CRF 55 lbs. lighter than YZF ???

[john.hilton@cape.k12.de.u]

I was riding at the New Jersey off road vehicle park this Saturday when I meet an interesting gentleman.

He had a new CRF that he was very excited about, he loved the bike. This was no surprise since the bikes are supposed to be really nice.

He said "These bikes are great, and they weigh 55 pounds less than yours (YZ 426)".

I told him that he was wrong, the CRF was 233 and the YZF is 249, and that was 16 pounds unless my math was really off.

But he swore that he did "research" and he was correct.

At that point I just left. I was too depressed about having such a FAT bike.

Anyway, just a funny story.

John

?

[Fastest1]

Dont worry he was wrong and you were right. Anyway if Ricky C. gets on 1 it will win!If he got on a 426 he would win also, he is hungry! They are all fast!Cya

[bluetick]

I knew it ruined your day! It wasn't the sand, it was your temper!

Let it go John. Let it go......!

CS

[Chris_Slade]

55 lbs???

OK, that means you're bike weighs 290, or his weighs 180.

Could he have meant it weighs 55 lbs less, WITH THE RIDER?? ?

You're absolutely correct, they may be 20 lbs max, but not 55!

[Shawn_Mc]

I rode a 450f, it feels 55 lbs. lighter, I can tell ya that. ?

[MX_Tuner]

I can hear the salesman now....... "Yes, sir, 55 lbs lighter".

[Shawn_Mc]

EMAracing, ya gotta do what ya gotta do man. If was doing it all again, (and I just might) Id go get a Honda. I talked to a guy from OK. that says he can getem' for $5800 out the door. The one I rode, cost 7800 out the door. Mission Honda (I think) has one for 8300+tax! Id have to think Husaberg at that cost. ?

[EMARacing]

Well don't keep it a secret. Let me know who that OK dealer is and I'll buy one at that price. ?

[Mr._Bandicoot]

Dude, Save your dough!!! I ride a 250f and a friend of mine got a new CRF450. Rode it once and really did not like it at all. I have riden the 426 many times and the weight is not a factor. I prefer the hit of the Yamaha over the tractor noise of the 450. Yeah, the 450 is lighter and has gobbs of power, but it all boils down to rider preference. If your a lazy rider, the Honda is a great choice, you can lug it along without having to change gears as much, but if you prefer an instant hit and throttle response, stay with the all-mighty 426. I can tell you this, my next bike is going to be a 426 for sure. Not that the Honda is a bad bike, that's not what I am saying. The Yamaha just feels more comfortable to me.

[MotoGreg]

I rode a 450f, it feels 55 lbs. lighter, I can tell ya that

Dammit, you stole my answer! When I saw the topic title I was going to write the same thing.

[EMARacing]

Originally posted by Shawn Mc:

I rode a 450f, it feels 55 lbs. lighter, I can tell ya that.

Quit saying that. Your going to make me pass on my '02 426 that I get BELOW cost and go pay retail for the new 450.

?

[EMARacing]

I don't know what I'm going to do. ? I'm coming off an '00 426 and loved the bike. The only thing is I race Hare Scrambles, so I'm on the bike for at least 2 hours a race. And this year I've really lost my mind and I'm thinking I will double up and ride the Sportsman class in the AM which is a 1 hour race, then race my class in the PM which of course is a 2 hour race. I was just thinking of the weight advantage of the 450. Trying to do both is going to take every bit of energy I have and the "lazy" power sounds a little more appealing What to do? What to do?

[Mxer303]

Originally posted by Mr. Bandicoot:

EMARacing,

If your having such a hard time deciding what to do, the best advice I can give you is to find someone with a CRF450 that would be willing to let you take it for a spin. The bike has lots of power and is very light, it's also quite a bit shorter than the YZ's(kinda feels funny to me, but I'm 6'1"). The biggest thing that turned me off was the funny sounding engine. A friend of mine that rode it, who has owned an XR650, said that it rev's similar to the XR's but has a ton less wieght and tons more power. The thing throws wheelies effortlessly(you can pull it up in every gear) due to the lack of weight up front(aluminum frame, lighter motor). It is a Honda, and its a cool bike, it just didn't do it for me. Maybe I was expecting something more after riding YZ's. Anyway, good luck...

I read in Cycle World that the engine, frame etc. were basically the same weight on the 450 and 426. They said the engine and the frame was just 1 lb. lighter than the Yamaha.It said Honda saved weight on fasteners and stuff like that and has fewer parts than the 426. So I don't think that they will have any trouble shaving weight off the blue bike next year.

[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Mxer303 ]

[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Mxer303 ]

[ December 04, 2001: Message edited by: Mxer303 ]

[Mr._Bandicoot]

Mxer303,

Your probably right about the stat's, I haven't done much research in the mag's, most of them are bias'd anyway. I don't think that the factory's know the true weights, or they just aren't tellin' the truth. I am holding out to see what Yamaha does for a comeback next year, sure would like a lighter 426 or whatever. Guess we'll see...

[Shawn_Mc]

Well the ride I took on the Honda I rode was really fun. The part that I like the most was the steering. It steered so much better than my blue beast, but there is a massive difference in the power band for sure. Its really quite strange, ya wack open the throttle and it dosent bark like the YZ, more like it growls the heck out of the ground and throws it all over the place behind you. Personally I think its just the muffler. Honda is famous for thier mufflers. I read somewhere that on the tour bikes they start with zero sound out the muffler and actually work backwards to a 'pleasant tone'. Personally, if I was riding something for hours on end, Id lean toward the honda. Honda does use alot lighter hardware on thier bikes. Sometimes I wonder what Yamaha was trying to prevent with the size of the fasteners they use to assemble the bike. Compared to my CR500, the nuts and bolts on my YZ look like something off a Ford truck.

?

[rmarion]

Originally posted by EMARacing:

I don't know what I'm going to do. ? I'm coming off an '00 426 and loved the bike. The only thing is I race Hare Scrambles, so I'm on the bike for at least 2 hours a race. And this year I've really lost my mind and I'm thinking I will double up and ride the Sportsman class in the AM which is a 1 hour race, then race my class in the PM which of course is a 2 hour race. I was just thinking of the weight advantage of the 450. Trying to do both is going to take every bit of energy I have and the "lazy" power sounds a little more appealing What to do? What to do?

Hey EMA

I'm in the same boat. I'm ready to set up for a new bike (99 400YZ). I love the power, the hit, the complete package of the YZ, but a litle less weight sure sounds good.

I'm out in So-Cally, I spoke with Dr.D (Dubach) at Glen Helen, asked him if a Diet for the YZ was in the near future? He would not spill any beans. He said try the CR450 it still ain't the YZ.

During our OTHG National at Glen Helen, our FASSST Pro Craig Davis was mounted on a stock CR450, on Sat. race he and Terry Fowler (YZ 426 mounted) were smokin that track in both heats side by side. (Craig was KTM Blood, not no more) On sunday, Dr. D showed up, and the Dr. showed why he is the DOCTOR!!! The Dr. smoked the big boys first moto and Davis won the second moto.

Back to the story.

C.D. rode the Honda for 2 Gang races, then the following two races C.D. showed up on the YZ 426. No one can touch C.D.

I pitted next to C.D. last week, I asked him his opinion on the Cr 450 vs. YZ 426.

C.D. says, the shop he rides for, he can ride either bikes. He prefers the YZ for the hard hit, stock supersion and the Ergonmics. The weight gives him a solid feel while he's blazing the track. (He went throught a rocker section at Sunrise lookin like M.C.). He said if he was going to pay, he would diffently not spend the money on the Honda. Yet!.

So as I sit here typin, I'm still riding my 99er YZ. (I raced my kids 2000 YZ 250, last week, my arms still hurt from holding onto that rocket ship) I'll take my 4stroker over the Two strokes any day.

Late

[LOOPOUT]

John

I just came off a 426 .. & love the 450... my buddy (the rapture) comming off a 4 yr retirement bought my 426 & has 0 complaints as did i with the 426.. awesome bike cant argue that!

This is what i have found... i can ride the honda longer that my 426... only thing i can think of is that the Hard hit the 426 has wears ya out more than the smooth power the 450 has.. thats just my theory... the weight is noticable kinda like a 125 to a 250 ... Some of my buddys rode my 450 & love the bike & their 1 complaint is they miss that HIT... so rider preference

The honda starts soooo easy.. could be a big plus for the scrambles series.. like after a crash but who ever crashes LOL...

John check out dealers in Louisiana I know of a guy who got one for $5800 otd .. beat my otd deal by 300 ....

its a tough decision .. cant go wrong with either bike really ...

[Mr._Bandicoot]

EMARacing,

If your having such a hard time deciding what to do, the best advice I can give you is to find someone with a CRF450 that would be willing to let you take it for a spin. The bike has lots of power and is very light, it's also quite a bit shorter than the YZ's(kinda feels funny to me, but I'm 6'1"). The biggest thing that turned me off was the funny sounding engine. A friend of mine that rode it, who has owned an XR650, said that it rev's similar to the XR's but has a ton less wieght and tons more power. The thing throws wheelies effortlessly(you can pull it up in every gear) due to the lack of weight up front(aluminum frame, lighter motor). It is a Honda, and its a cool bike, it just didn't do it for me. Maybe I was expecting something more after riding YZ's. Anyway, good luck...

[EMARacing]

Loopy ya I know what you came off of. I borrowed your decomp. lever remember?

Who did you get your bike from? I found 2 places, one in LA and one in MS that are letting them go for $5799 OTD like you said, but they have them all sold through Jan. That won't do me any good with our first race being in late Jan. and the VPGP2 in mid Jan. Honda of Houston will let one go for $6301 OTD. I'll look at them again next year and compare again if/when they change the 426.

For the price difference (over $1500 ? ) I'm going to stick with the 426 and use all that extra $$$ to set it up. With everything I want that would put the Honda at way too much $$$. I did pretty good on a 426 last year and its 90% rider anyway.

Most of my goodies are already here, now I'm just counting the days until Dec. 21st. I feel like a kid at Christmas. Heck, I am a kid at Christmas.

[LOOPOUT]

Yeah i remember ... nasty brunes mill tree got ya, i took a chuck outta my Fox helmet there when i hit a low branch...

Like i said cant go wrong with either .. & sounds like you have a smokin deal on a 426 ... i wouldnt have bought my honda if i would have had to pay retail.

See ya at the VP GP ... I missed last years but this year i am ready...

hows that stang running?