Which Year 450r Is Best For Xc?

[Q35]

Thinking of switching from 06 yfz to trx450r, but am wondering which year works better. And which years require less mod's.

[Drewltr450]

Do u plan on buying a brand new 450r?

[Q35]

No, just wondering which year is the best handling and motor combo for xc. Already have shocks so stock suspension differences don't matter.

[coryatver]

04/05 is the best. the power curve and carb is better and the hubs/spindles are way better for xc and it is kick start.

the 06-07 most are electric start they don't start fast enough but you can put on a kick start or you might find a kicker version if you are lucky. also you will want to put on the 04/05 front end hubs/spindles and upper a-arms the 06+ ones handle horrible and have a huge turning radius. only thing it has better than the 04/05 is the swingarm is longer.

08's are the same as the 06/07 but have a smaller gas tank not to good for xc racing but no big deal if you plan on putting on an aftermarket anyway

[Dave400ex]

I disagree with Cory. I would take an 06-up Kicker over the 04-05 any day. Power curve can be changed easy with a cam, which most put on the 04-05 too so no difference there. The gear ratios are much better on the 06-up. As for the carb being better, the FCR is the best carb made, people just don't know how to set it up right. Mine starts and runs amazing! No problems pulling holeshots. I would get an 06-up kicker.

[rollie]

yeah the FCR carb is pretty much top of the line, but pray you never need a new one!, i checked with my honda dealer just because....$745+tax and shipping!!!!!!!! im sure you could get it way cheaper but thats still a whole lot of money for a carb

[Rich250RRacer]

I prefer my '04 over my '07 for XC. No matter how good some say the FCR is, the 04-05 carb makes it much easier for me to ride fast. The FCR makes it too snappy and hard hitting, my '04 is VERY smooth. There's night and day differences in the handling too. The 04-05's turn tighter and they are narrower, which really helps in the tight stuff, but a longer swinger and a link are a must.

[BlaineKaiser450]

i personally like the 04 more, but ive only ridden one 06+ quad

[86250rrider]

Originally posted by Rich250RRacer
I prefer my '04 over my '07 for XC. No matter how good some say the FCR is, the 04-05 carb makes it much easier for me to ride fast. The FCR makes it too snappy and hard hitting, my '04 is VERY smooth. There's night and day differences in the handling too. The 04-05's turn tighter and they are narrower, which really helps in the tight stuff, but a longer swinger and a link are a must.




i race an 05 x/c. i am in the process of going from an 05 swinger with gtt link to a 06 swinger with gtt link and high flow shock set up for me. the 05 swinger has some kick to it and the rear can want to swap in certain situations. im looking forward to the longer swinger with improved rear suspension so i can go back to a 13 from the 14 front sprocket.the front end floats too much when on the throttle as it is now(very annoying).i believe borich preferred the older models for x/c with the newer motors if i remember correctly? i will post results after the swap is complete.:macho

[coryatver]

almost all of the higher class racers race the older version. also in mx too. Honda went and called there dealers buying back left over 05's for there factory racers. BTW I have an 06

[represent618]

I love my 07, handles the woods great, I was sceptical after reading opinions of others, and decided to just buy A new one, could not be happier with my decision.

I have the 450ER, 2007, but I do not care about fast starts and have no complaints about the bike. Maybe the 05 is better, it is higlhy likely, but what I am gettign at is I (like most of the members of this site) am not a pro, so picking apart the bike and criticizing honda for what "I think they should have done" is not for me.

- Signed, one slow startin B Rider!

(no offense guys, this is just my 2 cents)

[fastredrider44]

No complaints about my 05, except the dang crank bearings. I thought I was getting a later model 05, that was fixed, but I didn't, so i had to go through the motor. I went ahead and built it, but was happy with the stock motor.