WR450 F or CRF450 X

[Petsar68]

I am a total novice when it comes to trail riding so would be interested in your opinions. I wont be going at it hardcore as most of my riding will be with my son on his TTR110. I will be looking to buy a 09 model from a dealer on the South Island. Would i be better off with a 250 or will i regret it a year down the line ?
I know its a personal choice but your opinions / advice are appreciated.
Thanks.

[vazza]

Id be going for a WR450, word and mouth they're supposed to be really good. My dad had an CRF and found that it was far to heavy.

What bike are you currently riding at the moment?

[noobi]

See if you can test ride the 250 version of each first, then the 450
When kiwi rider reviewed the 450 enduro bike the Yamaha won, then the KTM, then the Honda and the Kawasaki
They also said it was all down to preference the Kawasaki was the more comfortable bike and the Yamaha and KTM were enduro race machines right out of the box
but the Yamaha was also the second most expensive only 500 cheaper than the KTM

[xxblackbirdxx]

I am a total novice when it comes to trail riding so would be interested in your opinions. I wont be going at it hardcore as most of my riding will be with my son on his TTR110. I will be looking to buy a 09 model from a dealer on the South Island. Would i be better off with a 250 or will i regret it a year down the line ?
I know its a personal choice but your opinions / advice are appreciated.
Thanks.

I'd go for WR, i kinda like the klx too, rode it a year back. The CRF450X is due with fuel injection next year supposedly. I am jealous ! you are spoilt for choice.

[Petsar68]

The fact i am 5ft 9 small would that be an issue on the WR ? I work overseas so cant pop down to the dealer to sit on one.

I dont currently have a bike but owned a CBR600 a few years ago.

Thanks in advance.

[xxblackbirdxx]

The fact i am 5ft 9 small would that be an issue on the WR ? I work overseas so cant pop down to the dealer to sit on one.

I dont currently have a bike but owned a CBR600 a few years ago.

Thanks in advance.

I'm 5"7, And i manage just fine. At 5"9 , you'd be getting atleast one foot flat on the ground

[Petsar68]

I'm 5"7, And i manage just fine. At 5"9 , you'd be getting atleast one foot flat on the ground

Thats good to know

[warewolf]

A bit of a left-field suggestion: could you pass on the 250 to your son in the foreseeable future? Would that be feasible and/or worth your while? On a 110 now I'd expect he is a growing lad, if so the 250 would be a better step up before the 450.

For non-hardcore a 250 would certainly cut it power-wise, particularly in company of a 110. You could be lazier on the 450 with its extra grunt.

FWIW when the WR250F was released, lots of them were ridden by guys that had traded down from the 450 and preferred the smaller bike. They felt more in control, and after a good day's ride less like they'd been over Niagara Falls in a barrel - and no slower.

[krad_nz]

I wouldn't go assuming that because you've had a CBR600 that a 250 dirt bike would be too slow for you. If you can try both, you will probably be surprised.

I've heard first hand accounts from guys that swear they are faster on a 250 compared to their 450s. This was MX though.

Its a bit less to pick up too

[barty5]

I would go with the yamaha sat on a crf450x couple a weeks back and stuff thrown that round the bush or trackdam it was heavy and for that matter the crf450r didnt feel much better. Was rupecopp 1st comment before i st on them as well.

[B0000M]

I wouldn't go assuming that because you've had a CBR600 that a 250 dirt bike would be too slow for you. If you can try both, you will probably be surprised.

I've heard first hand accounts from guys that swear they are faster on a 250 compared to their 450s. This was MX though.

Its a bit less to pick up too

ill also back that comment, dirt bikes give a totally differnt feel. keep in mind 450s are pretty much as big as they come, so compare this to say a 1100cc road bike, while the 250 is mid size, so compare that to a 600, and the 125s are the little ones, compare this to the road 250;

a 250 dirt bike doesnt take 7-10 working days to get the revs up like a 250 road bike will, as your top speed is around 100kph on most dirt bikes, they are geard accordingly, if you weigh probably less than 90kg you will find the 450 too much for you if its your first dirt bike.


on that note, get a 2 stroke! lol

[cheese]

WRs, CRFX's and KLX450s are all heavy. they have to hold a battery and starter motor so they are all about 10kg heavier.

[Paulus]

Don't know if its an issue or not but WRs can be bought road legal and CRFs not. Both too much for a beginner (IMHO) and will more likely put you off. Start out smaller (KTM 200 EXC maybe?).

[takitimu]

WRs, CRFX's and KLX450s are all heavy. they have to hold a battery and starter motor so they are all about 10kg heavier.

Umm yeah, your not wrong there.

The WR250F goes well with a YZ muffler & FMF Mega bomb header, kinda depends how much tight stuff will be ridden, but those Yamaha's make some seriously nice power & don't cook in the bush like the CR450/250x's seem to ( standard ).

[barty5]

Crf also has a smaller tank 7.2ltr compared to 8ltr not a lot but with the WR comin in at 112kgs dry and the crfin at 122 thats a good 5kg more to carry around.
Do the crf450x have the same front pipe as the crf450r is so youll be getting a portable shovel write up i have i mag at home has pic of one out in the mud and that new front collects the mud just piles up on top of it worse than others by far.