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Reliability
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Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

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!!!

Posted by: NM_KDX200---------------------

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.

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

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

Posted by: Convert---------------------

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.

Posted by: Patman---------------------

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.

Posted by: Chili---------------------

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

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

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.

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

Which company makes the most reliable 250F and 450F enduros.

is your life over? Change in username, perhaps?

Posted by: Okiewan---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRpredator

is your life over? Change in username, perhaps?

I was wondering when that was coming.

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

XRpredator, not untill the bike comes.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

Also, what is the life time on valves, springs, piston, rings, timming chain and so on. THANKS!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

Chili, thats alright. The CRFX and WR are not to far off the race modles.

In terms of the valves, springs, timing chain, piston and rings, the difference between the MX and off-road models are very significant.

If you are looking at Japanese models, the Yamaha WRF & Honda CRFX models have both proven themselves to be very reliable for most offroad riders. The Suzuki DR-Z400 is also very reliable just not in the same performance or price range as the other two. The new Kawasaki looks nice but it is still an unknown.

If you had to pick one model that stands out from a reliability perspective the Yamaha would be the one. It's worth noting a LOT of people don't like the feel of the Yamaha or the way it turns. It seems to be a love it or hate it type of bike.

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

Rich Rohrich, thanks for clearing that up for me. Also, are the WRs hard to make street legal.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

Also, are the WRs hard to make street legal.

I don't live in Canada, how the hell would I know?

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

Rich Rohrich, yeah sorry about that.

Posted by: CRF59jk---------------------

I have a 04 CRF450. I have put around 500hrs on the bike in a year and havent done anything besides, change oil, air filter and put gas in it.
Im gonna check the vavles in a couple days.

Posted by: Moose---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRF59jk

I have put around 500hrs on the bike in a year and havent done anything besides, change oil, air filter and put gas in it.

Are you kidding me?

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

CRF59jk, eaither you ment 50hr or you have the best luck ever seen by anyone.

Posted by: CRF59jk---------------------

nope 500hr's

Posted by: CRF59jk---------------------

I ride 5 hours a day, 3 days a week

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

CRF59jk, well something has gone right for you. I ride 3 hours a day 4 days a week and then 8 or 9 on both weekend days.

Posted by: NM_KDX200---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

It's worth noting a LOT of people don't like the feel of the Yamaha or the way it turns. It seems to be a love it or hate it type of bike.

That's my one complaint about the YZ. Then again, I came off a KX125 and KDX200, both of which are great turning bikes. I had a brief stint on a KTM200sx and it didn't turn quite as well as the KX but still pretty good. The YZ, though is "inside-line-phobic" and I don't know if it's the height, the 4S weight, greater speed into the turn, more power lifting the front end in the turn, open class engine inertia, or all of the above. Entering the turn with any kind of throttle helps tremendously in the turn, but on the 450F "any kind of throttle at all" means you're entering the turn pretty awfully fast- it sure ain't your daddy's 125, that's for sure!

While playing around one day, I was Stefan Everts and stood up all the time and was amazed at how well the Yammie turns when you do that. It's like you either need to sit on the gas cap, or you need to hang your butt off the rear and "ski" around a corner. Nothing in between.

But, hey, it's reliable and that's what this thread is about.

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

NM_KDX200, a WR250 or 450 are looking to be the finest contestantes but what dose anyone here think of the KTM 4 stroke enduros.

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

. . . what dose anyone here think of the KTM 4 stroke enduros.

I think they are awesome

Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRpredator

I think they are awesome

Keep in mind that Pred is an escaped mental patient living in a shack in Idaho. No one knows where or when Pred was born. Scholars surmise he was hatched from a cross breeding of dinosaur eggs and easter peeps so take what he says with a grain of salt.

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

. . . Scholars surmise he was hatched from a cross breeding of dinosaur eggs and easter peeps so take what he says with a grain of salt.

the easter peeps must be where I get my squishy parts from

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

Rich Rohrich, thats good stuff.

But really Pred what all have you had to do to the 525 to keep it going.

Posted by: Jeromeo---------------------

2 strokes for life..... hmmm looking at the 4strokes, Dude I was totally devoted to 2 strokes. Even after riding my buddies 03 crf450. The next time I went riding with my buddy I rode his 450 again. This time I got to ride it longer and got the feel for it. I almost man juiced all over it. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL experience. I am now convinced that my next bike will be a 450 4 stroke. I loved the honda but I would probably stay faithful to yamaha. The way the bike flew over hills I felt completely more in control even moreso than I do on the 125. I think I like the weight alot more. I thought I would share this completely useless story with you all as I am wanting a 4 stroke now. Don't get me wrong, I still love my little two stroke but the whole idea of not needing to pre-mix turns me on too

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

Jeromeo, the main reason i dont really want a 4 stroke is because i am going to dual-sport. So, i think a 2 stroke is a bit hard to ride in highway speeds and at hardly no speeds. But pre-mixing dose not bother me the slightest bit. The only reason why i want a 2 stroke is because you wont be able to get them in Canada come 2010 unless its under 80cc. Toe, i am pretty stuck on a 4 stroke. It also vareys on what i make this summer to put toward finacing a bike.

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

But really Pred what all have you had to do to the 525 to keep it going.

turn the throttle

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

honestly, it ain't all that difficult. I change the oil and filters, clean the air filter, and ride it.

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

XRpredator, so your saying its almost an XR.

Posted by: whenfoxforks-ruled---------------------

A hybrid xr for sure!I look at the crf450 and see a f-1 xr-75!Rich,would you mind sharing your beef with the ktm's,I hope its not a sore spot,just a little curious,and I am not getting younger searching your old threads,just smarter!

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 strokes for life

XRpredator, so your saying its almost an XR.

no, nothing is an XR. There isn't anything out there that you can ride hard, put away wet, then ride hard again the next day and still have a reliable machine like an XR. If I could have afforded to keep two bikes around, I would still own my XR400.

Rich is mainly against KTMs because back when he was at Hail Mary Full of Grace Elementary he was admonished for trying to chemically alter the baking soda and maple syrup in the cafeteria as an octane booster for his Tote Goat by Sister Mary Margaret Dorfmeisterberger, who rapped him across the knuckles and admonished him with her thick Austrian accent.

Ever since, he's hated all things Austrian.

that, and the color orange just makes him wig out.

Posted by: whenfoxforks-ruled---------------------

Pred,nice story as always!You do not by chance work on bush's mis-information team do you?What ever did you do to elliot,still got him locked up?No,really,of all the other manufacturers they have seemed to always produce descent equipment,just searching for the real story

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

XRpredator, nice reason. Well, i still dont know. I went and looked at the CRF450X, WR450, and 450XC. I like the Yamaha, and KTM the most position wise. The KTM feels kind of big while the WR seems to fit really well.

Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by whenfoxforks-ruled

Rich,would you mind sharing your beef with the ktm's,

I'll keep it simple, so the goose-stepping orange hoard doesn't get it's collective lederhosen all in a bunch.

I don't like the "Husaberg inspired" KTM four-strokes for the same reasons I don't like the RMZ250 and all it's variants. Half-assed engineering mixed with embarrassing quality control makes for bikes I don't want to own or work on. The fact that so many KTM riders seem to lean towards being annoying PITAs, makes it that much easier to dismiss all things orange.

The various Rotax based LC4 models are great bikes IMO.

Posted by: holeshot---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRF59jk

I have a 04 CRF450. I have put around 500hrs on the bike in a year and havent done anything besides, change oil, air filter and put gas in it.
Im gonna check the vavles in a couple days.

To truly know the actual hours you have on it, you need to mount an hour meter. Many people that have mounted an hour meter have commented that the actual hours are far less than they'd estimated. I guess people spend a lot more time bench racing than riding.

Personally, if had an actual 500 hours on a 450CRF without doing anything to it (and it was still running), I'd thank God and quickly sell it at a bargain price - then buy a new one.

I didn't say I was a Saint and no one else did either.

Posted by: whenfoxforks-ruled---------------------

It all depends on how it is rode and maintained.The GENERAL engineering that went into the crf did the honda motor company proud.Good design and track record are unmatched.Even the 150 hours is believable,probably even less,huh.Thank you Rich,I was afraid of that and am well aware of rotax's history,not current,and still blows me away that we can not put a bike on the line from at least north america!Hey but we can give it back to the japanese!

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Rohrich

. . . The fact that so many KTM riders seem to lean towards being annoying PITAs, makes it that much easier to dismiss all things orange.

yeah, but we're not as annoying as KDX guys, right?

Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRpredator

yeah, but we're not as annoying as KDX guys, right?

That goes without saying. Even the Spanish Inquisition was pleasant by comparison.

Posted by: whenfoxforks-ruled---------------------

Spanish Inquisition,now there was a collective group working for a common goal!

Posted by: 2 strokes for life---------------------

Well, this is great. I think the Yamaha is best suited so far. I might have to go 4 stroke. THANKS for all your help everone.

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

in all honesty, if Yamaha or Honda would have had e-start on their machines when I was buying, I'd own either one.

Probably leaning toward the Yamaha, since I'm buds with the local dealer.

Posted by: whenfoxforks-ruled---------------------

An inside line on the parts mark up counts for a lot on brand decision!

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