What year 450 to purchase

6743 Views 43 Replies 30 Participants Last post by Nor*Cal, Dec 9, 2008

Buddah

Discussion Starter · Sep 28, 2008

Well, I'm a new member here and have been reading several posts about a lot of different builds. ( I own a nicely built 700 Raptor and I still enjoy the quad ). I'm having a very hard time deciding whether to purchase a first generation R or second. The '06 and up interest me because of the titanium valves, electric start, FCR carb., longer swingarm, etc. To my understanding, after talking with some of our local builders, the '04-'05 Honda's seem to respond better when you go big than the newer versions. The '06 and up run stronger if you decide to stay stock stroke and bore. Is this true? I'm on the fence deciding which way to go. I'm no expert on building motors, but I can install the basics, piston, cam, timing, etc. I have a very good local builder with a flow bench and he will be porting the head. KBR is very close to me and I know Kam and Marty quite well. The bike will be set up as an all around duner, not a hill bike.
I have found some decent deals on some used built '04-'05's on this site and some very clean '06-'07 stock machines in the $3400-$4200 price range. Any opinions would be appreciated on which way to go

Thanks

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shadbehnke

· #2 · Sep 28, 2008

Well, I'm a new member here and have been reading several posts about a lot of different builds. ( I own a nicely built 700 Raptor and I still enjoy the quad ). I'm having a very hard time deciding whether to purchase a first generation R or second. The '06 and up interest me because of the titanium valves, electric start, FCR carb., longer swingarm, etc. To my understanding, after talking with some of our local builders, the '04-'05 Honda's seem to respond better when you go big than the newer versions. The '06 and up run stronger if you decide to stay stock stroke and bore. Is this true? I'm on the fence deciding which way to go. I'm no expert on building motors, but I can install the basics, piston, cam, timing, etc. I have a very good local builder with a flow bench and he will be porting the head. KBR is very close to me and I know Kam and Marty quite well. The bike will be set up as an all around duner, not a hill bike.
I have found some decent deals on some used built '04-'05's on this site and some very clean '06-'07 stock machines in the $3400-$4200 price range. Any opinions would be appreciated on which way to go

Thanks[/b]

when going big on the engine the 04-05 engine does put out better numbers and has a better front end set up.

eagertorace

· #3 · Sep 28, 2008

I would get the 08 model or wait till honda releases the fi 450R.

atleast get an 06 which has the FCR carb.

G

· #4 · Sep 28, 2008

i have an 07 and love it.

by the way i think this is the wrong section

corey5988

· #5 · Sep 29, 2008

'04-'05 gets my vote. Pick it up cheaper and use the money for the planned upgrades. The only things that an '06 has over the 1st gen are thing's you'd likely replace anyway. Plus they just look better.

bigred74

· #6 · Sep 29, 2008

2nd gen all the way, i love my 06 and it would blow away stock or stock a 1st gen bike. plus the resale is better if you buy a newer bike vs. an older one JMO

formervetman

· #7 · Sep 29, 2008

2nd gen all the way, i love my 06 and it would blow away stock or stock a 1st gen bike. plus the resale is better if you buy a newer bike vs. an older one JMO[/b]

Stock for stock you are correct but my vote would be for the older model for all the reasons corey5988 metioned.
So my vote is pick up an 04/05 cheap and build the he!! out of it.

hondaman01

· #8 · Sep 29, 2008

04 gets my vote, i love mine so much ive had it since they first came out lol

556KingR

· #9 · Sep 29, 2008

04/05..you can make them mean and nasty...without tranny or electric start issues I might add!

eagertorace

· #10 · Sep 29, 2008

^^^^^^^^what about crank bearings????????

no problems out of my 06.

miller

· #11 · Sep 29, 2008

It all boils down to what you are like. Are you interested in working on it yourself? Do you enjoy it? If so get an old 04/05 and mod away....JMO Tons of aftermarket for either year. Youll find the best deal on an older one IMO... And there are also some 04/05' already modded that will stomp the crap out of slighly modded 06...

If you are going to hang on to it, the 04/05 tranny will probably last way longer than the 06 and up..at least a lot longer than EITHER years crank bearings..

Buddah

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 29, 2008

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated. I do like wrenching on my own machines and performing most of the work, except porting. Like I've stated, there are numerous '04-'05 machines that are built up ( big bore, suspension, etc. ) that I've been looking at very closely. Yes, it would definitely be cheaper to buy one that is complete, but I like to add my own touch as well. I'm in no hurry to purchase as I have two other machines I can ride at the moment. Seen a couple clean stock'07's for about $4k and built up '04-05's for $4k-$5k.

jwilson84

· #13 · Sep 29, 2008

yep both years have crank bearings issues, the thrust washer..

maybe get a 06 up with a kick start!, but i do like my 05 but its no where near stock motor wise

new2honda

· #14 · Sep 29, 2008

the 06+ would be better if you didn't want to mod at all since they run stronger stock, but if you like to work on them, then it is just a matter of what you can get the best deal on. they both have their strong/weak points to them. the 04-05 has larger potential at the higher end of things but other than that either one can do everything

hondaman01

· #15 · Sep 29, 2008

either one of them would be a great decision, 04-05 are kickstart only and 06-^ sometimes has starter and/or battery issues the starter clutch goes out or the smallllllllll battery goes dead fast

but the kickstart gets annoying trying to start it after you kill it out in a race

oregonsandrat

· #16 · Sep 29, 2008

Never had any issues with the battery or starter.... and I've ran down many 1st gen bikes with more work done to them...

hondaman01

· #17 · Sep 29, 2008

Never had any issues with the battery or starter.... and I've ran down many 1st gen bikes with more work done to them...[/b]

thats what quite a few 06-^ thought about mine lol that never happened

mike d.

· #18 · Sep 29, 2008

I would buy an 07 ,honda is giving all sorts of price breaks on them right now do to still having them in their warehouses , I paid 5200 4 mine a month ago , check with your local dealer , or check e-bay there is a dealer in NJ. making deals..

zackp00

· #19 · Sep 29, 2008

Man any of them are good, they all have their issues and all are highly modifiable. but after a bunch of modding the 04-05 is prob going to be the better issue do to the weak tranny's in some of the 06 and up bikes. But like i said they are all great and all had some sort of issue but nothing that some time and money can't fix.

mx333

· #20 · Sep 29, 2008

I have both years of bikes and i like the 04/05 bikes a little better takes a little more money to get the power out of them but it's well worth it , runs smoother and has a wide power range compared the the newer bikes feel kinda 2 strokeish sometimes

1 - 20 of 44 Posts

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