VOL. 51 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 P39
twist the throttle and through
midrange while in the number-
three position. Overall, all three
modes have their advantages in
certain conditions.
Honda also updated the
450's KYB Pneumatic Spring
Fork (PSF). The overall basic
design of the fork is similar to
last year's, but is more adjust-
able now that both compres-
sion and rebound offer high-
speed and low-speed damping
adjustments. Unlike the Showa
Triple Air Chamber (TAC)-Air
forks found on the 2015 Honda
CRF250R, where air control
is placed in one fork leg and
damping control in the other,
the 450 still has air in both
legs, with compression con-
trol in one leg and rebound in
the other. All of the adjustment
controls have also been moved
to the top of the fork legs, so
you no longer have to be a
gymnast to adjust rebound on
the bottom of the legs. Every-
thing - compression, rebound
and preload (air) adjustors - is
on the fork cap now. However,
the handlebars kind of get in
the way.
All of the damping controls
(rebound, high-speed com-
pression and low-speed com-
pression damping) of the KYB
rear shock have been moved
to one place, making shock ad-
justment even easier. They are
now all located at the top of the
shock body and are easily ac-
cessed through a cutout in the
right side panel. They are also
"click"-type adjusters now.
We found the CR's suspen-
sion to work well overall. At
first, the Honda's front end felt
twitchy and busy, not to men-
tion very light, but after a few
trips back to the pits for adjust-
ments, and after some trial and
error, we found a setting that
we were comfortable with. We
ended up with a fork that was
plush all the way through the
stroke that gave the rider confi-
dence over braking bumps and
over large bumps at speed.
The fork also does an outstand-
ing job soaking up the hard
landings off large jumps. Flat-
(Left) As always,
the CRF450R feels
light, agile and
predictable on the
track.
(Right) The
CRF450R retains
its KYB Pneumatic
Spring Fork but
now features high-
and low-speed
compression and
rebound damping
adjustments.
