250r's vs the 450s

[bentheurer]

hey guys i am looking to get rid of my kfx 450 and either get a yfz or 250r. I was wondering would a good worked 250r still be competitive vs todays modern machines. I have read that the 250's handle amazingly, at least better then a kfx. However is the power that much different? I would only be using the machine for motocross and some local races.

thanks ben

[mx86250R]

You've got to be careful when buying 250r's now-a-days, because a lot of them have been through hard lives! I made the mistake of buying a 'clapped out' 250r and I'm still up to my eyeballs in debt with that thing! But, to answer whether or not a 250r is still competitive, it all depends on the rider, IMO. There is a 250r that runs locally around here and is never out of the top 5 in open class. If I were to do it over again I would've bought a hybrid 250r because the power of a 4 stroke is easier to use and the handling of a well suspended 250r is amazing, again, this is just my opinion. Hope this helps.

[xc_racer1]

ive ridden both and the power of a stock 450 is comparible to a built 250r. but the handling on the 250s is amazing. but it depends on what 450 u get. IMO 450rs stock dont handle that good until u put a front end on them. the handleing of a yfz is decent. but nothing is gonna handle amazing till u drop some money into it. it pretty much depends on what u like. the up keep on an r is going to be a lot more as well. i think that the ktm is gonna be the quad to get. its race ready off the showroom floor.

IMO

[450raider]

wow you must really want a yfz if you willing to get rid of your "kfx";) i say the cheapest way your gonna find one is to search the used sections of your dealers and if they dont have one ask if they can get it or know where you can. hope this somewhat helps

[miller821]

Why you getting rid of the KFX?

[Titanium]

i wouldn't get rid of your kfx 450. i've ridden one before and the i though it handled pretty well. i've ridden 250r's before but im not a big fan of 2 stroke motors. reason being is that i'm not a big fan of how you have to run 250 in a certain rpm range to be competitive with 4 strokes. i like 4 strokes just because you can have power all throughout the powerband. As for the yfz450 i think its one of the best handling quads i've ridden. But its a riders preference deal. as for the 250r's being competitive with todays 450's. its gonna take quite a bit. You're deffenently going to have to dump some money into a big bore kit unless you're a really good rider. I think a 250r's hybrid sounds perfect for you. 250r frame with a yfz 450 motor or some sort of 450 motor would be an awsome quad. but as stated before watch out. alot of these 250r's that are around have frames that are thrashed.

99' 250 ex? it ripss

[Villageidiott83]

^^^^ WHAT???

[Bender]

The best thing about the 250R is it's just such a blast to ride, the acceleration, the sound, the smell, the handling.250R's are just so damn fun ripping through the woods man, everyone should have one..They're fairly cheap to mod too.
It's not really that hard to hang with a 450's in the woods at all,I do it all the time, and my R isn't that built up. Don't know about MX though as I don't race MX.
And 4 strokes do have some good torque I agree, but you can build your R all bottom end, bottom to mid, top etc..
I think of owning a 250R as an experiance. If I was all about racing I'd buy a 450, but I'd always have a 250R for messing around on.

[250rmike]

ive had both a 250r and a moddern 4 stroke and to tell you the truth the 4 stroke is easier to ride. the 250 was lighter and nimbler and was a blast. i would say to go with a hybrid so you get the 250 geometry with the ease and maitnence of the modern 4 stroke engine.

[Rip_Tear]

I just went though a similar experience. I couldn't decide what 450 I liked best... then I got the option to buy a 265R with a good few mods done to it, in fairly decent shape.

IMO the 250R is a blast to ride, it flys and handles awesome. It's also hard to ride after a 4 stroke, rev's totally different, torque is all different, but I love it.

I always wanted a 250R so I went with it over a 450.

[400exrider707]

This topic has been beat to death so I wont get into the 450 vs 250 debate, but I will say this:

To all of you suggesting a hybrid, please be sure you use a 250 GEOMETRY frame, not an actual frame designed for a 2-stroke. They generally are much harder to get a 4-stroke motor stuffed into, and they usually dont hold up to the abuse of a 4-stroke motor. Just some food for though.

[doc-bones]

You can have a 250R with smooth 450 torque..... I own a 06 TRX450ER with work, a YFZ 450 with work, and 2 Custom 250R`s with 350 Powervalve motors, one is a complete long travel no-link Roll Design and the other is a long travel CR-500 link WALSH RC. I can assure you that my 250R`s can run away from the 450`s with no problem on the track and in the whoops!!! Here is the WALSH! The 250R`s will be my choice forever no doubt.

[250rmike]

yea but the problem with that is racing. a 350 2 stroke cant run in the same class as 450 4 strokes. they would be in the open class

[400exrider707]

Originally posted by doc-bones
You can have a 250R with smooth 450 torque..... I own a 06 TRX450ER with work, a YFZ 450 with work, and 2 Custom 250R`s with 350 Powervalve motors, one is a complete long travel no-link Roll Design and the other is a long travel CR-500 link WALSH RC. I can assure you that my 250R`s can run away from the 450`s with no problem on the track and in the whoops!!! Here is the WALSH! The 250R`s will be my choice forever no doubt.

I think once you've got that much money into something it darn well better ride like the best!

Doc you have some sweet rides,

[doc-bones]

Thanks out to 400EXrider707. I do not race only ride for fun. If I raced I can understand the switch to factory backed 4 strokes. Do not get me wrong the 4 strokes are getting so much better from factory. I enjoy riding them and saving fuel every now and then! But, they can not handle as well as my custom 250R`s..........

[Mean250r]

Originally posted by doc-bones
Thanks out to 400EXrider707. I do not race only ride for fun. If I raced I can understand the switch to factory backed 4 strokes. Do not get me wrong the 4 strokes are getting so much better from factory. I enjoy riding them and saving fuel every now and then! But, they can not handle as well as my custom 250R`s..........

Listen here folks, i had a Walsh/PEP YFZ. Just recently sold it. Before that i had a LSR/Elka 250r. Selling the 250r was the dumbest move i ever made, A 250r can, and will kill a 450 on the track with the right rider. Believe me

[doc-bones]

WOW.... That is funny. I made the same mistake. The picture of my WALSH I posted I built in late 2003 and finished 1/04. 2 years later I traded it for the badest YFZ I had ever seen with a 523 stroker. What a big mistake! A year later, I was lucky and got it back. I just finished rebuilding it. Here is another picture!

[Nac's22]

wow doc............ thats amazing!

[Mean250r]

Originally posted by doc-bones
WOW.... That is funny. I made the same mistake. The picture of my WALSH I posted I built in late 2003 and finished 1/04. 2 years later I traded it for the badest YFZ I had ever seen with a 523 stroker. What a big mistake! A year later, I was lucky and got it back. I just finished rebuilding it. Here is another picture!

aha yeah bro thats whats up, im building another 250r. I cant wait.

dude your from jersey, we shuld ride some time.

[doc-bones]

Thanks out to TRR440EX. Mean250r where are you? We have a few nice 250R`s in our group. You are more than welcome to come and ride. 250R`s always welcome! Just a heads up. We all have lights and we all have large gas tanks. Without the big tank you would not be able to make the distance between fill ups. The 450`s can make it with stock tanks usually.

[Mean250r]

Originally posted by doc-bones
Thanks out to TRR440EX. Mean250r where are you? We have a few nice 250R`s in our group. You are more than welcome to come and ride. 250R`s always welcome! Just a heads up. We all have lights and we all have large gas tanks. Without the big tank you would not be able to make the distance between fill ups. The 450`s can make it with stock tanks usually.

I live in freehold. what about you

[doc-bones]

T.R. EXIT 82
We will ride tomorrow 5-6 pm till whenever! Possibly Sunday as well.

[Nac's22]

hey doc....... does it ride and run as good as it looks? wish i had a walsh frame for my R.... going to have a walsh front end though so thats a start i guess lol.

[doc-bones]

The WALSH is a awesome set-up. Stoney Pt...... Just passed that today on the Hudson River with waverunners. Went from George Washington Bridge to Kingston and back.

[HondaATC500X]

I've ridden tons of 450s. Stock, modded, etc. I've always been a three-wheeler guy, and consequently preferred 2 strokes (ATC250R's). I recently got a full Laeger R (narrow frame, T-pin front end with long travel PEPs, CR500 link rear, blah blah blah) for $3500. Now its not a perfect machine, I've had to get the shocks rebuilt and I am in the middle of re-bushing the front end and replacing a few bearings. I'll probably have another $1,000 into by the time all the worn out stuff is fixed. For $4500, you absolutely CANNOT beat the performance and handling of an aftermarket framed R. The 250Rs are just faster, then 450s for the most part because IMO you have a slower riding style on the 450s. I'll explain.

On the 450s, you have to drive through the corners, like you have to point into it, and point back out. You can't just hammer the throttle and drift through it all the way in one single fluid motion near as easily as you can with an R. I think anyone that has a substantial amount of seat time on both would agree with me on that. The 450's do put more tractable power to the ground, and can help you get over a jump in a shorter area say coming right out of a corner then an R would at equal speeds. BUT, The R's can come into the corners faster and stay into it longer, which I believe if your riding style is accustomed to it, is faster.