Hey keefer, I was wondering I’ve ridden off-road my whole life, and I’ve always ridden KTM. And I feel like I want to switch it up and im thinking about the new YZ450X but I don’t know. I don’t want to make a switch and regret it. I’ve heard the Huskys are great offroad bikes but I need some advice on what you think about the YZ450X. Also I’m a 6’1 350lbs guy. And finding gear is hard also, do you know of any gear brands that run big? It’s hard for me to be comfy in a set of gear. Also, I wear a size 15 shoe and finding boots that size is a struggle too. Any idea what brands make a bigger size?
Thanks Keefer -Alyx
Damn Alex, you’re an offensive lineman, but I love that you want to continue to ride dirt bikes!
To me Alyx, your going to be better off on a Yamaha YZ450FX. It is a bigger bike that will fit you more than the Husqvarna or KTM. Also having spring forks (once re-valved and re-sprung) will be easier to maintain and have front whee traction. Also having the Yamaha Power Tuner is excellent to tune your bike to your liking! The power is very broad and for an off-road guy like yourself has ons of traction!
AS far as gear the biggest set of gear that I have come to know is FLY’s stuff. Matthes is a bigger dude and he found stuff that he likes and is comfortable in. Maybe look around on Fly’s website..
Hope this helps and good luck to you. Let me know what you get!
-KK
Hey Kris how are ya?
Appreciate your dedication to the sport!
So I had a 2016 KTM 450 which I loved….before that I had the Yamaha and I rode my friends bike fell in love with it and bought my KTM 450.
Anyways….a few years down the rode I sold it and bought the 2018.5 and to be honest I didn’t connect with that bike I don’t know what it was.
Plus the air forks drove me crazy.
So a few more thousands down the rode I get the Cone valve forks which made a big improvement….however I don’t know for some reason I felt like the 16 felt better here in our so cal tracks.
What do you think?
Do you like the 19 better than the older ktms?
Thanks -Ron
Hey Ron,
I prefer the new generation frame because it’s a little more agile and I prefer the slightly stiffer feel in soft conditions. I also just picked up some CV fork’s and Trax shock so look for an article up on my site when I complete that test.
Make sure you have the sag set at 105 and if you have a Honda rear axle with chain adjuster blocks that helps rear end absorption and feel. The one piece axle chain block binds the rear end slightly on acceleration. I love riding this 2019 because it’s so easy to ride. Look into getting an ignition as it really wakes this bike up and help it corner even better.
Thanks for listening/reading!
KK
Hey Keefer,
I’m hoping you can give me some advice on getting the WP AER 48 forks on my 2019 KTM 450 to be more compliant on sharp, square-edged stuff. I swapped the handlebars out, like you’ve mentioned, but am still getting some gnarly deflection on that sharp stuff. Any tricks up your sleeve?
Love what you do man, keep it up! -Kent
Kent,
I have been running close to stock air pressure (starting at 10.7 bars). You may want to try and back out the compression 1-4 clicks and speed up the rebound 1-2 clicks to help it move more in the stroke. Also it’s important that you have your sag between 103-105mm at all times. Let me know how it goes!
-KK
Keefer! I just picked up a 2016 CRF450r. All stock with 4 hours on it. I rode it for the first time yesterday and worked on some suspension tuning. I adjusted all clickers and psi to standard settings. sag at 100mm. At first the rear end was VERY excited. Road very high in the stroke and kicked like a pissed off stallion. I went in two clicks on rebound in the rear and the rearend is now amazing. I have endless traction and drive and i feel completely connected with the rear wheel, i also have that super plush feeling i was searching for. Now turning attention to the forks, So from standard, after tuning the rearend, it went full chopper. went in two clicks on high and low rebound which brought the front down into a stink bug. went out one click from there on low rebound. Which brought the front up to a likeable height. As of right now with those settings the bike is very rideable and plush on the majority of the track, especially coming from a 2007 rmz. But a few things stand out to me, one is that the front feels GLUED to the ground. Which is weird to consider a problem, but it glues so hard that the front wheel pulls me around. It sucks the front wheel into going different directions, if that makes sense to you. lol. secondly, on landings, especially one landing into softer dirt, I get some headshake. It feels like the front wheel is following a squiggly line. lol Like I’m running too much rebound damping and the forks are packing up. I’m planning on riding again next weekend too try adjusting other settings, but I am not proficient in suspension set up. I mostly just do two laps, come in, do a click, and go back out, waiting to find something. Just wondering if you could help point my in the right direction to speed that process up a bit.
Thanks Kris! -Sean
Rider Info:
23 years old
175-180lbs
C/Beginner level. I’m on the end of my first year of riding dirtbikes, but I have many years of experience racing quads and sleds
Sean,
Try these settings..
Spring rate: 35 psi
Hi-compression: 22 clicks out
Lo-comprerssion: 23 clicks out
Hi-rebound: 24 clicks out
Lo-rebound: 26 clicks out
Fork-leg height: Flush
Spring rate: 56 N/m That is one stiffer than stock!!!
Race sag: 105-106mm
Hi-compression: 20 clicks out
Lo-compression: 21 clicks out
Rebound: 20 clicks out
450 Yamaha wins shootout. Surprise Surprise. Is it just a coincidence that both you and Matthes are supplied bikes by Yamaha and you are both good friends of Travis Preston? Explain that one away. -Anonymous
Dear Guy Who is Scared To Put His Name,
HAHAHAHA!
Do the math on the podcast. It’s all transparent. My results are not involved in the shootout. I purposely take my name out of it. I get a test bike through Yamaha media just like the rest of the media testing outlets.
Matthes has nothing to do with my shootout besides providing me with a platform to talk about it.
Know the facts before you point fingers, but I appreciate your concern.
Cheers,
KK
Hope all is going well sir, it sounds as though from the podcasts. You’ve given me the best advice I’ve had regarding bike setup… ever! So I have another question. My bike is a ’17 Husqvarna FC 350. I was told by a friend that the best gearing was down one tooth in the front. I did it as he said I could pull third in corners easier. The problem is that I’m grabbing 5th in some straights and I feel like it isn’t as easy to ride as I’m constantly changing gears all over the track. So I went from a 14 tooth sprocket to a 13 tooth in the front. Still have the 14 tooth. Just wondering if you had suggestions for a 350 or what you’ve found beneficial. Thanks in advance!
Eric Schroo
Eric,
I went with a 13/50 gearing to help with third gear roll on out of corners. This was the best for me compared to all other gearing tests that I performed. I did try a 51 rear sprocket and liked it at some tighter tracks I rode. I only get to fourth gear with this gearing combo. The FC350 lacks some torque so drilling holes into the left side cover helps with some throttle response too!
-KK
Hi Keefer
I really enjoy your podcasts. They are very informative and it is nice to get unbiased feedback without having to wait 6 months on aftermarket mods that make sense to the masses.
I am 6’ tall 31 year old vet expert level racer. Wondering if it would be beneficial for my body position to have +5 mm bar risors on my 19 fc 450? I think the bike and bar bend is comfortable. If so what is the best brand? Is it a husky or KTM hard part?
I also have Twisted Vortex which is amazing. Have you tried PC or Akrapovic exhaust instead of FMF? I am currently running stock with the cone removed.
Thanks for the information. Keep up the good work.
Dustin
Dustin,
Thanks for the email. To me, yes get +5mm spacer and use that with the stock bar. Ride Engineering sells the spacers and can get you dialed. I know KTM had some Hard Part ones that they sold, but unsure if they still do?
I have tried the Akrapovic and PC for this bike and preferred the FMF because of bottom end delivery. With the Vortex it is unreal how good that muffler is. Much better than stock. Just did a back to back with mufflers yesterday and the FMF was the best with Yoshimura getting a good feeling through the mid-range..
-KK
