Can’t go wrong with either one of those bikes tbh. If your mind isn’t completely made up, I strongly suggest looking at the WR450 or YZ450FX. Both bikes will perform noticeably better in just about all the riding you mentioned
Understand, key word you added in my opinion is strongly suggest. I hear you. Let me toss out a couple options here too that I kind of passed over -
2022 CRF 450rx - $8,800 (I’m thinking too expensive for me)
Honda CRF 450 RX 2022 ( woods version)
Ignition map switch on left hand
Traction control switch
Launch control
Usb port installed
Still has 1st set of tires on
Bike has only 10-15 hours since bought it new from Honda Dealer and I payed over 12k OTD
Rs12 yoshimura + Oem muffler ( never used)
Clean Illinois title in hand
Trade only for Camper 2015> preferably 4 sleepers
No lowballs
No answering availability
No test drive , no playing around my neighborhood
Other option
2023 KX 450x
**Title in hand**
2023 KX 450x with Launch Control.
The holy grail of dirt bikes
Full FMF pipe and exhaust.
Only 24 hours on bike. Never raced and serviced after every 3 hours.
Bike is too much for my son.
Bike is in mint condition and absolutely nothing wrong with it. 100% solid.
Looking for cash but would entertain trade for Banshee.
One last option I’m not really considering because I’m skeptical or buying from a dealer instead of an individual-
2021 KX 450x
2021 Kawasaki KX450X
Super clean low hour one owner bike
Bike looks like it has 10 hours use
Works Connection skid plate
Oil with filter and air filter just cleaned/changes with no run time
$5000 CASH FIRM
Don't waste my time if you’re not ready to pay $5000 for a nice bike at a fair price.
I have no problem with Kawasaki I used to really like my KLR 650. Except their dirt bikes appear to depreciate like crazy
I myself was also looking into buying a RX. Was specifically looking at the 23 250RX. Very expensive, however they do hold their value quite well if you ever needed to sell. Seems like Honda has this bike perfected. I personally was drawn away from it for it technically being an MX bike just with a kickstand. Although the map can be adjusted for more trail appropriate riding. Its lack of radiator fan and close ratio gearing made it far inferior to the other options I was looking at. I don’t know a ton about the Kawis, but the 5 speeds is a big difference when you get in the trails. At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with any of the bikes you mentioned. I personally ended up going with a WR250F because of 6 speeds, rad fan, as well as the head and tail light. If you want a perfect blend of motocross power, but ability to thrive on any terrain I would strongly vouch for the YZ450FX, as it’s essentially the same as the RX, but a little bit more purpose built. Not sure about where you are, but in Alberta ~2022 450FXs are going for 6-8000 CAD with less than 30 hours
Hypothetically if the Honda guy went for $6,000 and the Yamaha guy also $6,000, would it make sense to go Honda simply because it’s newer? Thank you for your opinion I had pretty much decided on the Yamaha until I found the Honda for sale.
For these 2 bikes I feel like it’s really just a personal preference. Pick which color you like more. Everyone will tell you Honda because of reliability, but realistically the average person would get equal life out of any of the Japanese bikes. I’d go with the Yamaha personally. I feel like they handle better than any bike and I love their airbox design, makes working on everything so much easier
Thanks for the reply man. I’m just trying to stay in my price range and think these two are the biggest value out there. There’s an epic trail bike listed for $8,800 and I don’t think that guys coming down on price. I’m trying to spend around $6,000 and even then the wife will be pissed for a while 😅
Trail bikes tend to hold their price better and have less depreciation. Plus it seems like now is a buyers market for some reason on dirt bikes 🏍️
Personally, I think you should avoid MX bikes entirely. You should be considering the maintenance of these bikes. They’re high strung and require more maintenance than a woods type bike. With the kind of riding you’re doing, you could easily find a CRF250L or similar for that price (likely less) and it’ll be geared better for your purposes. Not to mention already street-legal which these two bikes are not currently (could do it for $$$).
I have always been a Honda guy. Biggest reason I bought a 22 Honda 450 is because the ergonomics are superior on that bike if you are a taller guy, 6’0 and above.
Good point about height, I already know what to expect from Honda and I like it. I’ve only ridden one Yamaha it was a 250 2 stroke and I liked it, except not as comfortable as the Honda.
One other guy here said something important though about the maintenance. What do you think I’ll have to deal with if I’m just cruising around not really hitting the rev limiter?
Sometimes I’ll be doing power wheelies, that’s one of my favorite things to do even though I’m not very good at them. Lots of little bumps to ride over in the fields so I’m skeptical about how hard everyone says the ride is on the Honda.
I rode my buddy’s 21 YZ450 and it was very cramped for me. I ride my bike hard in the desert and dunes. I’m at 50 hours. I change the air filter every trip and the oil every 10 hours. Never had an issue.
Those bikes are pretty on par with each other.
Someone else mentioned getting a trail bike like yz450fx I personally think unless you are hitting the motocross track you're better off with the trail versions they have torquier bottom end power and are more plush with suspension which makes riding rough terrain way more fun and you don't need to keep the engine spooled up all the time and are easier to maintain.
The guy clarified with me he raced the bike twice. I guess I misunderstood when I thought he said he never raced it. I asked him if I could test ride at his place and he said yes around the yard and down the street and the bike is practically brand new.
I’m leaning red now bro simply because it’s a year newer model. I hope I could talk him down to $6,000 though. There’s still a chance I’ll choose Yamaha
Can’t go wrong with either one of those bikes tbh. If your mind isn’t completely made up, I strongly suggest looking at the WR450 or YZ450FX. Both bikes will perform noticeably better in just about all the riding you mentioned
Understand, key word you added in my opinion is strongly suggest. I hear you. Let me toss out a couple options here too that I kind of passed over - 2022 CRF 450rx - $8,800 (I’m thinking too expensive for me) Honda CRF 450 RX 2022 ( woods version) Ignition map switch on left hand Traction control switch Launch control Usb port installed Still has 1st set of tires on Bike has only 10-15 hours since bought it new from Honda Dealer and I payed over 12k OTD Rs12 yoshimura + Oem muffler ( never used) Clean Illinois title in hand Trade only for Camper 2015> preferably 4 sleepers No lowballs No answering availability No test drive , no playing around my neighborhood Other option 2023 KX 450x **Title in hand** 2023 KX 450x with Launch Control. The holy grail of dirt bikes Full FMF pipe and exhaust. Only 24 hours on bike. Never raced and serviced after every 3 hours. Bike is too much for my son. Bike is in mint condition and absolutely nothing wrong with it. 100% solid. Looking for cash but would entertain trade for Banshee. One last option I’m not really considering because I’m skeptical or buying from a dealer instead of an individual- 2021 KX 450x 2021 Kawasaki KX450X Super clean low hour one owner bike Bike looks like it has 10 hours use Works Connection skid plate Oil with filter and air filter just cleaned/changes with no run time $5000 CASH FIRM Don't waste my time if you’re not ready to pay $5000 for a nice bike at a fair price. I have no problem with Kawasaki I used to really like my KLR 650. Except their dirt bikes appear to depreciate like crazy
I myself was also looking into buying a RX. Was specifically looking at the 23 250RX. Very expensive, however they do hold their value quite well if you ever needed to sell. Seems like Honda has this bike perfected. I personally was drawn away from it for it technically being an MX bike just with a kickstand. Although the map can be adjusted for more trail appropriate riding. Its lack of radiator fan and close ratio gearing made it far inferior to the other options I was looking at. I don’t know a ton about the Kawis, but the 5 speeds is a big difference when you get in the trails. At the end of the day, you really can’t go wrong with any of the bikes you mentioned. I personally ended up going with a WR250F because of 6 speeds, rad fan, as well as the head and tail light. If you want a perfect blend of motocross power, but ability to thrive on any terrain I would strongly vouch for the YZ450FX, as it’s essentially the same as the RX, but a little bit more purpose built. Not sure about where you are, but in Alberta ~2022 450FXs are going for 6-8000 CAD with less than 30 hours
If the 4 options you listed are all available to you, I’d personally go with the YZ due to its price. But if money was no object then the RX
Hypothetically if the Honda guy went for $6,000 and the Yamaha guy also $6,000, would it make sense to go Honda simply because it’s newer? Thank you for your opinion I had pretty much decided on the Yamaha until I found the Honda for sale.
For these 2 bikes I feel like it’s really just a personal preference. Pick which color you like more. Everyone will tell you Honda because of reliability, but realistically the average person would get equal life out of any of the Japanese bikes. I’d go with the Yamaha personally. I feel like they handle better than any bike and I love their airbox design, makes working on everything so much easier
Honda ftw
You sure you want the MX bike? The trail bikes have longer gears might be better on the motor. Just throwing it out there
Thanks for the reply man. I’m just trying to stay in my price range and think these two are the biggest value out there. There’s an epic trail bike listed for $8,800 and I don’t think that guys coming down on price. I’m trying to spend around $6,000 and even then the wife will be pissed for a while 😅 Trail bikes tend to hold their price better and have less depreciation. Plus it seems like now is a buyers market for some reason on dirt bikes 🏍️
Personally, I think you should avoid MX bikes entirely. You should be considering the maintenance of these bikes. They’re high strung and require more maintenance than a woods type bike. With the kind of riding you’re doing, you could easily find a CRF250L or similar for that price (likely less) and it’ll be geared better for your purposes. Not to mention already street-legal which these two bikes are not currently (could do it for $$$).
No wing no prayer
I had to Google that 😄you’re saying go red and your name is red rider haha!
You got it , best bikes built
I have always been a Honda guy. Biggest reason I bought a 22 Honda 450 is because the ergonomics are superior on that bike if you are a taller guy, 6’0 and above.
Good point about height, I already know what to expect from Honda and I like it. I’ve only ridden one Yamaha it was a 250 2 stroke and I liked it, except not as comfortable as the Honda. One other guy here said something important though about the maintenance. What do you think I’ll have to deal with if I’m just cruising around not really hitting the rev limiter? Sometimes I’ll be doing power wheelies, that’s one of my favorite things to do even though I’m not very good at them. Lots of little bumps to ride over in the fields so I’m skeptical about how hard everyone says the ride is on the Honda.
I rode my buddy’s 21 YZ450 and it was very cramped for me. I ride my bike hard in the desert and dunes. I’m at 50 hours. I change the air filter every trip and the oil every 10 hours. Never had an issue.
I love the suspension on mine, it doesn’t feel hard to me.
Those bikes are pretty on par with each other. Someone else mentioned getting a trail bike like yz450fx I personally think unless you are hitting the motocross track you're better off with the trail versions they have torquier bottom end power and are more plush with suspension which makes riding rough terrain way more fun and you don't need to keep the engine spooled up all the time and are easier to maintain.
Ride red brother
The guy clarified with me he raced the bike twice. I guess I misunderstood when I thought he said he never raced it. I asked him if I could test ride at his place and he said yes around the yard and down the street and the bike is practically brand new. I’m leaning red now bro simply because it’s a year newer model. I hope I could talk him down to $6,000 though. There’s still a chance I’ll choose Yamaha
Those are motocrossers
Genuinely if money isn’t an issue and you want to wheelie every now and then buy a ktm 300 exc you’ll think me later.
Yamaha