Anyone have any insight into this topic? Seems like Yamaha made some adjustments to the 450 for 2003 that made it significantly easier than the previous year's 426. Anyone know if something similar is true for Honda.

Reason I ask, looking to get a honda or yamaha for my 11 year old. I am 6'5" 230lbs and can do it no problem, I just don't want to be starting it for him all the time.

Before someone says thats too much bike for him, he's been riding for 4 years and will work his way into it, trading time on my quad. He's also 6'2", 155lbs and supposed to be 7'. Hoping for the scholarship :D

trading time on my quad. :D

Does this meen yor trading in your Quad for a 4 storke ? What kinda quad do you have ? I have a CRF 450 X for sale :D btw the X is elec. and kick start.

I know I know, he'll work into it, but, I really think he'd be happier on a 250F. Nobody but the top pro's can actually use the power of a 450 to it's fullest, and they're much harder to ride than a 250, especially once you leave the track. Flimmy, I think he means that him and the kid will swap bikes between the thumper and the quad while they ride.

250f. 450 is fine and dandy, and somewhat rideable but if you're buying an MX bike, an 11 year old isn't going to be doing anything important on a 450. If you buy it for him to grow into it (age 16ish) you're looking at a super outdated clapper by then. If you want to save some bucks look into the 03+ yzf's. A big problem w/ the modern 4 strokes is sick valve wear. once the valves get any kind of gap/leak starting is a nightmare. the heads get smoked in a hurry. in stock form the best looking heads I'VE SEEN after hours, often years of abuse come from yamaha. Haven't actually had to rebuild one or actually ever seen one grenade. sparse adjustment, easy starting and the 250's don't handle too bad.

if you're looking to spend some bucks I'd say get an 06+ kawi 250 for him. I like it better on the track than my 450, but I go to the sand alot so the 450 is mando.

I've gone threw 3 honda heads in a year before. So far on my 06 Kawi 450 I haven't had to do a damn thing to it. Always starts in the 1st few kicks effortlessly when it's cold and 1st kick from then on... seems like the 250's are holding up just as well.

This man knows what he's talking about...I couldn't agree more.

IMHO... go Blue.

250f. 450 is fine and dandy, and somewhat rideable but if you're buying an MX bike, an 11 year old isn't going to be doing anything important on a 450. If you buy it for him to grow into it (age 16ish) you're looking at a super outdated clapper by then. If you want to save some bucks look into the 03+ yzf's. A big problem w/ the modern 4 strokes is sick valve wear. once the valves get any kind of gap/leak starting is a nightmare. the heads get smoked in a hurry. in stock form the best looking heads I'VE SEEN after hours, often years of abuse come from yamaha. Haven't actually had to rebuild one or actually ever seen one grenade. sparse adjustment, easy starting and the 250's don't handle too bad.

if you're looking to spend some bucks I'd say get an 06+ kawi 250 for him. I like it better on the track than my 450, but I go to the sand alot so the 450 is mando.

I've gone threw 3 honda heads in a year before. So far on my 06 Kawi 450 I haven't had to do a damn thing to it. Always starts in the 1st few kicks effortlessly when it's cold and 1st kick from then on... seems like the 250's are holding up just as well.

Yup, go blue or new green on the 250F, go red, and that's what color you'll be seing after it grenades from half the use of the others.

umm My friend has a yamaha 250f, cant turn that thing on Tryed the whole day and nothing,and lost 5 dollors lol. But My honda its pretty easy.

umm My friend has a yamaha 250f, cant turn that thing on Tryed the whole day and nothing,and lost 5 dollors lol. But My honda its pretty easy.

did you try cupping the bawls? that helps turn it on. ;)

lack of maintanence will make any bike suck.

Here is one more vote for the Yamahas. I've got a couple of good friends who work at a dealership that sells both Yamaha and Honda and they have seen MUCH better life out of the Yamahas than the Hondas top end.

When done properly, you can start a 4st by hand. Teach him to get it just past top dead center and all you have to do is push on the kickstart lever.

Ya I think thats it, I could turn my honda with my hand

You have to know how to kick a bike to start one, but some bikes just don't like to start when they haven't been maintained or have issues. My XL250 has some internal issues that cause it to kill plugs some times, I had to kick on it for a half hour or more once or twice to get it going.

You have to know how to kick a bike to start one, but some bikes just don't like to start when they haven't been maintained or have issues. My XL250 has some internal issues that cause it to kill plugs some times, I had to kick on it for a half hour or more once or twice to get it going.


Yer right... kind of. Sometimes the bikes don't start because of the way they are. My yzf250 never started when I kicked it. I used to have sometimes bump it. As most know of course the yamaha yzf's and some wrf's don't kick that great, but I cared for that bike and it still didn't work that great. My Dad and I have owned many bikes (including a crf 250 & 450) so like you said, everyones bike is different. On my 150, I am the only one out of my friends that knows how to kick it. It's about knowing your bike.