Chassis
* The CRF450R is the lightest-feeling 450 ever produced. You will not find a more maneuverable, flick-happy full-size four-stroke. It's the most nimble big bike ever built, and can dance circles around the boats of the past and some of the present in this class.
* Honda's mass centralization, while making a nimble bike, also has the rider feeling the effects of unsprung weight (wheels) more.
* The new Honda chassis is built to be precise. You can corner sharper and harder than you think you can when riding this bike.
* This bike is picking up where other models left off (ahem...KTM) with quick steering and aggressiveness.
* High-speed stability is compromised for ultimate performance in the turns and a light feel at the pegs. Finding a setup to do both is difficult and Honda clearly focused on the sharper end of the stick using the damper to get away with murder.
* The Honda Progressive Steering Damper can be used to tune the bike's feel from light and twitchy to heavier and more stable.
Suspension
* It's a new world for Honda with Kayaba components. And, really, it's working out well.
* Plush and controlled are the two words you will tell yourself when you ride this...that is, if your ride height setting is correct.
* The bike is pretty much idiot-proof and doesn't really care what you do to the clickers. The KYB components' range of adjustment is much less than previous Showa parts. As strange as that sounds, it's true. Ride height is much more critical than clicker settings.
Why The Honda CRF450R Should Win
* It has the best all-around motocross motor ever produced.
* It's the Ferrari of motocross bikes.
* Honda value and build quality. This first-year model is refined.
Why The Honda CRF450R Shouldn't Win
* It stalls surprisingly easily and isn't brainless to start.
* There is no snap or hit so the power, while plentiful, isn't "fast feeling."
* It will alienate riders who can't convert to fast-steering bikes.
* It will get a lot better in the next two years.
* Clutch pull is the heaviest of all.
This Is Your Bike If...
* Honda quality rules your buying decision.
* Torque-heavy power delivery that doesn't stop turns you on.
* You're addicted to Red Bull.
* You don't mind kicking.
| 2009 HONDA CRF450R SETTINGS |
| MSRP: | $7,599 |
| Claimed Weight (tank full): | 235 lb |
| Actual Weight (no gas): | 227 lb |
| Actual Weight (tank full): | 239 lb |
| Seat Height: | 37.4 in. |
| Seat-To-Footpeg Distance: | 20.9 in. |
| Footpeg Height: | 16.5 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 1.9 gal. |
| SUSPENSION | STK | Int./Pro | Beg./Nov. |
| Fork |
| Steering Damper: | 21 | 13 | Stk |
| Compression: | 13 | 10-13 | Stk |
| Rebound: | 8 | 8-10 | 8-10 |
| Shock |
| Low-Speed Compression: | 13 | 13-14 | Stk |
| Rebound: | 15 | Stk | Stk |
| High-Speed Compression: |
| (Turns out) | 1.33 | +1/8 turn in | 1.33 to full out |
| Sag (mm): | 105-108 | 106-108 | 106-108 |