Which company makes the most reliable 250F and 450F enduros. I know this is a big question that answers may very but i would like to know what you have experienced and not opinions or what you have heard. Just what has happened. Also, what is the life time on valves, springs, piston, rings, timming chain and so on. THANKS!!!

I researched this pretty hard here and on thumpertalk before I bought my YZ450F and as a result, I went blue even though the seat height is the tallest (and I'm short).

However, you're asking for personal experience. I have 30 h. on my '04 YZ450F (bought new, left-over, last Sept) and I have:

adjusted the chain
changed the oil (every 5 h.)
changed the air filter (every ride)
greased the steering stem and linkage
twisted the throttle
put new tires on (1 h for front, 25 h for rear)
put gas in the tank


I don't race, but I do ride almost exclusively MX where I "play-race". I ride with the shop owner who has an '06 YZ450F and YZ250F and he has probably 100 h. on his 450F. No issues.

NM_KDX200, thanks. So overall so far the Blue is sounding good. Anyone else want to sway my dissecion?

I have a 06 crf450r with almost 28 hrs on it. I don't race other than the occasional "fantasy" where I run around the local track just for fun. The work to date is pretty much on par with NM_KDX200 other than checking the valves after the initial break in and at 19 hrs. No adjustment needed. I'm a pretty short fellow (5'7") and I love the crf (still shaved the seat to my liking). I actually ditched my 07 YZ250 for the Honda and I couldn't be happier, the power is great, it feels more like my DH mountain bike rather than a MX. No issues at all, but I am sure the fact I'm not a pro rider has something to do with that. I have also taken a friends rmz450f and I like that bike too. These days unless you're a painfully talented rider capable of pushing these bikes to the limit I think you would be happy with any of them.

Do a little searching for commentary from Rich on the various engines they have serviced. I think you'll find red & blue get a general thumbs up and falls off quickly from there.

So far no one in this thread has even discussed the Enduro models that was part of the original question.

Chili, thats alright. The CRFX and WR are not to far off the race modles. Plus a woods ready MXer might be nice.

Thanks to everone else.

is your life over? Change in username, perhaps?

I was wondering when that was coming.

XRpredator, not untill the bike comes.