2012 CRF 450 or 2013 YZ 450f
- Thread starter beans
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Dobber1
Well-known member
One of the things I would look at would be fork rake or angle...really made a difference between these two bikes as far as ski pressure is concerned. The Yamaha would give you good cornering confidence on hard pack, but make you feel like you were going over the bars on some downhills in the powder. The Honda seemed more comfortable...laid back if you will.
how looonnng
check around and ask which valve train can be abused with no ill effects, recommended rebuild time for top end valve train won't favor the Honda.
check around and ask which valve train can be abused with no ill effects, recommended rebuild time for top end valve train won't favor the Honda.
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PalousePoo
Well-known member
I know the yz will power a light just fine, and am told hand grips too, but not both at the same time. Yammies are known for reliability. I think Teal210 ran a 2012 Honda, so he knows a lot about them.
I live in Wenatchee and ride central Washington cascades been in snow up to the top of motor and never had a problem with stock air box. 2011 yz 450f
I have a 2011 Yamaha and rode all last year without any problems. Any issue I had was mostly operator error! Lol. Both of my riding buddies have CRFs and they just eliminated the airboxes. We ride in the cascades as well.
I ran a CRF for two seasons.
Positives:
-Motor works great, power curve works really well for snowbiking even though it's the slowest bike in the class.
-Motor is super durable, mine went 200+ hours without a valve adjustment.
-Trail Tech sells a wiring harness for this bike, you can buy that for around $30 and use it to power a light and hand warmers. It includes a high/low/off switch that mounts to the bars.
-Lightest 450 there is.
Negative:
-Honda's seem to be the worst for getting gas in the oil.
-Impossible to seal the airbox, but easy to install a pod filter.
-Radiator shrouds are flimsy, I went through 3 sets in one season.
-Stock fork springs are too soft.
All in all, I prefer the CRF to the 10-13 YZF's that I've ridden. Just something about the power curve and geometry that fits me better.
I rode my 09 CRF for two seasons and absolutely loved it. I mostly agree with the above assessment, but will add in a couple notes.
- motor is very durable, did 180 hrs with no valve adjustments before selling the bike.
- power wise, yes in stock form probably the least powerful of modern mx bikes. But! Honda left alot on the table with exhaust and ecm tuning. With a yosh rs4 exhaust and SSW tuning my bike was easily more powerful than my buddies 12 KX and Dungey edition SX.
- with SSW tuning and and thermostat you can limit the the fuel in oil, we had 3 crfs in the group and none had fuel in oil problems.
- do a pod filter for for intake! Can order needed parts from frozen boost for cheap
- biggest benefit, honda parts = $ , yamaha parts = $$$
- forks springs are to soft.
