05 compared to the 06 and up......what do you prefer?

[/infamous/]

I race an 06 but was looking into riding an 05 setup for next years nationals. Is there any downfalls to the 05 compared to the 06 besides the obvious ones?....

[CRE Performance]

Ill tell you what, i rode an 05 for the longest, then it finally got wore completely out...frame, engine and all till I opted for a new platform. I bought a new 07 and for it to supposedly be the same bike, I think it was totally different. It feels to me like the peg height or something is different, or possibly the seat angle may be different. I now have both, an 05 and an 07 and both have 05 front geometry and I still feel the same way about how they feel when compared to one another. I really like the power and snappiness of my 07 (mainly because of the carb) but 05 just seems to handle better and feel better. Dont get me wrong, my 05 makes more power at the present time....but it took a +3 stroker, 02 CRF cam, white bros pipe for it to make the same amount of power as my 07 with an HRC headpipe and cam, w/ a motoworks slip on. Even after the head has been thouroughly massaged on the 05 (it makes 7 more HP) the 07 still feels just as fast if not faster in tight tracks.

If I have to buy another one to add to the collection, it will be an 05.

[BakerRacing40]

we just got done talking about this a few hours ago at sandtrax. from what i understand is the 05 spindles are the good of the front end and the 05 engine you can't produce as much power as you can with the newer models. i was basically told to stay away from the older ones...

no experience with either, just tellin what i hear..

[/infamous/]

Yea i know the 05s handle better but just this year Joe Byrd and Nick Denoble were still running the 05 model. Upperman runs the newer models though. Hmm sound to me like its just rider preferance

[Butter]

I'm pretty sure was documented that the '04-'05s have potential to make more power than the '06+. I would stick with the older ones until they produce an EFI bike. The trannys are much tougher, and the gearing is longer. But it does come down to what you like better. And if its just the snappiness of the throttle you like, put an FCR carb on, and its night and day different. Again, rider preference.

[d3ktrix]

Originally posted by Butter
I'm pretty sure was documented that the '04-'05s have potential to make more power than the '06+. I would stick with the older ones until they produce an EFI bike. The trannys are much tougher, and the gearing is longer. But it does come down to what you like better. And if its just the snappiness of the throttle you like, put an FCR carb on, and its night and day different. Again, rider preference.

Agree'd, the biggest downfall on the 05 is the carb. Once you stick a bored FCR on it with some headwork it, it's amazing.
No matter how much work you do to the rest of the engine, the 05 throttle response is lame til you stick an FCR on it.

I just can't stand the 06+s for the same reason CRE was talking about, the seat is higher or something. Feels more like I'm sitting on a dirt bike then a quad.

[fastredrider44]

This topic has been beat on pretty good. But honestly, I still like my 05s. I probably wont change until I can't find any decent 05s anywhere. As long as it's a Honda, it doesn't matter.

[chad502ex]

I prefer to build 04/05 engines over the 06+...

[blacknblue#2]

Ive dealt with many 04/05 and many 06+ quads. Im running what i call an 05/07 Production hybrid lol. Its an 05 frame and front end fitted with an 07 engine and swinger (the only reason for the 05 frame was because of price when i needed a frame other than that it woulda just had an 05 front end) Ive had bare 06+ frames and subs next to bare 05 frames and subs a couple times and there is no way for the seat height is different unless its in the seat itself which is possible. Like said its all preference. I like my 07 motor due to throttle response. We have some 05s in our group with FCRs, their not lacking the throttle response either but its more than just a carb that gives the 06+ the exact response it has. it has to do with the shorter stroke and bigger bore.....just my .02

[fastredrider44]

Also stock motors have different compression. I believe the 05 is 10.5:1 and 06 up is 12:1. I could be wrong though.