it out for a ride on friday - I was half expecting to be selling it today because it had too much power (which it does) but its just so easy to ride, and made my mates 250F's seem like PW50's. It has a silly amount of power but it never surprises you, just does what you want - I love it!

Only problem is that it doesnt corner as easily as the 125 - it seems whenever you give it power on a tight corner that it just wants to head off in the direction the back wheel is pointing - so i'll have to practice that.

So now im one of those riders with no skill who just bought a 450 to make up for his lack of ability!

[CRF119]

Bahaha some times twisting the throttle when you would normally shut it on the 125 will get you out of trouble. Works great i have a saying. "If in doubt twist and you are out" You will be come very skilled at flailing of the handle bars But seriously it will get you up through and over shit you never thought was possbile

As for the direction thing. Set rider sag etc correctly see how that goes. If you lower the forks in the clamps you will get better steering but lose high speed stability. You can't have both its a trade off. That's why the 2008 CRF450 has a steering damper. Steering damper fixes its lack of high speed stability and allows the bike to have less fork angle and shorter wheel base which provided better tight turning.

Any way hope you enjoy the new toy and remember "If in doubt twist and you are out"

[Jay GTI]

As for the direction thing. Set rider sag etc correctly see how that goes. If you lower the forks in the clamps you will get better steering but lose high speed stability. You can't have both its a trade off. That's why the 2008 CRF450 has a steering damper. Steering damper fixes its lack of high speed stability and allows the bike to have less fork angle and shorter wheel base which provided better tight turning.

There's no way a 450 is going to handle in tight turns like a 125, so mostly he'll just have to get used to riding a 450...

Good score though, should keep you entertained for a very long time...

[CRF119]

There's no way a 450 is going to handle in tight turns like a 125, so mostly he'll just have to get used to riding a 450...

Well a 03 CRF450 wont get close but the new 450s are pretty nimbal. Suspension and chassis setup will still help his case.

[Jay GTI]

Well a 03 CRF450 wont get close but the new 450s are pretty nimbal. Suspension and chassis setup will still help his case.

Ok, so he'll have to get used to riding an '03 CRF450 then...


Not saying some suspension tweakage and set-up won't help the bike handle better, just that there are laws of physics that no suspension modifications can overcome.

[morg_nz]

i wasnt saying that i dont think that the 450 is capable of turning in like the 125, just that it was different and that i'll need to figure out how to do it.

sure a newer bike may be better, but it may be worse it would depend on the riders prefernces. for my level of riding ability - where i dont actually know my preferences, i dont think it will matter much at all