I saw a total of 2 new 450r's out there yesterday & I was a droolin. Sweet looking bike & had good reviews from the first gentleman we saw. The second was a cranky old 60+ year old who's reply was anyhting but pleasant! Nothing to do with the bike but I don't think he was having a good day. Anyway back to the first guy. They had found the bike on a showroom floor in Washington somewhere. This was their first day riding it. He was with a friend on a Banshee that had pipes but stock otherwise. They seemed pretty even in a drag against each other. I didn't see them drag but they were thrilled with the ride of their 450r. We sat chatting for a few minutes & then got back to riding. My riding partner on his banshee I could tell wanted to race him. He put 5000 grand in rebuilding his engine (a little nuts if you ask me). Anyway I have ridden his bike & it is freiken scary fast. I love riding that sucker it's ahrd to beat the 2-stroke powerband. So anyway my buddy did race this guy up the beach for a bit. I couldn't keep up on my yz250. Yes my buddy did beat his bone stock 450r but had alot of respect & admiration for the bike. He said the guy kept up with him pretty well till he hit 5th & 6th. Considering how much he wasted on his bike he was shocked this stock 4-stroke did as well as it did.
Overall I wanted to stop & beat the crap out of the guy & take his bike. I am a loyal honda guy although I own a few yamaha's & all. Honda is still my first choice. My first glimpe of the 450r honestly gave me a woody. I am 31 & felt like a kid in a candy store gawking at that bike. It wasn't to much different than the 2004 autoshow I went to in Portland on Saurday. I felt the same way when I was in the Porsche section.
I say 2 thumbs up Honda. The 450r is on sweet machine I hope to buy in the next few months!

 

I was at sandlake too, ya those 450r's were nice looking. You weren't the guy that wrecked a motorcycle down the bowl were you?

 

Actually my buddy took a pretty good spill on his Banshee. Decide to do a wheelie in 3rd & went back a bit to far. I didn't wreck on my Yz at the bowl though. My yz is yellow & a little older. We were parked at the north campground in my Ford crew cab. I'm sure we ran past each other at some point. We had to bail just after 2:00. I'm not all that familiar with the names at sand lake. I had the coolest jump on a quad on the big hill there. I was on my buddies banshee & kinda flew thru the woops at the bottom (those were a little rougher than last time I was there). ANyway I was hauling up the hill in 3rd gear & next thing I'm at the top airborne. The guys there at the bottom were all screaming at me & I was a little pumped. I landed just right & whipped around to see where I landed. From where I took off to where I landed wasbetween 15-20 feet. The guys at the bottom said I caught at least 5 feet of air. That with them at the bottom of the hill looking up. For a chicken like me it was pretty sweet. I was pumped the rest of the day. I know there are tons of guys out there that is no big deal too. It was my first really kickin jump though. Anyway catch yah next time maybe

 

lol....I feel pumped after I get a lot of air too, especially when your not expecting it! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

That's cool, I get pumped when I get 3 feet of air.

 

pizza914- Thanks for the info. I picked up my 450R tonight and so far I am very pleased. Of course I've only had 5 minutes of seat time and didn't make it out of first gear (riding area was small). I am very pleased with it so far. I added my 5 minute review to the forum if anyone is interested.

450R 5 minute seat time Review

Congrats on the air- I'm just learning to catch some air as well (hence the name). Anytime you leave the ground on purpose it's a good thing. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

are you guys serious,,i've made 6 footer with my 400 scrammy,no bs!

 

I've caught more than 3' of air, I just mean I don't have the nuts to go really huge like some people do. Although that can change after a few beers(j/k). I like to keep my bones in single pieces.

 

my biggest was in the backyard in the winter pond was frozen over and the hill we got is bout 10 ft high...i launched off bout 4-6 foot and landed it...it was insane...bout 14-16 footer...needless to say i luv that hill and when im outta basketball season i may just hafta try a superman! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]