Of all the comments we received from testers, the most consistent remark about all the bikes was that the '05 was the least easy to set into turns. We suspect this was due to the '02 being so much more sluggish in the handling that riders didn't expect it to turn on a dime while the '05 is so close to the '08 that riders expected a lot, when in reality, especially with Honda pulling in the steering in '08, the '05 just doesn't respond as quickly. Here's where power on these bikes comes into play. The '08 is so responsive that the throttle can be used to help the bike do anything you ask of it. If there's a difference between it and the '05, it isn't in outright power but on how early the power starts, how quickly and crisply it responds and how your right wrist is way more connected to what the rear wheel is doing. Likely the ignition mapping that's tied into knowing what gear the bike is in is doing a great deal of work here, too. As with the suspension, it feels like the motor is running through a lower-speed processor the older the bike is, and it takes just a bit longer (in milliseconds) for it to respond. Then the '02 is a much bigger step back here, some riders calling it "XR-like" in power delivery due to its slower-revving feel and bigger chug with each stroke of the motor. It definitely feels like the '02 has a lot more flywheel mass and inertia spinning around on the crank and flywheel than the other two bikes. But once you get any of these bikes spinning up in the higher rpm, they all make good power, and there isn't a lot of difference in the overall feel other than the newer the bike, the quicker it will rev up. Amazingly the clutch action on all of these bikes was super good, and the feel was the same, ditto for the transmissions. All three started right up, and to the ear the sound output of the mufflers was equal.
Compared to the newer CRF...
Compared to the newer CRF models, the 2002 Honda 450 feels heavier and much less agile. But boy, is it stable!
What it comes down to is six years of time, seven pounds of weight (if the gas tanks are full) and so many little tweaks that the 2002 CRF is a completely different bike than the 2008 that has evolved from it. The 2005 is smack in the middle and definitely a couple of years different than either of its two brothers. Here's the funny thing: There were traits on each of these bikes that riders liked. Lower skill-level riders appreciated the friendly power delivery and the slower and more stable handling feel of the 2002 CRF. In the quest for speed, the 2005 also got a bit more aggressive in the power delivery department, which in 2008 was tamed down just a bit with more mellow first and second gear ignition curves. Surprisingly, some things that seem and look so similar across all the bikes-the brakes, for example, demonstrated a big change. The 2008 has the strongest and touchiest brakes of the bunch, and when jumping between the bikes you feel it even though all the bikes were on fresh pads and working at 100 percent. Hop to the '02 and the stoppers almost seem mushy and don't have the same feel. So as you may suspect, the 2008 is the best of the CRFs but it all depends on what traits you're looking for. The quest to build a more aggressive and higher-performing MX machine may be getting further and further away from the ability range of average riders. Or could it be that the newer bikes are bringing up our riding ability with them?
The 2005 CRF is, naturally,...
The 2005 CRF is, naturally, a bridge between the '02 and '08 machines. It improves on the handling of the older model while falling short of the 2008's stock performance.
Opinions
It was nice to ride the evolution of one motorcycle. I could actually feel what the Japanese manufacturer was trying to improve when going through each bike. Three years in between bikes is perfect because that's when a lot of changes will be made and usually results in a totally different-feeling motorcycle.
The 2002 felt a little top-heavy to me. It corners a little slow. The motor had a strong hit, almost too strong. The fork felt harsh in midstroke, as it didn't like driving hard into braking bumps.
On the 2005, the motor felt very strong and easy to use. It pulls so far. There was a lot more suspension balance than the '02, and I could ride much harder around a rough track. Cornering was still a little too slow for me. This bike had a big push in corners that I didn't like.
Then there's the 2008. It still has an unbelievable motor that pulls far and comes on really strong and snappy. Cornering has improved, and I could lay it in flat corners really easy. I still had problems with harshness in the fork; it was deflecting on deceleration and on flat landings under acceleration. Still, it's one of the best bikes ever made.
-Kris Keefer/5'11"/175 lb/Pro
If the CRF line keeps improving...
If the CRF line keeps improving at its current pace, you'll need an AMA pro license just to buy the 2011 450!