This is such a good comment, I want to send you a shirt. Email me at kyle@dirtbikechannel.com with a shipping address and your shirt size (if you want to), and I'll see about sending one to you free of charge.
Do i need a 450? No Do i have a 450? Yes Has it cleaned my plate? Yes Dies it hurt after every track day? Yes In conclusion do you still want it? Yes🤣🤘🏼
@Ernesto Lopez heck no stay on at 85 until you’re 5’5” 5’6” and 13 or older and idk how much you Way but if you’re even 140 pounds it will still pull you around just fine
@Ernesto Lopez man from a racer standpoint I would definitely stay on the 85 I am 14 and 5’6” and everybody’s telling me to stay on my 85 for longer if you can stay on the 85 you Will learn how to use every bit of power out of the bike
I used to think power was king in all conditions till a 120lb 15 year old passed me in a rock bed on the back tire riding a ‘98 YZ125. I sold the 450 and joined Weight Watchers 😂
My wife was a model and my superduty is 625hp at the back wheels. 250 n 500 2 strokes are the only way. . Did i mention my sportsman 1000xp is on 30s and over 100hp lol
yeah but if you dont need the power of the 450 you dont need the power of a 250 2 stroke lol but i got one its a 09 yz250 i looked up the specs and it stock compared to a stock 450 is only a difference of 3 hp
3 hp must make a world of a difference, I smoke every single 250 smoker that's tried to go up against me at the local tt track lol yz450f this thing is insane. I stopped riding my cr250 because it feels like a 125 now, either way 250s are still fun
THAT is a totally legitimate observation! Back when all the capable dirt bikeswere 2 strokes it was common knowledge that 125 top ends lasted nowhere near as long as 250s which lasted nowhere near as long as 500s...125s had to be ridden "on the pipe" revving their guts out whereas someone would have to REALLY REALLY be talented to do that with the 250 while no mere mortals could do it with a 500 ...hence the 500 top ends (properly maintained) lasted like forever! .....same applies to 4 strokes .... in the dirt ...not many are going to flailing a 450 dirt bike like it's a 125! Not for long anyway....short bursts is all
I learned about displacement with my first bike. I bought a brand new Yamaha175 enduro when I was 15. It was mildly tuned street legal. My friend had a Yamaha 125 MX built on identical platform....his had a big carb, an expansion chamber and close ratio transmission ....he boasted his bike would be way faster than mine ...at first that was true but once I took all the street crap off my bike and learned to ride? I could just barely beat him...which pissed him off no doubt. 50cc more than made up for 2mm less carb and milder porting...plus my bike (I imagine) was easier to ride...I just kicked myself for not buying the 175mx! Identical in every respect but color to the 125mx except for 50cc! (bigger bore/piston).....I love me some displacement!
Ha, I didn’t even notice the hat. I rock my LWRC Xiphos SBR while on my bike just in case I run into trouble. Jk. 😆Maybe the only time I don’t have it. 🙂
Yeah, I know I can't use all the power of my 450, but then again I'm just a weekend warrior and I like to have the torgue. I don't really care whether or not I'll be able to use all the power of the bike, rather I just want to have fun and the 450 makes jumping and cornering a lot easier with the rubber band like power. I'd probably be tiny bit faster on a smaller displacement bike, but my cardio is so shit anyways that it won't really matter after 3 laps. :D Also the 450 needs a little bit less maintenance on the engine than smaller displacement bikes, especially since I can go pretty fast on it even with half throttle. If I had the money I'd also get a 350f and a 125 or 150, but having a limited budget sucks.
You summed it up champ. The power is good regardless of if you need it, less maintenance and who cares. We'd all have another bike if we could afford it.
im exactly the same weekend hobby. first ever motorcross bike and still love the thing 2006 kx450f. i used to marshall at my local track and the only bikes i ever saw blow were 250's as they are revved all the way just to get over the jumps.
I grew up riding but took about a 6 year break due to financial situation. When I came back recently I looked up videos like this to see which would suit me better 250f or 450f and all these videos said the same thing “no one needs a 450” but after buying my 250f I realized it wasn’t enough for me and I was out growing it soon after getting back into riding. I ended up getting a 450f and they in my opinion are waaaaay better and not much different. I’d recommend a 450 over a 250 if you know how to ride somewhat
This guy is basing his opinions as facts and it’s annoying, he said “you guys can’t take the fact you can’t handle these three number” like many many can my guy you are one that can’t 😂
Too soon to tell but I come from a background of two wheels and skill activities. Got my first bike, husy 450 this past weekend. It’s fast but I don’t think I’m going to take myself out with it. Still haven’t had the need to wring it all the way out either but I should know if I screwed up or not within a month or so
If you can do a wheelie in 2-3rd gear on a 250f, I don't see the point. I want more power during some things, but the lack of control on single track that 450 owners get is pathetic.
Kyle, you could have focused on facts a bit more: how 4 strokes 'wear' weight higher up, wet weights for 450 4 stroke versus 250 2 stroke, how hard it is to pickup a downed 450 on an off camber trail, torque curves, suspension etc. Focusing on "do you need the extra power" always falls short.
I think part of the popularity of the 450s is the showroom floor. You see a WR250F next to a WR450F. $8k vs $9k sticker price, and 13lbs different. You have to know you want a 250 to not just automatically get the 450. I think a 450 dual sport makes a lot of sense, but it seems like everyone's just making 250 dual sports instead.
Nicoya true. You know here at a lot of dealers tho the 450 is the cheaper one they want premiums for 250's a lot of guys don't think or are afraid to get the 450. I think anyways because I've seen some much better deals on 450's
I'm not too proud to admit that my 2016 YZ450FX has more power than I need. But I have had several 250 four strokes that needed constant valve attention due to running them hard to extract that power, revving to the moon. I do agree that beginners and novices have no good reason to buy a 450.
I'm 6ft2 and 280lbs been riding bikes since I was 8 years old, but have had a few years off the Motocross, what should I be getting for a bit of track riding and a bit of off road trails??
Willy D what is that suppose to mean? Do you need a 450 in the dunes over a 250 or 250 over a 450? I’m going to the dunes for the first time and I have a newer 450f
@@Swayze1997 hey you to drop down.grap blue up I to still stick wood floors down ram up rpm to flights stars on 450 go off to drop down grind to sparks fly off this two bike rides slide to clay stuck into the side off to see bring set something to glue to the bikes to trim up the clear was off to clean the we sale good bike to ride to work into the side off come clean off this ssldof bikes to produce to high product to sale clean new on site of to grap to choice of sale colors of mine black white to tip of wire in to see mix up pile up higher
Im going to pick up a yz450 tomorrow:) its my first bike... Edit: so after looking at a 426 I realized no way I’m learning on this so I bought a ttr125l for 1700 sold it in a month then bought a 2006 yz250f for 1850 then 3 months later I bought a 2006 r6 for 3400 at 15, I’m 16 now.
Gus The Bus you‘d outgrow a 850 if they had them. After a few years you’ll see a model drop that you can’t live without. Regardless once you get to big bikes, It doesn’t matter. Everything you can do with a 450 on the track, you can do with a 250 and you’ll be much more comfortable doing so.
lol I ride dirtbike, all kinds mainly 450s but man ur right u need a big bike for the road.. I tried my buddies 2012 cbr125... wow just wow soo gutless its not even funny
I have a 2015 WR450 and love it. I went to Costa Rica last summer and got on the same bike and commenced to taking soil samples. The next day my guide put me on a 2013 WR250. What a huge difference! I stayed on it for the rest of the trip and did much better. I learned a lot too. I like the 450 for more open riding and I love the ridiculous torque on hillclimbs. But I think you hit it spot on in this video. Modern 250 bikes are just a ton of fun to ride on the trails and I never had a problem getting up a mountain in Costa Rica. I'm a 250 lb rider and if I did it again I would get a 250. Great video!
I agree, modern 450 4-strokes are beastly bikes with tremendous power. But you can't compare the showroom models (the 450s that normal people ride) with the factory equipment ridden by Dungey, Roczen and Webb. They have "those three numbers" but they are definitely not the same. When shopping for my 450, I made sure to get a fuel-injected model (2016 WR450F) that can be tuned / detuned for the conditions. When detuned, it kinda sucks not having 100% power but also it is very helpful to have progressive power delivery when trying to navigate tight single track. Also, I am big (6'2", 250 lb.) and while the injected 450 is still a handful, the big bike suits my size well. I'll never be able to use all the power but of course it's not often that I have it wide open. And since I'm rarely pushing this 450 to its limits, it is reasonable to expect it to last longer than a 250 being wrung out on a regular basis. Finally, yes ego plays a part. The 450 thumpers are SO badass! But this time I decided to treat myself -- this is the first really nice, really modern bike I've ever owned and I'm enjoying it quite a lot. I come from a 1984 XR500R, 1995 XR250R, 1999 YZ400F and a 2003 XR400R. None of these bikes are modern but some of them are big and powerful... the XR500R was a beast and the YZF was a handful too. So I'm used to bigger bikes with good power, and I believed with my size and riding experience that I'd do pretty well on an injected 450. And I am! :D EDIT: I would have bought a 350F if there was an affordable used one on the market that does everything I need. This "sweet spot" between a 250 and 450 really deserves more attention from manufacturers. I'm convinced they would sell a zillion 350s if they would listen to the market and produce a good one at a fair price.
One thing you're missing is that riding at altitude you lose 3 percent of your horsepower for every 1000 feet of elevation, at 9 k ft you're down 27 percent of your hp, that's why bigger is sometimes better
I find tracks are set up with the jumps closer out of the corners these days, and without proper corner speed it's hard to huck the jumps, that's where the power of the 450 comes in handy for me because I'm not Webb in the corners and if I screw up a twist of the throttle and I don't come up short... I always say there's safety in power. Plus I'm 6'3 so the bigger bike feels more comfortable personally.
+Keith Swales It is easier to ride a smaller cc but sometimes its fun to ride a bigger bike. The power from my dads cr500 actually allows my to ride with more confidence sometimes because of the extra torque compared to my yz125.
id disagree, last night i rode my friends crf150 flat out on a sandy trail with a ton of whoops and jumps that i could easily cruise through on my wr426 going much faster. after i was done with the 150, i was extremely wore out, the suspension was bottoming out on every jump and there was a dead zone between 2nd and 3rd where the engine didnt have enough power to keep speed in 3rd but was sitting on the limiter in 2nd. was it fun? hell yeah. was it better than my wr426? not by a long shot, especially if you ride for long periods of time or are racing.
I just like rolling the throttle and working the low end of the power. I also love how long lasting the engines are because of this. I've ridden 250cc four strokes but didn't care for the way they develope their power.
My first bike was a 2005 yz450f when I was in 8th grade, that year it only had 4 gears for more torque in the low end. For the first year I was pretty terrified coming out of turns with it, not gonna lie. Then I rode a 250f and it felt kinda boring and I was glad I got the 450. Riding is riding you don’t need to be told what you should do. After that first year I was on it non stop and had a blast!
im 120-130 pounds 15 years old I ride a yz450f Very similar to the riding kyle does.. Ill tell you i LOVE IT!! your never lacking power no mater how slow or fast your going... Its got power in the low revs all the way to high rpms When going through technical rocky bits Its SO! incredibly easy. You let it idle along with no throttle and the bike does all the work. I just hang on and stear it. Its got so much bottom end and the suspension is great it goes climbs up and over with ease. And Yes it feels heavy when your going slow through technical parts. But the handling on motocross bikes is awesome. Though it definitely can be TOO much power. you hit a rock unexpectedly and get whiskey throttle then its a problem
I’m 6’1” 220 and a 250 (especially in the sand where I ride mostly) just doesn’t cut it lol. Had to upgrade to the kx450. Now with the 450 in the dirt it’s a bit much compared to what I’m used to, but sand it’s perfect for me.
Agreed... We need to bring back the bigger bore 2 strokes Ktm/Husky etc. 350-380cc oil injection, electronic power valve, latest fuel injection, anti-vibration built into the bike.. Look at the latest snowmobiles they have all of that just saying thanks
+plumbit111 I agree with that. Fortunately the KTM has a lot of tuning options to help with the power band, like the powervalve. Although dynojet info online shows the softer powervalve springs making the most power, they make the middle power band feel very flat to me. I have been using the stock(middle) spring now with 3 turns of pre load and have found it helps the middle tremendously, but at the expense of max power.
After spending the last 14 years riding and racing 450’s I just purchased an 18 KTM300 and OMG I’m so happy to be back on a 2 stroke. I wish I had given up my 450 years ago! So light, so fun, I’m loving it.
get urself a yz or cr 250 (2stroke) if u don't have a disposable income 2 strokes are for u and really a 250 2 stoke vs a 450 4 stroke motor to motor are comparable power wise.
+Cameron Vajda No, u need to increase skills. I'd say ur friends with 450s try to make up speed with power instead of skill. Most of the time, a rider with skill, can ride just as fast as a guy not as skilled, bit with bigger bikes. get ur skills down, and u might even blow them away
I have a kx250 two stroke and a kx450f. I can handle the 250 much better but I do find myself using more energy on the smaller bike. As a senior rider/racer I ride with a little more finess than the younger riders and that's where the xtra HP really comes in handy. And no I don't need all that power but it's nice to have. Hahaha But if you are going to buy a 450 just make sure your ready for it and respect it. It really can hurt you !
maybe stop riding motocross bikes on trails, get a WR or YZ450FX or CR450X or 450XCF-W that is tamer, but still has the torque? I weigh 240 pounds, I wouldn't be able to do what I do on a 250.
Some people like to push whatever machine they happen to be riding. I’m one of those people. I love the feeling of wringing a bike out for all it’s worth, having to maintain momentum and be strategic with gear selection. On a 450 a lot of that feeling goes away because the torque is immense and it’s unnecessary to really wring it out. I can ride a 450 just fine but it’s very difficult to ride in a hyper aggressive style for me. I prefer 125s and 250fs for this reason. I grew up on a 250 2 stroke. I’m 5-11 200lb.
I’m 60. My first dirt bike since my 1978 RM 125? A 1999 Yamaha WR 400. 38 years since my last ride in the dirt. Three years on and I wouldn’t have anything else. I have test ridden the new lighter and smaller displacement Huskys and KTM’s and I still prefer the solidity and torque of the WR. I’m 185 lbs. and I do several enduro events every season and also about 600 miles of knarly rocky trails in cottage country in northern Ontario every summer. My WR is geared up and will easily do 100mph...on dirt roads. It’s a blast. I just like how easy and under stressed it goes about its business. I also love the 4.7 litre V8 in my Toyota 4 Runner. A two litre turbo pisspot? In an SUV? You can have it. You’ll have to pry my 450 from my cold dead fingers!
The most likely reason why there are more 450cc 4 strokes is because the price difference between the 250cc vs 450cc is usually only $1,500.00. Which is a small price difference and in return you are getting more horsepower and yes you have to learn to control the throttle more so than 250cc.
+Dirt Bike Channel When you sold it, were you wondering in your mind, can this guy truly handle it, or is he falling into the same mindset as many...I just have to have the bigger displacement.
+billg1374 No, the guy that bought it is a really good desert racer. I'm sure he's a far better rider than I am. He's coming off of a 450 and he's going to do really well on this bike too.
For my first bike, I wanted to get me a 250. But i thought it over, and went with a 189cc, because I thought 250 was a tad too much. I’m very happy with my bike. I’m going to learn, get more experience, drill the fundamentals into my head, and then after a few years of riding, I’ll get my 250.
I started motocross an enduro a year ago. I own a '11 KTM exc250f and I'm happy every day I ride this bike! This video explains exactly what is so great about a lighter bike. In enduro I'm just as fast as the other riders on the 450/500cc bikes and that actually really cool. Personly I think it's really awesome to be able to use ALL OF THE BIKE. When i rode my 560 smr (converted to enduro) on the loose sand... no faster! Finding traction is a second. Advise: 250 or 350 4 stroke is really nice and lightweight.
Experienced and heavier riders need more power. The KTM 300 is great but I wish some builder like KTM made an even bigger tourqey 350 or 400 off road 2 stroke again. For an experienced recreational rider who wants to ride all types of terrain, the 450/500 4 strokes do it all. Big steep hills, deep sand hills, got to have a big bore. Also a recreational rider will get more hours out of the big bore engine simply because they aren't likely to be riding in the high rpm range as much. However they are more of a challenge to ride as increased throttle control is critical on a big bore on tight technical & slippery terrain.
Great video. VERY informative. I am selling my CRF450R because I quit riding. Bought a KTM 350 and LOVE it. My 350 may even have too much power. Now I am enjoying riding more than ever! I finally realized it's about myself having fun. Thanks!
I got my wr450 near 2 years ago when I was 15 and stepping from a Dr350 to the WR even though I'm not a massively experienced rider I still do prefer the 450. It's now road registered and still as awesome as ever 👌
if you have good throttle/clutch control it's awesome to have that massive grunt right off the bottom, but you should definitely ride a smaller bike if your prone to the occasional whiskey throttle and don't always ride with one finger on the clutch... you'll get into in trouble fast. I rode Dirtbikes for five years before ever getting on a 450 and it scared the crap out of me for the first week or so... YMMV 🙂
toadamine well put buddy! I've owned and ridden bikes since I was 8 and wasn't until 09 when I was about 26 I finally had an opportunity to try a brand new 05 CRF450R and I was impressed by the grunt it had for sure, like you said you gotta hang onto them and cover that clutch lol.. At the time I was riding my 00' CR250R, still have my 2t but since then I've obtained a 06' CRF450R.
I agree, my dad needs to downsize to a 250. On a side note if you are ever in southern Utah look up The Rock Roosters. I got a ride through an actual slot Canyon that is so secret only a handful of locals no about it. If your wondering how tight the fit is look up the video I posted of it.
My first dirtbike was a 2004 wr 450f I got it for 2400 from a cool old timer who told me that most 99% of people will never use the full potential of a 450. And I’m so happy it was my first bike lots of frustration sometimes but I learned so much on it and once I realized it’s about controlling the power it has and not just pinning it like 250s
I agree with you a 450 is definitely a lot of power to respect for some. I’m 30yrs old and on my 3rd 450 bike. Although I started at a young age trail riding on a pw50, rode 70s, 110s,125s, 250s and then worked my way into the 450s
I don't need 50+ hp, I just want it, because there aint nothin' like the feeling of hanging onto a rocket, though the slowest bike I ever owned was an xr 350 & I often refer to that bike as the most fun bike I ever owned.
most fun bike i ever had was this most likely chinese made 100cc 4 stroke bike that had no name or brand. my dad bougth it when i was like 5 and kept it in my grandpas farm where i sometimes rode as a passenger and my big brother also rode it. some years ago it stopped working and i grew up. now i was getting into dirtbikes and motrcycles so we pulled the bike out cleaned the carb and it started running. it worked for a month or two and i had so much fun on it. now it stopped working again and we opened the engine and came to the conclusion that the valves had not been tuned well and it broke or something. now we bought me a yz125 and its so much fun riding that too but its just so powerful and tall and its been quite hard to ride it now as its winter and slippery. i really want to fix the chinese bike and ride that since its quite low and has more usable power for riding on ice and snow. also the bike that im wheeling on my profile bike is the chinese bike. th-cam.com/video/USlypLZcBic/w-d-xo.html you can see the bike on 2:55 on that video my brother made in 2015. i also have no idea why im writing this since no one cares but i really got into it so whatever. i live in finland and english isnt my strong suit so mind that
@@paahtopro3950 Your English is perfect & that looks like a cool little bike. The YZ125 is the polar opposite of the little Chinese bike & I can imagine how odd it would feel in comparison. My XR 350 was fun but not very exciting. I much prefer the thrill of high horsepower & a high performance chassis, as I just love MotoX. As long as we keep the shiny side up it's all fun, no matter what one prefers to ride.
I know this is an old video but lately I’ve been tossing around what you’re talking about and totally agree! I’m going to stay in the 250/350 class. Only question is does your body weight factor in between a 250 and 450 as I’m 6ft 204 pounds (lean not fat)? I haven’t really noticed that heavier guys (some even fat) have a problem getting around on their 250F’s. Thanks, great advice/video.
old school 2smoker here.i started with 1 horsepower. yeah the kind with four legstroke.after years of riding 125s and 250s jumping on a cr 450 and the cr 500 was a dream come true.trails,dirt roads or the track.professional use only.
Moving down to a 250F was the best thing ever! After 2 different MX 250cc 2 strokes, a 525 & a KTM 300XC I got a 250F and I can ride the piss out of the thing for days and not be worn out. Out in the desert it leaves you wanting a little more power but on single track and 2 track it's the best. You make a great point about Kalib Russel on the 150, I raced a desert race on my 250F last year and in the last lap I was passing a half dozen guys on 450s that were too tired and worn out to maintain race pace.
I am a 210 lb. vet rider, I ride in the sand dunes at Glamis , Ocotillo Wells Desert, and all So. Cal MX tracks. I would not get the power with a 250f that i need to handle these conditions!
I watched this and listened to a number of guys around the track last year that were talking about dropping down to 250s. So I made the leap from 450 down to 250. 1st take away is a lot more shifting and clutch work. I would typically leave my 450 in 3rd gear all the way around. Now I'm having to shift like crazy and it honestly gets exhausting.
I've been riding for almost 40 yrs, my 97 CR250 2 Stroke is still plenty enough for me and I love riding it to this day. If I were to buy new, I'd definitely get into a KTM 350 2 Stroke.
I race CC and do a lot of my practice on MX tracks. I like the 450 over the 250 for a few reasons. #1- far less shifting. you can be a gear high or low and get through a corner or jump no problem. And I don't have a mechanic or the extra money to throw away rebuilding transmissions. More shifting=more wear and tear=more cost. #2- More available power through the whole RPM range. The smaller bore bikes are only efficient in the top end (again more wear and tear, more maintenance cost). The big bikes have incredible power at the top end and can lug the bottom while still producing power. Low RPM torque is sometimes better through technical sections. #3- The power is there when I need it. I don't always need it...wait, yes I do. The biggest problem with the 450s is they over heat easy. But you can fix that with a bigger water pump and maybe bigger radiators. Anyway 450>250
Marc Graham they're actually not a ton faster than a normal bike. Probably more responsive and definitely lighter mostly. But it's not like NASCAR or something where the race machines are nothing like their civilian counterparts
Christian Sagredo With the 250's there a pretty large gap between a factory setup and race setup. I've heard that the modern 250f race bikes make near 55hp which is a huge jump over stock bikes. I also heard that the 450's don't have as drastic a difference as there's only so much power you can put down and they get very tiresome to ride. The biggest difference between the 250f and the 450f race bikes is torque and powerband. A race 250f rides like a 85 2 stroke where you pretty much need to be on the clutch all the time as they have such narrow powebands. The 450f's have friendlier powerband with a lot more bottom end grunt.
Transworld motocross did an article on it a while back, they were saying that the factory KTM 250's were pumping out near 55 horsepower. I was also skeptical of the 9hp jump over the stock bikes but it's what they said.
Shane Erikson I'm talking engine horsepower, not wheel horsepower. A 2017 KTM 250 sxf makes 46 horsepower as per the tests, a 2017 KTM 450sxf makes 57 horsepower as per the tests. Look up the reviews yourself.
Shane Erikson mate james stewerts bike would have over 55. My fathers rm250 2 stroke has 50 horsepower stock and 450s have more from stock. (Crf250 are classed as a beginner 250)
Im 15 and I absolutely love my yz450fx, but im also a bigger kid at about 5'11" and 190Ibs and the bike suits me great through trails and at the track. Thanks for the video's they really help me riding!
I have a wr450F I’m 5,9 145 I’m not a big dude but I like my 450 more than a 250f way more I came off small bikes so i needed the power and speed to get out quick
I raced 250f's for years then eventually got a 450 (10 years ago). There was a huge learning curve and it's taken years to even start to be able to ride it well like with smaller bikes. That being said, I'm so glad I moved up to 450s when I did. I'd never go back!
Amaaazing review man!!!! your soo fricken true. I rode my small bore this weekend and i found myself really working on technique and cornering speed vs raw power. It truely makes you faster to master the smaller bore bikes before riding a 55 hp beast
+Dirt Bike Channel You Can't Be More Right! I Started On A Little tt-R 110 And I Even Raced COMPLETELY STOCK Squeezing Every Little Chunk Of Power Out Of That Little 'Beast'! I Got 2nd Against 65cc Bikes. Now I Am Riding A YZ 85! Just For The Record I Am Currently 11! Thanks For The Tips
RANDOMBOI I was ganna get wr450 and just dual sport it, but watching this vid is making me think again .. should I get a 250 for pure dirt but then I can't ride the bike Home cause it's not street legal argh..
Couldn't' agree more. My first dirt bike, age 53, was a KTM 525. Had a 12-52 sprocket ratio and got pretty good with it on tougher rocky mountain trails, BUT....trying to muscle that power around was an extreme workout. Plus the few times I whisky throttled it got ugly real fast. Off the trail, into some trees which caught the right handlebar, radiator, and knee. Split the knee guard in 4 places and severely tore my PCL tendon.Now I'm leaning towards a 250-300 2 stroke, but your review on the 150's was interesting,........ but I'm 6'-2" and 210.Great video, thanks!Jack
A 450 just lasts forever whit a beginner/medium rider. Its also a maintenance question i think!😉✊🏼✊🏼 you schoud try the Beta 390 its the best of 2 worlds.💪🏼✊🏼✊🏼
I don't know the data, but i think the 450 lasts longer becose a normal rider canot rev thim that mutch. Love your video's by the way. Sadly im the kind of person getting dizzy whatching helmet cams😫
The 450 dirt bikes are my least favorite models of any of the bikes I have owned/tested. I'd rather ride anything else 90 percent of the time. 250s and 350s are much more fun to ride IMO.
Dirt Bike Channel , if you say the 450 is too much, and a 250 builds skill. Wouldn't the same be true for a 125 2t? I'm looking at 150xcw , 30 years old btw. Current rip is SXV 550. Never ridden off-road but looking to start.
I took your advise and bought a 2018 Husqvarna TC 250 2 stroke motocross bike. I then ordered $4500 in parts for it. Air forks, Brembo brakes, and 2 stage digital ignition mapping on the fly. Hydraulic clutch, break away levers and stainless hoses for all, and all factory. I added Vforce 4R reeds, RK Tek head for 110 octane fuel, and FMF Fatty Motto pipe with titanium Pwer Core 2.1 silencer. I hope to get close to the speed of the 450F. lol.
My first adult bike was a 1986 KX500, that being said I learned a few hard lessons. But in time I loved the old green machine. Currently ride a new KX450x, not the 500 from back in the day but it still puts a grin on my face. I can’t see stepping down to a 250, yeah I could ride the hell out of it and probably still never reach the bikes full potential but it wouldn’t be as fun for me and that’s what it’s all about.
I agree I weigh roughly 155lbs so a 300cc will pull my ass around all day long plus it's 95kg plus less weight means more power for your bike plus the bike will have over head power
I agree. I started racing motocross on a cr250 2 stroke. Raced it for 2 years. Then I bought a cr125 2 stroke as a second bike, and I ended up selling the 250. When I was on the cr250 is was constantly a question of "how much throttle do I use" and on the cr125 its "wide-fucking-open or no gas". Being pinned on a 125 2 stroke is about as fun as one can have.
I'm 5'7, 130 pounds. Got a 250 2 stroke a week ago, my first dirt bike and first time on a dirt bike ever. That thing barely acknowledges my existence on the steepest of slopes!
I'm 5'10" 155#, started riding in about 1994 on a '81 XR200, a few years later I got a 1994 CR250, then didn't ride for about 15 years... and then just this year I got the bug again and got a 2008 RMZ450... I ride trails, hard enduro and endurocross type stuff... I absolutely love the 450 😍
Flip Flop 2 strokes are much more simple. the gas and oil are combined prior to going in fuel tank, and the piston performs pretty much every job. look up videos on how two strokes work-- the good ones are less than 3 minutes.
+Nicholas Tobin The 230 is a relatively heavy bike if I am not mistaken? To me that can be as much of a hinderence to new offroad riders as being on a purpose built MX bike or a bike with too much power. Both can be handful.
Own both! I have a 2014 RMZ450 and a 2013 KX250F and love them both equally.....the 450 is soooooo much fun to just BRAAAP it up a jump last second and get you to the landing, and the 250 is fun to pin it and take twisty turns with ease...
I have owned every thing from a yz125 up to a exc500 and i can say the 250 two stroke was the hardest bike to ride and owning it made me want to quit riding haha.
No trail rider I know talks about the power of their big bores, they talk about it's manners. I could ride a 150 2t but it would take alot more work as they don't lug around nicely (stay on the pipe!), old guys like the 300 2t because they lug around so comfortably in the low rpms. The only modern 4t ive ridden on the trail was the 250 xcfw, and while I liked it, I would most likely want the 350 on rough climbs since the 250s power is higher in the RPMs and need to ride the hell out of the clutch (more than usual i found). Plus the 250 didnt launch as well off of obstacles. An SX would, but its not great for trails.
+Zedro nurinburg this. riding trails and doing slower technical stuff i find it much better using the controllable bottom end of a 450. After being on a 450 so many years when i get on a 250 it just feels weak...
Started on a TTR-230, quickly jumped up to an 06 Crf250R raced MX for years on it then jumped up to a 450 and am very happy with it. 250f was a beast for years but once you can ride wide open in the corners and rag it out on straight aways then, MAYBE then is it time for more power! Have seen many people wrestle a 450 and lose!
Every time I crack the throttle on my 450 bald eagles fly outta the exhaust.
This is the best comment of the week.
This is such a good comment, I want to send you a shirt. Email me at kyle@dirtbikechannel.com with a shipping address and your shirt size (if you want to), and I'll see about sending one to you free of charge.
Dirt Bike Channel haha thanks i appreciate it (though I'm a 2 stroke guy at heart).
STANKDOG best reply yet!!! Lol, you can just see liberty and justice for all flying out of your tail pipe lmao!! Nice.
Best comment I have ever seen on TH-cam!
Do I need a 450? No
Do I want a 450? Yes
I love my 250 on single track. I love my 450 in the dunes.
Do i need a 450? No
Do i have a 450? Yes
Has it cleaned my plate? Yes
Dies it hurt after every track day? Yes
In conclusion do you still want it? Yes🤣🤘🏼
@Ernesto Lopez heck no stay on at 85 until you’re 5’5” 5’6” and 13 or older and idk how much you Way but if you’re even 140 pounds it will still pull you around just fine
@Ernesto Lopez I know somebody on a KX 100 oh is 5’8” and rips it
@Ernesto Lopez man from a racer standpoint I would definitely stay on the 85 I am 14 and 5’6” and everybody’s telling me to stay on my 85 for longer if you can stay on the 85 you Will learn how to use every bit of power out of the bike
With dirt bikes it isn't about what you need, it's about what you want.
Very true
You certainly have a point. Can't argue that one with you :)
its about how good you are
i see people with 100cc bikes are faster than i am on my 150cc its because there better at riding
size dosent matter its the way you use it
@@CustomcrowdMitroc I'd agree in most case's size doesn't much matter but out in the dunes there's no replacement for displacement.
I used to think power was king in all conditions till a 120lb 15 year old passed me in a rock bed on the back tire riding a ‘98 YZ125.
I sold the 450 and joined Weight Watchers 😂
Do I need a 450: no
Do I like to test my luck: yes
TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU XD
do you really need a 700hp rwd car? do you really need a supermodel wife?
no/yes
you are asking the real questions here
austin_mopar yes
My wife was a model and my superduty is 625hp at the back wheels. 250 n 500 2 strokes are the only way. . Did i mention my sportsman 1000xp is on 30s and over 100hp lol
do i really need to answer that?
ALL are HIGH MAINTENANCE. ;)
250 2 strokes are the sweet spot for me! Light, flickable, lugable, powerful.
Andrew Cameron I totally agree with the 2 stroke part I am 13 and racing a yz 85 I don't ever want a four stroke love that power band
yeah but if you dont need the power of the 450 you dont need the power of a 250 2 stroke lol but i got one its a 09 yz250 i looked up the specs and it stock compared to a stock 450 is only a difference of 3 hp
Andrew Cameron I whole heartedly agree. Sure I have a 450R but I will always have my 2nd Gen AF CR250R.
No. I have had so much fun on my CR 250X. My son and I just enjoy messing around and I'm 46 and would love to see 47. Hahahahaha!
3 hp must make a world of a difference, I smoke every single 250 smoker that's tried to go up against me at the local tt track lol yz450f this thing is insane. I stopped riding my cr250 because it feels like a 125 now, either way 250s are still fun
Another reason why you see a lot of 450's is because you do not have to rebuild them near as offten as the 250f.
THAT is a totally legitimate observation! Back when all the capable dirt bikeswere 2 strokes it was common knowledge that 125 top ends lasted nowhere near as long as 250s which lasted nowhere near as long as 500s...125s had to be ridden "on the pipe" revving their guts out whereas someone would have to REALLY REALLY be talented to do that with the 250 while no mere mortals could do it with a 500 ...hence the 500 top ends (properly maintained) lasted like forever! .....same applies to 4 strokes .... in the dirt ...not many are going to flailing a 450 dirt bike like it's a 125! Not for long anyway....short bursts is all
I learned about displacement with my first bike. I bought a brand new Yamaha175 enduro when I was 15. It was mildly tuned street legal. My friend had a Yamaha 125 MX built on identical platform....his had a big carb, an expansion chamber and close ratio transmission ....he boasted his bike would be way faster than mine ...at first that was true but once I took all the street crap off my bike and learned to ride? I could just barely beat him...which pissed him off no doubt. 50cc more than made up for 2mm less carb and milder porting...plus my bike (I imagine) was easier to ride...I just kicked myself for not buying the 175mx! Identical in every respect but color to the 125mx except for 50cc! (bigger bore/piston).....I love me some displacement!
This is literally the only reason I wanted a 450. I know for a fact that I can beat a beginner on a 450 on my 250f
@@dougiequick1 yes but you can do a top end on a 125 for $100 in 20 min. not an issue. Stay on the pipe. Lol
ikr
You don't NEED 90% of the shit you have, but life isn't about having the bare minimum.
You should understand that concept wearing a BCM hat.
Hellyeah! Thats why I built a gucci Recce 14 instead of some off the shelf M&P15.
@@kevinking1750 solid choice 🤙
Ha, I didn’t even notice the hat. I rock my LWRC Xiphos SBR while on my bike just in case I run into trouble. Jk. 😆Maybe the only time I don’t have it. 🙂
BCM is the bare minimum ;)
Yeah, I know I can't use all the power of my 450, but then again I'm just a weekend warrior and I like to have the torgue. I don't really care whether or not I'll be able to use all the power of the bike, rather I just want to have fun and the 450 makes jumping and cornering a lot easier with the rubber band like power. I'd probably be tiny bit faster on a smaller displacement bike, but my cardio is so shit anyways that it won't really matter after 3 laps. :D Also the 450 needs a little bit less maintenance on the engine than smaller displacement bikes, especially since I can go pretty fast on it even with half throttle.
If I had the money I'd also get a 350f and a 125 or 150, but having a limited budget sucks.
You summed it up champ. The power is good regardless of if you need it, less maintenance and who cares. We'd all have another bike if we could afford it.
im exactly the same weekend hobby.
first ever motorcross bike and still love the thing 2006 kx450f.
i used to marshall at my local track and the only bikes i ever saw blow were 250's as they are revved all the way just to get over the jumps.
Too much power is the worst one can have. You will probably never learn how to ride properly.
As a 230# Rider I totally agree with this. I have a 250f and a 300xc. I'm faster on the 250f, but I'm winding it out so much harder
im 6'3 at 250lbs and i ride a yam TTR 250 and i can fly on it like nothing else, i have mastered the machine better than most
yes, on a track you dont need a 450 nessisarily, but on open trails its alot nicer to have a 450
I grew up riding but took about a 6 year break due to financial situation. When I came back recently I looked up videos like this to see which would suit me better 250f or 450f and all these videos said the same thing “no one needs a 450” but after buying my 250f I realized it wasn’t enough for me and I was out growing it soon after getting back into riding. I ended up getting a 450f and they in my opinion are waaaaay better and not much different. I’d recommend a 450 over a 250 if you know how to ride somewhat
This guy is basing his opinions as facts and it’s annoying, he said “you guys can’t take the fact you can’t handle these three number” like many many can my guy you are one that can’t 😂
Too soon to tell but I come from a background of two wheels and skill activities. Got my first bike, husy 450 this past weekend. It’s fast but I don’t think I’m going to take myself out with it. Still haven’t had the need to wring it all the way out either but I should know if I screwed up or not within a month or so
Do I really need a gf when I have my hand?
No
Haha, that’s funny because...
No 😂
Type and jerk just type and jerk
Lmfaooo
My first bike was a yz450f I regret nothing
Im in the same boat but it's a been made street legal so we're probably doing different riding
I’m 5”8 would I fit on it
@@MxMax-iu9dt they mean without training wheels
Dougie Quick I mean everyone can fit on one, just it suits different heights of different people
If you can do a wheelie in 2-3rd gear on a 250f, I don't see the point. I want more power during some things, but the lack of control on single track that 450 owners get is pathetic.
Kyle, you could have focused on facts a bit more: how 4 strokes 'wear' weight higher up, wet weights for 450 4 stroke versus 250 2 stroke, how hard it is to pickup a downed 450 on an off camber trail, torque curves, suspension etc. Focusing on "do you need the extra power" always falls short.
I think part of the popularity of the 450s is the showroom floor. You see a WR250F next to a WR450F. $8k vs $9k sticker price, and 13lbs different. You have to know you want a 250 to not just automatically get the 450.
I think a 450 dual sport makes a lot of sense, but it seems like everyone's just making 250 dual sports instead.
Good points.
I got a 390 dual sport. Almost more power than I need
Nicoya true. You know here at a lot of dealers tho the 450 is the cheaper one they want premiums for 250's a lot of guys don't think or are afraid to get the 450. I think anyways because I've seen some much better deals on 450's
I'm not too proud to admit that my 2016 YZ450FX has more power than I need. But I have had several 250 four strokes that needed constant valve attention due to running them hard to extract that power, revving to the moon. I do agree that beginners and novices have no good reason to buy a 450.
Exactly! Just keep hurting the 250f's so 450 was the answer in order to have reliability.
I'm 6ft2 and 280lbs been riding bikes since I was 8 years old, but have had a few years off the Motocross, what should I be getting for a bit of track riding and a bit of off road trails??
Kieran Evans YZ250X/FX or the KTM EXC/XC series would be great
Blasphemy
Bro I just saw a video of a GSX-R1000 swap on a dirtbike and it looks fun as hell!!!
STF gang
I choose life
@@tannerbarber9833 😂
A guy I work with, his twin broth out the GSX-R 1000 motor in a hill climbing bike.
1 word
dunes.
Absolutely......was gonna say the same.
Willy D what is that suppose to mean? Do you need a 450 in the dunes over a 250 or 250 over a 450? I’m going to the dunes for the first time and I have a newer 450f
Schyler Parker 450 has more lower to mid end torque which will help you in the sand.
Hey what up stay in tune to fly off in to set still into
@@Swayze1997 hey you to drop down.grap blue up I to still stick wood floors down ram up rpm to flights stars on 450 go off to drop down grind to sparks fly off this two bike rides slide to clay stuck into the side off to see bring set something to glue to the bikes to trim up the clear was off to clean the we sale good bike to ride to work into the side off come clean off this ssldof bikes to produce to high product to sale clean new on site of to grap to choice of sale colors of mine black white to tip of wire in to see mix up pile up higher
Im going to pick up a yz450 tomorrow:) its my first bike... Edit: so after looking at a 426 I realized no way I’m learning on this so I bought a ttr125l for 1700 sold it in a month then bought a 2006 yz250f for 1850 then 3 months later I bought a 2006 r6 for 3400 at 15, I’m 16 now.
@@poketbike6488 hahah I'm 15 and I ride a 450
I also have no idea what I'm doing lol I figured I wanted somthing I wouldnt out grow
Gus The Bus how much did it cost ?
@@polar2737 I paid 2450, and 100 for a title transfer
Gus The Bus you‘d outgrow a 850 if they had them. After a few years you’ll see a model drop that you can’t live without. Regardless once you get to big bikes, It doesn’t matter. Everything you can do with a 450 on the track, you can do with a 250 and you’ll be much more comfortable doing so.
Yea, but if you wanna turn it into a Dual Sport, the 450 is needed for the road.
lol I ride dirtbike, all kinds mainly 450s but man ur right u need a big bike for the road.. I tried my buddies 2012 cbr125... wow just wow soo gutless its not even funny
Agreed, I'm a total noob in the dirt and would probably be better off with a 250 but I ride on the street 90% of the time.
then get a road bike
+PF68 lol
PF68 Yea, but you can't take that one on the dirt
You don't need it...
You want it
Lots of guys can relate, for sure.
This video makes me want a 500 2 stroke
2 stroke for life
I have a 2015 WR450 and love it. I went to Costa Rica last summer and got on the same bike and commenced to taking soil samples. The next day my guide put me on a 2013 WR250. What a huge difference! I stayed on it for the rest of the trip and did much better. I learned a lot too. I like the 450 for more open riding and I love the ridiculous torque on hillclimbs. But I think you hit it spot on in this video. Modern 250 bikes are just a ton of fun to ride on the trails and I never had a problem getting up a mountain in Costa Rica. I'm a 250 lb rider and if I did it again I would get a 250. Great video!
I agree, modern 450 4-strokes are beastly bikes with tremendous power. But you can't compare the showroom models (the 450s that normal people ride) with the factory equipment ridden by Dungey, Roczen and Webb. They have "those three numbers" but they are definitely not the same.
When shopping for my 450, I made sure to get a fuel-injected model (2016 WR450F) that can be tuned / detuned for the conditions. When detuned, it kinda sucks not having 100% power but also it is very helpful to have progressive power delivery when trying to navigate tight single track.
Also, I am big (6'2", 250 lb.) and while the injected 450 is still a handful, the big bike suits my size well. I'll never be able to use all the power but of course it's not often that I have it wide open. And since I'm rarely pushing this 450 to its limits, it is reasonable to expect it to last longer than a 250 being wrung out on a regular basis.
Finally, yes ego plays a part. The 450 thumpers are SO badass! But this time I decided to treat myself -- this is the first really nice, really modern bike I've ever owned and I'm enjoying it quite a lot. I come from a 1984 XR500R, 1995 XR250R, 1999 YZ400F and a 2003 XR400R. None of these bikes are modern but some of them are big and powerful... the XR500R was a beast and the YZF was a handful too. So I'm used to bigger bikes with good power, and I believed with my size and riding experience that I'd do pretty well on an injected 450. And I am! :D
EDIT: I would have bought a 350F if there was an affordable used one on the market that does everything I need. This "sweet spot" between a 250 and 450 really deserves more attention from manufacturers. I'm convinced they would sell a zillion 350s if they would listen to the market and produce a good one at a fair price.
One thing you're missing is that riding at altitude you lose 3 percent of your horsepower for every 1000 feet of elevation, at 9 k ft you're down 27 percent of your hp, that's why bigger is sometimes better
I find tracks are set up with the jumps closer out of the corners these days, and without proper corner speed it's hard to huck the jumps, that's where the power of the 450 comes in handy for me because I'm not Webb in the corners and if I screw up a twist of the throttle and I don't come up short... I always say there's safety in power. Plus I'm 6'3 so the bigger bike feels more comfortable personally.
I get what you are saying.
it's always more fun and exciting riding a less powerful bike flat out than riding a powerful bike slower
+Keith Swales I couldn't say it better myself.
totally agree.... again and again.... what a good video from you mate
+Dany Barceloux Thanks for the support Dany.
+Keith Swales It is easier to ride a smaller cc but sometimes its fun to ride a bigger bike. The power from my dads cr500 actually allows my to ride with more confidence sometimes because of the extra torque compared to my yz125.
id disagree, last night i rode my friends crf150 flat out on a sandy trail with a ton of whoops and jumps that i could easily cruise through on my wr426 going much faster.
after i was done with the 150, i was extremely wore out, the suspension was bottoming out on every jump and there was a dead zone between 2nd and 3rd where the engine didnt have enough power to keep speed in 3rd but was sitting on the limiter in 2nd.
was it fun? hell yeah. was it better than my wr426? not by a long shot, especially if you ride for long periods of time or are racing.
No one NEEDS a 450 but dammmn they're fun
I just like rolling the throttle and working the low end of the power. I also love how long lasting the engines are because of this. I've ridden 250cc four strokes but didn't care for the way they develope their power.
The combo of a 450 and a mostly bald rear tire is fucking hilarious fun though haha
Perfect for a filthy Australian bush gumby.
Lol I feel ya. I’ve got a CR250 with a nearly bald rear tire and that fuckin thing will try to kill you at any turn
Yes!!
450s are for old guys with massive beer gut so it can lug them up a hill without stalling
Can’t I do that on a CRF250L without stalling?
Depends on the size of the beer gut 😂😂😂
Thank you so much for making this vid! Im one of those teenagers that wanted a 450... im gonna squeeze all i can out of my 2008 yz250f
My first bike was a 2005 yz450f when I was in 8th grade, that year it only had 4 gears for more torque in the low end. For the first year I was pretty terrified coming out of turns with it, not gonna lie. Then I rode a 250f and it felt kinda boring and I was glad I got the 450. Riding is riding you don’t need to be told what you should do. After that first year I was on it non stop and had a blast!
im 120-130 pounds 15 years old
I ride a yz450f
Very similar to the riding kyle does..
Ill tell you i LOVE IT!!
your never lacking power no mater how slow or fast your going... Its got power in the low revs all the way to high rpms
When going through technical rocky bits Its SO! incredibly easy. You let it idle along with no throttle and the bike does all the work. I just hang on and stear it.
Its got so much bottom end and the suspension is great it goes climbs up and over with ease.
And Yes it feels heavy when your going slow through technical parts.
But the handling on motocross bikes is awesome.
Though it definitely can be TOO much power. you hit a rock unexpectedly and get whiskey throttle then its a problem
Starting on something less and growing in skill is really where the fun is though.
Well I'm 6ft and 255lb+ so yeah, I kinda do.
I'm 6 ft 4 269 lbs. I need something bigger than my current 150. At very least height wise.... so I opted in to buy a new Kawasaki kx450f!
6ft 240, just got a Suzuki DRZ 400, I love it
No u don’t you’ll fit a 50 better
How is the dirt bike cuz im around the same height and weight i
I’m 6’1” 220 and a 250 (especially in the sand where I ride mostly) just doesn’t cut it lol. Had to upgrade to the kx450. Now with the 450 in the dirt it’s a bit much compared to what I’m used to, but sand it’s perfect for me.
Agreed... We need to bring back the bigger bore 2 strokes Ktm/Husky etc. 350-380cc oil injection, electronic power valve, latest fuel injection, anti-vibration built into the bike.. Look at the latest snowmobiles they have all of that just saying thanks
still a 300 but the new betas have oil injection
+James Christie Have you ever owned a ktm 380 300cc ktm's fall flat in the middle of the power band they can do a lot better!
+plumbit111 I agree with that. Fortunately the KTM has a lot of tuning options to help with the power band, like the powervalve. Although dynojet info online shows the softer powervalve springs making the most power, they make the middle power band feel very flat to me. I have been using the stock(middle) spring now with 3 turns of pre load and have found it helps the middle tremendously, but at the expense of max power.
I'll tell you... Every now and then we come across an open field and ripping a 450 is SO much fun
After spending the last 14 years riding and racing 450’s I just purchased an 18 KTM300 and OMG I’m so happy to be back on a 2 stroke. I wish I had given up my 450 years ago! So light, so fun, I’m loving it.
i ride a crf250r BUT I NEED A 450 FOR WHEN IM RIDING AROUND TRYNA GET TO TRAILS N POLICE WANNA CHASE
hahaha
I need to upgrade my yz250f to keep up to my friends on there 450's!!
get urself a yz or cr 250 (2stroke) if u don't have a disposable income 2 strokes are for u and really a 250 2 stoke vs a 450 4 stroke motor to motor are comparable power wise.
I got the money for a 450, just need to make sure I can really rip my 250 before jumping on a 450, could'nt do a 2 Stoke anyway not my thing
+Cameron Vajda No, u need to increase skills. I'd say ur friends with 450s try to make up speed with power instead of skill. Most of the time, a rider with skill, can ride just as fast as a guy not as skilled, bit with bigger bikes. get ur skills down, and u might even blow them away
I have a kx250 two stroke and a kx450f. I can handle the 250 much better but I do find myself using more energy on the smaller bike. As a senior rider/racer I ride with a little more finess than the younger riders and that's where the xtra HP really comes in handy.
And no I don't need all that power but it's nice to have. Hahaha
But if you are going to buy a 450 just make sure your ready for it and respect it. It really can hurt you !
maybe stop riding motocross bikes on trails, get a WR or YZ450FX or CR450X or 450XCF-W that is tamer, but still has the torque? I weigh 240 pounds, I wouldn't be able to do what I do on a 250.
+Jordan Carroll Maybe let people make up their own minds.
+Silicon Toad I'm with you fellas.
Ktm 450 xcw has same power like 450 exc right ?
yeah, but a wide ratio gear-box
+Jordan Carroll - Wide ratio is nice. No denying that!
Some people like to push whatever machine they happen to be riding. I’m one of those people. I love the feeling of wringing a bike out for all it’s worth, having to maintain momentum and be strategic with gear selection. On a 450 a lot of that feeling goes away because the torque is immense and it’s unnecessary to really wring it out. I can ride a 450 just fine but it’s very difficult to ride in a hyper aggressive style for me. I prefer 125s and 250fs for this reason. I grew up on a 250 2 stroke. I’m 5-11 200lb.
I’m 60. My first dirt bike since my 1978 RM 125? A 1999 Yamaha WR 400. 38 years since my last ride in the dirt. Three years on and I wouldn’t have anything else. I have test ridden the new lighter and smaller displacement Huskys and KTM’s and I still prefer the solidity and torque of the WR. I’m 185 lbs. and I do several enduro events every season and also about 600 miles of knarly rocky trails in cottage country in northern Ontario every summer. My WR is geared up and will easily do 100mph...on dirt roads. It’s a blast. I just like how easy and under stressed it goes about its business. I also love the 4.7 litre V8 in my Toyota 4 Runner. A two litre turbo pisspot? In an SUV? You can have it. You’ll have to pry my 450 from my cold dead fingers!
The most likely reason why there are more 450cc 4 strokes is because the price difference between the 250cc vs 450cc is usually only $1,500.00. Which is a small price difference and in return you are getting more horsepower and yes you have to learn to control the throttle more so than 250cc.
+Dale MacDonald Exactly...
Dale MacDonald the reason the 450 is popular and the 250 2 stroke is popular is because it is the standard of professional motorcross
sounds like my wife, do really need that doughnut? well fkn duh! YEEES!
I'm still waiting on seeing that 450 gone, and YZ250X in its place. If you do get rid of it, you gotta stay blue! Nice video, I agree completely.
+Pixel Junkie I sold it a few weeks ago, I just still have footage of it.
+Dirt Bike Channel When you sold it, were you wondering in your mind, can this guy truly handle it, or is he falling into the same mindset as many...I just have to have the bigger displacement.
+billg1374 haha. Thats exactly what I did when iI bought my 450fx. I shoulda bought a 250.
+billg1374 No, the guy that bought it is a really good desert racer. I'm sure he's a far better rider than I am. He's coming off of a 450 and he's going to do really well on this bike too.
+Pixel Junkie I could totally see it being replaced by a new YZ250FX
For my first bike, I wanted to get me a 250. But i thought it over, and went with a 189cc, because I thought 250 was a tad too much. I’m very happy with my bike. I’m going to learn, get more experience, drill the fundamentals into my head, and then after a few years of riding, I’ll get my 250.
I started motocross an enduro a year ago. I own a '11 KTM exc250f and I'm happy every day I ride this bike! This video explains exactly what is so great about a lighter bike. In enduro I'm just as fast as the other riders on the 450/500cc bikes and that actually really cool. Personly I think it's really awesome to be able to use ALL OF THE BIKE. When i rode my 560 smr (converted to enduro) on the loose sand... no faster! Finding traction is a second.
Advise: 250 or 350 4 stroke is really nice and lightweight.
I have a te 449 and yes I don't need all the power on the trails but I do need it on the street. so guess it depends on the rider.
Experienced and heavier riders need more power. The KTM 300 is great but I wish some builder like KTM made an even bigger tourqey 350 or 400 off road 2 stroke again. For an experienced recreational rider who wants to ride all types of terrain, the 450/500 4 strokes do it all. Big steep hills, deep sand hills, got to have a big bore. Also a recreational rider will get more hours out of the big bore engine simply because they aren't likely to be riding in the high rpm range as much. However they are more of a challenge to ride as increased throttle control is critical on a big bore on tight technical & slippery terrain.
Well, the YZ is a race bike. They make the WR for trail riding.
The WR is still very powerful... after you do the free mods... I ride a WR250f, and it's very fast.
Great video. VERY informative. I am selling my CRF450R because I quit riding. Bought a KTM 350 and LOVE it. My 350 may even have too much power. Now I am enjoying riding more than ever! I finally realized it's about myself having fun. Thanks!
I got my wr450 near 2 years ago when I was 15 and stepping from a Dr350 to the WR even though I'm not a massively experienced rider I still do prefer the 450. It's now road registered and still as awesome as ever 👌
if you have good throttle/clutch control it's awesome to have that massive grunt right off the bottom, but you should definitely ride a smaller bike if your prone to the occasional whiskey throttle and don't always ride with one finger on the clutch... you'll get into in trouble fast. I rode Dirtbikes for five years before ever getting on a 450 and it scared the crap out of me for the first week or so... YMMV 🙂
toadamine well put buddy! I've owned and ridden bikes since I was 8 and wasn't until 09 when I was about 26 I finally had an opportunity to try a brand new 05 CRF450R and I was impressed by the grunt it had for sure, like you said you gotta hang onto them and cover that clutch lol.. At the time I was riding my 00' CR250R, still have my 2t but since then I've obtained a 06' CRF450R.
I agree, my dad needs to downsize to a 250. On a side note if you are ever in southern Utah look up The Rock Roosters. I got a ride through an actual slot Canyon that is so secret only a handful of locals no about it. If your wondering how tight the fit is look up the video I posted of it.
Thanks for sharing.
Yamaha Yz250 ftw!
+Dries Fontaine yeeep
+XiferTehPenguin
XR 400 with mods has double the torque
for trails tho?
YeahWeRepTheSameSmartech xr400 for life!
Nah bro CR250 whoops anything in the 250 category
My first dirtbike was a 2004 wr 450f I got it for 2400 from a cool old timer who told me that most 99% of people will never use the full potential of a 450. And I’m so happy it was my first bike lots of frustration sometimes but I learned so much on it and once I realized it’s about controlling the power it has and not just pinning it like 250s
I agree with you a 450 is definitely a lot of power to respect for some. I’m 30yrs old and on my 3rd 450 bike. Although I started at a young age trail riding on a pw50, rode 70s, 110s,125s, 250s and then worked my way into the 450s
"Do you really need a 500 two stroke?"
+DirtRider500R Nope.
+Dirt Bike Channel Meh. If nothing else you'll never have to worry about under-jumping
yes yes I do
+DirtRider500R I died laughing when I read that.
Maico 700 2-stroke or go home. Yes, they still make that monster
I don't need 50+ hp, I just want it, because there aint nothin' like the feeling of hanging onto a rocket, though the slowest bike I ever owned was an xr 350 & I often refer to that bike as the most fun bike I ever owned.
David Day it's not about power , it's all about torque....
@@wickedleeloopy2115 electric bikes it is then
most fun bike i ever had was this most likely chinese made 100cc 4 stroke bike that had no name or brand. my dad bougth it when i was like 5 and kept it in my grandpas farm where i sometimes rode as a passenger and my big brother also rode it. some years ago it stopped working and i grew up. now i was getting into dirtbikes and motrcycles so we pulled the bike out cleaned the carb and it started running. it worked for a month or two and i had so much fun on it. now it stopped working again and we opened the engine and came to the conclusion that the valves had not been tuned well and it broke or something. now we bought me a yz125 and its so much fun riding that too but its just so powerful and tall and its been quite hard to ride it now as its winter and slippery. i really want to fix the chinese bike and ride that since its quite low and has more usable power for riding on ice and snow.
also the bike that im wheeling on my profile bike is the chinese bike.
th-cam.com/video/USlypLZcBic/w-d-xo.html
you can see the bike on 2:55 on that video my brother made in 2015.
i also have no idea why im writing this since no one cares but i really got into it so whatever.
i live in finland and english isnt my strong suit so mind that
@@paahtopro3950 Your English is perfect & that looks like a cool little bike. The YZ125 is the polar opposite of the little Chinese bike & I can imagine how odd it would feel in comparison.
My XR 350 was fun but not very exciting. I much prefer the thrill of high horsepower & a high performance chassis, as I just love MotoX.
As long as we keep the shiny side up it's all fun, no matter what one prefers to ride.
I know this is an old video but lately I’ve been tossing around what you’re talking about and totally agree! I’m going to stay in the 250/350 class. Only question is does your body weight factor in between a 250 and 450 as I’m 6ft 204 pounds (lean not fat)? I haven’t really noticed that heavier guys (some even fat) have a problem getting around on their 250F’s. Thanks, great advice/video.
i most certainly did NOT need my 450 but my man i was born to fucken send it on the track.
old school 2smoker here.i started with 1 horsepower. yeah the kind with four legstroke.after years of riding 125s and 250s jumping on a cr 450 and the cr 500 was a dream come true.trails,dirt roads or the track.professional use only.
I'll take a 250 2 Stroke anyday!
+Happy G. I here you there!
I think the point is a 250 four stroke.
only two stroke!
Pass me your man card....you're done.
Jason Adler you sound insecure in your ability as a man
u sound like you don't get humour
Jason Adler his wife was holding a gun on him off camera. This must be being made under duress.
😂😂😂😂😂
Jason Adler 😂😂😂🤦🏿♂️lmfaoo
When you know how to use the torque from a 4 stroke, 250 will do fine on medium terrain. Uphill needs power, the rest is testosterone.
Moving down to a 250F was the best thing ever! After 2 different MX 250cc 2 strokes, a 525 & a KTM 300XC I got a 250F and I can ride the piss out of the thing for days and not be worn out. Out in the desert it leaves you wanting a little more power but on single track and 2 track it's the best.
You make a great point about Kalib Russel on the 150, I raced a desert race on my 250F last year and in the last lap I was passing a half dozen guys on 450s that were too tired and worn out to maintain race pace.
Thanks for sharing.
I am a 210 lb. vet rider, I ride in the sand dunes at Glamis , Ocotillo Wells Desert, and all So. Cal MX tracks. I would not get the power with a 250f that i need to handle these conditions!
What about 450 for a supermoto build?
madcuzbad
This isn’t a supermoto channel
To late got a yz490 bored out 500cc as my first bike
What happened to throttle control? Am I missing something here... do 450s only have one power setting?🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️
I watched this and listened to a number of guys around the track last year that were talking about dropping down to 250s. So I made the leap from 450 down to 250. 1st take away is a lot more shifting and clutch work. I would typically leave my 450 in 3rd gear all the way around. Now I'm having to shift like crazy and it honestly gets exhausting.
I've been riding for almost 40 yrs, my 97 CR250 2 Stroke is still plenty enough for me and I love riding it to this day. If I were to buy new, I'd definitely get into a KTM 350 2 Stroke.
How dare you describe me so perfectly
I race CC and do a lot of my practice on MX tracks. I like the 450 over the 250 for a few reasons. #1- far less shifting. you can be a gear high or low and get through a corner or jump no problem. And I don't have a mechanic or the extra money to throw away rebuilding transmissions. More shifting=more wear and tear=more cost. #2- More available power through the whole RPM range. The smaller bore bikes are only efficient in the top end (again more wear and tear, more maintenance cost). The big bikes have incredible power at the top end and can lug the bottom while still producing power. Low RPM torque is sometimes better through technical sections. #3- The power is there when I need it. I don't always need it...wait, yes I do. The biggest problem with the 450s is they over heat easy. But you can fix that with a bigger water pump and maybe bigger radiators. Anyway 450>250
whenigrowupiwannadie same my Crf450 has a first gear that does 30mph i dont ever venture into 3rd on the track
Cooper web's 250 is highly modified it's not a stock 250 it probably has the power of the stock production 450. Not a fair comparison.
Marc Graham they're actually not a ton faster than a normal bike. Probably more responsive and definitely lighter mostly. But it's not like NASCAR or something where the race machines are nothing like their civilian counterparts
Christian Sagredo With the 250's there a pretty large gap between a factory setup and race setup. I've heard that the modern 250f race bikes make near 55hp which is a huge jump over stock bikes. I also heard that the 450's don't have as drastic a difference as there's only so much power you can put down and they get very tiresome to ride. The biggest difference between the 250f and the 450f race bikes is torque and powerband. A race 250f rides like a 85 2 stroke where you pretty much need to be on the clutch all the time as they have such narrow powebands. The 450f's have friendlier powerband with a lot more bottom end grunt.
Transworld motocross did an article on it a while back, they were saying that the factory KTM 250's were pumping out near 55 horsepower. I was also skeptical of the 9hp jump over the stock bikes but it's what they said.
Shane Erikson I'm talking engine horsepower, not wheel horsepower. A 2017 KTM 250 sxf makes 46 horsepower as per the tests, a 2017 KTM 450sxf makes 57 horsepower as per the tests. Look up the reviews yourself.
Shane Erikson mate james stewerts bike would have over 55. My fathers rm250 2 stroke has 50 horsepower stock and 450s have more from stock. (Crf250 are classed as a beginner 250)
Im 15 and I absolutely love my yz450fx, but im also a bigger kid at about 5'11" and 190Ibs and the bike suits me great through trails and at the track. Thanks for the video's they really help me riding!
I have a wr450F I’m 5,9 145 I’m not a big dude but I like my 450 more than a 250f way more I came off small bikes so i needed the power and speed to get out quick
I raced 250f's for years then eventually got a 450 (10 years ago). There was a huge learning curve and it's taken years to even start to be able to ride it well like with smaller bikes. That being said, I'm so glad I moved up to 450s when I did. I'd never go back!
Solution = 250 two stroke 😏
+C Dub yeah because theyre less power than a 450.
+Jack Sisneros barely less lol hakf the displacement. I prefer a 500 2 stroke, double to tq of a 450 under 4000 rpm!!
+scott T yeah cr500 is the only two stroke I'll get
***** yup
Amaaazing review man!!!! your soo fricken true. I rode my small bore this weekend and i found myself really working on technique and cornering speed vs raw power. It truely makes you faster to master the smaller bore bikes before riding a 55 hp beast
+Jacobl Ammons Word.
+Dirt Bike Channel You Can't Be More Right! I Started On A Little tt-R 110 And I Even Raced COMPLETELY STOCK Squeezing Every Little Chunk Of Power Out Of That Little 'Beast'! I Got 2nd Against 65cc Bikes. Now I Am Riding A YZ 85! Just For The Record I Am Currently 11! Thanks For The Tips
Anthony K Right on! keep riding and always have fun!!
But it's so good to have the power there when you want it. Fuck it. Love my 450.
Yes everyone needs a 450 actually 2 one for off road and one to convert to a supermoto 😏 👍
RANDOMBOI that's exactly what I was thinking.
RANDOMBOI I was ganna get wr450 and just dual sport it, but watching this vid is making me think again .. should I get a 250 for pure dirt but then I can't ride the bike Home cause it's not street legal argh..
RANDOMBOI then again its ganna be my first bike tho
Why not get a 250 and get it legal? Just because it's a 250 doesn't mean it can't be made road legal.
Edit name If your wreck a bike on a trail it’s nice to have a ride home even if you’d like to just ride to the trails and back.
Couldn't' agree more. My first dirt bike, age 53, was a KTM 525. Had a 12-52 sprocket ratio and got pretty good with it on tougher rocky mountain trails, BUT....trying to muscle that power around was an extreme workout. Plus the few times I whisky throttled it got ugly real fast. Off the trail, into some trees which caught the right handlebar, radiator, and knee. Split the knee guard in 4 places and severely tore my PCL tendon.Now I'm leaning towards a 250-300 2 stroke, but your review on the 150's was interesting,........ but I'm 6'-2" and 210.Great video, thanks!Jack
Went from a 125 4stroke to a 450 4 stroke after I blew my engine growing up, and I think it's all about the rider and handling the power.
How was the jump from the 125? I rode a 450 for 1 lap from my 125 and it was so much power but fun
A 450 just lasts forever whit a beginner/medium rider. Its also a maintenance question i think!😉✊🏼✊🏼 you schoud try the Beta 390 its the best of 2 worlds.💪🏼✊🏼✊🏼
People like to say that 450's last longer, but I'm not sure there is any data to back that up. Maybe there is data, but I haven't seen it.
I don't know the data, but i think the 450 lasts longer becose a normal rider canot rev thim that mutch. Love your video's by the way. Sadly im the kind of person getting dizzy whatching helmet cams😫
The 450 dirt bikes are my least favorite models of any of the bikes I have owned/tested. I'd rather ride anything else 90 percent of the time. 250s and 350s are much more fun to ride IMO.
Dirt Bike Channel i totaly agree with that, i own a 350, and had à 300 before that.
Dirt Bike Channel , if you say the 450 is too much, and a 250 builds skill. Wouldn't the same be true for a 125 2t? I'm looking at 150xcw , 30 years old btw. Current rip is SXV 550. Never ridden off-road but looking to start.
leave the 450 to the big boys
Moe P ,haha then don't get pissed when you see a 150 or 250 smoke your ass one day 😂
Why God yeah u need a 450
@PewDie Pie have you at least ridden a dirtbike before ?
The 450 is too much, the 250 is too revy. The 350 is perfect.
Is that right goldilocks
Ted G no Mx class for a 350💁🏼♂️
Your a bitch
I took your advise and bought a 2018 Husqvarna TC 250 2 stroke motocross bike. I then ordered $4500 in parts for it. Air forks, Brembo brakes, and 2 stage digital ignition mapping on the fly. Hydraulic clutch, break away levers and stainless hoses for all, and all factory. I added Vforce 4R reeds, RK Tek head for 110 octane fuel, and FMF Fatty Motto pipe with titanium Pwer Core 2.1 silencer. I hope to get close to the speed of the 450F. lol.
My first adult bike was a 1986 KX500, that being said I learned a few hard lessons. But in time I loved the old green machine. Currently ride a new KX450x, not the 500 from back in the day but it still puts a grin on my face. I can’t see stepping down to a 250, yeah I could ride the hell out of it and probably still never reach the bikes full potential but it wouldn’t be as fun for me and that’s what it’s all about.
125 2stroke is more than enough for me...
I agree I weigh roughly 155lbs so a 300cc will pull my ass around all day long plus it's 95kg plus less weight means more power for your bike plus the bike will have over head power
I agree. I started racing motocross on a cr250 2 stroke. Raced it for 2 years. Then I bought a cr125 2 stroke as a second bike, and I ended up selling the 250. When I was on the cr250 is was constantly a question of "how much throttle do I use" and on the cr125 its "wide-fucking-open or no gas".
Being pinned on a 125 2 stroke is about as fun as one can have.
I'm 5'7, 130 pounds. Got a 250 2 stroke a week ago, my first dirt bike and first time on a dirt bike ever. That thing barely acknowledges my existence on the steepest of slopes!
I'm 5'10" 155#, started riding in about 1994 on a '81 XR200, a few years later I got a 1994 CR250, then didn't ride for about 15 years... and then just this year I got the bug again and got a 2008 RMZ450... I ride trails, hard enduro and endurocross type stuff... I absolutely love the 450 😍
Flip Flop 2 strokes are much more simple. the gas and oil are combined prior to going in fuel tank, and the piston performs pretty much every job. look up videos on how two strokes work-- the good ones are less than 3 minutes.
180 lbs first bike a 2015 yz450f only wrecked twice so far and i was drunk once so that doesnt count
fuckin idiot
you need to lose weight lol if you weigh 300lb you might need 500cc 2 stroke or 550cc 4 stroke
jonathan oxlade I weigh 320 and I'm 6'4 and a 450 4 stroke is enough
awesome vid thats why im starting on a 230 intil i get good then upgrade to a 250
And then bore the 250 to a 280
+Nicholas Tobin The 230 is a relatively heavy bike if I am not mistaken? To me that can be as much of a hinderence to new offroad riders as being on a purpose built MX bike or a bike with too much power. Both can be handful.
+Nicholas Tobin I have both a 06 crf230f and a 10 300 xcw. the 230 is a fun bike and a good rider can ride it anywhere you can on a 450 4t.
+HelmetCamMatt I have never been in sand. not a lot up here in Alaska.
Hey I like supporting the tyres companies! I only got 216kms out of my last tyre, man I love that power!
Own both! I have a 2014 RMZ450 and a 2013 KX250F and love them both equally.....the 450 is soooooo much fun to just BRAAAP it up a jump last second and get you to the landing, and the 250 is fun to pin it and take twisty turns with ease...
I have owned every thing from a yz125 up to a exc500 and i can say the 250 two stroke was the hardest bike to ride and owning it made me want to quit riding haha.
Why is that? I have a yz125 and love it but I'm thinking of upgrading to the yz250 2 stroke for the extra torque. Thanks
@@user-wz4db1zn3r get sx 250.ktm .very powerful. yamaha little more dated but classic favorite bike.
No trail rider I know talks about the power of their big bores, they talk about it's manners. I could ride a 150 2t but it would take alot more work as they don't lug around nicely (stay on the pipe!), old guys like the 300 2t because they lug around so comfortably in the low rpms.
The only modern 4t ive ridden on the trail was the 250 xcfw, and while I liked it, I would most likely want the 350 on rough climbs since the 250s power is higher in the RPMs and need to ride the hell out of the clutch (more than usual i found). Plus the 250 didnt launch as well off of obstacles. An SX would, but its not great for trails.
+Zedro nurinburg this. riding trails and doing slower technical stuff i find it much better using the controllable bottom end of a 450. After being on a 450 so many years when i get on a 250 it just feels weak...
No, I dont need a 450, I want a 500!
This drove me to a 450! I started on a 125 2 stroke. You sold me.
Started on a TTR-230, quickly jumped up to an 06 Crf250R raced MX for years on it then jumped up to a 450 and am very happy with it. 250f was a beast for years but once you can ride wide open in the corners and rag it out on straight aways then, MAYBE then is it time for more power! Have seen many people wrestle a 450 and lose!