02 450- worth converting?
Posted: November 14th, 2008, 5:52 am
Found a really cheap one ($750, blown up motor). Is this worth the effort, or should I look for a newer 250F?
Addressing the survival of the legendary CR500!
https://www.bannedcr500riders.com/
if you are a small rider the CR 250 is probably better but for a 500 motor I feel it is the best high speed aluma tub period. it is slower handling compared to the 250. They require offset triples to turn their best.Blusmbl wrote:Alright, I'm on it...I should've realized the 02 was a gen 3 chassis, everybody's raving about them. It sounds like I can get the motor together and sell it for what I have in the bike.
Exactly, sounds like a killer deal...I got my roller for 300$ but i'm pretty sure it was stolen, but i checked with the dmv and they said it isn't so i got lucky, plus it's a dirt bike so who gives a shit...Anyways don't get yourself mixed up between a Gen 3 450 and a Gen 3 250!! there's quite a gigantic difference, and by far the gen3 450 will be a harder less clean conversion, but DO NOT let that bother you because the end result is a HUGE bike that will scare the piss out of anyone who rides it and it controls very well, especially in dunes. This is how the 450 conversion goes:Blusmbl wrote:Alright, I'm on it...I should've realized the 02 was a gen 3 chassis, everybody's raving about them. It sounds like I can get the motor together and sell it for what I have in the bike.
Mines an 03 (same chassis)Blusmbl wrote:Found a really cheap one ($750, blown up motor). Is this worth the effort, or should I look for a newer 250F?


and remeber all this advice is coming from a old man thats apparently a champion at super cross, sand, desert, and moto x. and we have yet to see a pic of ANY of his many many claimed bikes he owns. nothing but hot air from that old timerSlow old Fart wrote:if you are a small rider the CR 250 is probably better but for a 500 motor I feel it is the best high speed aluma tub period. it is slower handling compared to the 250. They require offset triples to turn their best.Blusmbl wrote:Alright, I'm on it...I should've realized the 02 was a gen 3 chassis, everybody's raving about them. It sounds like I can get the motor together and sell it for what I have in the bike.
Does your's have offset triples? Have you rudden other AF's? I like the GEN 3 450 the best overall 2. I have ridden my GEN 4 450 500 a GEN 1 250 500 a GEN 2 250 500 and a GEN 3 450 500. I found overall it works the best with a 500 motor for me. I liked the GEN 3 250 a little better in tight stuff .Balaclava wrote:Gix, i remember that bike it's sick, all that red billet stuff is so bloody expensive though...but looks pretty good.

What are you saying?eyesky2002 wrote:I can not think of any reason to convert a 450..... LOL!!!
Best thing I did next to helping make my kids!!!
That is one thing for sure a gen 3 450 I like the looks better than all other af's!Gix wrote:Mines an 03 (same chassis)Blusmbl wrote:Found a really cheap one ($750, blown up motor). Is this worth the effort, or should I look for a newer 250F?
You tell me if you think it was worth it......
I think so
What other conversions have you ridden or owned? do you have 20mm offset's?eyesky2002 wrote:Saying that my 450 conversion is my 3rd child!

The 20's are even better and it really does not seem to effect high speed but turns much better.Balaclava wrote:i just threw some black pro taper 22mm offsets on mine, and for the brief period of time i had to ride it, i was loving it...I gotta agree with SOF that the 02-04 450 frame spars are by far the nicest of any AF...my bike, my dog, my crutches...
The 20's make a big difference period.Biggest improvment for Gen 3 450 IMO where I was riding. Bike turns much better night and day.eyesky2002 wrote:I rode a 01 conversion and it felt like a BMX bike under me, just to small my 6'3" 240lb in gear budy, not to mention it was owned by someone 189lb geared up so the suspension was way off! Mine still has the stock triples, it used to handle like shit til I got the suspension done! Now at least at my skill level it cuts like a knife; sure someone with higher skill level would pick up on the offset issue!
100hp honda wrote:and remeber all this advice is coming from a old man thats apparently a champion at super cross, sand, desert, and moto x. and we have yet to see a pic of ANY of his many many claimed bikes he owns. nothing but hot air from that old timerSlow old Fart wrote:if you are a small rider the CR 250 is probably better but for a 500 motor I feel it is the best high speed aluma tub period. it is slower handling compared to the 250. They require offset triples to turn their best.Blusmbl wrote:Alright, I'm on it...I should've realized the 02 was a gen 3 chassis, everybody's raving about them. It sounds like I can get the motor together and sell it for what I have in the bike.

You can update that bike big time and make big changes to it by getting newer year linkages suspension shock and swing arm. All the newer components will bolt up.talon wrote:I am still working on mine. 02 CRF 450.
Yes, mines runs an 06 arm and linkage ...different rate to 02Balaclava wrote:really? 06 450 swingarm will bolt up to an 02? hmmm...sweeet...