VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P119
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And then there was one.
The Red Riders enlisted a
virtually all-new CRF450R this
year. As a result, the Honda
narrowly won this year's Cycle
News 450 MX Shootout.
Undoubtedly, the Honda
CRF450R is the most improved
bike in the field. When looking at
our notes of last year's bike, rid-
ers mentioned that the engine
on the CRF was strong, but the
chassis and suspension were
harsh, unpredictable and overall
hard to ride. Not anymore. New
updates to the frame, suspen-
sion, bodywork and motor
made this bike much better and
earned it the highest number of
first-place votes.
The new frame seems to have
made the most difference. With
added reinforcement to the
headtube and shock mounts,
the bike feels planted to the
ground and allows it to track
straight even in the roughest
sections of the track. It didn't
matter if we rode this bike first
or last, on a smooth or beat-up
track, the Honda did everything
well. The new frame also feels
more forgiving than before and
goes where you point it when
entering corners.
Honda is always known for its
rider comfort. This year, the new
bodywork got mixed reviews
regarding looks but unanimous
plusses regarding function. The
symmetrical rear end with tex-
tured plastic helped hold our rid-
ers in place as they felt "locked
in" to the rear end of the bike.
The neutral seat, shrouds and
cockpit are all easily adaptable
for any riding style. Brakes and
clutch might not stand out as
the best of the bunch, but they
weren't docked any points.
HONDA CRF450R
M
