Thanks for all the input guys, i really appreciate it.

 

I have both a KLX 250 and a street legal Honda CRF450X. I ride the X almost exclusively on the forest roads up in the mountains in western Virginia and West Virginia. It's not a great bike for extended periods on the slab but it is fantastic on the forest roads and trails. If your only on the pavement to connect sections of dirt roads and trails it's great. However it's not very comfortable for longer durations on the pavement. The aluminium frame seems to transmit a fair amount of vibration, and even though they claim it has a wide ratio transmission it's sill too closely geared for street use. Mine is geared up too. I disagree about it feeling top heavy the thing handles great and steers beautifully, and it's lighter than the KLX. just lift both of them on to a stand and you'll know. I have an 09 which is more compact feeling than the earlier models. As far as reliability issues have't had any other than a fork seal which was caused by a nick in the for tube. You will need to rejet them however as they don't run correctly with the stock EPA jetting. JD jetting kit equals night and day difference.

 

I don't think we're really comparing static weight to static weight between the 450 and the KLX. The 450 is lighter for sure. We're talking about a known phenomenon involving the engine's and the entire bike's inertia involving everything from the rotating parts in the engine to the whole bike. This is fairly natural with open class bikes with decent power like the Honda has. It's a feedback kind of deal, and the term "top heavy" is probably not scientifically correct. It obviously doesn't feel top heavy while sitting still. It can yield a feel while under heavy power of being a little unwieldy which can easily be described as top heavy or hard to turn, but frankly this is somewhat the nature of big bore, high horsepower bikes. I've felt this on just about every open class race bike I've ridden, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with the bike.

 

Is that a crack about me posting my St1300? cause if it is.....well....I can't deny it. LOL

 

Here ya go.

 

More........warning...thread jack in progress. LOL

 

You're still here ? I thought you jumped ship and became a moderhater over on the honda forum !



This isn't exactly what i'm looking for.... lol.

 

TNC I'm aware that horsepower affects handling and that in many cases a lighter more powerful bike "feels" heavier than a heavier less powerful bike. But with the CRF450X I really don't notice it. It's been my experience that both the KLX and the Honda handle fine. They both have extremely neutral and accurate steering. The Honda's extra power means you can drift the rear wheel out much easier too. I think it's just what you get used to. I ride both bikes frequently. If I only rode the Honda once in a while then it might feel like more of a handful. You can short shift it and glide it around smoothly or rev it and fly. The thing has a great motor.

 

In the case I was talking about, I really think the perceived difference between the '05 CRF450X and my '09 KLX250S was primarily because of how much lower the KLX is. Remember the '09 S is a bit lower than the older models. The KLX's natural C.G. is lower, and the footpegs are much lower. That combination at the low speeds we were riding (1st and 2nd gear standing up) made the side to side transitions easier on the KLX. Not saying gyro effect isn't important, but under those conditions, I don't believe it was the primary factor.

Anyway, I'm not saying the CRF was poor handling or hard to turn, as it was not. It was very easy to ride. And I felt the suspension worked much better than mine.

 

my big thing that makes me love the crfx's is the fact from the box getting the front end in the air is as easy just thinking about it compared to the klx in stock trim