New vs old
  • Could anyone agree with me if I say I think the older dirt bikes are better built I just think they are for some reason??
  • Maple Leaf MXMaple Leaf MX
    Posts: 12,821
    Every rose has its thorns
    Expect to die whenever but dream to live forever

    ..the good times on the old DR board will never be back! RIP!
  • NZriderNZrider
    Posts: 5,081
    no i disagree. my fathers old MX bike in the 70s bent and broke stuff all the time from jumping too big.

    newer bikes are built amazingly well to handle the abuse they get from todays ignorant owners
    *********************
    Winning is 90% rider and only 5% bike, the rest is luck
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    I agree with you,not historic but older bikes.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Just like cars
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    This is a personal preference thing but old cars all steel new cars all plastic, aluminum blocks better on gas yes better electronics inside yes but the car its self I would say no
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    Old cars is an old mans sport.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Not in my neck of the woods,,,,,,we wasnt talking about a sport we was talking new vs old
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Seem like every one is wanting older cars now,, my brother in law just got Plymouth scamp and a gremlin,his buddy has a fastback,,,his dad has a Chevelle my neighbor has 5.0 my homeboy cris has Nova,and working on a 64 Impala,I like the Novas and Chevelles, the gremlin is the ugliest car I ever seen. Dudes like them old cars around here,i definitely think there better built.now days everything is built in China its all about the dollar and not the workmanship, do you watch Speed Channel????? what is it you see?????
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    Well to get all technical the op was talking bout old bikes not cars u brought that up. And your voting for the old side but yet u prolly got newest bike in the room.... hmm

    Edit. U ain't a real g unless u got a old skool car wit some Daytons on it.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Nowdays a supercharger or turbo on a Dodge Neon will do it,no raw power look at the hemi look how it changed how they tryed to bring it back, my uncle has the Dodge rumble bee I have a Chevy Tahoe we race he.beats me by little, Tahoe with a heavy truck, they just don't make them like they used to.old cr500 are still alive and they will eat any dirt bike you can buy today.old vs new I vote old
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    My bike n my trucks new.i dont have the money to restore anything,somethings are better made back then some aint just my opinion
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Im 32 yo I like something old styles,I like the style of the old cr,,s and some real American Muscle if I had the money I would buy a,old project car and bike
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Alot of older guys do have old cars,but having real money also comes with age, retired have few dollers and it will keep them busy
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    Ok forget all that bout the cars. I vote new. Point one suspension technology way better now (I.e. no more dual rear spring setups, air shock front forks,usd forks ect.) Two, with better technology comes better understanding on how to reliably get the most power out of a given engine. Race any 2013 bike against any same cc (and stroke) from 20 yrs ago. The new gona win.

    New frames designed to flex instead of break bc the manufacturers know exactly what kind of stresses are being exerted. FI better than Carb (least most would agree. And plastics vs. Metal sheeting, plastic is cheap. You mess it up rip it off throw it away buy new. Can prolly get plastic gas tank new for 100$. Could prolly get new metal gas tank 20 yrs ago 150$, but that like 500$ now.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Crash with plastic bumpers and die
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    I race a cr 250 2 stroke and we are neck to neck pretty much,the bikes older smaller and just as fast as mine,a cr 500 would smoke both of us without question, shocks did not change much over the years,the 2013 shocks did on crf450r 1 socks for going up 1 socks for coming down, that's why I bought a 2012, I did not want a experiment bike, shocks didn't change much over the years.think of it like this a old cr500 when do you have to rebuild it,a new crf450r powers not close when do you have to rebuild it, if I told you with the owners manual said you would trip, I'm not talking historic bikes,but older and the plastic on the cars cost just as much for repairs, Labor, paint my Ultima is plastic its good on gas nice car but its plastic, the front bumper cost the insurance company as much as my steel bumper on my truck. this is kind of a personal preference conversation, some people are out with the old in with the new, everything I own is new,but I still have to vote old just off what I see,,, let's see if we see plastic cars from now in 50 years like we do the older ones, I watch Speed Channel every night,every now and then I see new cars 99% are older American Muscle
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    not saying you're wrong not saying I'm wrong, personal preference
  • rmzdirt7
    Posts: 28
    I heard older 4 strokes are a lot slower than they are now, While 2 strokes had always threw your front end up!
    2007 rmz-290
    2003 xr-80
    1999 rm-125
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Look up modern day 4 stroke dirt bike engine,the only thing they did was make it lighter,so yeah they would be faster but it also says they cost more to take care of.why??? not as reliable,?? not as well built?? Thats what I see we talked about this on the forum befor its like the bikes cant handle what there putting out the owners manual says they recommend a rebuild every race.like a 1500 hp race car run and rebuild, run rebuild just cant handle the power.but them race cars are not stock, we are talking about a stock bikebike, if you bought a Corvette and they said you had to rebuild a motor at 100 hours of driving or everytime you opened it up would you consider that a reliable car,todays bikes are fast and lightweight but are they well built, reliable, dependable as they was befor? I would say no
  • I was talking 90's not the 70's I just wrote that because I felt that my friends 1995 xr80 and my 1991 cr80 looked better built then the newer stuff, not just thrown together in a factory with no pride in them in like older bikes/ vehicles
  • I mean unlike older bikes/vehicles sorry my bad
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    That's how I see it, it's personal preference but I like the old cr500 style bikes,if I had the cash, mechanical skills I would restore one
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    Dude the maintenance schedule for an mx bike is exactly that, a schedule to ensure that a race bike is going to be as reliable as possible and to be able to perform at peak power 100% of the time. Noone follows the maintenance schedule to the t unless u have factory team backing you.

    Keep the oil changed in it. Check valves every couple mths. You should prolly check valves after break in. Tighten chassis bolts regularly, keep an on on bearings an brake pads. Wouldn't hurt to flush fluids (besides oil) once or twice a year. Clean an lube chain regularly.

    Its not that there not reliable, keep fresh oil in her an stay on top ur valves ur top end will last damn near forever.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Hope so, I change oil, transmission fluid, air filter, oil filter every ride. I'm past the break in, ,do u think I should take it and have the valves checked, probably 20 hours in
  • Maple Leaf MXMaple Leaf MX
    Posts: 12,821
    Hon dogs!!!!
    Expect to die whenever but dream to live forever

    ..the good times on the old DR board will never be back! RIP!
  • NZriderNZrider
    Posts: 5,081
    check the valves yourself sean. its a simple procedure that you cant really screw up.
    *********************
    Winning is 90% rider and only 5% bike, the rest is luck
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    What will I need?
  • Kyle-71Kyle-71
    Posts: 381
    A Manual....
  • NZriderNZrider
    Posts: 5,081
    basic hand tools plus a thickness gauge as far as i know
    *********************
    Winning is 90% rider and only 5% bike, the rest is luck
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    I'll buy manual and thickness gauge,im going to need your help never done no internal work,I have all basic hand tools.I want to learn to do all the work myself,
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    Can get feeler gauge on eBay for like 6$.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Im at about 20 hours, some dudes said check them some dude said don't.I still want to have all thats needed,when should I do it,what hour mark
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Ill look them up. I forgot to order service manual when I was at shop,ill get it
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Shims to right
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    from the factory the bike has titanium vals, correct?? I was reading about the vals they say stainless steel are better, I seen a stainless steel conversion kit on ebay for 150, if they do need adjusted should I just buy this
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    Ur valves ain't gona need changed, put ur wallet away killer. Most vehicles recommend checking them after first month then every 6 mth there after. (Unless ur riding the crap out of it) . You don't even need to buy a whole shim kit. If they need adjusted (doubt yours will) figure out which ones you need and go to dealer an buy them individually, there only a couple bucks apiece.

    Just use black permanent marker to label exactly where every piece goes, each part is mated with other parts around it so they need to go back exactly where u pulled them from. Pulling tappets easier with a magnet. Be careful not to drop shims or dowel pins down in the motor BC you'll have to fish for them or tear whole motor down to find them, Cam chain can also fall in. Some motors have a bolt to prevent it some don't.

    Fyi,I never buy manual anymore. I have them all downloaded to my phone for free. IMO they should include with new vehicle purchase at the dealer I'm actually searching for free download now.
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    http://www.thumpertalk.com/topic/667998-free-crf450r-service-manual-get-it-now/

    Says up to 08 but will most likely work for most things on ur bike except for like fi parts, some sensors ect.
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    My manual/handbook says competition only,it dont have everything in it,im going to try this im nervous as shlt,but ill try I'm done with the dealer I go to,they called me today and said the c clamp I ordered is on back order for 4 weeks, when I paid for it they said they will have it in 3 days, my camera handlebar mount I still never got, I have a new rear brakes I need this, being out of commission for 4 weeks is not going to happen,I think its a c clamp,I would send you pic I cant figure it out,im going to try to bend it,for now on ill go to ebay an crfs only and moto sport and few others,
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    I have never Been inside a engine, I have only done basics
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    2 of them say page not found,the one for 6 bucks says 08 have they changed anything
  • markyrocks
    Posts: 1,271
    For small parts like c clamps bolts grommets ect I use ronayers.com cheaper than the dealer cheap shipping as far as OEM distributor sites go. Usually takes 10-12 days to receive
  • jake_p_3.jake_p_3.
    Posts: 1,033
    is this what this fourm has resolved too.
    1999 xr70r
    2005 crf150f
    1998 kx 125
    2006 yz450f
    2003 crf230f
  • NZriderNZrider
    Posts: 5,081
    Hi Jake
    *********************
    Winning is 90% rider and only 5% bike, the rest is luck
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    more throttle less thinking
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    I agree with you turbowagon
  • sweetbrue
    Posts: 906

    I can't believe you made it this far through a conversation like this without someone bringing up the two stroke four stroke debate... This has got to be a new dirt rider record ! Congrats guys

    -1999 RM250
    -2001 CR250R
    -2005 RM250
    -2007 KTM450 SX-F
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    Maple would have told me not to get shlt started, that this is a tech debate,but right that speakes for its self,I guess your going with old then????
  • Maple Leaf MXMaple Leaf MX
    Posts: 12,821
    U dont b trippin now eh
    Expect to die whenever but dream to live forever

    ..the good times on the old DR board will never be back! RIP!
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    I just read a shoot out cr500 vs crf450 they said the 500 only has 5 more hp then the crf but the crf has higher topend theres noway this can be true.I race my homeboys cr250 and we are more less neck to neck, I can only imagine being beside a 500 on the crf 450. I had a 500 years ago, I don't remember the feel of the bike but if this was true then why are 500,s not in the 450 class,google cr500 vs crf450 shotout tell me what you think
  • sean
    Posts: 3,600
    It also said the 500 is 25000 rpm & the 450 11000 so how can this be if the 500 is putting out double rpms it dont make since to me

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