I rode the CR 450!

[firecracker22]

Well, ok, I putted around the field a little. I was going to take it for a few laps around the track but I went to swing my leg over . . . and my knee caved in. I was soooo pissed off. I can't even get on the darn thing! I just pivoted on my left knee and it cracked and grated and hurt like hell. So the guys picked me up, dusted me off, started the bike for me and held it so I could get on. And I did ride it but not like I had wanted to. Not like I was planning on doing the double, but I wanted to get a little better idea what the thing was all about.

I can tell you this: that thing has some serious POWER!!! It's amazing, and it responds like a 2-stroke. The 426 is history. It felt pretty good to me though. I could sit on it ok, so it's not hugely tall, and the suspension was pretty nice, meaning probably a bit soft for most male riders. The handling from what little I could tell was ok although the guys feel the wheelbase is too short, giving the front end a tendency to come up. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

 

[Hondaxrguy]

I'm jealous now! So does BBR own it, or is it just being loaned to them? Too bad you hurt your knee getting on it. I bet it would have been a lot more fun if you had gotten to ride it around a little harder. Can't wait to see more pictures of it.

Jeremy

 

[firecracker22]

pictures:

 

[firecracker22]

I look like such a girl! Yuck.

more pictures

 

[Micahdawg]

Isn't the 450 rated at 55HP though...and the 426 @ 60HP? Seems like the reviews I've seen favor the Honda down low and the Yamaha up high.

Micah

 

[firecracker22]

That is because Honda rates at the rear wheel, while Yamaha publishes horsepower readings from the flywheel. The CRF has much more power, and a more immediate response. It also starts better and doesn't stall at low speeds like the 426.

 

[firecracker22]

the ultimate chick bike.

 

[Rodzilla]

"Man ain't she a beaut!";) Yes both of them. ;)


RZ

 

[MikeT]

What is the deal with your knee? I thought you were all healed up??

 

[XRpredator]

Originally posted by firecracker22
I look like such a girl! Yuck.

er, I kinda like that you look like a girl . . .;)

What would you rather look like? :eek:

 

[MikeT]

Ya, definately a girl..

 

[LOOPOUT]

I am pretty sure i read :think last night in the new dirt rider the Honda is 55 hp at the flywheel not the rear wheel...

no matter 50-60hp is more than any of us need anyway

nice little scoop thou ... I can wait till friday when i get mine! :) My buddy bought my 426 & its kinda strange not having a bike in the garage .. except my wifes YZ125 which is gathering dust cuz she is 3 months preggo! & i cant ride it as i am banned from it ... Long story hehe :eek: :eek:

Looking like rain here too all weekend

So tell us more please ....

 

[firecracker22]

Originally posted by MikeT
What is the deal with your knee? I thought you were all healed up??

Yeah, I thought I was too. Well, the first injury felt better, then I did it again 2 weeks ago, then again yesterday. It’s off to the orthopedic surgeon for me.

What would you rather look like?

I want to look like a bad-ass rider! Not a girly girl!

Oh well.

Regardless of horsepower numbers, that thing screams. I can tell you I don’t want one because I would never ever use a fraction of what it does. The front tire likes to come off the ground. If you barely twitch the throttle, it’ll pull the bars from your hands. It wants to go fast but it’s smooth. Brakes felt nice, suspension felt nice (in the 2 minutes I was on it anyway).

And you know what else? It’s quiet. Too quiet, almost. It sounds like a big-bore XR at idle but then when you rev it . . . but even when it gets loud, it doesn’t have that sharp note the YZFs do.

 

[LOOPOUT]

hmmmmm looks like it could be dangerous breakin my bike in at a track we nicknamed "THE BONECRUSHER "

Thanks for the info on the bike...

 

[gospeedracer]

Originally posted by firecracker22
I look like such a girl! Yuck.

Well yanno, if that's so horrifying the marvels of medical technologies can fix that for you. You could become Sherman instead of Sharla. :p

 

[firecracker22]

Uh, no, I’ll pass. Thanks though. Wouldn’t it be Charlie, anyway?

No, I just look at myself and think “Man, I look like a wimpy frou-frou girl when I ride,” and I wish I looked more . . . fast. Maybe when I GET fast, I’ll look that way.

 

[XRpredator]

Originally posted by gospeedracer
if that's so horrifying the marvels of medical technologies can fix that for you.

Now THAT'S funny!:p

I don't think fc's (Chuck's?) special guy would dig that though!:scream:

 

[Micahdawg]

Yeah, that is another thing I read in Cycle World...that the 450 is the first bike to try and repeatedly flip all the riders over in 3rd gear. That right there tells me it's gonna be more of a grunt horse than the 426. But by simply observing the valve configuration of the 426 head and 450 head it looks like top end HP would still favor the Yamaha. Who knows though...either way I'm sure its way more than I'll need.

Micah

 

[Strick]

Nice Gear! I wonder if that had anything to do with your knee injury?:think

 

[firecracker22]

Originally posted by Strick
Nice Gear! I wonder if that had anything to do with your knee injury?:think

I hurt my knee getting on the bike. Gear or no gear, it still would have happened. The braces I have don’t protect from twisting—I don’t know if any brace truly does. Anyway, it’s not like I crashed or anything.

 

[bbbom]

Whaddidyaexpect? Of course you look like a girly girl on that girly bike!!! :p

That's why I love my pink bike. It makes me feel pretty!!!! ;)

 

[Strick]

you don't need your bike for that;) At least you wear GEAR:silly:

 

[bbbom]

Awww geee Strick! :o

I always wear my gear because I seem to always need it! :eek:

 

[zio]

Originally posted by XRpredator

Now THAT'S funny!:p

I don't think fc's (Chuck's?) special guy would dig that though!:scream:

Dude, it takes all kinds :scream:

On another note- FC22- just got back from the doctors office this morning- off to the Orthopedic Surgeon for me as well. Only I popped my ACL backpacking. But I'm sure busting around on my friend's XR the other day didn't help matters:(

Man, you're so lucky you got to hop on that thing....

 

[firecracker22]

I’m not feeling that lucky right now. I feel pretty swollen and sore. It was a sweet bike, although way too much for me and I have no desire to own one. But it was fun to spode around on for a minute.

I go to the ortho tomorrow to find out what they want to do to my knee. I’m sure they will want to cut it open. Wish me luck. At least the doc doesn’t think it’s the ACL. I almost wish it were—I know people with torn ACLs who are riding anyway. Not good, I’m sure, but at least it’s possible!