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/1385624
RIDE REVIEW I 2021 HONDA CRF450R P98 seat. Instead, it's hidden behind the number plate like KTM and Kawasaki. The cage can be a bit of a hassle with its numerous tabs, but removing and installing the air filter feels much easier than it did with the previous generations. We rode this bike at numerous track days, from Cahuilla Creek to State Fair, and even lined up for the Taft round of the NGPC Series on this bike, adding nothing but a set of Polisport hand guards. The bike helped us take home second-place finishes in the 450B and 25+ B categories, but some of its flaws showed through on the rough square-edged course. The soft suspension did help absorb some of the chatter bumps, but the harsh valving wanted to kick in the bigger holes. Not the end of the world; just pick better lines and avoid the bumps, right? The front end also had its moments of twitchi- ness, especially in the high-speed sections. This unwanted head- shake most likely could've been solved by dropping the forks down in the clamps or by adding a stabi- lizer. In the end, though, it worked well enough for our fair-weather off- road racer, and we were pleased with the podium results. The 2021 CRF450R may go down in the history books as one of those "be careful of a first model-year" lessons. It's a solid platform that just needed a little extra push to get it to the finish. Unfortunately, that's not what you want to hear when you walk out of the dealership with a new bike. After working out the kinks, it has really lived up to its own hype. It possesses a strong motor pack- age that is fast like the '19 and '20 models but now has a new smooth taste to carry you through the rpm range. The engine also has more maps than ever to help riders find the perfect setting. The "razor-like cornering" was another talking point at the model intro, and with some suspension tuning, it really can slice through sections with ease. The lighter chassis aids in this as well, and the bike doesn't pitch front to back like the older generation. With 2022's right around the corner, we are hopeful that the sec- ond model year Honda will learn its lesson and the CRF450R will leave the factory with all the bugs worked out from the '21. There are plenty of positives to take away from this new-gen machine, but we're optimistic that the best is still yet to come from Big Red. CN Going to an aftermarket exhaust system like this Yoshimura RS-12 unit is a good way to save some weight.