2015 CRF450

This year Hondas new CRF450 needed to make some big changes if they wanted to be able to compete with the other dirt bike companies like Kawasaki, KTM, and Honda. The most noticeable difference in the new 2015 models is that the engine seem has more power all around compared to last years 2014 model. Also Honda took into account that they needed to get the weight of the bike and engine much closer to the center of gravity. This gives you a more controlled and lighter feeling to the bike. So what they decided to do was create a whole new exhaust system for the bike. The new exhaust system has bigger header bikes and is a lot of lighter. Its lighter because it is shorter and more centered on the bike then the 2014s.

Another upgrade honda came out with to increase the feel of the bike is there new fork system. The  KYB PSF fork system makes the bike a lot more controllable and easier to ride. They say when your going threw rough terrain like ruts out on the track the front wheel feels like it is planted into the ground. This new system will help the rider not have to move so much threw out the corners making the bike easier to ride. Although Honda is known for there bikes not being up to par while going down a straight away because it has a little twitchy feel to it, the 2015 makes up for that in the tight corners. This is Hondas strong point.

Hondas 2014 CRF450 was also known for having a extremely tough cloth to pull, so this year they made the clutch smoother and easier to pull. Even though they improved the clutch it is no where near as nice and smooth as competitors like Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Two Stroke Vs Four Strokes

In the dying industry of two stroke motocross bikes, Yamaha is the only Japanese company to  continue to build them. Even though the amount of money spent on research and development for two strokes is far less then of its rival four strokes its still nice to see a company producing them. Currently I race a 2011 YZ250 with a all new exhaust system, reed valves, racing piston and I love it. The power band in a two stroke is so much more powerful in the higher rpms so it make for a much snappy quick paced ride.

One of the main reasons people love or hate two strokes are because of there signature sound. They are more high pitched and sound almost exactly like your weed wacker or edger for your lawn. Compared to the four strokes which have a much deeper sounds to them like a truck.

My dad currently rides a 2014 RMZ250 which is Suzuki’s fuel injected four stroke and that bike is by no means slow. But the way it rides is so much different then a two stroke, it is so much more controlled. Me and my dad always compare his bike to a Bentley because its so smooth and controlled, and mind to a Ferrari because it only wants to go fast! The reason this is, is because four stroke have a much stronger low rpm range so this mean it doesn’t have as strong of a top end rpm range like a two stroke does. But when it comes to two strokes there is almost no low end power because all the power is in the high rpm range. So all it really is, is a personal preference. Wherever the four stroke lacks the two strokes make up, and where the two strokes lack the four stroke make up.

2014 YZ250 ^

2014 RMZ250^