P96
2020 450 MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
SHOOTOUT
HONDA
CRF450R
I
n our tangle of feedback from testers,
there were few points we all agreed on
across the board, but one of those points
was the outstanding engine performance
of the Honda. The CRF450R motor was a
standout in our test, but unfortunately for
Big Red, it wasn't enough to get it on the
overall podium in our shootout.
The outstanding motor gained even more
fans in this year's shootout on account of
its new engine tuning feature. The CRF
now offers three traction control modes
(plus "off" as a fourth option) along with
three selectable engine maps, leaving
12 combinations for power delivery, and
something for everyone, it seemed. The
pros, of course, preferred full power and
TC off, while the rest of the bunch found
their sweet spots, our novice tester enjoying
engine map 2 and TC2.
In all cases, the CRF delivered quick-
revving torque and excellent traction. In its
most aggressive map, power off the bottom
is incredibly strong, but still usable in the
right hands. "It's not super explosive; you're
able to ride it without killing yourself," one
pro tester commented. "Out of the corner is
when it really wants to pull, and you have to
lean forward to keep the front wheel down,"
another said, "but it's not too harsh that it
wants to pull your arms off."
5
th
Place
