450 vs 500

[87CR500Rider]

Raced a CRF450 yesterday. My 500 is torn apart having bearings replaced and I just ran out of time to get it back together. I don't know how more of a fair "test" you can get.

Track conditions - Deep deep soil. Deep burms and ruts. Track whipped out pretty good. Same as last race.

Texas Motocross Championship series, round 5, 27 riders. No holeshots today in either moto where I beat these same guys a month ago on the 500 off the line. Couldn't pass going up the big uphill and barely could make the uphill double. It did handle better than my 500 but it's also 20 years newer. I had to work hard at passing the 4-5 guys that beat me off the line. My lead at the end of the race wasn't nearly as far as well. My lap times were down on the 450. The "more tractable" theory only works on hard pack. Who's clueless now? Throttle Control, live it, love it, learn it.

[teemtrubble]

That's what I keep saying...

[MICK]

Throttle Control, live it, love it, learn it.

Amen

[Skidmark]

Maybe that's why I keep RIPPING the knobs off the back of the 500 !! Hmmmm, I should try that next time.

NAAAHHH!! tires are cheap and helmet giggles are priceless.

No track time....just lava encrusted trails.

"Skiddy"

[Slow old Fart]

That is the thing, if you can hold onto a 500 Cr and the track has hills and is sand or mudd type the 500 is plain more powerful and fatser but you have got to be strong enough and most people are not. I think the 450's are turds personally. To me the 450 500 comparisons are like comparing a Cr 125 to a 250. Yes a 125 is fast but you have to rev the crap out of itm and yes it does handle better fro the most part but when you need shear power they just come up short and that is how a 450 is compared to a 500 for power when hills are involved.

[87CR500Rider]

Agreed. I just find it funny some people have said a 450 is an open class bike. No, it's a poor replacement for a 250 2 stroke that weighs about what an open class bike should, has as many CCs as an open class bike should, feels heavy like an open class bike usually does but won't run with one while costing more to NOT outrun one. Amazing.

[MICK]

A guy was looking at my bike the other day and said, "It's a sweet bike and all, but I couldn't spend that kind of money on an engine that's going to be outdated soon." I told him, "Where have you been? It was outdated 20 years ago. And who knows, maybe in another ten years your 450 will be as light and make as much power." When fourstrokes come from Japan with a motor that has a 1:1 power to weight ratio like my two decade old, non power valved, steel sleeved oil burner...then I'll lift an eyebrow in their direction.

[nmdesertrider]

the good thing about 450s is they are easy to convert to a 500