Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126601
De Coster put alot into it. Chandlergot alot outofit. ou're lookingat the bike that five-time Y W orld OpenClass Champion Roger DeCoster helped design. The 1982 HondaCR480R. The same bike that Danny Chandler rode to victory in allfive races of the Trans-USA Support ClassSeries. Thats where manufacturers get their first chance to pit the new productionbikesagainst each other. Chandler not onlyfinishedfirst in eightof ten motos, but CR480R-mounted riders captured the top three spots in the final point standings. Now its your turn to get your hands on the most excitingproduction motocross bike around. Fire up the new 472cc works-type engine, let out the clutchand feel 51horses* rush you toward the first turn. The reed-inducted, twostroke powerplant offers incredible power, with a redesigned cylinder porting layout and expansion chamber and a new advance curve on its maintenance-free capacitor discharge ignition. Design changes that have given the CR480R an improved powerband for smooth, immediate acceleration in every gear. semblies that feature stronger alloy rims and redesigned hubs with magnesium alloy backing plates and brake shoe bodies. And with aluminumengine mounting brackets, a tough new four-speed gearbox, a new works-type Neu:4i2 cc T eed-inducted. two-strokepouerplant features red esigned cylinderporting layout and expansion chamber and ncu' advancecurvefor outstanding horsepowerand torque characteristics. L-~-_ And it lands as smoothlyas it takes off thanks to a new suspension system. The enormous 43 mm air-adjustable forks offer three compression damping adjustments and 12 inches oftravel. ~~~ Bringing up and holding c: down the rear is our Pro-Link™ progressive action suspension system. Its not the only singleshock design around, but its certainly the best. Andthis year weve given it new linkage ratios, new works-type valving and four compression dampingadjustments. Eventhe swingarm is new. Its a massive ex0 trusion of extremely toughaluminum alloy that pivots on needle bearings. ( l 1I.+;o;~'1 It provides 12inches ofbump-soak- 0 LJ ing wheel travel and 13.4 inches of ~ ground clearance. ,\J Butit takes more than the best sus- 0 pension system on two wheels to make a bikehandle as well as the CR480R does. 0 W completelyredesigned the semie double cradle chrome moly frame to give it new dimensions and angles. Roger says the riding position is superior to our works bikes. Tapered roller steering head bearings give you precise control in turns . Y can stuff ou shifting mechanism, a needle bearingit farther into those turns, too, because the mounted clutch drum and forged alloy hand lightweight double leading shoe front brake levers, about the onlything that can stop this can haul it downalmost instantly. And this bike is a checkered flag. whole big beautifulmachine only weighs 227 The CR480R. Some of the biggest names pounds. in the business are riding on it. Best ofall, the CR480R is as durable as it Andnowyoucan, too. is fast. It rides on new lightweight wheel as-