This weekend i had the pleasure to ride three bikes, my 01 S4, and two of my friends bikes, a honda 919 and CRF450. I put 14t front sprocket on the 919 for a buddy of mine and he wanted me to ride it first because he was a little weary of how quickly it might wheelie. I'm a duc fan through and through but this thing really came alive with a new front sprocket. It wheelied easily through 3rd gear and was a smooth as butter getting the front wheel up. I became an instant fan.
The real story though is the CRF450. I grew up on dirt bikes but hadn't really done much in the dirt for a few years. I hopped on a buddy's CRF and that was easily the scariest rides i've ever been on. It almost feels like too much power (almost). who knew a thumper like that could pull so hard. i couldn't keep the front end down into 5th gear. granted he'd done some work to this bike but d*** it was fast and fun to ride. i've successfully spent my first day at a new job searching craigslist for a CRF or KTM thumper because of it...oh well, if ducati had something more affordable (read:cheap thumper) i'd be in heaven...until then i'll keep searching for a honda or similar. anyone have any experience with the KTM 450s or yamaha thumpers?
Them there crfs street worthy? I just checked hondas website and they and the 650Ls that are street worthy. Just curious.
Thanks,
Panthro
i have a 06 ktm 450smr that i have plated and ride on the street. its great fun as long as you dont do alot of highway riding. my commute is only about 5-6 miles of 70+ mph roads, so its not bad. i did ride it about 60 miles one way the other day and it wasnt so great. my dad rode my duc there and we switched on the way back and we each liked the different bike, i think its because i have clip ons on the duc so he has a hard time reaching the bars. i dont know about where you live, but the ktm is one of the only bikes that dont have "off road use only" on the title so its easier to get a dirt bike plated, but here in texas, all the bike has to do is pass an inspection and you pay the fees and its legal.
i would search around on supermotojunkie.com you will find lots of useful info over there.
I have an 03 DukeII that I have been thinking about selling. Doesn't have teh power/weight of the 525/4-fiddy, but it is street legal highway capable and a TON of fun in the twisties.
Hey,
I just bought a Crf but now I wish had bought the 450x and plated it. Big bore thumpers sound so good, it's just as good as a uncorked Ducati IMO. My only problem with dirt bikes are the tall seat heights, they do not mix very well with my short legs :'(! I have to get them lowered if I want to ride one.....
A
Quote from: phildo on June 03, 2008, 06:05:46 PM
I have an 03 DukeII that I have been thinking about selling. Doesn't have teh power/weight of the 525/4-fiddy, but it is street legal highway capable and a TON of fun in the twisties.
My buddy made his 525 "street legal" here in AZ. Was pretty easy. Fog light from pep boys for a headlight, couple of LED blinkers and taillight and that was it...
Quote from: dax on June 03, 2008, 01:15:26 PM
This weekend i had the pleasure to ride three bikes, my 01 S4,
Do you have a 14T on your S4?? I run one on mine, and was just curious how the wheelie characterisics are on yours... I suck at upshifting while keeping the front wheel in the air and 1st gear winds out too fast, so if I'm in the mood to loft the front wheel, I find it easiest to roll on a nice smooth power wheelie in 2nd. I could definitely get it up in 3rd by clutching it, but I try and stay away from that.. I try and be nice to my clutch.. ;)
Quote from: bulldogs2k on June 03, 2008, 09:40:01 PM
Hey,
I just bought a Crf but now I wish had bought the 450x and plated it. Big bore thumpers sound so good, it's just as good as a uncorked Ducati IMO. My only problem with dirt bikes are the tall seat heights, they do not mix very well with my short legs :'(! I have to get them lowered if I want to ride one.....
A
im not sure what state youre from, but in texas almost anything can be legal. i talked to my local tax office about it and they said all thats required is for the bike to pass a state inspection, have insurance, then pay the fees (28 for title change and 41 for plate) and youre good to go. i remember a lady people were talking about on supermotojunkie in texas that does all the paperwork for a texas title and sends it back to you and you just get it titled in your state as an out of state purchase and get a new street legal title.
there are several companys that make better stators like ricks or trailtech, then all you have to do is setup the bike for whatever it takes to make it happen in your state.
Quote from: NAKID on June 04, 2008, 12:03:16 AM
My buddy made his 525 "street legal" here in AZ. Was pretty easy. Fog light from pep boys for a headlight, couple of LED blinkers and taillight and that was it...
The new ones are street legal right of the showroom floor. But for much street use they would need a bit more oil capacity or a cooler.
I agree with whoever was commenting on the sound of a big thumper. My Duke with Akros sounds fantastic...I keep thinking I need to sell it because it is so close in function to the Monster. But everytime I ride it I end up saying; well maybe I should keep it just a bit longer. Think I'll go home a terrorize the hood a bit with it a bit now. [evil]
The new 450 4 stroke powerplant from KTM is suposed to be an animal. I would definately without hesitation get a KTM over the Honda. The older 450 is no slouch either.
Quote from: gearhead on June 05, 2008, 05:52:35 PM
The new 450 4 stroke powerplant from KTM is suposed to be an animal. I would definately without hesitation get a KTM over the Honda. The older 450 is no slouch either.
I hear the excr's are having problems in the U.S and Australian market. I wanted one, but then again, I want everything!
Yeah, too bad KTM is still making bikes w/o rear suspension linkages.
Good motors, pogo stick suspension. . .
Quote from: wbeck257 on June 05, 2008, 07:25:36 PM
Yeah, too bad KTM is still making bikes w/o rear suspension linkages.
Good motors, pogo stick suspension. . .
The bigger moto's have links, such as the lc4 motors of the 640 adv and newer 690's. Might want to wait out the bugs though.
A
I have rode my monster, a honda 599 (baby brother to the 919) and a honda cr500r....and the ONLY one that scared me was the cr500r. I too grew up riding dirt bikes, but still!!! The 500 never had the front tire touch the ground through the first 3 gears. I actually got off and said "it's a little too much!" ;D As I was riding all I could say was sh^*t, sh*&%$#t, shi#$%$~~! Certainly made me a beliver - that thumper rocked!!
(but i'll take my monster and believe it or not that 599 any day!) [cheeky]