Solid State
Member
- Mar 9, 2001
- 493
- 0
Yeah, I did it. All those posts about 2 strokes over the years and now my garage has a new 4stroke in it. Oh well here's some info you might be interested in.
First off, I wasn't sure whether to go with the CRF250R or CRF450R coming off years on a YZ250. Decided on the 450. After the first ride, I’m sure glad I did. Honestly, I would have tried to return the CRF250 if I went that way. Here’s why.
I ordered the bike 2 days after it hit the internet sites. The dealer didn’t know anything about the ‘09s and tried to sell me a left over ’08. He didn’t think I raced. Maybe he didn’t think a 50 year old would be interested – wrong! I left a $200 deposit and didn’t really care what the final price was going to be. I figured that I was going to go to a 4stroke only after they got lighter and had fuel injection. Well Honda did and the online reviews were huge so I just walked in and said ‘get me one’.
Two and a half weeks later I get a call at work: “how’s your day going” – “busy” – “too busy to pick up your new ’09 Fo Fiddy?” – “yeah, actually. How about tomorrow morning, and don’t kill me on the price (guess I cared about the money anyway)” – “OK”.
Well, before anyone asks, he marked it down to $7199, then added $300 for “assembly and shipping” then added registration and tax. Total was $8100 out the door. I really don’t care about the cost. I keep bikes for ten years or more you know?
Anyway, I made him bring it to my door (80 miles round trip plus the Inner Harbor Tunnel fees – I threw him $20), got it on my driveway and had that same feeling I did in 2001 when I got my YZ250. What will it feel like? What will it sound like with that strange 2stroke looking muffler? Am I man enough for a 450? Is it the beast everyone says it is and I’m hoping it is? Where’s my pants? (not really).
So I kick it over – 2 kicks with the fast idle knob out. Wait a minute, push the fast idle in. Seems to idle good. Very loud compared to the YZ. Click it in gear and down the grass I go (3 acre lot – no trees, hilly). Well, it’s not all that and a bag of chips. I’m sure I can be very competitive in the first two gears with the YZ. Third gear’s another story. Now I know why I can’t beat those stinking 450s – not fair at all.
The famed fuel injected electric throttle response was no big deal. Again, no better than the YZ. The transmission shifted flawlessly and was as smooth as my worked over YZ trans. The “awesome Honda” front brake was again no better than my YZ IMO. I ran the bike not too hard for 15 minutes then parked it. I had a little buyer’s remorse. Then I fired up the YZ and rang its neck out. Front wheel in the air, rear wheel sliding, shifting like a maniac. I ran the YZ for a half hour or so.
Then I got something to eat and fired up the CRF again. 4-kicks. This time I rode it like a 2stroke and realized just how a racing 4stroke works. It needs to be ridden on the hard side to get some fun out of it. After several back to back runs between the bikes I can definitely say this. The CRF turns faster than any bike I’ve ever ridden. The CFR hooks up better than any bike I’ve ever ridden. Third gear is a gift from God. First and second are better short shifted. The suspension is pretty good, but it is much newer than my YZ. It’s LOUD. The front wheel does not wheelie – at all for me. Maybe that’s why they just roll around me at the track.
The 4stroke is not half as fun as the 2stroke, but I think I can ride it faster – we’ll see at the track. There is engine braking to the point that I really didn’t need to brake very much at all to turn – even on grass going down hill. The bike did not stall. The controls are nice. The bike feels LIGHTER than the YZ – no kidding, I bet it is. The bike looks awesome. The front fender needs a little getting used to. The handle bars transmit more sting than the YZ. The shifter knob is a full half inch closer to my toe than the YZ – don’t like that at all and there’s no room to extend it due to the ignition case (although the cases are magnesium and quite attractive). In fact, side by side the 450 is actually a smaller motor than the YZ250. Guess the R&D really did stop on 2strokes.
I’m hoping I didn’t run it too hard the second time because the owners manual says to be easy on it on the first ride or for the first 15 miles. Not sure anyone can do that. Of course, I promised to tear the whole bike down and lube everything prior to the first ride, but you know how that goes. Maybe next weekend. I order a bunch of extra parts from the dealer (oils, filters, ignition mapping tool/software, spark plugs (new design), cleaners, lubes, clutch and brake handles, etc.). Got 15% off at the counter so probably a wash with the internet.
So, if you are in the position I was – 2stroke to 4stroke, not sure of 250F or 450F, you at least know how it went with me. The YZ would dominate the 250F IMO. I’m jonesing (?) to see how it jumps and how it runs on the track. I’ll have to wait because I need to change the oil and FILTER. No parts available yet from the dealer so I guess I’ll see if I can tear it down to get it race ready.
Well hope this helps someone. Now I’m loud and obnoxious as all the other Vet riders, but I’m down to 149 lbs. and I have 58 horsepower and a light bike that’s all hook-up. And I grew up on two stokes. Game On.
First off, I wasn't sure whether to go with the CRF250R or CRF450R coming off years on a YZ250. Decided on the 450. After the first ride, I’m sure glad I did. Honestly, I would have tried to return the CRF250 if I went that way. Here’s why.
I ordered the bike 2 days after it hit the internet sites. The dealer didn’t know anything about the ‘09s and tried to sell me a left over ’08. He didn’t think I raced. Maybe he didn’t think a 50 year old would be interested – wrong! I left a $200 deposit and didn’t really care what the final price was going to be. I figured that I was going to go to a 4stroke only after they got lighter and had fuel injection. Well Honda did and the online reviews were huge so I just walked in and said ‘get me one’.
Two and a half weeks later I get a call at work: “how’s your day going” – “busy” – “too busy to pick up your new ’09 Fo Fiddy?” – “yeah, actually. How about tomorrow morning, and don’t kill me on the price (guess I cared about the money anyway)” – “OK”.
Well, before anyone asks, he marked it down to $7199, then added $300 for “assembly and shipping” then added registration and tax. Total was $8100 out the door. I really don’t care about the cost. I keep bikes for ten years or more you know?
Anyway, I made him bring it to my door (80 miles round trip plus the Inner Harbor Tunnel fees – I threw him $20), got it on my driveway and had that same feeling I did in 2001 when I got my YZ250. What will it feel like? What will it sound like with that strange 2stroke looking muffler? Am I man enough for a 450? Is it the beast everyone says it is and I’m hoping it is? Where’s my pants? (not really).
So I kick it over – 2 kicks with the fast idle knob out. Wait a minute, push the fast idle in. Seems to idle good. Very loud compared to the YZ. Click it in gear and down the grass I go (3 acre lot – no trees, hilly). Well, it’s not all that and a bag of chips. I’m sure I can be very competitive in the first two gears with the YZ. Third gear’s another story. Now I know why I can’t beat those stinking 450s – not fair at all.
The famed fuel injected electric throttle response was no big deal. Again, no better than the YZ. The transmission shifted flawlessly and was as smooth as my worked over YZ trans. The “awesome Honda” front brake was again no better than my YZ IMO. I ran the bike not too hard for 15 minutes then parked it. I had a little buyer’s remorse. Then I fired up the YZ and rang its neck out. Front wheel in the air, rear wheel sliding, shifting like a maniac. I ran the YZ for a half hour or so.
Then I got something to eat and fired up the CRF again. 4-kicks. This time I rode it like a 2stroke and realized just how a racing 4stroke works. It needs to be ridden on the hard side to get some fun out of it. After several back to back runs between the bikes I can definitely say this. The CRF turns faster than any bike I’ve ever ridden. The CFR hooks up better than any bike I’ve ever ridden. Third gear is a gift from God. First and second are better short shifted. The suspension is pretty good, but it is much newer than my YZ. It’s LOUD. The front wheel does not wheelie – at all for me. Maybe that’s why they just roll around me at the track.
The 4stroke is not half as fun as the 2stroke, but I think I can ride it faster – we’ll see at the track. There is engine braking to the point that I really didn’t need to brake very much at all to turn – even on grass going down hill. The bike did not stall. The controls are nice. The bike feels LIGHTER than the YZ – no kidding, I bet it is. The bike looks awesome. The front fender needs a little getting used to. The handle bars transmit more sting than the YZ. The shifter knob is a full half inch closer to my toe than the YZ – don’t like that at all and there’s no room to extend it due to the ignition case (although the cases are magnesium and quite attractive). In fact, side by side the 450 is actually a smaller motor than the YZ250. Guess the R&D really did stop on 2strokes.
I’m hoping I didn’t run it too hard the second time because the owners manual says to be easy on it on the first ride or for the first 15 miles. Not sure anyone can do that. Of course, I promised to tear the whole bike down and lube everything prior to the first ride, but you know how that goes. Maybe next weekend. I order a bunch of extra parts from the dealer (oils, filters, ignition mapping tool/software, spark plugs (new design), cleaners, lubes, clutch and brake handles, etc.). Got 15% off at the counter so probably a wash with the internet.
So, if you are in the position I was – 2stroke to 4stroke, not sure of 250F or 450F, you at least know how it went with me. The YZ would dominate the 250F IMO. I’m jonesing (?) to see how it jumps and how it runs on the track. I’ll have to wait because I need to change the oil and FILTER. No parts available yet from the dealer so I guess I’ll see if I can tear it down to get it race ready.
Well hope this helps someone. Now I’m loud and obnoxious as all the other Vet riders, but I’m down to 149 lbs. and I have 58 horsepower and a light bike that’s all hook-up. And I grew up on two stokes. Game On.