I am thinking about getting a '06 Trx450r. I have ridden a pair of '05's, both in the dunes and on trails, and while it is a very good duning machine, it was not geared low enough for the trails. I have heard the '06's have a lower gear ratio, but because they rev higher (1000 rpms?) the top end speed is maintained. Also, is the seat any dfferent (i.e. softer)? I found the '05's a little hard.

Thanks!

Chips2000

 

The primary reason I bought my '06 450R is for trail riding. I've been on some pretty tight trails and had no problems whatsoever with it stalling due to the gearing. It's a great trail quad imho. I've never ridden an '05 so I don't have anything to compare it to.

 

The '05 or the '06 will make a good but sporty trail quad. If you get an '05 you can just change out the front sprocket to adjust your gearing and you should be happy, takes about 10 minutes to do. The seats are the same. More cushy than most though.

 

alot of people say the 06 are faster than the 05 but i dont know about that..

 

The '05 because of gearing is not good for trails, or to be more specific, low speed rock crawing is the real problem. My Banshee is a much better trail machine, but I am thinking of replacing it with the 450. I am not getting one for speed, as my Banshee (at least in dune hillclimbing) is unmatched, but on the Honda, I do not feel I have to be riding it on the edge all the time in the bigger dunes. (which has been fun but now that I am a grandpa [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img], things change)

I guess I will have to put up with the harder seat. Also, the suspension is much stiffer on the 450, I will not be on the motocross track or jumping, so can the suspension be set up to be much softer? (RE: the grandpa thing).

It is really good knowing the '06 is a good trail machine, as we ride trails in summer and dunes and trails in winter, and I really do not want to get a utie. I am not sure I want to have to change the front sprocket on the '05 nearly everytime we go riding (changing back and forth from knobbies to paddles is enough), but the $$$ $avings is nice and I felt right at home on it in the big dunes the very first ride.



Thanks guys for some really good info...

Chips2000

 

wow ive never heard of anyone liking a banshee better for trails.... i hated mine and every one we ever had for trail use...different story in the sand. stil an unbelievable machine in its turf- sand.

anyway, the 04/05 TRX gearing is not unbearable. yes it is taller in first than most any other bike, but ive done trail riding and even technical stuff just fine on it and i have the stock sprocket. the only prob i had was not gearing related but when the back would ever so slightly hang up requiring some slight manual labor in getting it over its obstacle.

other than that, the 04/05 engine is actually a better trail engine - too bad honda didnt put the right gear ratio in for 1st, but i think time will prove the 04/05 engine to be more durable.

AND the 06 TRX450R has a stiffer suspension that the 04/05. the suspension on it was fine except for the rear shock - there seems to be no way to dial it in to where it is 'right." this is all they had to fix as far as the suspension is concerned for 06..

they really need to bring back the 6 speed tranny in these newer bikes. it would have a better range of power usage.

 

Twentycharactors: I know it sounds quite strange to say that, but IMHO, having ridden 2 different '05's (one just last weekend) on trails, they are not in stock trim as good a trail machine than my Banshee. Much rougher riding and way too high 1st. It seemed the Honda wanted to be standing still or going 10mph or more and nothing in between (yes, I know how to use a clutch). Having a real soft cushy seat, very soft suspension makes the Banshee quite comfortable (for a sport quad) on trails, plus, it does a surprisingly good job in the low rpm range going over a rough trail. If the '05 had the lower gear, softer suspension and better seat, it would be much better than the Banshee (and it would be sitting in my garage now).

Ok, so much for me yapping about my Banshee, because it is a moot point since I have decided to get the Honda. Plus I'm sure there are some great aftermarket mods out there to fine tune my new ride to my liking.

The problem I am having is which year to buy! I plan on going to Phoenix this weekend where I can get the '05 for $5300 OTD, and the '06 for $6500 OTD. Price is not the main issue (although, saving 1300 bucks is nice). Electric start is also nice, but not necessary.

Maybe gearing down the '05 would be ok, and not worry about regearing for the dunes. I am never in the top gears there anyway (never had the Banshee topped out in any gear beyond 4th, too scary for me, I like acceleration, not top speed.) When I rode the '05 in the dunes (rode it for about an hour and loved it, much less intense than the Banshee), I stayed in 2nd and sometimes into 3rd, so if I geared down, I would probably stay in 3rd and go to 4th only occassionally, and just lose some top end speed.

Anyway, Thanks for all your opinions,

Chips2000

PS Damn, I am going to really miss the scream of that 2 stroke!
PSS Note to self: Quit talking about the Banshee![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

well, that's amazing. our banshees hated trail riding and if they werent ripping, they werent happy!

yeah i cant argue with the banshee's seat. very soft and thick compared to the 450R. i do agree about the center of gravity though; the 450r's is too high. but not as high as a 660 raptor. that thing is tippy despite what anyone says. what were they thinking? the 250R- perfect.

but on the shocks for the 450R, they are very sensitive to adjustments (unlike most shocks) - mine was very rough until i made a couple turns on the shock adjusters - BIG improvement and way more adj to go if i want it softer. im fixing to take some preload off to help my c. of g. the thing about the 450R suspension is that dang rear shock- it is difficult to dial in; it really needs to be revalved or replaced by honda (maybe they did than on 06??) to be "right."
i have an elka i bought for the 250r- i may see if it fits and does better...

other than that-unless you are just bent on a honda -id seriously look into a z400 if i were you.

 

Yeah, it does sound kind of amazing. Maybe it is because it had a 12t front sprocket. It likes to go slow, or very fast, no mid-range, thats a Banshee, but I have no problem on a rocky trail ( as long as the rocks weren't too big!). The day I rode my son's '05 on this particular rough ascending trail, I had been riding my Banshee, which was giving me a workout, but I was having a good ole' time when he pulled over and got off his 450R and we traded quads. The 450 was absolutely no fun, as I was fighting it all the way to the top. I couldn't wait to get back on the Banshee. Now this is the same 450R I recently rode in Glamis, and I fell in love with it. Go figure.

My son has his suspension set about 1/2 of stock stiffness.

I have heard about the 250R's, a friend at work has one, and said she would never sell it. (Her families other bikes are '05 & '06 Trx450R's.)

I am not brand loyal, anymore. I have owned every major manufacturer (except Polaris) between street & dirt bikes (Honda and Yamaha) , quads (Yamaha & Bombardier), Jetskis (Kawasakis), outboard motors (Suzukis), and everyone of them gave me outstanding service. Last night, I was reading posts on the Z400, and it looked real good. Maybe I shouldn't pull the trigger too fast on a new quad. It's not like I have nothing to ride, and I am thinking of keeping the Banshee since I can only get between 2500 and 3000 for her, then I can have the best of both worlds. (Banshee for trail, Honda for duning, now thats back-asswards!LOL!!)

Anyway, thanks for the conversation,

Chips2000

 

If you put one less tooth in the front sprocket on the '05 you won't have to gear back up for the dunes. It will work just fine. If you really want to gear it back taller for the dunes just put 22" paddle tires on and there you go.

For everyone that is saying that the '04/'05's are geared too. The quad was built as a race quad, you need to change it to make it suit your style of riding. Honda doesn't want to build a "bad to the bone" race quad with a big fluffy seat on it and geared down for trail putting. If anyone likes the '05 and wants to change these things, for about $20 you can change for front sprocket out and just take your seat to a custom seat builder and have him redo your stock one.