Is it true?

[HondaRaceReady]

That the older style 450r (04/05) have problems with the front end moving around at high speeds, and have bad stock rear shocks? Is it true that they also have lower compression from the factory and are obselete compared to the newer ones?

[hondarider101]

i love my 04.. havent had a problem w/ it yet and if u adjust the rear shcok it will help a little bit. i believe some people have switched to a 04 05 front end to help w/ the turning it turns sharper and better. mine does not move around at hight speeds.?? haha

[HondaRaceReady]

I heard that the older ones had like 33 horsepower and the new ones have like 40. Is it possible to put the new style carb on the older style and put a high compression piston on to make them the same, or does the extra power come from the revised bore and stroke? I'm just asking because I found a good deal on an 05.

[400exrider707]

The 06 has the worse front end out of the two. The 06 has more power stock, but the 04/05's are easier to get more power out of. Also the 04/05's didn't have the transmission problems the 06+ ones do. Also the electric start on the 06's was terrible.


If I had the choice, I'd buy an 04/05 hands down.

[exsweetie66]

Originally posted by 400exrider707
The 06 has the worse front end out of the two. The 06 has more power stock, but the 04/05's are easier to get more power out of. Also the 04/05's didn't have the transmission problems the 06+ ones do. Also the electric start on the 06's was terrible.


If I had the choice, I'd buy an 04/05 hands down.

X2 i couldnt agree any more!:D

[400exrider707]

Also forgot to add, that the 04/05 had a notoriously bad bucking problem with the rear end. Honda said they fixed it in in 06, but I didn't notice one bit of difference. Both rear ends were less than desirable. Easily fixed with a revalve/respring and a different linkage.

[klutch]

I love my 04 no problems at all. Played with my rear shock a bit and its perfect. I came from an 01 Honda 300EX this rear shock is like an Elka compared to that. Love my 450R.

[wanta450]

so is the 06 shock valving heavier than the 05 style

[klutch]

I have no clue on that... =\

[04TRX400EX]

Originally posted by wanta450
so is the 06 shock valving heavier than the 05 style

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by 'heavier' but the 06+ shocks are definitely stiffer (could be springs or valving or both). I don't know whay Honda thinks that every R owner weighs 215lbs. + :confused:

[HB-Roost]

The older model engines are MUCH harder to get power out of. They have the potential to go bigger but IMO you will not see any bit of difference between the two engines fully built, and the newer style bikes will WAY outperform the older models for less money. The engines are totally different inside and out BTW, different bore, stroke, compression, head design, exhaust, carb, intake, filter, CDI....

As mentioned neither have the greatest of rear-ends. I do prefer the newer models in that department, however, more so because of the slightly longer swinger, but that is a personal opinion.

No, the 04-05 front ends don't tend to float on the top side, and actually have a better front-end than the newer models.

I would surely not say that the older models are in any way obsolete, but IMO the newer models are superior....and this is coming from owning multiple of each the newer and older models.

in 2006 they put heavier or stiffer springs on the shocks and changed the preload collars over to aluminum making each shock a half pound lighter or something

[fmfhonda250r]

The 04-05 motor takes WAY more money to get it up to par with a 06 and newer, A 05 you need a high compression piston cam porting carb pipe to run with a 06 with a cam and pipe. I have a 05,06,07 all mx ready they all have 05 front ends on them with different swingarms and links, all handle realy similar but i like the 05 the best smoother power and makes more tq and hp and it's realy easy to ride. I am in the process of selling my newer bikes and finding used 05's to make race bikes out of cause i like them better jmo

[BlaineKaiser450]

Originally posted by 400exrider707
The 06 has the worse front end out of the two. The 06 has more power stock, but the 04/05's are easier to get more power out of. Also the 04/05's didn't have the transmission problems the 06+ ones do. Also the electric start on the 06's was terrible.


If I had the choice, I'd buy an 04/05 hands down. well said