Anyone pick up a 450FX yet?

[RMK800]

Thanks for the update, I'll be there in a few weeks when spring break hits here in northern Utah. I also like the fact you think your fuel range is 60+. You need to go ride Cherry creek/Jericho with miles and miles of single track and report back, that is the ultimate enduro test since they run the national hare and hound there.

[mobgma]

The IMS 2.5 is available in dry break only but there in an option for a cap adapter. It uses stock shrouds. Only a small seat mod is required for it. Photo courtesy of IMS.

If you like this tank you could Email Daniel at IMS and he'll hook you up. I think they'll be available in a couple/three weeks.

Where did you get your decal kit in the pic?

[cubera]

That pic is from IMS not my bike.

[MidlifeCrisisGuy]

blbills: when you say it feels light, what are you comparing it to ?   250 4t motocrosser ?   Your CRF450R ?  300cc 2 stroke ? KTM 350 4t ?   Not criticizing, just want to understand your point of view.

 

Were you riding tight trails or open stuff ?

 

Did you demo any other bikes before you bought your FX ?

 

Interesting that you found the low end hit aggressive when using a Core EXP Rekluse.  Especially since the FX supposedly has a really low first gear.   I'm wondering if it was set up right for the bike. 

Edited March 14, 2016 by MidlifeCrisisGuy

[blbills]

blbills: when you say it feels light, what are you comparing it to ?   250 4t motocrosser ?   Your CRF450R ?  300cc 2 stroke ? KTM 350 4t ?   Not criticizing, just want to understand your point of view.

 

Were you riding tight trails or open stuff ?

 

Did you demo any other bikes before you bought your FX ?

 

Interesting that you found the low end hit aggressive when using a Core EXP Rekluse.  Especially since the FX supposedly has a really low first gear.   I'm wondering if it was set up right for the bike. 

 

I'm comparing it to all other 450 4t bikes I have ridden...CRF 450, prior gen YZ 450, WR 450, etc...  

 

I was riding a mixture of things.  If you are familiar with Moab: Hell's Revenge, Poison Spider, Gold Bar Rim, Chicken Corners, Kane Creek, etc...

 

I did not demo any other bikes.  To be completely honest I was waiting for the 2017 CRF450R that is rumored to have E-start.  When I saw the FX hit the market and that it's basically a race bike with E-start, wide ratio gear box, kick stand, etc... AKA exactly what I would try to do to the CRF I had to jump on it.  The tipping point was the great deal I got on it.  Bought it up in Canada and am out the door $8K USD.  Might actually be cheaper than that as I just found out I can apply for a tax refund from Canada (I paid 12% taxes).

 

Pretty sure my Rekluse is set up properly.  Have installed them on dozens of bikes.  I am a bit surprised that no one else has mentioned this "initial hit."  IMHO it's almost unridable in tight technical stuff b/c you just end up surging the engine between idle and just above 1/4 throttle where it starts to mellow out. Makes for a pretty jerky experience.  Just my 2 cents though.

[BolinJrsPit Crew]

I'm with you on the initial hit. Throttle control is so important but maintaining that control gives me extreme arm pump. Then when your hand don't work anymore, whisky throttle is inevitable. I'm going to try some new maps I just don't want to lose the power.

[BolinJrsPit Crew]

Also the valving seems fine when mobbing through rough stuff at speed. Occasionally however I hit a rock or root, and it was something I didn't even see so it couldn't have been very big and it knocked my hands loose from the bars. That sucked ash!! I'm wondering if that is the valving in the initial stroke.

Edited March 15, 2016 by BolinJrsPit Crew

[MidlifeCrisisGuy]

I appreciate reading these comments.   Thanks for the replies.

 

Is the initial hit like the lurch on the YZ250FX ?  Or is it an actual booming lift the front wheel sort of thing ?

[Hans Schmid]

I'm with you on the initial hit. Throttle control is so important but maintaining that control gives me extreme arm pump. Then when your hand don't work anymore, whisky throttle is inevitable. I'm going to try some new maps I just don't want to lose the power.

Lol, try a YZ450F, that on/off throttle jump can be brutal... The upside is that blipping the throttle to get the front wheel up is effortless!

[BolinJrsPit Crew]

I appreciate reading these comments. Thanks for the replies.

Is the initial hit like the lurch on the YZ250FX ? Or is it an actual booming lift the front wheel sort of thing ?

Can be if your hand doesn't work and your body position is wrong.

[JakeTheGreat]

Has anybody ridden the 16' 450 XCF to compare the 450 FX to? 

Edited March 15, 2016 by JakeTheGreat

[RMK800]

Has anybody ridden the 16' 450 XCF to compare the 450 FX to? 

 

Here is a magazine review of them together.

 

http://dirtbiketest.com/fresh-dirt/this-or-that-ktm-450xc-f-vs-yamaha-yz450fx/

[BolinJrsPit Crew]

Here is a magazine review of them together.

http://dirtbiketest.com/fresh-dirt/this-or-that-ktm-450xc-f-vs-yamaha-yz450fx/

Yamaha wins!!!!

[JakeTheGreat]

Here is a magazine review of them together.

 

http://dirtbiketest.com/fresh-dirt/this-or-that-ktm-450xc-f-vs-yamaha-yz450fx/

Yea I have read that review multiple times but feel like it's bias towards the FX. Just got the new Dirt Bike Magazine and they did a compare and they gave it to the XCF. Just stuck in the middle between the two and want to hear someone on the forums real opinion. 

[grayracer513]

Well, there was this friend of mine at the races one day telling me how pleased he was that his 2 year-old 450 XCF was only on it's third crank.   I just nodded and said, "cool". 

[Bass Mechanic]

Yea I have read that review multiple times but feel like it's bias towards the FX. Just got the new Dirt Bike Magazine and they did a compare and they gave it to the XCF. Just stuck in the middle between the two and want to hear someone on the forums real opinion. 

if you've read the reviews and find them so close the decision should be pretty easy to make just based on price alone.

if you could find another 3,000 reasons to buy the KTM unless you really need a desert racer with the MX transmission ratios i can not see 3,000 in value to buy the KTM.

i came really close!

i was able to ride the KTM in the dealer parking lot and it was the transmission alone geared the way it was just in 1st gear that turned me off.. i already knew this would not be the bike for me in the stuff i ride.

then we looked at sprockets, larger in the rear by 3 teeth and 1 lower in the front just to get close.

then i looked at mapping and it costs money to get that done by the dealer.

then i looked at the actual out the door sticker and decided to buy the yamaha.

i already had a 13 WR so i pretty much knew what to expect from the FX

all i can tell ya is the weight or how light the bike felt totally surprised me, felt easily 30 lbs lighter in the front end.

and the power is down right scary!

my KTM friends are all amazed and one who has a husaberg (this year is the same as a KTM) is looking for a new bike and i think will buy the FX. he rode it and for a while i wasn't sure if he was coming back! i knew he was very impressed.

so again if you can think of even 2,000 reasons to buy a KTM be my guest.

but the FX will not disappoint.

easily one of the best bikes ive owned and besides a few upgrades i did is an amazing machine right off the showroom floor.

if the weight concerns you, my bike is now within about 6 lbs with a full tank as the KTM with a full tank. don't let the numbers online mess with your head..

[MidlifeCrisisGuy]

Yamaha wins!!!!

 

 

Jimmy Lewis : Me personally, I'd choose the Yamaha.  

 

Wow !

[ckny]

Has anybody ridden the 16' 450 XCF to compare the 450 FX to?

My buddy just picked up his XC-F last week so I hope to get a ride soon.

[Not sponsored]

if you've read the reviews and find them so close the decision should be pretty easy to make just based on price alone.

if you could find another 3,000 reasons to buy the KTM unless you really need a desert racer with the MX transmission ratios i can not see 3,000 in value to buy the KTM.

i came really close!

i was able to ride the KTM in the dealer parking lot and it was the transmission alone geared the way it was just in 1st gear that turned me off.. i already knew this would not be the bike for me in the stuff i ride.

then we looked at sprockets, larger in the rear by 3 teeth and 1 lower in the front just to get close.

then i looked at mapping and it costs money to get that done by the dealer.

then i looked at the actual out the door sticker and decided to buy the yamaha.

i already had a 13 WR so i pretty much knew what to expect from the FX

all i can tell ya is the weight or how light the bike felt totally surprised me, felt easily 30 lbs lighter in the front end.

and the power is down right scary!

my KTM friends are all amazed and one who has a husaberg (this year is the same as a KTM) is looking for a new bike and i think will buy the FX. he rode it and for a while i wasn't sure if he was coming back! i knew he was very impressed.

so again if you can think of even 2,000 reasons to buy a KTM be my guest.

but the FX will not disappoint.

easily one of the best bikes ive owned and besides a few upgrades i did is an amazing machine right off the showroom floor.

if the weight concerns you, my bike is now within about 6 lbs with a full tank as the KTM with a full tank. don't let the numbers online mess with your head..

What have you done do lighten your bike up? I ordered a q4 slip on, got the yz left peg mount to dump the kickstand and have a lightweight battery. I've added a fan and lights though, must add a couple pounds, not sure where it will weigh in but I think I've done all I can without unobtanium parts.

[motocrotts]

I went out to the garage today and put my Husky on the scale. 2015 FE 350, has OEM plastic skid plate, hard parts rear disc guard, flexx bars, BPD rad guards and Cycra hand guards. It had maybe 1.25 gallons of gas in it. She topped the scales at 269 lbs! So full of gas I'm looking at 280LBS! If I were to have guessed, i would of said, maybe 250 lbs as it certainly doesn't feel like a porker which it obviously is. So the Yamaha 450FX at 253 lbs don't look so heavy now.