VOLUME 56 ISSUE 42 OCTOBER 22, 2019 P99
Honda's new HSTC (Honda
Selectable Torque Control)
worked well, offering light control,
particularly in the flat sweepers.
With three levels to choose from,
TC1 and TC2 offer very mild
intrusion. It's not until you get to
TC3 that the engine character
changes more dramatically.
It all amounts to versatility, which
is a strong point for an already
outstanding motor. But while the
performance won praise, the
execution (by way of handlebar
controls) lacks refinement. Honda's
solution to on-the-fly TC selection
was to add yet another flashing
button to the handlebar. This sits in
glaring contrast to the sleek layout
of the Husky/KTM models that
neatly display "TC" and the numbers
"1" and "2" on a compact handlebar-
mounted cluster. On the Honda,
you're trying to remember which
button does what and then count
how many flashes you saw.
While the engine management
features bring a lot to the party
for Honda, the chassis is what
continues to hold it back in our
shootout. Revised suspension
valving in both the fork and shock
brought positive changes to the
CRF450R over last year, but haven't
succeeded in ironing out its finicky
behavior on the track.
Our lighter weight riders and
novice to intermediate testers got
along best with the Honda, but
our pro testers reported the most
trouble with the CRF's suspension.
The frame carries over from 2019,
and as we discovered last year,
it seems particularly sensitive to
suspension setup. Hit that sweet
spot, and the Honda will keep
things planted as you erupt out of
corners. But find yourself outside
Ride Review:
2020 Honda CRF450R
https://www.cyclenews.com/2019/08/
article/2020-honda-crf450r-review/
PROS
• OUTSTANDING ENGINE
• TC AND POWER MODES
• EXCELLENT ERGONOMICS
CONS
• TOO MANY FL ASHING LIGHTS!
• FINICKY HANDLING
• SECOND-HEAVIEST OF
THE BUNCH
BY THE NUMBERS
ACTUAL WEIGHT
(FULL FUEL): 250 LBS.
MSRP: $9399
HONDA
CRF450R
that very narrow zone, and you'll
spend the day searching for a
happy medium in between blowing
through the stroke, and harsh
action in the small bumps. The
result is a nervous-feeling chassis,
particularly at speed, and since
speed is what the Honda is best at,
it presents a bit of a performance
bind. We suspect that a heavier
spring and less damping might
help even things out.
The Honda could quite easily
climb up a few spots in our
shootout, and perhaps even
reclaim the top spot if they can iron
out the chassis quirks. Until then,
brandish that beautiful, robust
power with caution.
5
th
Place
