Buy a CRF450 or YZ450F??

[heinracing]

if you want it to last forever buy honda


I beg to differ... all the Honda's here do not make it through 1 race season without dropping valves if they are left stock. The Yammi's are bullet broof. They may not rate 1st in all the tests, but are usually 2nd in every catorgory and the motors last forever! That or a new Kawi, they are good bikes too. The Honda's are great while they run, just expect to have to rebuild a head.

every 4 stroke bike you'll have to rebuild the bike if you dont keep your airfilter clean happens on any bike honda yamaha anything

i never had any problems with my race bikes or any body elses race bikes keep airfilter clean and change oil they "all" will run forever doing general keep up of the bike

they are all good now adays

 

[phatty]

go with a low hour/mile used 07... save yourself alot of money. In fact i think there are holdovers selling brand new for around 5800...

oh and YAMAHA BABY! love my 07 YZ450F!

The other advice i have is if you want any sort of a headlight and go Yamaha get the WR... its much easier to mod it to run like the YZ than to make the YZ have a usable headlight...

www.thumpertalk.com

 

[Killerk]

You will be happy on either.
From what I have seen, the older 450's were the ones that had valve issues.
With that being said, and as much of a honda guy I am, I would say the valves on the yami are more durable... But at the same time I have seen many more issues (first hand) with the yamaha's... Usually small issues like the interference fit oil fittings coming loose and leaking oil as well as nuts and bolts coming loose... Sure, you should check your nuts and bolts, but the hondas stay tight from the factory.
I and my pa ride 06 honda's, my brother an 05, and buddy 07... My brother replaced his valves on his honda, but he never adjusted them and rode it into the ground. My pa and I on our o6's have easily 25 or more tanks of fuel through ours with no issues or adjustment... My buddy on his 07 has adjusted his, but he is very anal about maintenence.
The yami's in our group are 06 and 07's... Great bikes, but our 06 hondas walk away from them in the dunes... All of us ride with the same (scorpion cross) rear tire, and all riders are even weight except the 07 honda who is easily 30 punds lighter than the rest of us, yet my 06 will still walk away from him.
On a track, I like the bottom end a little better on the yamaha, it seems to be instant on the bottom, but doesn't have the mid to top pull of the honda... Yet in the mountains my buddies on the yammis kill the engine constantly and had to gear down (3-4 more teeth on the rear sprocket).
One thing about the honda, is if you are 175-200lbs, the suspension can easily be tuned for the rider with preload and clicker adjustments.
The yamaha is soft in the front end on a track and would need stiffer springs for me.

 

[deaner]

What about older models if I decide to go used instead. Are there any years a guy should stay away from. Looks like some good deals on 05 CRFs out there.

 

[heinracing]

What about older models if I decide to go used instead. Are there any years a guy should stay away from. Looks like some good deals on 05 CRFs out there.

nothing wrong with the older ones i still race the older one because i love it

in 06 they changed the head and piston made it a smaller valve suppose to pull harder on the bottom end but have not noticed a difference i would look for a 07 holder over that way you have a new bike and not pay the amount of new

 

[xrated]

if your going 450, don't under estimate the BUTTON!! I ride a YZ125 and the father-in-law has a KTM 200, I tell you if I didn't have better things to spend money on I'd be buying a hydraulic clutch!

 

[Killerk]

As far as honda, handling/suspension and head wise I would look at an 05 or newer, but be sure you know what to look for used.
Not only look at the bike, but the persons vehicles and house and see how they take care of things.
As far as yammi, any year as far as engines will be fine... Not as familiar with the older chassis other than the 426.

 

[heinracing]

As far as honda, handling/suspension and head wise I would look at an 05 or newer, but be sure you know what to look for used.
Not only look at the bike, but the persons vehicles and house and see how they take care of things.
As far as yammi, any year as far as engines will be fine... Not as familiar with the older chassis other than the 426.

i would stay away from a older yammi just because they were heavy and slow and had alot of engine problems and when hot never start at all

 

[teeroy]

if you go with older 450X, they have tranny issues with third gear seizing on the shaft from improper lubrication, especially on bikes that are dual sported or run at high speed for extended lengths of time. affected models are up to '06, in '07 they updated parts to prevent this. the prevention on the older models is to run a full quart of oil in the trans, as opposed to the suggested amount in the manual. mine has had the DS kit on from day one ('06) and I've had no issues yet running the full quart.

 

[Killerk]

i would stay away from a older yammi just because they were heavy and slow and had alot of engine problems and when hot never start at all

Really?
I agree with the heavy part... Especially the front end... They tend to push in the corners.
My pa's 426 ran strong and never had a bit of engine problems.