450 Super Singles Anyone??

[Triple J]

So I have an '04 KTM 200 EXC dirt bike I'd like to sell so I can get a track bike. However, a guy has offered to trade me for his '02 Honda CRF 450...which brings me to the 450 super singles.

I read about this in a bike mag. a couple months ago, where people turn 450 dirt bikes into road race bikes. Here's the site the article referenced: http://www.450moto.net/index.php

Looks like you need to get new wheels, bodywork, damper, rearsets, and have the suspension re-done and lowered.

Looks like it could be pretty fun. Has anyone ever seen one of these...or better yet ridden one? General thoughts?

[teddy037.2]

always wanted to make one for street, just for the oddity of it. I imagine it would be a blast to ride! 

[Spidey]

Elana Myers destroyed the AFM on one last weekend.

Pics:  http://4theriders.com/viewpics.php?loc=/pics/afm/2009/r4_thill/21/

[Triple J]

So you're saying it's a girls bike?   



Great pictures! 

[Spidey]

She ran a 600 at an earlier round and crushed everyone there too.  They started selling these T-shirts:

[zooom]

 Great pictures! 

especially this one...



my guess is this was 100% cocky ham!


anyways, I have seen where people also find a 2 stroke bike like a TZ250 or or something of the like and grapht in the 450 motor and go from there...

[Triple J]

She ran a 600 at an earlier round and crushed everyone there too.  They started selling these T-shirts:

That's great!

So what's the reason for using 450s...because they fit in a specific race class?

I'm only thinking 450 because there are readily available fairing kits. Would any dirtbike base work? 

[Spidey]

I don't know if other dirtbike bases work because I don't know that much about them.  But I bet it's a power thing.  A single is not particularly well-suited for a roadracing track .  They get hot and they lose out on the top end.  A 250 single would be SERIOUSLY underpowered.  We used to race 250 ninjas against DRZ 400 'tards, and engine-wise, they were close.  The 400 had more torque, but was hurtin' at the top end.  It's one thing to race an underpowered bike, but as a trackbike, I wouldn't want something with 25 hp.  I wouldn't want anything less than a 450 single.

[zooom]

also worth considering is the kind of tracks you'll be riding...a single on it's own in this kind of condition being wrung out will be a maintenance intensive ordeal if you do alot of track days on tracks that have straights where the general speed exceeds 110MPH...on tight technical tracks where there isn't much past 4th gear on a liter bike for example, a super single might be right at home...otherwise, you'll be wringing the life right outta the machine.....also some track organizations are considering the disparity between machines like Motards/Singles and the regular sport bikes in terms of grouping and so forth due to major differences in closing speeds and braking zones....all about having he right tool for he job...it is just the same with a track bike too...

[pennyrobber]

We saw some running in the USGP about a month ago. They are about the size of a 250 gp bike. I think they have a specific class for them this year. There was word that kits would become available for the conversion but it seems people are just doing the DIY route. I think it would be a blast, go for it. 

[Triple J]

also worth considering is the kind of tracks you'll be riding...a single on it's own in this kind of condition being wrung out will be a maintenance intensive ordeal if you do alot of track days on tracks that have straights where the general speed exceeds 110MPH...on tight technical tracks where there isn't much past 4th gear on a liter bike for example, a super single might be right at home...otherwise, you'll be wringing the life right outta the machine.....also some track organizations are considering the disparity between machines like Motards/Singles and the regular sport bikes in terms of grouping and so forth due to major differences in closing speeds and braking zones....all about having he right tool for he job...it is just the same with a track bike too...

I've been thinking of this as well. Our local track (Pacific Raceways) is pretty tight, but it does have a fairly long straight where I could get up to ~150 indicated on the 848. Everything but the straight would be good on a 450.

On the other hand, Oregon Raceway Park is another close track and I never got the 848 out of 4th gear...and usually was in 2nd or 3rd. Perfect for a 450.

Thunderhill and Miller are also track we go to (I've only been to Miller). I think one of these 450 singles would really suck there. 

[EvilSteve]

I'd love to have one of these for a track bike *but* they're expensive to do right.

My dream version of this bike would be to get the 300 xc 2 stroke with electric start & convert that. *drool*

[rockaduc]

I am a member of KTMtalk, it's a pretty cool community (like another one I can think of  ).  They have a nice break down of the different thumper motors and the CRF motors are pretty maintanace intensive as they are fairly high strung...jfft.

[Triple J]

I'd love to have one of these for a track bike *but* they're expensive to do right.

That's my concern. Might be cheaper to just pick up an R6 or something for the track.

I am a member of KTMtalk, it's a pretty cool community (like another one I can think of  ).  They have a nice break down of the different thumper motors and the CRF motors are pretty maintanace intensive as they are fairly high strung...jfft.

Thanks...good info. I know nothing about the 450 motors...except that i don't want to be rebuilding them all the time! 

[Speeddog]

Some FHE on flogging 450's:
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=37238

I'm sure they're fun to ride, but it sure sounds like the maintenance is off the hook.