Whats the best year for the 450r?

[national425ex]

Im going to be buying a 450r here soon, I dont know what is the best year to get. Should I shell out the cash for a new one? Are the older ones just as good? I will be racing XC if that matters.

[Dave400ex]

You would be fine with a new one as long as you get a kicker. Do not get e-start.

[BlaineKaiser450]

I have an 04 and IMO its the BEST quad ever made. IT also seems to be more reliable than others but you do have to watch out for the crank bearings. Thats only on late 04's and 05's though. The motor takes modding well also!

[pro-rider46]

the old ones are good. but so are the new one. the new ones have a couple recalls and the elictric starts suck. but other then that both are good. if i were in your position i would get a older one jsut cause its cheaper and very reliable. and parts are cheaper. but as long as it a honda who cares.

[KFX440ROX]

I bought my 05 a month ago and i love it! i would go with the older one, unless couple thousands more dollars is nothing to you. i hear the 06-07 have more HP and higher compression, but IMO i think the 06-07 look kinda funny, i don't like the headlight.

[MAD450r]

I have an 04 with hrc kit and sparks pipe. I have yet to loose to anything else. 06-07's or even a slightly build 05 yfz. I also ride with a guy with 06 ltr. None can hang with me in the strait line. On the track I only have rebuilt shocks and still I make them work hard to hang with me.

I plan to redo my rearend suspension again this winter. I think its time for long travel. BTW all years need atleast a shock rebuild to stop the damn rearend buck that they have in stock form.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p1ab0d7778a3e6a05bd39be7c71245bf6/ea1ab7cd.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p0fc2876a5333ec937082b8ac43da3654/ea1ab707.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid225/p7e48a16e31479d70b016fbbe057b201f/ea5b2cc8.jpg

[450rJam]

if you plan on modding and racing it then get the old 04/05 style
because your going to get it alot cheaper and you can spend your money on go fast
(only downfall is rolling the dice with the bearings)

if your going to play and just show your friends up get the 06 and up style, it more comp and alot faster.
an 04/05 hrc vs the 06+ hrc is not even a race the newer motor just flat out has more balls.

after you start porting, bumping comp,stroking etc. they are pretty close

e starts are great (when they work) mine lasted little over a year but honda replaced it free (out of warranty too)

bottom line is what you want to do with it ?
for me, I would rather let honda fix my e start gear than to tear it all the way down to replace crank bearings/cases and what ever else gets trashed
looks are opinion but I like the 06 head light better, and if you choose to take it off your hood dont look like arse.

[MAD450r]

But hrc vs hrc the 04 will win everytime. Its the more torque fromt he longer stroke that wins. I ahve ridden both and I raced both as I stated before. The 06 feels faster cause ti rev's a tad quicker, from the shorter stroke.


Again they are both great machines. I love honda and always will. I was unhappy with the spindle change ont he newer models more than the engine changes. It doesn't handle as good as the older models do. Look at all the racers running the 04-05 frontends on all years 450rs.

[450rJam]

we will have to agree to disagree about the hrc vs hrc
I have out run many hrc'd 04/05's
the 04/05 does turn better (alot sharper)

the 04/05's around here (only 3 now with just hrc)
dont keep up with piped yfz's
I know the rider has alot to do with it.

[CHEVYZ]

Any year 450r is still a 450r...and all of them rock, so I wouldn't say there are any best years, just differences.

The newer bikes make much more power with fewer mods, and the older bikes handle much better. Both can be made to do whatever you want....well. Each have their problems, and when it comes down to it, most people on here are going to tell you that whatever they have is best.

And for the HRC differences, the older models ARE slower bikes. If you think about what each engine is running, it is easy to see how much better of componets the 06+ bikes are running coupled with the kit...and you can feel and see it. And that is being completely honest. But I don't want to make it an HRC vs. HRC thread, I am just saying.

So basically, what it comes down to is what you want to spend your money on. You can't really make a wrong choice. Learn about both of them, their pros and cons, the differences in price in your area (and if you can, performance), and try to make an educated decision with your money-you are going to be the one buying it.