Back with more advice for the moto-faithful.
Back with more advice for the moto-faithful.
keeferinctesting.com shortly and that will help start to subsidize my work on this site. As always I will promise to give you the most accurate and honest feedback out there today.
Your problem is a common with the 2017 CRF450R. Here are a few things to try and please try to do this in order. Also if you didn’t listen to my “Keefer Tested” podcast (on iTunes and Stitcher) about the 17 CRF450R please do so and you will find out more chassis “fixes” for that bike as well.
1. First off try running your sag at 105-106mm. 103 is too high. Dropping the rear end will help balance the bike out on de-cel coming into corners. I have gone as far as 108mm on some occasions.
2. Drop your fork in your triple clamp to 2mm. I have found out that 5mm is too high for that chassis (unless your riding SX). This will help your oversteering problem.
3. After you have done these two things above and still feel like you need more comfort (fork) on de-cel try speeding up your rebound one to two clicks. One click at a time however.
Try these three mods and you will feel your 2017 CRF450R improve. This is a good bike, but a little finicky with adjustments, so finding the right setting is the key to happiness with the Honda. Trust me I have logged many hours on this bike in the past eight months so I am very familiar with this. Also in the podcast I go over updated engine hangers, fuel tank bolts and torque specs for your swingarm pivot bolt. All of this should help you smile a little more when you ride your bike.
Thanks for the inquiry and hope it helps. Let me know how it goes! Have fun!
Cheers,
KK
Hello Kris congratulations on your new venture, I’m planning on buying my first new bike,I’m 52 and race 50+ intermediate in Az. I was considering one of the 350’s, I ride a 2004 CR 250 presently against the 450’s and working a little too hard. I would like to know which one you prefer or a 450 that you would think would fit the bill. Thank you for your time and keep up the good work…
Marc,
If you’re set on a 350 than for sure get the KTM 350 SX-F. Fun power and decent suspension. It has a good throttle response/bottom end hit, but not as much as a 450. You will still have to be aggressive out of corners with the 350, but feels light and can rev to the moon.
If you’re looking at 450s the KTM is pretty easy to ride/manage on the track and feels just as light as that 350. There is no big hit and has a seamless powerband. The Honda is good, but I feel the snappy power down low might be hard to ride once you start to get tired. I don’t know about the 18’s yet because I haven’t rode them (it will be soon though).
Anyway I hope this helps and I feel like either way you go 350 or 450 it will be tons better than what you have currently. -KK
Mr. Keefer,
Congratulations on your new adventure. I might consider myself a perfect candidate to utilize your information.
I know what I’m about to ask is very involved and has numerous moving parts.
I’m 43, I rode (owned) a CR80 when I was a teenager, I never raced but logged countless hours freeriding my dads farm. During my teenage years I raced BMX and in my late 20’s I rode cross county and downhill mountain biking while I lived in Utah.
About a year and a half ago I started riding dirt bikes again. Go ahead and call me crazy but I WANT TO GO TO LORETTAS!!!
My initial purchase was a 2006 kx250f. I did a brief rebuild of the bike and started racing. It took about five months and I made a decision to invest in a new bike and move forward. Not having KEEFER at the time I went out and made a purchase with only ‘shootout’ data to go off. So I bought a 2016 FC250. This bike was awesome. Electric start for the old guy, and it was fast!!!! But he suspension hurt my arms and hands and for some reason I had a very difficult time setting the bike up and spent way to much time as a passenger as opposed to making the bike go where I wanted to. SELL!!!!!
Today I own a 2017 150SX. This thing is super easy to ride and pretty fast, but I’m not sure it will help me achieve my goals.
I know Loretta’s is aggressive thinking, but I feel I can definitely get there!! Aside from my own personal trial and error on bikes what recommendations would you give to me to get the most out of my purchasing decisions?
Thank you for your time.
Michael Bugden
Michael,
It would be tough to get to Loretta’s let alone do good on a 150 in the plus 40 class. I would recommend getting a 250F if you like a smaller bike. The KTM and YZ-F are great buys and are fast enough to get you in the mix to make it to LL! If you think your 150 is easy to ride wait until you ride one of these 250F’s. Super fun and you will be able to work a lot less on the track!
Try looking into riding a 250 four-stroke again to achieve some racing goals. A 150 is too much work for a rider to compete against dudes on 450s. If you’re worried about the cost of maintenance on a 250F, I wouldn’t worry about that too much when we are in our 40’s. Usually older guys aren’t as hard on bikes and normally will take care of them better than the teenagers that usually rider them. Good luck and hope to see you achieve your goal in getting to “The Ranch”!
Happy Loretta Hunting,
KK
