need suggestions on 450's

[oglejust]

im looking into getting a new or newer 4 stroke. i have a 99 cr125 that broke both the cases so im thinking i want a 450 4 stroke. it'll either be a honda or a kaw. any particular year on either that was better or worse? im lookin to spend no more than 5k and id like it to last a while. any suggestions or advice is appreciated. thanks

EDIT: this bike will be used for woods riding

[AgentSmith]

Originally Posted by oglejust

im looking into getting a new or newer 4 stroke. i have a 99 cr125 that broke both the cases so im thinking i want a 450 4 stroke. it'll either be a honda or a kaw. any particular year on either that was better or worse? im lookin to spend no more than 5k and id like it to last a while. any suggestions or advice is appreciated. thanks

EDIT: this bike will be used for woods riding

Both bikes are good.

Honda has the 2008's discounted in the dealerships right now to $ 3999 brand new...hard to beat and the 2008 was a great bike.

[pjg351]

We own an 08 Kawi and it has been raced hard for MX and the odd 4hr Enduro, has just done 135 hours, and is bullet proof so far. Out of the box it had very agressive power, so we added a fly wheel weight and ran a 14 tooth sprocket on the front. It turns very good, better than a Yamaha by far.

[45 ACP]

Originally Posted by AgentSmith

Honda has the 2008's discounted in the dealerships right now to $ 3999 brand new...hard to beat and the 2008 was a great bike.

This is the route you should take.

[Freak]

go big red!

[psycho393]

The 08 CRF450 is an amazing bike. and for the price of a brand new one they are so so hard to beat.

[pjg351]

Just on a side note, i don't anyone who thinks there 09 Honda or Kawi was better than the 08's. 09's might have smoother power delivery but nothing more.

[G220]

When the 09 crf450 came out I almost bought a brand new 07 for $5100 out the door, I ended up finding a used one for $3600. Everything looked great from the outside, it rode fine, so I bought it, long story short after dropping about a grand into it, it is perfect now, but I should have just bought the new one, but I love the bike, my last dirt bike before this one was a 96 yz125 and I don't think I could ever live without my 450 now.

[AgentSmith]

Originally Posted by pjg351

Just on a side note, i don't anyone who thinks there 09 Honda or Kawi was better than the 08's. 09's might have smoother power delivery but nothing more.

Even the editors of the motorcycle mags agree with you.

They all said the 08 Honda would've won the 09 shootout. The Kawasaki was in the same boat...they liked the 08 as much or more than the 09...

[Freak]

Originally Posted by pjg351

Just on a side note, i don't anyone who thinks there 09 Honda or Kawi was better than the 08's. 09's might have smoother power delivery but nothing more.

One of these days you will step up to the big red machine, and that day you do.......... you will see the light my friend. Nothing finer than an o' niner

[cowboyona426]

Originally Posted by AgentSmith

Both bikes are good.

Honda has the 2008's discounted in the dealerships right now to $ 3999 brand new...hard to beat and the 2008 was a great bike.

Say what? Brand new 08 Honda for $4k?

[tirebiter]

Originally Posted by AgentSmith

Even the editors of the motorcycle mags agree with you.

They all said the 08 Honda would've won the 09 shootout. The Kawasaki was in the same boat...they liked the 08 as much or more than the 09...

Do you have any PERSONAL experience with either the 08 or 09 CRF450's, or is this just regurgitated motorcycle mag hearsay??
Facts- that's the bottom line.

[Freak]

I have yet to get up close and personal with an 09 450. Can't wait to see how they feel and handle. I'm sure it's a great bike. Honda dumps more money into R&D then any of them.

[pjg351]

Originally Posted by Freak

I have yet to get up close and personal with an 09 450. Can't wait to see how they feel and handle. I'm sure it's a great bike. Honda dumps more money into R&D then any of them.

Well, they sold like sour grapes but you can always line up for the 010, which are the leftover 09's

[AgentSmith]

Originally Posted by tirebiter

Do you have any PERSONAL experience with either the 08 or 09 CRF450's, or is this just regurgitated motorcycle mag hearsay??
Facts- that's the bottom line.

I have a great deal of personal experience with all CRF's...period.

[noobish]

I have 4 riding buddies all with 08 CRF450s. All of them in less then a year needed to send the head out for valve work. One of them we blame the K&N filter he put on, but the other ones I dont know. In fairness, they ride everything from mx to trails and lots of sand, so sand could be the culprit. They also change their oil regularily and keep up with the maintinence. Now we have another friend who is still on his 07 CRF450 and he has changed the oil twice, never touches his filter and the bikes run like new and never gives him any problems. So maybe the lesson here is dont work on your bikes

[Freak]

Originally Posted by AgentSmith

I have a great deal of personal experience with all CRF's...period.

Maybe some bckground info would be helpful? You seem to have great knowledge on bikes.

[Mainjet2001]

O.K. Smith....everyone knows everyone.

I agree with da Freak on your knowledge so spit it out.
Ya just might be one of those Baja/Nevada champs.

PS...that Paul Turner (CRF's only) doesn't look like the real Paul Turner.

[G220]

Originally Posted by Freak

I have yet to get up close and personal with an 09 450. Can't wait to see how they feel and handle. I'm sure it's a great bike. Honda dumps more money into R&D then any of them.

A friend of mine bought the 09 crf450, put about 15 miutes on it and the cam blew, Honda fixed it he put about another 20 minutes on it and it happened again. After a few arguments they fixed it again and it has been good ever since, not sure exactly what the problem was but I know it had to do with the cam, supposedly it was happening to a few other people too and Honda corrected it. Have you heard of this? Oh yea I did get to ride it and I have to say it felt alot easier to ride than my 07, very sweet, but I think I will wait a couple of years before considering a new one, maybe wait for the kinks to be worked out, besides my 07 is plenty for now.

[AgentSmith]

Originally Posted by Freak

Maybe some bckground info would be helpful? You seem to have great knowledge on bikes.

I work on CRF's day in/day out. I sponsor a race team for D37/USDR/and BITD events. I do all the work on the race team bikes as well.

I own AS RACING. We do headwork, suspensions, wheels, race engines, etc.

I have been the moderator on CRF'sONLY.com for several years.

I have a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Cal Poly.

I have been riding since I was 5.

I am a much better mechanic than I am a rider...

My favorite color is ...

Maybe a little too much info.

---------- Post added at 03:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:44 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Mainjet2001

O.K. Smith....everyone knows everyone.

I agree with da Freak on your knowledge so spit it out.
Ya just might be one of those Baja/Nevada champs.

PS...that Paul Turner (CRF's only) doesn't look like the real Paul Turner.

Paul Turner on CRF'sONLY is Paul Turner. He is NOT the Paul Turner that you are thinking of though.

---------- Post added at 03:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by G220

A friend of mine bought the 09 crf450, put about 15 miutes on it and the cam blew, Honda fixed it he put about another 20 minutes on it and it happened again. After a few arguments they fixed it again and it has been good ever since, not sure exactly what the problem was but I know it had to do with the cam, supposedly it was happening to a few other people too and Honda corrected it. Have you heard of this? Oh yea I did get to ride it and I have to say it felt alot easier to ride than my 07, very sweet, but I think I will wait a couple of years before considering a new one, maybe wait for the kinks to be worked out, besides my 07 is plenty for now.

The 2009 CRF450R's had their share of issues.

The problem you relate is the decompressor pins were shearing off. Made them impossible to start, and that was a good thing because the little piece of pin could get into the cam chain and take out the whole engine.

Honda fixed those issues at their own cost.

The fuel pumps were burning out at an alarming rate. The filters were clogging and starving the pump of fuel and subsequently lubrication.

The injectors were sticking open and filling the crankcases with fuel.

Honda is NOT fixing those issues at their cost.

Supposedly the 2010 has those issues remedied...time will tell. I wouldn't rush right out and buy a new 2010 until they've seen some time in the dirt.

The 2009 is a beautiful bike to ride. Light, narrow, nimble. Power delivery is smooth and linear, no hesitations...a reflash of the ECM made them even better, easier to start, etc.