2009 Honda CRF450R Pipe (Exhaust System) Roundup

The pipes are still cooling from test laps and the blisters are still bubbling on our hands from changing hot exhaust systems, but we still managed to type out our comparison of available exhaust systems for the 2009 Honda CRF450R, even if it hurt a little.

We spent two days out riding and testing most of these pipes, however, some of these products were so fresh off the pipe company's assembly lines that we only had a single track day to review them. Keep that in mind. We'll provide updates on all systems as we learn more and they become available.

Day one of testing was at Perris Raceway where it was a bit more slippery than usual-a good environment for feeling power and control. Our second day was at a ripped and loamy Milestone Raceway Park. Our Test riders were Jimmy Lewis, Chris Barrett, Tyler Ruiz and Chris Denison and the opinions of each pipe are a collaboration of what our riders felt each pipe did to the bike's power.

Since this isn't a shootout there isn't a winner, how could there be? Each pipe does something different to the power and delivery of the bike and this guide is to help you pick the pipe that matches the preferences you're searching for.

If you have a CRF, then you know (or will know when the ground thaws) what stock power feels like and can compare your impressions to ours to get a base on where we started. All the pipes are compared to the stock system for consistency and to the group as a whole. We also included price, weight and sound output so you can see it all in one place, plus additional prices and systems each company let us know about.

Don't have a Honda CRF450R but still looking for a pipe? Our experience with pipe companies is that each one has a character or flavor, if you will, that seems to define their product and it is highly likely their style of power is carried over to most of the similar pipes they produce. We will try and do more of these comparisons on other models in the near future if the response to this test is positive. That being said, we didn't request or require specific sound requirements for this test, we just sound tested what we got. We used the SAE J1287 (20 in.) test conducted at 4500 rpm. The AMA currently has a 99 db limit for amateur racing and is working towards a 94 db limit (with a goofy +/- 2 db fudge factor) for pro racing.

Quieter is a great direction and we applaud everyone for trying to make race bikes more stealthy, but this last minute change neither gave motorcycle manufacturers time to react, nor has the aftermarket fully responded yet. The good side is mufflers, in general, have already gotten quieter as the aftermarket is quickly working to make 94 db (actually 96 db) products. So, for the first time we are seeing quieter-than-stock pipes and mufflers working better than stock.

We are going to stick to our guns about enforcing sound limits in the future and will set them for a lot of our tests. Currently, anything that blows 101.5 and above is failing sound and truthfully too loud to be riding, even at a track these days. And a lot of manufacturers have muffler packing with a very short life span-you need to be repacking those cans when they start to get raspy, Horsepower goes away quickly with a ratty muffler.

And here is the best part. Some of the manufacturers have given us permission to give away the slightly used systems we currently have sitting in our shop. So here is how we are going to go about giving them away. If you have a 2009 CRF450R and you have smashed, crashed, or damaged the muffler, send us a picture and a story about it and we will pick out the ones we feel are the most worthy and send off a system. On your end we will expect another picture of you, your bike and the new exhaust system we sent, plus your impression of how that pipe worked on your bike. We'll post those on www.dirtrider.com as a compliment to this story. Don't beg! Or lie, it will catch up to you. Also, if you have done some really good work, and can prove it, to fight for our right to ride by working on land use issues or by quieting down some fellow riders (and you own a 2009 Honda CRF450R), let us know. Send all requests to: drmail@sourceinterlink.com with 2009 CRF450 Pipe Roundup in the subject line.

So here is our exhaust system roundup, enjoy!

Stock Honda, $977.47

This is the pipe designed alongside this bike. It is light weight and uses a mix of materials that are built to last and save weight where they can. Its performance is excellent with an all around good pull, some excitement (decent snap) on the bottom and a pretty smooth-yet-aggressive pull to the top. Overrev isn't impressive compared to others in this test but it doesn't disappoint either. It isn't easy to hit the rev limiter but you can and there is sign off to warn you.