450s in the woods

[Metal621]

Just wondering if anyone on here rides a 450 in the woods? And how do you like it?

[William1]

A lot of bike for a tight environment. A 250F or 125 2S makes a lot more sense.

[weantright]

Swap with a buddy on rides. Glad to be back on my 300F/350! Too much constant pull for long tighter rides.

[Phineas7]

Too much for me! Had 400exc, went to 300's, now at a 200. If I were to get another bike it would be a 150 or 250, no more.

But most of our single track is 2nd/3rd gear stuff. Power is not your friend. YMMV.

[Lefty323]

Im riding yz40fx at 54yrs of age on single track and yes its a handful, but there are some things you may do to make it more manageable.Get a GYTR tuner and tone down the low end power. You can still get mid and top end hit without the low end pull. A Rekluse will help and it is also tuneable. Lastly, lower the forks to the lowest possible marks in the trees for a tighter turn and make sure your sag is right.

Im riding yz40fx at 54yrs of age on single track and yes its a handful, but there are some things you may do to make it more manageable.Get a GYTR tuner and tone down the low end power. You can still get mid and top end hit without the low end pull. A Rekluse will help and it is also tuneable. Lastly, lower the forks to the lowest possible marks in the trees for a tighter turn and make sure your sag is right.

450fx......sorry

[Lefty323]

450fx

Im riding yz40fx at 54yrs of age on single track and yes its a handful, but there are some things you may do to make it more manageable.Get a GYTR tuner and tone down the low end power. You can still get mid and top end hit without the low end pull. A Rekluse will help and it is also tuneable. Lastly, lower the forks to the lowest possible marks in the trees for a tighter turn and make sure your sag is right.
450fx......sorry

[Hans Schmid]

What's the definition of 'woods' here? My definition of woods could be completely different from your definition of woods... A 450 in my woods, nope... 

[2much2stroke]

What's the definition of 'woods' here? My definition of woods could be completely different from your definition of woods... A 450 in my woods, nope... 

Why?

[Hans Schmid]

1 minute ago, 2much2stroke said:

7 minutes ago, Hans Schmid said:

What's the definition of 'woods' here? My definition of woods could be completely different from your definition of woods... A 450 in my woods, nope... 

Why?

The terrain is too tight/slow and the bike would be too powerful/heavy 

[Metal621]

I mean like single track stuff

[2much2stroke]

The terrain is too tight/slow and the bike would be too powerful/heavy 

Called the 80/20 rule ..

80% rider, 20% bike... Sounds like self imposed limitations. You understand that the weight difference between a 250f and 450f around 15-20 pounds...

[nuity5]

This was the best day of owning a 450 for me. Leaving in somebody else’s truck?. Flowing trails no problem but tighter stuff in the summer heat and it was miserable. 250F MUCH better and my latest build - KX / KDX hybrid might be the best yet for me. Clay

[7thirtyseven]

1 minute ago, Metal621 said:

I mean like single track stuff

There is a lot of variety in "singletrack".

In general the 450 is at the size where the power starts to get counter productive. It may be fun in short bursts, but it loads on the traction issues, it "feels" heavy in the tighter stuff and when traction is premium and the straight is wicked it's more difficult to hit the next corner perfect.

I have some lard-assed fast friends that make it work but even they recognize it's limitations.

[Hans Schmid]

3 minutes ago, 2much2stroke said:

Called the 80/20 rule ..

80% rider, 20% bike... Sounds like self imposed limitations. You understand that the weight difference between a 250f and 450f around 15-20 pounds...

Well I'm pretty confident I have a pretty good grasp on what my limitations are as a rider, and what bike might work or not work in my backyard... 

[Piney Woods]

I doubt there is 15-20 lbs actual weight difference.

[2much2stroke]

I doubt there is 15-20 lbs actual weight difference.

Magical thing called Google...

https://hondanews.com/powersports/channels/crf250r-specs-features/releases/2019-honda-crf250r-specifications

https://hondanews.com/releases/2019-honda-crf450r-specifications

Curb weight at the bottom...

[weantright]

20 minutes ago, 2much2stroke said:

Called the 80/20 rule ..

80% rider, 20% bike... Sounds like self imposed limitations. You understand that the weight difference between a 250f and 450f around 15-20 pounds...

This is true when you're experience. A better bike (size, suspension, weight, brand,,,,) will make riding easier for the inexperience and this 80/20 is more like 40/60.  Weight difference is only one part of the "feeling" between bore size. Motor mass also add in the weighted feel of the bike.

[Hans Schmid]

11 minutes ago, Piney Woods said:

I doubt there is 15-20 lbs actual weight difference.

He is correct depending on the model... Between the KTM/Husqvarna line there is maybe less then 5lbs between the 250/350/450. When the Japanese models are compared, the weight difference can jump substantially.. 

[weantright]

3 minutes ago, Hans Schmid said:

He is correct depending on the model... Between the KTM/Husqvarna line there is maybe less then 5lbs between the 250/350/450. When the Japanese models are compared, the weight difference can jump substantially.. 

I demo'ed these bikes back to back in that order and I felt a much larger weight difference then what the spec sheet says. Same went for the Yamaha on the FX models.

Edited April 18, 2019 by weantright

[2much2stroke]

I demo'ed these bikes back to back in that order and I felt a much larger weight difference then what the spec sheet says.

It's the gyro forces of the motor from what I've been told. I'm not saying they're not a handful in tight stuff, just that it's possible.