Fe450 2009-2012

go for it

If YOu have problems (even slight ones) with the position of Your body on the bike, then consider refreshing to 2012 model, since it was optimized.

2012 model is not only about different colour and not only about yellow frame and not only about new decals.

We needed to compare the 2009-2011 model to 2012 one and there are some differences indeed.

Engine is same but EFI has been optimized so slight difference.

Mordzy said:

Hi all, had my 2009 450 for over a year now and keep looking online at bikes as you do. I spotted a 2012 fe450 for about £3500. Seemed like a fair price for the hours and condition etc.

Is it worth getting the latest or should I say 'last' of th bergs or am I not going to gain anything moving from an 09 to a 12 model?!

My other thoughts was to get a smaller engine but 250's rarely pop up.

Click to expand...

Interesting! Do you know what are the differences in the EFI bobbex? Different ign/fuel map?

Differences I know would be different offset clamps between '09 and '10, and WP closed-chamber forks (pressurized bladder) in 2011 and 2012 I believe. (As far as I know, the newer forks are slightly less easy to work on as you need some tricks to pressurize the bladder but IT IS POSSIBLE to diy!; Quite a few people found the stock valving in the closed-chamber forks to have left something on the table according to what I've read, i.e. there is some harshness depending on use. But these can be sorted very well; I believe that is a known fix nowadays.

And so yeah the yoke offset was changed. More offset = less trail. For the same forward/rear height, the later bikes will have slightly more agile steering. Or conversely, if you set a '09 and a post-'09 bike to have the same steering character, the later model will be sitting a little lower in the rear and have a sliiiightly further rear weight distribution.

(edit: Jon pointed out that the 4CS came later! my apologies! have edited the post)

Depends on what you can sell your -09 for. If it's similar price go for it. Then you get an upgrade and probably less milage. What it's worth in money only you can decide.

Yes the-12 is upgraded but it's nothing groundbreaking, more like tweaks. Regarding forks some prefer the open chamber forks that you have and some the closed chamber on the -12. The 4CS came on -13 models. The -12 has low fuel indicator, tweaked map, "see through" tank so you can see fuel level, better fuel pump and as tourist say different angle on the triple clamps as the feedback for the-09 was that it could have been a bit more stable. But essentially the same bike.