KX500 vs KX450F

[SachsGS]

I have found newer Maico 500s, anachronisms that they are, to be deceptively fast. I have ridden with KX500s and assumed that they would be quicker then the ultra smooth Maicos, imagine my surprise when I found myself pulling them across fields etc. time and time again. Another time I was riding sweep at a race with a friend of mine, a masters level rider on a CR500. Down the connecting fire roads he would blast me with rocks out of every corner and, after the barrage of debris subsided,I would twist the Maico's throttle and effortlessly reel him in.

The Maico 320 is a gem, when finances allow I will try to get one.

[Chris2T]

If Kawi or Honda ever threw all their resources into building a 450-500cc 2 stroke, the results would be devastating. i mean a state-of-the-art big bore 2 stroke that would eat a KX450F for lunch and shit the parts out its stinger. Even Service Honda uses engines that are actually decades-old designs.  

[Turquine]

Thanks again, Sachs, that's the kind of info I'm always looking for. I had an idea the newer Maico 500s could probably out pull the older CR and KX 500s, stands to reason. I'd just never heard of anyone in a situation to test it.

Take a look at this little drag race -->
KTM 300 2010 VS Yamaha 450 2007
KTM 300 2010 VS Yamaha 450 2007.wmv
Now imagine if the KTM 300 enduro here were a 450. I think you'd have a motor that would make for a good MX bike that would be powerful, tractable, easy to ride, and considerably quicker than any 450 4stroke, like I suggested earlier. Seems to me, such a machine would eliminate most of the complaints made about the KX 500 in the Aussie test. Personally, I like explosive power like the KX delivers -- where I ride, it isn't a threat most of the time, and it's great on dunes with a good Cheng Shin tire with REAL knobs :-)

[2smoker]

the 450 is a WR?

[SachsGS]

A friend has a WR450 and it is a dog compared to my Maico 380.

[Turquine]

Yes, the 450 is a WR, and had it been the motocross version, it would have beaten the 300. Not, however, were the 300 a 450 also, as I've suggested. In that case, it would be considerably quicker than any motocross 450 4stroke, but with the rideability of the 300. Same type of power delivery as the 300, just with 150cc more in displacement. I'm only suggesting that such a bike would eliminate many of the complaints currently directed towards big-bore 2strokes like the CR and KX 500s, such as being too explosive and hard to control, as the 300 is very mildly tuned compared to a normal MX 2stroke. A 450 version with pretty much the same configuration, would still be very controllable, could lug or scream, would be faster and more powerful than any 450 thumper, smooth and tractable too boot. That seems to be what so many modern testers want these days and what they claim works for motocross tracks in their current design. Not being a motocrosser or woods rider, that isn't what I would want, I'd want all the horsepower I could wring out of the thing, but I was suggesting such a motor for motocross, and I think it would consistently beat 450s around a track as well as be easy to ride and not so tiring to ride for long motos. Of course, I doubt they'd ever let anyone ride it in a pro level MX race, but it would prove that twostrokes can be smooth, tractable, easy and non-tiring to ride, and still considerably more powerful than any 4stroke of the same displacement. Doesn't anyone follow my reasoning here?

[eprovenzano]