525 vs. CRF450?

[TasmanianSandDevil]

I currently ride a 300exc, but I'm almost set on getting a 525 for sand dune action mostly. But before I make the big leap, im just wondering if any of these japi 450s can stand up, or maybe surpass the 525? I noticed the CRF has a heck of a compression ratio 12:1

Thanks.

 

[SFO]

If you like KTM's look no further.
450's are capable of faster lap times but the grin factor of a 525 in the dunes should make up for it.
This is a KTM forum so perhaps you are just trolling?

 

[Camaro]

I'm too short and light to say anything nice about the pumpkin bikes so I'd go with the CRF mostly because I'm not fond of the euro feel. Would be kinda nice to go deer hunting without the blaze orange vest. the tough part though is getting the bike back out of your tree stand.

Just two semi-sarcastic cents from a "yamahonda" rider.

 

[sloopy]

well camaro :think: i am only 150 pounds and 5'9" and i ride a ktm 450 exc and i can handle it. whats your excuse? btw i would take whatever color ktm over any jap bike any day. tasmanian devil i hope this answers you question. buy the ktm you will not be sorry. the resale value will be alot better than the honda and the over all out of the box race ready setup is great. dial the suspension in, rejet to where you ride, and go.

 

[adrenaline420]

I would take the KTM 525 over any 450 in showroom floor, maybe once I make more money, i'll get one myself, but my 250 rules anyway. give a ride report on that bike, if u choose the KTM, cuz I havnt heard much about those bikes , excpet for that they are just a power house.

 

[Camaro]

So sloopy whats your favorite flavor of roost. I'm yet to see a KTM thumper turn better track times than a honda. Top heavy, tall seat height and insane clutch fade in technical sections sound wonderful if thats what your in to but I'm sure thats what you meant. and as far as resale go hour for hour and dollar earned per dollar spent honda and yamaha both maintain a better resale value sorry punkin... :p

 

[Tennessee Thumper]

and as far as resale go hour for hour and dollar earned per dollar spent honda and yamaha both maintain a better resale value sorry punkin... :p

:coocoo:

 

[SpeedyManiac]

I see this is a really intelligent post.

A guy at the track I go to has a KTM525SX. On of my riding buddies has a CRF450R. Both are brutes, with the KTM being an absolute monster (though fun in the open stuff). Seeing as you are already accustomed to KTMs having owned a 300EXC, I'd suggest sticking with KTM, either going with the 450 or 525. Be warned that the 525 is pretty rediculous for power, though I think the EXC is a lot tamer than the SX model.

As for comments about resale, KTMs keep their value really well, while Hondas aren't far behind. Remember, a trail bike will keep its value, a motocrosser gets killed on resale, same for smaller brands (used GasGas bikes are dirt cheap even when in excellent shape).

 

[TasmanianSandDevil]

Alright guys, calm down, this is not a flame board :) I guess choosing a bike to ride is almost like choosing the vehicle you drive. Its what you grew up on, its what your pop, or whoever usually tells ya to get, and when it comes down to it, everything is about the same, its just what you're preferance is.

I have ridden everything in the ROY G BIV spectrum(if you don't know what that means, then you should have listened better in middle school), and I think they are all great bikes, but when it comes down to it, its simple, some just have more power then others. I have owned 2 KTMs, a 400exc, and a 300exc, just because I like um. I rode a 450CRF before, and a 520exc, both great bikes, both good power.

As I said, I'm looking for a good dune machine, and if KTM still made the 380, or Kawasaki and Honda the 500s, then that is what I would choose from. But since this is turning into a fourstroke world, its hard to get your hands on a big bore Two-stroke, and most people don't want to let um go.

But anyway, thank you all, I just wanted to hear some opinions, and some experiences, and not bench racers saying my bike is faster then yours because it is purple and yours is pink. :) Oh, and about the resale values, Two-stroke resale values plain out suck! My 300 is two years old and the dealers only want to give me in the 3k range. When I traded in my 400exc that was only 2 years old, it was over 4000. I love two strokes to death, but its a dying era sadly.

You may all think I have answered my own question, but I just like to do a lot of research before I get a new machine, and I like to hear people's experiences, preferably people who have ridden many machines, and not just one brand of machine all of their life, yeah your bike is awesome, but how do you know mine isn't if you have never ridden it.

Thanks again guys.

Taz

 

[jumpingjoe628]

I rode both bikes on a motocross track and the CRF has a lot more brute power than the 525. The 525 takes too long to get going and feels heavier, plus it only has 4 gears. I don't want to put the KTM down by any means but I think the CRF is a better all around bike. The 525 suspension felt great but lacks in the motor dept. I expected alot more from a bigger engine. Hell, I rode an 03 CRF that was faster. I was all happy for my friend when he got the 525 and then he let me ride it. I didn't have the heart to tell him what I really thought about his new ride so I said it was great and has a lot of power. I don't care where you ride, whether it's in the woods, MX or dunes, the CRF is just plain better. And this is coming from a diehard 2-smoke rider (02 CR 250).

 

[Okiewan]

As I said, I'm looking for a good dune machine

Then why bother looking at thumpers?
http://www.servicehonda.com/CR500AF.html

 

[tolga]

I am sorry but I have to ask.

What is GasGas bikes mean?

 

[killerbeez 75]

I would go for the 525sx and have the 6 speed installed for $300.Sorry honda guys,The 525sx waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy out power's your little 450's,sorry to hurt your honda pride. :ahhh:

 

[Okiewan]

Why would a 525 cc 4-stroke making more hp than a 450 cc 4-stroke hurt anyone's "pride" ?

 

[killerbeez 75]

Honda owners are very proud people about their machines and rightfully so,they are greatbikes.Alot of my riding partners have hondas and think that nothing is faster than their 450's.On the track yes the 450 is quicker but in the dunes and desert,no way,hands down on the ktm.

 

[RVL]

I would go for the 525sx and have the 6 speed installed for $300.Sorry honda guys,The 525sx waaaaaaaayyyyyyyy out power's your little 450's,sorry to hurt your honda pride. :ahhh:

A CR500af makes your 525 seem like a moped by comparison.
Sorry to hurt your KTM pride...

 

[Detonator]

Tolga,

Gas-Gas is a Spanish bike, like Honda is a Japanese bike and KTM is Austrian.

 

[TasmanianSandDevil]

Well this post is starting to wonder into all kinds of different riding categories, maybe I should have put it in general, but I wanted to hear more from KTM folks.

I agree with you on the 2-smokes Okiewan, and believe me, I thought about the 500AF. But that $9000 price tag is a bit high, especially after I just got me a new 2500HD Chevrolet.
Maybe if Service Honda offered a financing program, and sold it to me for about $7000, I'd think about it. :)

Two-strokes are more sensitive to altitude changes though. I had my 300 at Little Sahara Oklahoma, Ran great! I live in North Carolina and have it jetted for here. After Ok, I went to Little Sahara, Utah, Ran like a 5hp Brigs Lawn mower engine, had to rejet it. And thats just a 2000-3000ft difference. I then went to St. Anthony after that, but there elevation is about the same as Utah, but it was about 40 degrees and sleeting, in June! So I had to play with it some more. My 400 exc ran just about the same where ever I took it.

I know, I know, if you ride in different places, different temps, you usually have to rejet almost any kind of machine, but, two-strokes are so much more sensitive.

Either way, I wish they still made big bore two-strokes, I should have gotten one when I had the chance.

Anyway, thanks for all of the feedback everyone, keep it coming.

Taz

 

[Okiewan]

I agree with you on the 2-smokes Okiewan, and believe me, I thought about the 500AF. But that $9000 price tag is a bit high, especially after I just got me a new 2500HD Chevrolet.
Maybe if Service Honda offered a financing program, and sold it to me for about $7000, I'd think about it.

But it does offer the best resale of ANY bike out there :) I had mine for a year and sold it for $300 less than I paid for it... think that's possible with any other dirtbike? I think not.

 

[killerbeez 75]

I do agree that the 500 AF would be the ultimate dune bike or you could even still pick up a 04 kx 500 which they quit production in 05 for a hell of alot cheaper.Probably will not handle as good as an AF though.The question at hand though is between the 450 and the 525,I guess there is no replacement for displacement in the sand.I have owned the 525sx and riden the 450's,honda,yamaha,not yet the suzuki but would love to try,and the sx just has more torque and power everywhere.I currently own a 04 250sx and wish I had my 4t back.

 

[sloopy]

if the cr 500 is such an awsome bike why would you sell then? the jap bikes do better in moto cross but the reason behind that is they buy the best riders.

 

[Okiewan]

Yup.. like Langston.

 

[BigRedAF]

I have had more Yamaha's than Suzuki's or Honda's so when I choose my latest ride I wanted to ride several bikes first. I actualy had a chance to ride a brand new KTM 450 and hated it. My 2002 YZ250 2 stroke had more seat of the pants low end. The KTM was weak compared to the CR 450 and the front end was harsh at best. Save your hard earned money and buy the CR450 so you will actually have a bike that you can sell when your finished with it.

 

[pumpkinhead69]

here the deal if you are going to be riding tracks go with the honda crf450 its an awsome bike for the track. you want to ride the desert go with the ktm 525mxc (6 gears on that bad boy) the crf450f is a great bike in both tracks and the desert the 525 is more of a desert bike or trail bike. i have a ktm525mxc i ride with guys the honda guys and over the woops they got me beat but everything else they eat my dust. ktm has a new 400 and i hear it is really lite and has a six speed trans you may want to look at that bike as well.

 

[sloopy]

the stock ktm four stroke bikes wont seem as fast because the jetting is way to lean and the gearing is really high. i dont know to many people that need to go over 100 on a dirt bike unless your in the desert racing.