2016 HONDA CRF450X: PART 2
FULL TEST
P72
Since its debut in 2006—
replacing the XR650—the
CRF450X has seen little
changes, and that's because
it never really needed them.
It's been proven winner in Baja
many times over—in fact, it is the
winningest motorcycle to ever
set foot on the Baja peninsula.
It's such a good, comfortable,
reliable and long-distance per-
former that Honda has decided
to keep the "green-sticker"
CRF450X ($8440) in its lineup
even with the introduction of
the all-new non-green-sticker
CRF450RX ($9249). It's a deci-
sion we believe is a wise one,
especially after having just spent
a ton of time on the X at the Glen
Helen 10- and 24-Hour endur-
ance races.
We have no doubt that the
X can survive the Glen Helen
24-Hour right off the showroom
floor, but we found that with a
little bit of work, prep and some
searching around the garage
for old aftermarket parts, the X
can still be the perfect ride for
long-distance races such as the
"biggie," the 24-Hour.
READY SET RACE
Because we had installed an
FMF exhaust system and only
changed the needle when we
raced the 10-Hour earlier in the
year, jetting was a little lean. Part
of the 24-Hour prep was to go
richer on the main and modify
With a bit
of prep, our
CRF450X
sailed right
through both
the 10- and
24-Hours of
Glen Helen.
(Left) The X's motor has proven to be reliable over the years but what
motorcycle can't benefit from a Rekluse clutch? (Right) We searched the
garage for an older set of Baja Designs lights that bolted right up to the X.
