The Class of the Open-Class MX Bikes: Honda CRF450R
Long regarded as the bike of choice in the big-bore motocross division, the 2011 CRF450R incorporates a host of improvements that will help this bike retain its standing as the yardstick by which all others in the class are compared. Various tweaks to the engine tuning broaden the already prodigious powerband-more low-end pull and midrange grunt-while also enhancing throttle response via a new throttle body.
In addition, revised suspension linkage and settings yield improved control, increased ride plushness and enhanced rear-wheel traction. A new Honda Progressive Steering Damper (HPSD) with a larger damper piston (24mm versus 20mm) produces even better tracking traits than before. In addition, the CRF450R now features a newly designed muffler that meets the sound levels of 94 decibels required by some racing organizations in 2011, making it competition-legal right off the showroom floor. All this and more make the 2011 CRF450R a shoo-in to maintain its dominant role among open-class MX bikes. MSRP $8,199. Available in Red beginning October 2010.