Why did you make the switch from a 250 to a 450?

kawi_guy07
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kawi_guy07
Edited Date/Time 2/27/2020 6:31am
I’m just curious when you guys think it’s the right time for someone to step up to a 450 from a 250? Are there certain things you should accomplish or milestones to get pass on a 250 first?

What made you take the step up?
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Spudnut
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Spudnut 2/24/2020 6:14pm
2/24/2020 6:14pm Edited Date/Time 2/24/2020 6:15pm
I like to ride in the meat of the powerband and as I got older I got heavier and had to really scream the piss out of my 250f and never really felt comfortable doing so.

I really think it comes down to your riding style once you have a reasonable amount of skill to control the bike
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temporarily_locked 2/24/2020 6:17pm
2/24/2020 6:17pm
I switched to a 450 when I was 18 because I was heavy enough to want the extra power. I rode it for two years, I liked the extra power but the extra weight wore me out and only riding once a month wasn’t enough to build up endurance. Went back to a 250 for 5 years and was the same weight but much better shape. Back on a 450 with no plans to downsize anytime soon. The smaller bike was more money to keep fresh and extra money is extra track days.
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Racer111
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Racer111 2/24/2020 6:20pm
2/24/2020 6:20pm Edited Date/Time 2/24/2020 6:22pm
Because all the Vet classes around here are on 450’s and I got tired of eating roost on long starts and having to ride from behind 90% of the time. It’s nice to holeshot and ride your own race.
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acerbis
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acerbis 2/24/2020 7:11pm
2/24/2020 7:11pm
Right around when I hit three fifty! (Lbs that is)
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Jbrady247
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Jbrady247 2/24/2020 7:27pm
2/24/2020 7:27pm
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better rider
Big Tex27
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Big Tex27 2/24/2020 9:18pm
2/24/2020 9:18pm Edited Date/Time 2/24/2020 9:19pm
Going from 150lbs to 200lbs, 2 kids and alot of coors light will do it for you.
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gsxr6
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gsxr6 2/24/2020 9:47pm
2/24/2020 9:47pm
Was buying a brand new bike. Wasn't buying a warmed over 2006 model for damn near the price of the gleaming 450 next to it. If the two stroke had been updated I'd have gotten it for sure. Love my 450. Thing is an absolute beast.
RoflCopter726 2/24/2020 9:53pm
2/24/2020 9:53pm
Jbrady247 wrote:
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better...
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better rider
How much do they cost 7 years in the future?
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yz133rider
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yz133rider 2/24/2020 10:08pm
2/24/2020 10:08pm
Jbrady247 wrote:
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better...
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better rider
RoflCopter726 wrote:
How much do they cost 7 years in the future?
10k and still idential to the 2006 with the engine from 99 still.
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mikec265
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mikec265 2/24/2020 10:17pm
2/24/2020 10:17pm
Bought my first 450 in 2006 because all the cool kids were doing it. Then I realized I'm not cool and went back to 2 strokes and eventually an Alta. If I still raced I'd have a 450 still.
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PJRAUS
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PJRAUS 2/24/2020 11:00pm
2/24/2020 11:00pm Edited Date/Time 2/24/2020 11:03pm
I just like having a 450...its like having a muscle car out in the garage 😀
Having said that..my 17 yz 450 has heaps of mods to make it work as best as poss for me but its just too damn heavy!. Definitely faster on any of my other bikes and having said that my next bike is going to be a ktm 85 big wheel! 😀😆😀
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dirtwalker 2/25/2020 12:38am
2/25/2020 12:38am
I ride like Ken. Not in terms of speed - low in the revs. Smile
I even rode a 350 and 450 back to back and felt more comfortable on the 450 - especially in tighter turns when you would think “weight” and agility would matter most.
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arunkxf
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arunkxf 2/25/2020 2:55am
2/25/2020 2:55am
Jbrady247 wrote:
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better...
Chubby Rider that likes to short shift😂😂. Been on 450's since 04!!! Bought a 2027 yz 250 two stroke and it's definitely making me a better rider
RoflCopter726 wrote:
How much do they cost 7 years in the future?
yz133rider wrote:
10k and still idential to the 2006 with the engine from 99 still.
LOL
arunkxf
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arunkxf 2/25/2020 2:57am
2/25/2020 2:57am
Are they that much more of an animal power and weight? I've also thought about a 450, but too scared to try it. I'd say I'm a smooth rider, but feel like i wouldn't be able to ride it, more like it taking me for a ride
Last Braaap
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Last Braaap 2/25/2020 3:26am
2/25/2020 3:26am
When my belly started to molest my Renthal FatBar in the corners i realised i am due for a change to a bit bigger frame.
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HighPlainsSquid 2/25/2020 4:09am
2/25/2020 4:09am Edited Date/Time 2/25/2020 4:11am
Well, I went the other way, selling my YZ450F after buying a KX125 to play around on. I had more fun on the KX and it made me ride better. Later on, I sold my '16 KX250F after getting an '02 RM 134 to play with. I've got another KX now, but I still ride the Husky TC 125 a lot

I also lost 25 lbs, going from 180 to 155. I did get older, though.. nothing much I can do about that.
mmain62
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mmain62 2/25/2020 4:42am
2/25/2020 4:42am
Now that I only ride +30 I regret getting another 450. I am wanting a ktm 150sx or I may switch to a 350 or 250f when I buy new in a couple years. I rode for the first time since Nov this past weekend and my 450 felt like it was on nitrous.

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bierbower105
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bierbower105 2/25/2020 5:20am
2/25/2020 5:20am
23 years old - spent 3 years on a 250f and a 125. I weigh 185 lbs and I got to the point where felt I was riding above my head a little on my 250f to make up for my weight.

That being said I jumped everything I ever needed to jump on my 250f - they are very capable.

But with my weight, the amount of hours I ride, how I like to ride (low revs) - I bumped up to the big bore this season. YZ450f with a mellow map for now.
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fourfourone
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fourfourone 2/25/2020 6:00am
2/25/2020 6:00am
went 250 2 stroke to 250f to 450f in the matter of 5 years. I plan to go back to a 250f. The 450 is fun in straight lines and jumps but god damn it wears you out when you try to ride it fast. I had more " fun" on my 250f.
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Motox627!
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Motox627! 2/25/2020 6:41am
2/25/2020 6:41am
Big Tex27 wrote:
Going from 150lbs to 200lbs, 2 kids and alot of coors light will do it for you.
Lmao, couldn't have said it any better!!!
Sheriff245 2/25/2020 6:48am
2/25/2020 6:48am
250's are boring to me. 250 2 strokes are too brutal. 125's are the most fun but too much maintenance. 450's are exciting to ride, basically don't wear out and get you good starts.
foreman52
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foreman52 2/25/2020 7:25am
2/25/2020 7:25am
Sheriff245 wrote:
250's are boring to me. 250 2 strokes are too brutal. 125's are the most fun but too much maintenance. 450's are exciting to ride, basically...
250's are boring to me. 250 2 strokes are too brutal. 125's are the most fun but too much maintenance. 450's are exciting to ride, basically don't wear out and get you good starts.
So funny cause my preference is the complete opposite hahah.

Love being able to hold a 250f to the bar. 250 2-strokes are a blast and can lug them way more than a 125. 125 is awesome but not for your main bike. 450 is nice to have the extra power but they can bite you way quicker and I always got more tired on them.
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loftyair
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loftyair 2/25/2020 7:35am
2/25/2020 7:35am
This is first year I would get the yz250f first. Was always into the 2-strokes. Too old for a real one, which is the ktm, too fast! 450 simply too much bike. Im 165#.
fpandjic
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fpandjic 2/25/2020 7:40am
2/25/2020 7:40am
I don't know why you got so many dislikes... but this is so true. I am one of that people. The problem with me is that I don't have much time for training and if you want to ride a 450, you need fitness as 450s don't forgive mistakes.

I made a switch to 2019 YZ450F, but it was too powerful for me so I decided to switch back to 2020 YZ250F and I haven't regretted. 450s are great for turns, at least for me, but once you open the throttle, it is really powerful.

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imoto34
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imoto34 2/25/2020 7:51am
2/25/2020 7:51am
In amateur racing had both 250f and 450. When I turned 18 I could not afford the extra money it costed to keep rebuilding the 250s.

I ride them very differently as expected. I lug around the big bore while still fast but have to run a 250 pinned with the clutch as the throttle. Weigh 200lbs
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hanzhongluboy
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hanzhongluboy 2/25/2020 8:05am
2/25/2020 8:05am
yz133rider wrote:
10k and still idential to the 2006 with the engine from 99 still.
The sad part is that if the YZs are still available in 10 years they will be about 10k MSRP
nascarnate326 2/25/2020 8:14am
2/25/2020 8:14am
I did the opposite at the end of 2019. I went from a CRF450 to a KX250F and absolutely love it. Don't have to tip tow around anymore, lets me ride it aggressive and feels "safer". All I can do better is E Start some day.
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Barrett57
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Barrett57 2/25/2020 9:03am
2/25/2020 9:03am
I ride smooth and low revs, thought a 450 would be perfect.

In 20 hours I had some of the worst crashes I've ever had for seemingly no reason, I replaced it with a 250f and all is now well.
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