First ride on a 4 stroke

As many of you know I have been ridding two stokes of all sizes for many years, well recently I had a chance ride a 450 four stoke, actually two, both completely stock with about 25 hours on them an 08 YZ-450 and an 06 CR-450, there was going to be a 2000 RM 250 2 stroke as well but it was receiving some TLC so it didn't make it.
It was my first time riding this track, it is a private track with a fairly tight layout some fun jumps, whoops and nice berms on hard pack.  It had received some rain so there was good traction with some mud.

Now for my impressions:  Both were fun to ride but very different bikes.
CR-450
The ergonomics of the CR were awesome.  When I first took it out I found that it had lots of power starting right off the bottom, I could power wheelie out of any turn or down any straight.  
As far as handling it was a bit of a learning curve.  Being a two stoke rider I tried to stuff it into turns at first and that didn't work, it would stand up on me every chance it got.  I think this is due to the traction and power more than the actually handling of the bike once I started using flowing lines around the track the bike turned well not as easily as an RM but nothing does.  It felt good in the air and through the whoops.  I was really impressed overall once I got the hang of it.

YZ-450
This bike felt small but all the Yamahas I've ridden feel a bit tight to me.
As far as power it never really felt like I was in the power band no matter how hard I pushed it.  I knew I was going as fast as I was on the CR it just doesn't feel fast.  Very smooooooth.  The suspension was a bit soft as well but the owner is 40 lbs lighter.  As far as handling it did everything fine.  The turning is a bit easier than the CR, it jumped well and was controllable in the rough and the smooth power made it easy to track straight when it got slick.

Both bikes had a bit of hesitation in the power when trying to cut a turn too tight
and yes I did get several opportunities to practice my four stroke starting technique.  
I wish I had had a chance to ride a known (the RM-250) as well as some more open tracks but as a whole the 450's impressed me.  
The CR was a funner bike to ride but the power wore me out pretty quickly.  Given my current level of conditioning, I do a lot of cardio but not much time on the bike, I would choose the YZ for a race bike, it is just easier to go fast on for a long period of time.

Now the question of the day will I give up my 2 stroke?  I ride for fun and not to make a and IMO no bike is funner than an RM-250.  I'm thinking if I can find the cash and another new 06 RM-250 I might have to get it and put it in storage for when mine finally dies.  
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Colorado

2006 RM-250

Thanks for the review. Sounds like Honda wins again!!!! jk
Were you riding in Colorado?  
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Keep the 2T incase one of us forum guys stop buy.  
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I love this dirt stuff.

----CHUD-----:
Thanks for the review. Sounds like Honda wins again!!!! jk
Were you riding in Colorado?

The Honda was awesome.

I flew to Texas so I didn't have my bike with me.  I was in the States the last couple of weeks but the weather didn't hold up to do any local riding.  
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Colorado

2006 RM-250

good impression Mark.  May I add mine?  I too have ridden 2-strokes for ever, but have been jumping on a few 4-strokes now and then.  I was able to ride my dad's Husaberg 650 (early 2000's model), as well as my nephew's 2008 or 2009 new Yamaha YZ450F.  I also got to ride my friend Jim's 2008 Kawasaki 450 and friend Rob's 2008 KTM 450.   Sorry Chud, no Hondas in the mix.  First impression of the 4-stroke versus 2-stroke is the tractability of the power.  The power to ground is right there, any time you want it.  Like Mark said it is great for coming out of turns, and hitting jumps with short runups.  

My impression of the Husaberg was that I was riding a cadillac, a very comfortable ride and easy control.  It was two years ago when I rode it, but the impression was lasting.  Great all around bike, was even fun to corner and throw around a little.  It felt much lighter than it weighs.  I was very impressed with how well built and  easy to ride it was for me (192 lbs, intermediate coming down from advanced).

My nephew's Yamaha was very comfortable to ride, like Mark says again.  But it felt heavy to me in the rough, technical trails and sandwashes.  I too stalled it a few times trying to get used to it.  But once I left the rocky sandwashes and got onto the open desert it was a DREAM!  Like Mark said it didn't FEEL like I was going fast, but I was.  The suspension ate up the whoops like they weren't there, honestly.  Overall I still prefer my 300 2-stroke, but if I wanted to get a bike that didn't take any effort to ride fast I'd go with the Yamaha for sure!

My friends Kawasaki 450 is set up for him (6'3", 250 lbs, A rider), so it was too stiff for me.  I thought it lacked the power of the Yamaha, and was hard to corner (the setup was the main problem).  I found myself overturning and had to let up and glide around the corners rather than slide around them, similar to what mark is saying.  On a 2-stroke you can let the rear wheel spin and slide, and steer with your butt.  The 4-strokes just seem to stick and grab more in the corners.  Jim rides that Kawasaki very fast, but I couldn't make it go fast, except of course on the open flats.  It really would make a good BAJA bike.  

As for my friend Robs KTM 450, I admit I am partial to the KTM "feel".  It felt like a 250 under me, cornered the best of all of them, and I had the most fun on it over all the rest.  The power was the most usable for me, and that means I had more than I could use most of the time.  It was a little stiff for me so I had a hard time getting into any rythym through the whoops, but with a little adjustment to the softer side I think I could make this bike work the best for me, of all of them.  

Sorry if I jacked your thread Mark, because I liked what you brought up...  
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NW Montana
Where the pavement ends and the fun begins  
2005 KTM300exc
2001 Honda CR250
1978 Suzuki PE250

Great review Mark.
Also great reviews Paul. It's good to see more then one person agree on similar things about the bikes, it makes knowing them easier. If you catch my drift.. But Paul, no Honda...really?
Honda FTW!  
>Brad
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Shift Happens
4 Stroke FTW!

Ontario.
2 2008 Honda CRF 230's!
1 2005 Honda CRF230!

Thanks for the right up Mark.  It is great to have your opinion.  

I have only ridden the yz450f in the desert, it was awesome, the suspension was the best part, had that Cadillac feel,plush.
I did ride a 250 on a track and found you could stuff it into a turn. I could lock the back up and swing it into the berm, and power out. Had to be on the clutch.  It was the most fun I have had on a bike since my wife made me stop racing Moto.  
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Let my heart know, the things my mind can't understand

Thanks Paul for adding insight.  I love hearing others impressions.
I think, as you mentioned, the most amazing thing was how well the four stroke transfers power to the ground. It's almost like a 500 with traction control.  The only real weakness I noticed in the four over the two is the turning, with a two stroke I can go wide or stab it into a turn.  
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Colorado

2006 RM-250

Thanks for the reviews Mark and Paul, Mark your views on the CRF and YZF are almost
identical to mine, the KXF I rode I liked the best and I would love to try the KTM.  

Autismspeaks.org
Gilbert AZ
06yz144,05yz85,02yz85

My friend has a 08 yz450f and i love it my friend had a rmz 450 but just traded it for a ktm 250 sx wow im in love with ktms now so much up grades but there fun bikes id like to own a 450 to  
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live fast ride hard
NOR*CAL
YZ 250

Thanks for the review Mark. I liked reading that. Sounds like you had a goodtime.  
Patrick
1989 Cr250r.

Sorry, Goose, but it's time to buzz a tower.

Mount Hope, Kansass

MJP68:
Thanks for the reviews Mark and Paul, Mark your views on the CRF and YZF are almost
identical to mine, the KXF I rode I liked the best and I would love to try the KTM.

MJ i am assumming that it's my KXF your talking about here? I appreciate the good comment! The only reason my bike handle so good is the custom suspention, best investment you can do to a bike. Mine was done by RDP (Race Day Preperation) in Denver. It does have a port job as well to it.

Mark and Paul, great imput about the 450's. I have only riden my 06'KX450F and no other 4 stroke so I have nothing to compare my bike to. Now I can second your guy's comment about being able to slide with a 2 stroke around corners and not with a 450 cause they stand up on ya. I've learnd to go wide on my bike. I do miss being able to break the back end loose like you can with a 2 stroke.

On another note what did you guys (Mark, Paul)think of the engine breaking on 4 stoke's, didn't see either of you comment on that. It took me a while to get use to the feel when letting of the gas and going down hills. Wondering if it had anything to do with you guys stalling the bikes at first before you got use to it?  
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"These are the things that condition the man, seldom shown the ways to understand"

Great write up guys, thanks.  
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I love this dirt stuff.

Thanks mark that was great man i value your opinion on bikes so much!!!! because your like a dictionary for bikes, LOL. but great write ups, and i feel the same on my bike  dont feel like i am going fast but when this pro guy was at rynoland on his honda the other day i was side by side with this pro guy on this straight up a hill and my bike was just flowing thru it no problem, his honda 2009  crf250 seemed like he was pushing the hell out of it. I noticed my yamaha in sandy corners (i mean pretty deep sand) feels like good amount of wieght, bascially wants to swap out real real easy on me, that could be tire pressure but i get what you mean on your resultes!!! thanks again  
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Autismspeaks.org   check it out
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life in the fast rut!!!!
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my rides- 2008 yz250f fully modified, use to be j-laws bike
        &
2004 107cc SDG pit bike speed mini!



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    Maple

I know I wasn't asked ,lol, but I did some downhilln on a 4stroke.  on the 2 I used the brake alot and gave up control, on the 4 I was able to get better times and have more control, I felt more in control.  The free fall on the 2 forced me to brake and go slower.  
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Let my heart know, the things my mind can't understand