CR450F -- Brilliant In The Woods!!!!!!!

[P. Pinestraw]

I just came off an XR600 & I envisioned riding my new CRF in tight woods to be something similar to negotiating a Rocket sled through Manhattan Island streets. However, I'm happy to report that this sweet machine is an all-star in the land of heavy foliage & timber! It is better IN EVERY WAY than the old Six Honey & the dern thing does fine in STOCK FORM out there! Mine is bone stock other than a BBR endcap. I plan on adding a kickstand, shortened Pro Tapers with a Scott's damper (the only handling fault I noticed was front end deflections off jagged stuff 4" or more above ground level) , & my enduro computer. The 6-mile loop I took it out onto has a bit of everything: loam, sand, slick black snot, water, mud, creek X-ings, moderate rockes, roots, log X-ings, vines, uphills, downhills, etc. I did one lap Friday & knew my prayers were answered! Since then, I've added a lap a day & it keeps feeling better & better. Engine braking?! We don't need no stinking engine braking! Just work the clutch & throttle gingerly and touch the brake every now and then. It's so nice to ride a bike that doesn't require a toe on the rear brake at all times and stops when you make it! I will NOT adjust the suspension! I am 230 lbs. & it's set up for a 170 lb. superXer, so I think it must've been made to order for my fat butt! It felt great in all conditions A guy told me not to mess with the gearing -- he's right! Make no mistake: CRF = woods :) :) :)

 

[gooby]

i have been looking into the crf lately i like what u said.i saw someplace that overheating and clutch fry may be an issue trail/woods.do you from your testing see this as a prob .thanks for your input.

 

[kmccune]

Sounds like I'm jealous to me! ;)
If your enduro computer reports speed could you post the top speed please. I am thinking of a DS conversion and was wondering about the gearing.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[P. Pinestraw]

To Answer Your Questions ...

No, I didn't have a bit of problems with overheating or clutch fry & I still have the factory fluids in there too! Of course, it's fairly chilly down here in Texas, so I'm waiting to see how it run with synth oil & Red Line coolant. In about 40 miles of hard woods ripping, it only stalled on me 4-5 times, & half of them were my own fault. It starts right up, but will occasionally throw a 10-12 kick starting fit. A lot of it has to do with simply pulling the hot start lever in hard enough & having a little bit of a "touch" when kicking it. The enduro computer will record mph, but I can tell you that flat-out speed on pavement in not where this bike shines. I've had it on pavement too & it raps out pretty strangely. It's the acceleration & power reaching top speeds is where this machine is so bloomin' impressive! I think it's made for brake/turn/rip/repeat-type of riding. It should be a stud in hare scrambles!!!!

 

[gooby]

i think the over heating i heard of was due partly to slow tech stuff and puttin around while a riding companion was having trouble started to cause the rad overflow tube to drool. good luck and be carefull racing ,keep us posted :)

 

[crf450]

Some more info pertaining to the CRF 450 being used for woods riding / racing....This is what I have modified on mine to date...First I recommend revalving the suspension. From the factory there is way to much oil in the forks...Stock there is 420 cc's and "Factory Connection" removed 100 cc's to soften things up and the stock .47 springs were used ( I am at 210 lbs. with gear) and at the back end they installed a 5.7 rear spring along with the revalve and in the tight stuff...rocks, roots , muddy off camber trails the bike is awesome to ride............In New England all that there is rocks and roots. If anybody has raced the Rhody Rovers National enduro you will know how rocky things get up here

IMS has an over size tank out now and is 3.4 gallons and I will post a reply as to how it fits. I have installed the new Tallon 18 inch rear wheel assembly with an Exell red 32 spoke rim with bull dog spokes and a MT16 Pirelli tire and a wave rotor/talon 53 tooth sprocket to finish it off. Just for curiosity I weighed it and the whole assembly was 4 lbs. heavier than the stock assembly........NOTE if anyone installs an "O" ring you may want to flip the stock front sprocket as to space it out and away from the engine cases, because I installed an Regina "O" ring chain and did not notice the .100 of an inch difference that the chain proceeded to eat into the cases....One thing I did notice is the clatter that the drive train was making and chalked in up as "Four Stroke" noise I was wrong and should have investigated a little closer........I installed the triple clamp assembly from my 2000 CR250 in order to retain my Scotts Dampner ....The 450 bar clamp spacing is about .200 of an inch wider than the 2000 CR250 with would require a mounting clamp for the dampner that was not available when I purchaced my bike in November.......................More info to come .........Hope this helps someone

:)