.... Hello fellow Hondapeople-- man don't I sound like a politician? No- I'm not gonna ask you to vote for me. I would just like you all's input as to how the new TRX450R and the ever legendary TRX250R compare. And what types of pros and cons there are.
Thanks

 

well i cant make that comparison myself since i never rode an old r. BUT i have a completely rebuilt (almost) '87 lt250r . i know the honda handled better stock and the suzuki hadda touch more power stock. the old lt has a fresh top end 30 over, boyseen pro reeds, uni filter, and a full fmf system.
i cant really open up the suzuki till i get the new tie rods and ends on becasue its all over the place but the power is probably really close.
in dirt even if the suzuki has more power i would give the edge to the honda just becasue of wheel spin. the power band on the old ly is litrerally violen and the best tires in the world are gonna break loose in the dirt.
probably didnt help but i tried

 

Thats great that you have an 87 LT- a peice of history for sure. It's nice to think about, as I've started to see TRX250R frames and engines popping up on ebay- kinda makes ya wanna cobble one back together..........

 

I have had 2 Legends 86 250R's.. My first one I bought a couple of years ago and it wall all stock and I put a wider axle and exhuast on it. I rode it like that for about 2 years then I burned it up last summer.. Rebuilt it this winter and just sold it last month.. I beat the crap out of this bike.. I could hang with modded Raptors and YFZ on the trails. This was with stock suspension.. The bike rode nice. After riding the 250R I dont like getting back on the 400EX.
I am trying to put pictures of my new 250R I just bought last month. It is bad!!

Hope this helps, I have only rode a 450R for about 5 minutes so I cant really tell you to much about that, but I was not to impressed, except for the upper end was nice. I think if the drive gear was changed lower it might have felt better to me.

 

.. yeah- that's what I'm gathering, the modern stuff lacks the rawness that we had in better days. Little secret for all you speed freaks- the 1992 Corvette LT-1 was really raw- they softened it way up ater that.........

 

stock for stock the new 450 is superior. i believe it ways in at 25 pounds more roughly but has about 5 more rwhp.
but you never see a stock 250r at least hardly ever so its difficult to judge.
my lt250r has more power that a trx250r stock (just by a bit)
when i get the tie rods and ends off my friend and i will drag them in the dirt and on the road maybe. as much as i love the racer after takn it for a ride the other day i think the 450 may still get it in a drag in the dirt but on the street im not sure whats gonna happen. the suzuki has a full fmf pipe, uni filter, fresh top end 30 over and boyseen pro reeds.
In the ATTITUDE department though the suzuki wins by a landslide at this point. it looks so much meaner than the honda. but looks dont really matter.... do they ??

 

.. No, really- looks will make the bike faster. Just kidding........[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Check this out.......


http://www.servicehonda.com/

 

.,.... Cool-- but really, all they dod was shoe- horn a 250R or even a CR250 engne into a 400ex chassis. Still not quite the LEGEND.

 

I think that the "legend" 250r would beat the 450r. I had an 86 and 87 like 3 yrs ago. Don't get me wrong, the 450r is an awesome machine but it is just pure power. The 250r would get in those powerbands and just fly like nothing. I just think two strokes are unbelievable when it comes to power.