Off-road expert Chilly White would go after the 2008 Yamaha WR450F with his hard-earned clams.
Chilly White
6'1" 200 lbs
Senior Expert
I don't have a whole lot to add here. I think I would buy the Yamaha. Any of these bikes could be made to about the same performance spec with some work. The frame, motor and suspension components are all very similar and there is plenty of aftermarket components for each bike. None of these are truly "race ready". The exhausts, while quiet, are pretty restrictive and each bike needs to have the suspension fine tuned.
I think the build quality on the KLX is questionable. On the other hand, there is a lot of Team Green contingency money to be made. Top "A" riders might be able pay for a bike in a season, combine that with some good dealer support and it could be enough reason to choose a Kawasaki.
Chamberlain wanted to like the Kawasaki more, but he would spend his money on the Honda.
6'0" 180 lbs
Vet Intermediate
Since I do all of my woods riding on a MX 450, the Honda felt the most appealing to me. The Yamaha really gave the CRF a run for its money in my book, but in the end I felt the most comfortable on the
Honda. The CRF's engine characteristics and the bike's ergonomics best suited my riding preferences.
JC Hilderbrand
5'11" 175 lbs
Novice
There's no doubt about it, once it comes time to pull out my wallet those bills certainly aren't green - they're blue. Each of these bikes has such a distinct personality and for the kind of riding I like to do the
Yamaha is really well suited. The aluminum frame adds to a light feel and good balance, and the suspension fits my needs exceptionally well. The stupid emission control stuff is really simple to fix and I don't have to worry about green stickers up here in Oregon anyway - so sign me up.
JC scoped out all the angles, just like he is doing on this jump, and says he would pick the Yamaha.
The Honda feels awesome in the ergonomic department and the motor is unbelievable. But I don't like to getting double-teamed and having my ass kicked in by the ultra-tough chassis and suspension. Otherwise I would take that CRF in a heartbeat. I know that if I ever move to SoCal and pick up GP racing that is exactly where I'm going to start.
I really wanted to like that
Kawasaki, especially after our mind-blowing First Ride in California, but I'll be damned if I can fully recreate the magic - or even get over that farking starting system! I've never wanted to throw a bike off a cliff so bad in my life. How much weight does that worthless battery, useless starter and all the accompanying electrical hardware add, and for what? I love how low the motor chugs and I feel invincible on hills with it, but having to kick that big bastard when I don't make a climb puts me over the edge.
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