Been looking at getting another bike and since I am 30 now, I'm thinking about getting an enduro instead of a motocross bike. Been researching the 450x and seems to be a great bike, one of the lighter enduros I can find, also want to stick with a Honda. Just looking for some opinions. Thanks, Brad.

I'm 40 and still saddle up a CRF450R.

I have ridden a stock 450X before and was really disappointed in the lack of power. There are some people here that have done mods (blank off the emissions crap, air box mod, exhaust, cam, gearing) and get them to run well. Maybe they will chime in.

Still and "E" button would be nice.

I have an 06 and love it. Sure it would be nice to have more power but e start and a light come in handy. Mine doesn't have any mods done to it so I can't comment there but it has been good to me.

I've done a few races on one, and they are great bikes.. A little down on power stock, but with some head work and the other stuff that Mac mentioned it really wakes them up. If you get one at least do a pipe, jetting and smog block off kit and they run so much better.

smog block off does absolutely nothing for a X model honda.

Como??

Huh?

The wr450 has only half throttle off the floor and jetting is jacked up but after that they run pretty good if you change your mind on the honda thing let me know mine is an 2006 with less than 100mi will consider trades

No hablo espanol? Can you explain what you mean by the smog block off doing nothing?

Precision concepts in El Cajon has a "R" kit that sells for $450, replaces cam,head,jetting. But between that a baja designs kit and a pipe I'm looking at another $1200. Might try and look for a used one that already has some mods, but I would like a 09' so it might be hard to find. The electric start and wide ratio gears are the reason I am leaning towards the X instead of conforming an R model.

If you just do a jet kit, smog block off and pipe it'll be fine for you IMO.. Late on you can always do the "R" kit if you need it. Also you might look into the Kawi KLX450.. Bone stock with just a pipe and jet kit they run really good and have great power. Thats the bike I'm currently riding/racing. I do plan on doing a high comp piston and head work soon though. Always looking for more

I have a 2005 CRF450X. I just changed the jetting and opened the airbox wow what a difference. I love it, I've had it since new and wouldn't trade it. Ride Red and you will be happy with it too!! Jetting and airbox mod with the stock pipe (I'm not a fan of noisy bikes) is plenty for this 39 year old....

I've got no less than 10 bike mags that ALL say it does zippo, zilcho, nothing. Might backfire a little less but zero HP gained.....

I didn't say it gave you anymore HP gains, all it does is help with jetting. It's to hard to dial in these bikes in with the smog pump recirculating hot air back into the air box. Not to mention it's a bunch of crap that you don't need on the bike. You really have 10 mags that all say that? wow lol

Shameless Plug...

http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/index....howtopic=200987

I'll check back on this. I hope to buy one around august.

Depending on what type of riding you do, there's a lot of different directions you can go with a 450X.
Leave it stock and it's good at a lot of different things, but not great at any one.
Open the airbox A LITTLE, jet it and you've got a really good tight trail bike.
Put a 450R header, and leave the stock exhaust and you've got a good trail bike with a little more aggressive hit.
Put a 450R header and muffler and you've got a good desert bike.
Put a 450R header, muffler, and cam along with some other stuff and you've got a great desert/baja machine.

I've got a 2008 with a 450R header and Pro Circuit muffler, slightly opened up airbox, jetted, 3.2g IMS tank and a street legal kit. Green stickered, not plated. Right around 10 hours on it. Was building it to be a dualsport bike, but I get other bikes to ride now so my personal bike sits covered in the garage. Let me know if you're interested, or if you want info on setting up a 450X let me know. I know some people that know some people that know some stuff about Hondas

Really??

I have a 07 WR450X, left the smog stuff, but jetted, air box opened up, new throttle screw and Dr D. pipe and WOW!!! The Dr D. was really needed, but it looks so pretty!!

Got an '05 CRF 450X and love it for open desert riding. blocked off smog before even riding, white bros pipe, jets. and it gets around fine. Bike does fine in glamis but is geared more for hardpack (most of my riding). best of all -- e start, and headlight.

^ ^ ^^ There you go. My brother just bought a used 2006. Bone stock with 55 miles. Did the smog block off. Air box is next. Header, pipe, cam and jets are on order. We took it out to G last weekend and it did okay. Needs more power, the gearing wasn't right and the suspension was a bit soft. Felt a bit heavier than my R, but nothing too severe. The button was real nice though . . .

x2. The light is nice when you get stuck out in the dunes after dark. And the E button isnt bad either.

Is there any way to shed a couple pounds off these bikes? After a few mods and an IMS tank these things are going to be 300lb's.

I don't really know anything about them...it's just the company I keep! Alright, I might have a little seat time on them...

Sorry, just saw this. I was down in Mex playing around on a 450X!

Want a simple diet plan? Pull the X subframe off, put on an R subframe assembly (no battery, lighter airbox/plastic), pull the starter motor and plug the hole....that's the easiest way to diet them but then again you should've just bought an R!!

There's no easy way to loose the weight without spending a lot of money. If you set the bike up right, it can be heavy putting it on the stand, but still feel light when you're riding it.

If you're concerned with weight feeling, get a 2008 or 2009. The earlier chassis without the steering dampner had a heavy feeling around the tank area (kinda like a bowling ball sitting up there). Once you put a big tank on, it felt even worse. The 08/09 doesn't have that feel to it, even with a big tank.

Thanks, after the research that I have done so far I am going to look for an 09. Pulling the starter and battery would not be an option for me since I am looking for the E start.

If you do the smog block whatever it's called, can you still make it street legal?

Here in Cali You can't make it street legal no matter what. In fact you are not really allowed to take the "smog stuff" off and even be Off-Road legal...

That sucks.......................for you.

I hear and see quite a few problems with the valves on CRF's in general. Each year some say this is fixed and each year it isn't.

Durability used to be a strong point with Honda and in the performance 4 strokes market, Yamaha has got them beat hands down.

I have a CR 500 and have ridden both the WR and the CRF-X 450's. Granted neither of those bike compare to a 2 stroke, and I am a hard core Honda guy, I have to say that the WR feels a lot lighter and more nimble than the X. But the X pulls a whole lot better on the hills.

All you have to do is get a VIN verification form from the DMV take your bike and the form to the CHP and verify the VIN#. Then take that form to the DMV with proof of insurance and make sure you check the box on the form FOR ROAD USE hand the lady the form s and $64 dollars and she enters the info then tells you to go to window 20 and pick up your plate.

You might want to wipe your a** before you go talking out of it...

4 seasons on my first CRF...no issues...valves never moved.

3 seasons on my second CRF...no issues...valves have never moved.

I ride my bikes freaking hard. You think you can put your money where your mouth is...let's see if your yammie can hang.

I have a 2005 CRF450R that I added a Trail Tech stator and Baja Designs headlight kit to. To make it more "trail friendly" I had a wide ratio transmission from a CR250 installed. It's not a inexpensive option but it works. You can find some information on what year transmission to use on thumper talk.

That easy?

Yeah, only Goats can make Honda's win!!

Did you kiss your wife with that mouth Mac?

By the way, my 99 YZ, road hard for for 7 years and never a valve problem!!!

I went back to a 2 stroke and absolutely love it. I've never had any valve issue's because it doesn't have any!!!

It has electric start, lights, wide ratio tranny, and 20lbs. lighter than a 450x. Tons of power in every gear. All I have to do is change oil, add gas, and go. Pretty much zero maintenance.

2009 KTM 300exc!!!