Whats faster CRF450 OR CR500

[Fox250R]

Id say the 500 but im not sure...

[KASEY]

well the pro's are racing the 450's in the 250 class and don't always win,,, against 250's hmmmm, so i say a 500 would roost the 450's,,, b ut it all depends on what you are doing cause there are lotsa places where BIG power won't necessarily make you faster,,,,

[Fox250R]

like if 2 good riders lined up in the sand..both stock both with paddles who would win?

[brapp]

prolly the 500 the 450 has the torque but istn geared as tall as the cr.

[NOS_350X]

Well the crf450 and cr500 arnt that close actualy. The 450 is perty dominate in every aspect. Even if the 500 has more power it dosent feel like it when your on them.

[RideRed250R]

NOS 350X i think the 500 is way different then the 450 on and off the track on a track the crf450 is all torque on tracks they make * just shake ** head from stepin off a twostroke onto a fourstroke the fourstroke doesnt pull like a twostroke yet has all the torque * need comin out of the corners or settin up to do a double,triplle blah blah, the 500 is by far the worst dirtbike for a small track it just rips ** arms off!! because of that powerband and power!!! but in the sand dunes the crf450 would get its arse kicked 500's are at home in the sand.
adam

[NOS_350X]

Obviously you have never riden a 450 in the sand. If you had you would realize that they are by far the best bike there. Also if you owned a pinger that you regulary rode in the sand(a bike) you would know that you have to be constently changing that piston (if not you will be rebuilding the whole engine). So even if the 500 was faster (which its not) it wouldnt be for too long because you will be rebuilding it soon.

[Red Rider]

So even if the 500 was faster (which its not) it wouldnt be for too long because you will be rebuilding it soon.
I'm pretty sure the CR500's piston would last long enough to make several fun-filled, CRF450-spankin' trips to the dunes. :welcome:

[Blown 331]

I've ridden them both and I couldn't tell you which is faster. Normally a 2-stroke feels way faster even if it's not because of the extra snap of the 2-stroke. But that CRF is a bad MF.
Seems like a lot of people on this site have something against the new 4-stroke technology, I'm guessing because it wasn't available when 3-wheelers were made.

[SoCalDesertRider]

My friend just bought a new '05 CRF450R and I have an '89 CR500. Sometime when we are riding together, I guess we will have to do some testing....

[yater]

I've ridden them both and I couldn't tell you which is faster. Normally a 2-stroke feels way faster even if it's not because of the extra snap of the 2-stroke. But that CRF is a bad MF.
Seems like a lot of people on this site have something against the new 4-stroke technology, I'm guessing because it wasn't available when 3-wheelers were made.

Have you kept up with the problems on the "new 4strokes?" From honda to husky, they're still working out the kinks (valves, oil consumption, boiling...and flameouts--I hate waiting on friends to kick their damn 4strokes). These engines rev at 13,000rpms +/-, they aren't exactly durable...YET, except for the blue ones.--especially compared to an open class 2stroke. Most riders don't need to rev the big CR like a MX bike

OH, and I know you don't think a "new 4stroke's" topend will outlast a cr500??

[Ryah]

I've got a 1990 CR 500 and my buddy's 2004 CRF 450 is a little quicker on a flat out lakebed ride. :wondering Both with stock gearing. I love my 500 but the CRF 450 is just flat out quick. I don't run a paddle at Glamis on my bike and it still goes up pretty much everything out there if I can get a run at it. The 450 is definately quicker if your both not running paddles. On the plus side, my $1000 bike goes everywhere there $4000+ bike goes just as easily. :w00t:

[SoCalDesertRider]

Amen on the low cost bike! I have about $2K into my '89 CR500 so far. Sure, it's not a pristine sweetheart, but I didn't have to put down 7K for it like my friend just did for his new '05 CRF450 :). We still haven't ridden them together at the same time. It will be interesting to find out how it goes when we do.

[trikerider2oo7]

in a head to head drag race with riders of equal skill, the 500 will win

[Blown 331]

Have you kept up with the problems on the "new 4strokes?" From honda to husky, they're still working out the kinks (valves, oil consumption, boiling...and flameouts--I hate waiting on friends to kick their damn 4strokes). These engines rev at 13,000rpms +/-, they aren't exactly durable...YET, except for the blue ones.--especially compared to an open class 2stroke. Most riders don't need to rev the big CR like a MX bike

OH, and I know you don't think a "new 4stroke's" topend will outlast a cr500??

I have a 450R and I know ALOT of people with 450Rs, CRF's, YZ450F and 426 and 400, and YFZ's and I have not seen any of the problems you are describing. Non of them have been rebuilt. And as much riding has been on most of these bikes the CR500 piston would have shattered from piston slap by now and probably pushed the lower cases out and trashed the whole motor, oh wait that was my 250R. Smoke another chrome taco.

[yater]

That's why I said "except the blue ones"

[NOS_350X]

I know several guys that have 2002 CRF 450's and they ride for several hours every other weekend and havent yet came accrost a problem. Well except they cant keep a decent rear tire on there and it goes through chains like crazy.

[yater]

Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm ALL FOR new technology in bikes. I just won't shell out that kind of $$ until I quit hearing horror stories all the time. They seem to get better every year--I ride with plenty of guys who have new 4strokes (250 and 450) and some have problems and some don't. I also ride with several kdx guys, an xr400, 3 drz400, kx500 and LOTS of ktms (mostly 2strokes) and haven't heard any problems coming from those guys. I know 2 guys with crf250x's and one with a husky te250 ('04) and those 3 have had BIG problems. These same valve issues are WELL documented and recurring on various internet sites. It may be coincedence but I'm glad it's not me!

[Darius1502]

I don't know which is faster...but I had a 98 YZ 400F...similar bike and let me tell you an Open class two stroke is worlds more FUN!!

The new four strokes get old after a while. Nothing is more fun than a two stroke...

[cole2676]

I think alot of the time in sand you might get a false advatage as far as the power to weight ratio go's w/the 4stroke .but I have a cr500 and its to much spinning in the sand to hook up. and the 4stoke dont have as much wheel speed on the start so it might hook a bit faster. but like kasey said if the 450f was as fast as the 500 2stroke they woulnt race them with 250s

[PLJ.]

In reality, I have not ridden a new CRF450R yet, but I have ridden lots of YZ400F's and YZ450F's. I have also owned a few CR500's and currently own and ride a 2000 CR500R. I also have put lots and lots of time on the new TRX450R this past year. Here are my thoughts: The new CRF450R is definately a great bike and it has almost a decade worth of new technology into it when compared to a CR500R. Even my 2000 model CR was completely designed, in use and raced almost the same since 1991, which was the last updates given to the 500 frame. BUT, the reliability and longevity of the CRF motor is still a worry to me. Honda even states that the valve train and top ends on these motors should be attended to at between 40-60 hours of use depending on usage. I have spoken with more than a few ice racers here in Michigan that in race conditions, such as 1/2 mile ovals, these motors need attention within 20 hours of race running!! As far as pistons blowing, shattering and ruining cases on CR500's, this is talk from someone who has never owned one for any length of time. There once was an old saying about big bore two strokes, "Ride all day long and the Piston goes up and down one time" we all know that this is not the case, but the 500 does make more power at way lower revs than the 450R. A water cooled CR500 motor is about the most reliable two stroke motor ever produced, with the exception of the ATC250R. No complicated powervalves, very good cooling system, cast-iron bore, etc. This is probably the most uncomplicated and most economical motor in existance and it still makes well over 50 H.P. and I have read that early CR's peaked at 62 H.P.!! The TRX450R motor lugs, chatters and stalls when the going gets tough, I do not know if the CRF motor behaves that same way, but it is not pleasant. The CRF is king of the mx track, but in a drag race and for the long haul my money is on the CR500R.

[Darius1502]

Well...I am buying a KTM 550 this coming Friday...so if anyone wants to ask which is faster...don't bother!

KTM 550's will out pull all the other stock 500's. At least thats what Dirt Bike said.

I'll take a two stroke any day. I had a YZ 400F and it got boring to ride...no troubles but boring.

Give me a big nasty two stroke any day:

http://www.bvz.de/ktm/1994/440-550/550mxc.jpg

[bigredhead]

Talking to my friend yesterday on the phone.. trading his CRF for downpayment on a harley... LOL..

says he had to tighten the spokes on the rear wheel almost every ride !!! and tighten the chain constantly.....

you guys are NUTS ! or have bigger balls than a bowling alley.

[Darius1502]

Here is the interesting things about KTM 550's and KTM 540 two strokes, they actually are blazing fast but quite easy to ride.

[nitrometh king]

Ok the sand is about two things horsepower and tourque the 500 is king in both areas the stock cr500 has 62hp the 450 is like 56hp and the two stroke makes more torque I have a 500 and iv riddin pleanty of 450 also a 2010 450 only last 30hr my 500 has 60hr and still blowin 175psi mordern 4 strokes suck they're expensive they don't last long and a $700 cr500 wil wax you on any day of the week also if your always replacin pistons nos 350x try manufacture specs for oil like 20:1 32:1 24:1 with a good oil like castor 927

[atc500x]

I always love the power of the cr500.I own a 87 10 years ago and I still have it.CRF450 is a great bike,but the cost for repair of both motor is really lower on the cr500.I have bought a crf450 2002 last year for 500$ with a bad cylindre head,I sold the motor for 500$ and swap my cr500 motor in the frame....I have now a CR500AF and it's the greatest bike I have ever ride,good suspension,excelent motor,low cost maintenance.The secret is a good oil!

[300rman]

On a track, in anyones hands except a dirt bike god, the 450 will be faster. in the sand, the 500 will rule the roost. 500's are stupid fast. 450's dont scare me....the 500 makes me soil myself.
500 motors top ends last plenty long in the sand. if you took a fresh 450 and a fresh 500 to the dunes and ran them till they blew, the 450 will launch long before the 500.

take the 450 and the 500, and dump a grand into each. you will get a top of the line pipe for the 450. for the 500, you get a pipe, reeds, porting, and a carb from this decade. take them both back to the sand, and again, see who wins.

500's arent a timid machine. my ex-racing buddy went from a 500 to a 450 because the 500 was just too much power....point being that is a 500 is getting romped by a 450 in the sand, then the 500 is either worn out or the rider sucks.

[Louis Mielke]

I would add my $.02 by saying, that four strokes are just inherently easier to rider and therefore inherently faster. I'm sure someone would argue with me but I know I've always ridden two strokes on the motorcross track because they've always been what had decent suspension. I love my atc500r, awesome power, awesome suspension but I have to ride more cautiously on it that any four stroke quad.

One weekend out with the OTC we were practicing and I hit several laps on the track on my 500 before stopping for a breather, our good friend speedbump (craig) pulls up on his 450 kawi quad and asks if I wanna take it for a ride cause he knows I've never really ridden a 450 quad on the track before. So I'm like okay. So I take two laps. Now hear what I'm saying, the 450 has less power for sure (and we proved that later in the day because there wasn't a bike there that could touch my 500 in a straight line) but I was over shooting EVERYTHING compared to on the 500 and after two laps I felt fresh as a daisy where on my 500 a good 3-4 laps would have me burning all over. Now part of this I would admit is because riding the quad took less effort turning, less preparation when jumping and allowed me to ride recklessly compared to when i ride a trike. But most specifically the engine, it's just a broad buttery smooth power band. Awesome roll on power with no wild hit, no squeezing the tank with your knees for dear life no vibration to make your hands go numb. When I got off that quad the first thing that came to my mind was "jeeze, anyone could ride one of these things and be fast", I mean that, that's the first thing that came to my mind, specifically that it was too easy to ride that quad with that motor and that anyone could get on one and be fast. It's way easier to ride that 450r quad compared to my 500 trike hands down and therefore easier to be fast.

That's my two cents.

[300rman]

exactly louis. the 500 is a monster, and it is at home in the dunes/fire roads. on a MX track, it is WAY too much power.

[Louis Mielke]

I wouldn't say its too much power, just way more at home at big open tracks.


More specifically 300rman you've ignored my real point. The 450s might not literally be more powerful, but they are easier to ride hands down and therefore have more usable power. Blindly going on about how a "500 is a monster" is kinda silly. A 500 isn't a monster in my book but I ride one regularly, it's all a matter of perspective.

[3wheelmecca]

I am with ya Louis, I prefer the 500's, but I ride differently, 450s have their place in trails, they do well there IMO.
A Zabel is a monster, that WILL whip many many bikes. Google it, its insane.
Also, the KTM 500MX had quite a bit of torque stock, It could climb like it was nobodys business. I really want to get a Husqvarna 430XC, those are wild bikes.

[300rman]

I am with ya Louis, I prefer the 500's, but I ride differently, 450s have their place in trails, they do well there IMO.
A Zabel is a monster, that WILL whip many many bikes. Google it, its insane.
Also, the KTM 500MX had quite a bit of torque stock, It could climb like it was nobodys business. I really want to get a Husqvarna 430XC, those are wild bikes.

ive tried the 4 strokes on the trails, and i prefer my CR250 to any 4 stroke. the only time i prefer the smoothness of the thumper is on the track, but i just cant get past the reliability to swallow a 4000 dollar bike for strictly MX use. the bike i currently own is perfect for all-around use, and i intend to use it for many more years.


and Louis, thats kinda what i meant by the 500 being a monster. the smoothness of the thumper makes it a more user-friendly ride, but for raw power, the 500 is the way to go....unles you get one of those ATK 700 intimidators.......

[3wheelmecca]

I thought ATK only made 4 strokes.......
I think Zabel stole their idea. the bikes they put the motors in are esentially hillclimb bikes with leading link front ends, thatll do good in the dunes lol.

[Xhumeka]

Ok the sand is about two things horsepower and tourque the 500 is king in both areas the stock cr500 has 62hp the 450 is like 56hp and the two stroke makes more torque

March 2006 Dirt Bike 450 E start shootout K&N Dyno test results:

TE-450 = 49.4 Hp

WRF 450 = 46.8 Hp

KTM 450 Xc =45.5 Hp

CRF 450X = 45.4 Hp

I'm sure the numbers have slowly crept up over the years, but that's where they stood in 2006. You guys probably aren't talking about the electric start CRF450X, but I thought I would share the numbers above for reference.

I have a 2007 Husqvarna TE450 (last year with carb) and with just over 100 hours I haven't had to shim my valves or do ANY engine work yet! (knock on wood!)

[dirtjunkie85]

The CR500 will be quicker to the top of the drag hill at the dunes with equal riders and the same paddle. but take things away from the drag strip at the dunes and things turn to the thumper's favor quickly. The CRF has all the new technology that honda has to offer right now which makes it better for jumping,whoops, turns and carving big bowls. but the 500 two smokers are still the king of the hill. My KX 500 eats stock 450's for breakfast on the hill but its not as fun to play on the dunes with.

[300rman]

The CR500 will be quicker to the top of the drag hill at the dunes with equal riders and the same paddle. but take things away from the drag strip at the dunes and things turn to the thumper's favor quickly. The CRF has all the new technology that honda has to offer right now which makes it better for jumping,whoops, turns and carving big bowls. but the 500 two smokers are still the king of the hill. My KX 500 eats stock 450's for breakfast on the hill but its not as fun to play on the dunes with.

so you chop up a modern frame and stuff a 500 into it (done by MANY people)

the 500 frame is outdated by 20 years or so......