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2018 YZ450FX or 2018 YZ450F

KooLaid

KooLaid

Hippocritapotamus
Joined
Dec 2, 2007
Location
Flat wasteland
Moto(s)
2020 300 XC-W TPI
I really wanted to go Alta but that's ALOT of money, especially when I can get either one of those new Yams for HALF the price of the MXR. And my local alta dealer just isn't doing it for me. And the having to pay extra for a charger.

Any how.... Which Yamaha would you pick and why? I like the gearing and slightly larger fuel tank of the FX but I'm really caught up on the new tech of the F. I'm a trail rider with experienced asshole riding buddies who like to drag me down impossible one way in and out deer trails
 
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I'd get the F because I'd want the new chassis, plus it gets e-start, tune with an app, it's slimmer, buncha stuff. The question is really about what you lose with the F and to me it's just the gearing and I think everything else vastly outweighs that. I've been riding an mx model on tight singletrack for years and sure you work the clutch a little bit more in certain sections, but it's never been an actual problem, like I smoked my clutch or can't make it because of the bike. But, if the majority of riding is up and down impossible deer trails, you should really look at an orange/white 250/300. If you hit carnegie and whatnot just as much as the deer trails and love ripping up big hills, then I'd say you're on the right track with a fo fiddy, but it's still flip-a-coin.
 
I only weigh a hundred and sixty pounds (half the size of byke iirc :twofinger ) and I've always hated the way motocross bikes ride. The suspension is always way too harsh (I know that can be changed) and the power hit is way too harsh for me for the singletrack I ride. I do like the light weight though.
But I need electric starting, a headlight and a plate, so my choices are limited.

I always steer people away from pure race mx bikes unless they are racing on mx tracks.

Byke is a freak.
 
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Yeah, byke has had too many cheeseburgers and that definitely softens up the suspension. I think the FX suspension is the same, or very close to the F? I know it's not like the WR, which is a good thing, imo. The FX is a killer bike, it's just bad timing to pick between the two right now. If the FX had the '18 F update, it'd be a no brainer, plus the FX resale is waaaayyyy better. People just don't sell them. Maybe since we're so late in the year, it'd be best to wait and see if the '19 FX gets the '18 F updates. Should know by the end of August, I'd think.
 
I have a 2015 250fx and had a 15 250f and can tell you suspension is way different. F was really stiff even compared to other mx bikes I’ve ridden. Fx is perfect. I ride carnegie mostly and it’s a grunty 250. No problems up most hills and it is nice in tight stuffs
 
byke said:
I think the FX suspension is the same, or very close to the F? I know it's not like the WR, which is a good thing, imo.
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Don't really know why the WR suspension is a bad suspension, it's similar to the motocross setup except set up for more off-road use (rather than landing 90 ft doubles)

Side note: if you're looking for a used 17 WR450F I'm getting ready to sell mine; virtually no different between the 17 FX and WRF, only difference is the headlight and enduro computer electronics wise.
 
The problem with trail suspension is that it's not very progressive. With mx models, you have like the first 6-8 inches of travel for small stuff and the rest for bigger stuff. With trail suspension, it's all for small stuff, which isn't bad, per se, just very focused..more so than mx suspension, imo. Mx suspension will do it all, but trail suspension absolutely will not, which is probably why these X/FX models are doing so well, jack of all trades type of thing.
 
No doubt if you had to ride an 80-100 mile enduro, something with trail suspension would be the way to go. Depends how you ride. Most folks I see at the parks are out having fun hopping around giving little braaps off of things, but if you're all about the technical rock crawling, then mx isn't the way to go. I figure if one were trying to choose between the FX/F, then they're not the rock crawler, because they'd be asking about orange and white smokers.
 
Havent ridden the WR but I can see a BIG difference in suspension between the FX and the F in 2015. And I would say that the FX could be ridden no prob at the MX track, not what I would call trail suspension...
 
Word. It's a cross country bike like an XC, halfway between mx and trail. Supposed to be good all around'ers.

Was just reading that the '19 Yamaha's are going to be announced tomorrow. Will be interesting to see if the '19 FX gets the '18 F updates. Should be a really desirable bike if so.
 
It's all about price..... I can get either 18 450 for less than the price of the 18 yami 250 that I've seen. I mean I'm looking at like 35% off.

I would prefer an orange white but there are no such thing as deals on those. I thought two smokers don't like low rpm low speed stuff? Are they injected now?

I wonder what the 19 fx will have. No wonder they're gonna fire sale the 18 450s. Plus they're doing zero percent for two years.
 
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your gonna like blue, suspension is amazing. Mine has been bullet proof
 
KooLaid said:
I would prefer an orange white but there are no such thing as deals on those. I thought two smokers don't like low rpm low speed stuff? Are they injected now?
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A 250 or 300 smoker is way, way better at low RPM, low speed than .... um, anything but a trials bike or an electric bike.

Even a 250 2T MXer is very difficult to stall in the gnarlies. Four strokes, well, there's a reason they put e-start on them.

You should look at a YZ250X for $7500. Or a 2018 GasGas for $9000. (I even saw one for under $8K, worth having it shipped.)
 
KooLaid said:
It's all about price..... I can get either 18 450 for less than the price of the 18 yami 250 that I've seen. I mean I'm looking at like 35% off.

I would prefer an orange white but there are no such thing as deals on those. I thought two smokers don't like low rpm low speed stuff? Are they injected now?

I wonder what the 19 fx will have. No wonder they're gonna fire sale the 18 450s. Plus they're doing zero percent for two years.
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The '19 info was released today and the FX has the '18 updates, but you'll have the same problem as the orange and white bikes, no deals. Kawi is probably the best bang for the buck at $58xx for a new '18, not sure what you could get it for otd. What kind of prices are you seeing for the Yamahas?

The orange and white offroad smokers are good on the low end, but I'd disagree with 2tys that they're way better at low rpm. Only in terms of stalling as he mentioned, otherwise you can't beat 450 grunt. It's really the combination of things that makes the offroad smokers so special, the weight, the lack of rotating mass, the good bottom end, the gearing, all of that is what makes them so goaty.

Only the 250 smoker with PDS suspension was injected with the '18 bikes. Not sure if they've expanded in '19, but everyone expected them too. I'd love a 300 XC-W TPI, but no thanks on the PDS.
 
I raced a yz250 detuned in enduros and hare scrambles last year. This year with back to four stroke 250fx. I’m way faster on it period. It tractors better when shit hits the fan and is much easier to ride late in race. Yes you have to change oil and valves but i’d Have a tough time going back
 
byke said:
Only the 250 smoker with PDS suspension was injected with the '18 bikes. Not sure if they've expanded in '19, but everyone expected them too. I'd love a 300 XC-W TPI, but no thanks on the PDS.
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Dont like PDS, get the Husky! :laughing

Pmd220 said:
I raced a yz250 detuned in enduros and hare scrambles last year. This year with back to four stroke 250fx. I’m way faster on it period. It tractors better when shit hits the fan and is much easier to ride late in race. Yes you have to change oil and valves but i’d Have a tough time going back
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Fred just put a deposit down on a 19 FI 300 with TPI, the IKEA KTM. He is going back to the smoker and has finally recovered from the PTSD he experienced after owning the devil child RM250:rofl.

If I had the cash, was back in shape, and was serious about getting up to racing speed, the YZ250FX would be high on my list. I dont have the skill or stamina to hammer a 450. Instead this year I am going to go stupid with a little cash and do some serious work on my YZ250 boingers and see how I do this fall at a couple selected events. Need to put the cheesy poofs away now.....
 
Pmd220 said:
I raced a yz250 detuned in enduros and hare scrambles last year. This year with back to four stroke 250fx. I’m way faster on it period. It tractors better when shit hits the fan and is much easier to ride late in race. Yes you have to change oil and valves but i’d Have a tough time going back
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Totally agree about 4t's being way easier to ride fast late in a race. I rode harescrambles for a bit on an '01 cr250 and it was lots of fun and I got great starts one it beating tons of e-start 4t's, but same as you there's no doubt I'm faster on the 4t. You have to change oil just the same on a 2t and the extra 4t parts really aren't the big deal they're made out to be, especially on something with yamaha reliability. Ideally, I'd have both, because they're both tons of fun and each play their part really well.
 
2strokeYardSale said:
Two stroke master race!


KYB SSS master race! I'm going to put in Zeta or SDI free pistons the next time I'm in the forks.
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Unfortunately I dont have the newer 48mm SSS KYB's like you. I have the 46mm open bath KYB forks. But I do know these forks can work pretty well when done up and sprung correctly. I've ridden some great ones. I am pretty sure mine are over sprung with .48 for single track work even at my 230lbs fight weight (read cheesy poofs). Valving needs work, and surely could be a lot smoother when I go in and start replacing wear items like bushings etc that have probably never touched in over a decade. If anyone has some .43 or .42 springs for 46mm KYBs laying around, like to try them.
 
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