If there ever was a dream off-road riding day for the editors and test riders of this magazine, it was during this year's Torture Test. In fact, make that two days.
There, the crme de la crme of dirt bikes was delivered-nine hand-built pieces of sweetness all constructed for our torture. Combine them with two perfect-traction days at the vast Glen Helen Raceway compound and you catch our dreaminess drift.
The machines came by invitation-only, built around our recommendations for race capability in closed-course events, such as WORCS, GNCC and Grand Prix-style races. We also wanted them to be trail-ridable for the average guy. Meeting our demands wasn't easy, but as you'll see, it can be done excellently.
After we gazed, drooled and smiled at all our entrants we ran them through our solid collection of tests with our solid battery of testers. Our opinions in each discipline were noted, with our Fun GP "nonrace" and intense testing on said nonrace's course weighing in the heaviest in our final voting.
We saw the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly traits in these beasts and even picked an overall winner.
So get ready, get pumped and experience the bikes of this year's Torture Test.
Honda's new satellite off-road...
Honda's new satellite off-road team of team of Johnny Campbell, Tim Weigand, Caleb Gosselaar and Robby Bell.
#116 Precision Concepts/JCR
Honda CRF450X
Home Sweet Home
When you sit, stand or crouch in the cockpit of a Precision Concepts/Johnny Campbell Racing-built Honda the bike wraps its warm, fuzzy arms around you and gives you a great big hug.
As first impressions (aka "showroom bounce") go this 450 is the best. It's the most comfortable place in the world for an off-road motorcyclist; it offers true perfection in control location and layout. Every single test rider who rode this bike agreed that the build quality and solidity of its components were second to none.
"The cockpit and layout are so tight and sano it's hard to believe," Jimmy Lewis raved immediately after flogging it around our pristine Glen Helen GP circuit. He was so impressed that he labeled the Honda the "ultimate package racer."
The clutch pull, front brake lever reach, grip tack, starter and kill button location and even the cable routing are absolutely perfect.
Check out the parts list and copy it if you want to open up and dial in your Honda CRF's controls (R or X). We've also successfully duplicated this feel on numerous motocross bikes including Yamahas and Kawasakis.
The rest of Johnny's ride ain't bad, either!
The most noticeable difference between a stock X and this beast is in feel. The modified Honda takes the heaviness out of the stock model and replaces it with a lightweight, quick-handling racer. How do they do it? By boosting the power and modifying the suspension. Plus, operating the machine through the best control position possible doesn't hurt.
This bike shined the brightest in the fastest sections of our tests. Whether it was rocketing up the hillclimb or burning laps on the motocross track, the bike was set up to really speak to speed. Our highest-rated test (the GP loop) showed the Honda 450 settling in nicely. Its power character took a few moments to get used to since it's more powerful and delivered with a bigger hit. Whereas the stock X is smooth and strong, this X is snappy with a gnarly bite. The power doesn't come on instantly; it takes a second then hits with authority. There it builds so strong and fast you'd swear you're riding a motocross bike gone mad. The mid-to-top pull is linear and steep and will have you going as fast as you want to go in no time. It's like riding a factory Honda off-road bike. Oh, wait...it basically is a factory Honda off-road bike.
Once you're aware of what you're riding, the bike becomes a full-tilt factory racer with the fit and finish to go with it. The aggressive power delivery did make it a handful on some of the tightest trails for the recreational testing crew, and we noticed some gaps in the transmission when creeping and crawling. But our fastest pros and quickest vets all sang praises for the Honda 450 when the speeds increased.
The suspension was an improvement as well in exactly the same areas. In tight and technical situations, like those you'll see back East, the X had its biggest challenge and managed to meet it, for the most part, while keeping the high-speed demons at bay. It delicately improved initial feel with a plush touch. The stocker has harshness in the fork and the PC/JCR bike tuned that away for sure. Further into the stroke, the bike featured beefed-up valving to hold the Honda up at speed. G-outs and motocross track landings were eaten alive with the settings, and it featured some of the best bottoming resistance in the test. Plus, it cornered like a dream.
"The suspension soaked up the small chop and was still able to take some pretty hard hits without bottoming. I loved the way this bike cornered," Chris Denison said.
It wasn't perfect everywhere. On the EnduroCross course and the slowest of trail sections it showed the limitations of a high-speed setup. Here, the suspension was stiff with a speedy rebound: something commonly found on really fast guys' bikes. Somehow, Johnny Camp- bell, Robby Bell, Kendal Norman and Timmy Weigand go through obstacles at about the same speed we manage on a flat straightaway.
Where else is this bike limited? Well, if you want to go for an all-day ride, you'll need to pack gas in your CamelBak as the tank is teeny-weeny, just under two gallons. But boy, was it slim! Skinny tanks are easy to get up high on for motocross berm destruction and highspeed flat-tracking but bad for racing or riding for more than 45 minutes.
Honda built this bike for speed, just like we asked it to. The result: a unanimous vote as the best WORCS series bike in the test. The Honda is the ultimate race machine prepackaged and delivered with a shine. That shine is followed by a hefty price tag and an expectation for victory. Can you afford either? If so, Precision Concepts and 1x International are ready to deliver.-Jesse Ziegler
 The Honda powered some of...  The Honda powered some of the trickest Baja Designs lights. Johnny Campbell looks for La Paz. | 
Robby Bell |  |
Jesse Ziegler | 
Robby Bell | |