The New Soil Sampler: FAQs

So I've had a few questions via email...

First, of course, was "What about your l'il 230? Are you getting rid of it? Didn't you just mount new tires on it?"

My garage door only seems to swing one way. Bikes keep moving in, but none of them seem to be moving out. Much as I'm dreading the day, that's gonna have to change eventually, as I'm running out of garage space. For the moment, though, the CRF230F isn't going anywhere. I still enjoy riding it (it's such a great bike on the tight trails through the woods and so much fun to just wring the absolute snot out of it without having to worry about things getting out of hand) and I'd also like to keep it as a loaner and maybe for my daughter if she ever gets to be tall enough to ride it. And, yeah, I did just put new tires on it ... that was before I ran across the phenomenal deal on the 450. I actually think the Maxxis tires I just put on the 230 are better than the Dunlops that came stock on the 450 ... but, no, I'm not going to all the trouble of switching them around.

"It doesn't really look any bigger than your 230...?

Aw, come on. Check out the photo of the two of them side by side. Big difference!

"Why isn't there a wolf on the number plate?"

Fixed!

"Why didn't you bring it into your living room for the first night?"

I was too anxious to get it out and get it dirty. Once it was dirty ... well, the wife's tolerance only goes so far. Just gonna have to forgo that old tradition with this one, I guess.

"What are your first impressions of the 450?"

Massive power first of all. It comes on fast and strong from the very bottom. And this is in stock form, without me opening up the intake and exhaust, defeating all the emissions crapola, and rejetting the carb. Suspension seems great. I'll know more as I ride it more and start tweaking the settings to suit my riding style and preferences. It definitely soaks up/sails right over rough terrain that had my 230 all out of shape. Brakes are great, but coming from the crappy brakes on the 230, anything would be an improvement. Steering is fantastic, which is one of the things all the professional reviewers have said about the bike. If you can control that throttle, it inspires a lot of confidence right off the bat -- at least on wide open trails. Deep in the trees, I was sweating bullets.

"Are you rich?"

No, just tremendously, hopelessly in debt. It's the American way.

"Are you spoiled rotten?"

Oh yeah. Remember, though, he who dies with the most toys (alternately: scars) wins. I'm not even leading the race yet, but I am working on it!