A Vortex ECU and a full exhaust completely change these bikes and drop 7+ pounds, they can be modded lol. It is heavier than I'd like but we are only talking 20-30lbs here when compared to a KTM/Husky 450/500. It is a direct competitor to those bikes but with a better dealer network, better parts availability, cheaper, better service intervals, far better on road when connecting trails and dare I say more reliable.
Nice honest review. I see a lot of hate from the KTM and Husky guys and what I say to them is DON’T buy it then. It is obviously not for you. I am not a KTM fan but the last thing I’d do is watch a KTM video and then make stupid comments about why it’s junk.
I just bought a 450L. I love it. I have ridden a ktm350 and it had less power to me. Never have tried the ktm 500 but i am sure 60 more cc could mean more power. The maintenance intervals are less on the Honda which resulted in me buying it. Honda has always been dependable low maintenance for me.
why so many complain about the oil change , it only takes 5 minutes and costs less than 10 usd. If you can not do it yourself it is wise to look for some other hobby. Today's young people do not seem to have any experience with machine maintenance.
Because drz 7k miles Wr250r 7k miles Oil change Maintenance elsewhere is horrible on the CRF450 Most complaining are dual sport guys Who are used to a bit heavier but long lasting LOW maintaince respectable on/off road bikes Like the crf250l and the xr250l/r Xr650r/l KLR 650 Klx250 Wr250R Drz 400s/e/sm /klx Dr200/250 Dr350 Dr650 All long lasting bikes that do well all around And many of us will do 2000+ mile trips where wed like to do an oil change when we get home not while on the way to our favorite trail in our state
Clearly you don't do extended trips. If I'm on a long ride why would I want to stop an change oil every day and a half. Have fun do it the TAT. But I suspect that you only stay close to home otherwise you would better understand.
Totally agree I've tried doing so much research on this but every video had the same premise like if Honda gave them a script and said stay in between these lines
This bike is no less detuned than the 17 and up KTM EXCFs. I know because I have one. Saw the first dyno chart on this bike, 38.73 hp stock. Exactly in line with the dyno chart from JDjetting on the 2017 KTM/HUSKY 450 EXC. He got 39.2 stock, so almost identical numbers. A fuel tuner and exhaust away from 45 or so rear wheel horsepower. And the tuners and exhaust will be out sooner than you think.
mondayfool This is the perfect replacement for DRZ riders and others who just love a heavy, slow, and expensive bike. At least the suspension is finally up to the task. 250L owners will gush about the performance. The Honda fan boys will spend thousands to make it run even slower.
I agree I bought this honda and love it . I agree give it some time and will be taking off the exhaust and doing some change or mod on the ecm and making bigger tank . It's a great bike I dont give two shits that it cost me $ 10,000 I've spent that buying a dirtbike and adding the mods after purchasing it so no difference.
What I've found to be true in most of the cases is the slowest most unskilled riders are the ones that cry the loudest about lack of power or other excuses. I use to love passing riders on KTM's and Huskies on my old, heavily modified 17 year old DR350. For most, the power argument is down right laughable.
Within a year the aftermarket will have plug and play tuners to change the maps. Not sure how you wouldn't know that but all FI engines need remapping after exhaust, hf air cleaner, etc,
The main problem I see that was not discussed in this video is the recommended oil change and valve check/adjustment intervals. I do recall Honda typically being very conservative with maintenance so we will see what the real world proves out. Good to have more options. May consider in a few years as a KTM replacement. Would love to see some of these on the TAT or BDR ride with Mosko Moto gear.
stick with KTM with that maintenance schedule , you get more power per performance from the KTM. This honda is not a true dualsport its a plated dirt bike tuned down for no reason
This is not a competition bike, its for trail and street use, it has decent manners on the road, competition bikes do not. I'll be buying one, and changing the oil & filter every 600 miles will ensure a long reliable life, Bits won't fall off and it will start 1st time every time. This is a quality machine designed to last, unlike many other brands from Europe that have more power and weigh less.
Thank you. It's not a big deal to chang the oil and if people really think about this isn't a n adventure bike it's a dirtbike bike with light and a license plate. Think about the last time you took your dirtbike out for a ride if you road 50 or 60 actual miles that day that's one hell of a day now multiply that times 12 rides that 600 miles give or take is that really ridiculous for a quart of oil and an $11.00 oil filter? And if you wrench on your own bike it's not a big deal to get on Youtibe and learn how to check and adjust your valves.
@@stevethompson7290 difference is many dual sport guys will actually ride 100-500 miles to there favorite trail Or they will ride to the famous trails theyd love to visit where its 1000+ miles away ... These are the guys who are complaining about it Expecially compared to wr250r and drz400 guys or the dr/xr/klr650 guys who make light adventure bikes or will do literal round the world trips have 4-5 gallon gas tanks and only have to change the oil every 7k miles half that with alot of dirt and mud in the mix To us the crf450 is an unreliable high maintenance bike that does shitty on road and great offroad but definitely made more for the trailer the bike there crowd which should just buy the mx bike because most of them will probably only ever ride em in the city for some beer to look cool While dual sport guys tend to ride all year round and buy them because of the "get off work head straight to the trail" wants/needs where we will rack up a oil change 10$ here and there gets very expensive very fast Many of us have trails that are 200-400 miles away that yes we will ride to The only people that dont complain about the changing oil and such are the ones that tow there dirt bike to a trail and tow it back home and will get the yearly oil change And even then 40-60 miles to a trail another 10-20 miles on the trails another 40-60 miles back home and then a 5 mils to get some beer Racks up very quickly to being 1-3 rides before maintaince is needed Vs us used to the good dual sport where we can flog it on a trail go to work the next day then continue riding for 7k miles before next maintaince interval Dual sport guys are not mx guys
I think it's kinda silly to complain about no handguards. I have yet to see an OEM handguard that wasn't either fully plastic or not even wraparound. This is something that Honda knows customers are going to replace anyway, so they save a little money by not bothering with any pretense.
I was extremely excited to hear a 450 dual sport was coming. But the main 3 things that have put me off is service intervals/maintenance, fuel capacity and price for what it is. I think I will stick with my wr250r and like others hope Yamaha brings out a wr450r.
Im sure JD Jetting will make a fuel tuner for the bike so if you modify it you can add more fuel. Vortex may also make a ECU for the bike. Same as 17 and up KTM and Husky.
You're exactly right. Those companies will make fuel/ecu mods and it'll run way better when those options are available. My 500exc would be worthless without a Vortex imo.
Zach Stewart exactly, my 2017 six days 450 is a totally different bike with the vortex, removed the smog and reed valve and exhaust. I almost regreted buying it it was so bad...yes it sucks we have to spend 1500 extra to get it running right but to me it was worth every penny.
Zach Stewart I didn’t get the vortex... I got the piggyback tuner... and cut the screens out of the exhaust... got the emissions deleted....and I’m gunna get the intake crap out over the winter ... then we shall see... but just the exhaust, tuner, and emissions .... made a world of difference .... I was so pissed before I got it and almost returned it because of the lean issues it was giving me
Saying the Honda is in a different market than the KTM's kinda sounds like an excuse for them not being as good. The price is right up there with the Austrians' best, the maintenance schedules are comparable, but the performance and weight are where they diverge. This is not just a fuel-injected DRZ or even a big-bore WR250X with street bike maintenance intervals, this is Honda's competition for the race-bred 450/500 EXC-F.
Very god review! One of the best out there, if not the best. Likes how you mentioned it as to being in the same category as the ktm's, and that what people dont get. Well done.
ISLAND RIDERS DIRTBIKES I’d recommend you test ride one before writing it off. I think you’ll change your mind. As for modifying it, the bike just barely came out. Once the companies get bikes for R&D there will he exhaust & tuning options. Just like any brand new bike, we have to give them time.
@@mikemooch7719 - Your right, the bike is still sexy as hell and I'm sure in a year or so and $2500 extra this bike could be ok but I just wanted a better solution to the DRZ (I rode my DRZ like a XC bike, see videos) that is not a ktm. The video that Honda did with Roczen made me feel like the crf450l was that solution but from all the reviews I have seen so far, makes this out to be a Honda Modern DRZ. Like Jay said - "motocross/hardcore guys expected this bike to be a barely detuned offroad Bike (450rx with plates) for the trails, this bike is not it" also like Jay said, I'm not a big street guy either, i hate the streets! I just want to ride to the trails near my house and when I go out of state, I may need plates to ride certain places. Oh well, I guess I have to get a 6 days KTM/XC 🙁 sorry Japanese manufacturers, I tried to stick with you guys but, Boooo👎
This is the best real world review on this bike. After watching this video, I'm not jonesin' for this bike anymore. The CRF 450RX or the YZ 450FX is more my speed. If I'm going to spend $10K+ plus on a new bike, I'd still like to ride it on a MX track where I do most of my riding anyways.
Everyone's making a huge deal out of this bike and to an extent it is but the bike I'm extremely interested in is the 450x. That's the review I'm drooling over
Like others have said, this is certainly one of the best reviews of the CRF450. And that, well done. I guess the definition of "duel sport" varies markedly from one person to the next. Here is Australia the term denotes a bike that is good both on and off road, has good fuel range, capable of sitting on highway speeds (110 kays -70 mph) for decent lengths of time, and has low service intervals. So for many (over here at least) this is not a true duel sport. Honda come close, they just needed a low maintenance motor and larger tank and they would of had a winner in the duel sport market. Basically they needed this bike to be a 450 version of the CRF 250 L. Nice informative review none the less 👍
The CRF 250 L is far from good at 110km/hr on the highway. Would be a safe assumption that the 450L is better with all the vibration dampening kit they've thrown on it.
Hopefully Dobeck Performance starts making a fuel injection jetting kit for it like they do for the 250L. That's the only way to wake these "compliant" motors up.
Still, why don't Manufacturers understand. Under $10 , 6 speed, fuel injected. Even fuel injected is not a deal breaker. Low maintenance! How hard would it take to check off all those boxes ? I'm still on a drz until someone does it right. Anyone?
It seems like a really neat bike- but i REALLY REALLY Wish that someone would make a 350 or 400CC bike. Theres a REASON that the DRZ400 and KTM 350 EXFC are pretty much the most popular bikes around. Im hopeful this is the start of a new trend and that other manufacturers will follow suit with new bikes of varrying sizes.
My buddy has the husky 701 dual sport there a couple things that make it not so great off road # 1 weight, #2 the turning radius sucks, and he seams to have a hard time getting somebody to fix it when we cant , we think we have it narrowed down to the fuel pump will see there not cheap to be wrong.
Agree with Steve. The 690 and 701 are HEAVY. I just bought one of these after riding a 325 lbs KTM 625 SXC for years. I'm just tired... tired of wrestling a heavy bike on the trails. And yeah, the turning radius on my 625 and the 690 I rode SUCKS. Plenty of times I didn't get to ride the line I wanted to because I couldn't get there. Plenty of times!
It's more dirtbike then street bike ... I change my dirt bike oil ever 500 kms so for me to be able to do it every 600 miles would be a great improvement
Jake Hynds yes but it is a street bike also. If I take my crf250l out and dump it in a water/mud hole I bring it home and change it. I just feel it is to much for the small amount I get to ride trail. have a good day.
It CAN be modified. Dude doesn't know what he's talking about. Just gotta wait a bit for aftermarket to catch up on the new model, watch EJK (Electronic Jet Kit).
I can tell you did not like the bike at all...this is Honda’s answer to KTM EXC...same price, same wide ratio transmission....yes the KTMs are also restricted, but that can be taken care of very easily if needed....this bike is way heavier and underpowered in my opinion
@@fortteen2636 its reliability went out the window when making it a higher performance motor...hence the more frequent oil changes..and for that price id go with the extra cc's and get a 500... and as for reputation, of course honda has a better one here. Ktm is an austrian bike..very popular in australia,new zealand and surounding areas in all the big races..but iam seeing alot of orange in the states
Great review appreciate your honesty really cool thanks man cheers. I have an old 08 CRF450R I Really dig that bike I know what you're saying with the dual sport type bike cheers I was actually considering 1 of these but not really
Appreciate the honest review. I kinda knew Honda was gonna err on the side of caution. Those Honda lawyers could eat charcoal and crap diamonds. I'll keep my TE310R.
No way is this bike going to be comfortable with a rail thin seat on any ride longer than 20 miles, sure it will be good off road, but zero comfort on road + small fuel tank?
Audio Suggestion: lavalier microphone. You need to pick up the sound at the source; in this circumstance it is your mouth. And please do not blare "music" or muffler (silencer) sound at a decibel level louder than your voice; loud noise damages eardrums when one is listening using earbuds.
The tank is to small . 2.0 gallons and 25 miles to the gallon .If you want to get home you're limited to trail time . If you live farther than 20 minutes away only plan on riding 20 miles or less or you're in trouble . Did you notice how fast he went over the amount of gas in the tank ? Also Oil change every 600 miles that's crazy . every 12 times you fill up with gas you have to change your oil . That's not a adventure bike its more like a enduro . Air filter cleaning 600 miles and a valve inspection every 24 fill ups of gas or 1800 miles which ever comes first . You're better off getting the 250 and putting a bigger tank on it to do short adventure riding . If you like doing valve jobs and oil changes once a month then this would be a great bike for you .
I have averaged 52MPG in the 1100 miles of riding I have put on mine; Mixed with a lot of off road and street . Not sure where you got the 25MPG from. Also it took me 36 hours of riding (according to my hour meter) to reach 1100 miles. That is ALOT of riding time. I guess it is easier for me to justify since I have had the R's for a number of years and usually do maintenance every 5-10 hours on those motors.
I like to question why anyone would go in with the mindset to modify this bike? You want to bring it up to the level and capabilities of an R or RX - then get one of those. It does the job it's marketed as from Honda and has some nice features. Especially for us who aren't really in to adventure style bikes and like the moto style ergonomics. The price tag on the other hand...
Why would you test ride a dual sport if you only ride dirtbikes and smaller, lighter ones at that? Get someone that commutes and likes a little off road and trail riding. Or vice versa. This is unfair to the bike and it's potential market.
Agree-- - However, a lot of guys in my status (age skill set etc) are looking to go dual sport riding since more areas are getting riding lands closed. Guys want to ride from their garage. I am not the best to compare true Dual Sport bikes. Did my best-
Uhh, actually it WILL be able to be modified, lol. Hilarious. Just cuz you think that it's "not intended" to be modified, doesn't mean that it can't be. How long have you been "motorcycling"? Everything is changeable. Don't believe me? Wait until next Summer when the bike's been out for a while. Nice tree hugger comment, nonetheless.
Omg ! Finally someone with a brain Honda did what they had to too get the bike out .I bought it and love it yes I cant what till someone comes out with the mods but till then I'm gonna ride the shit out of it. Theres actually a video out of a company that's saying there already working on it.
another honda joke, not even compare to ktm exc. Honda obviously has problem with weight since years. Why you even didn't mention short service interval? way too shot for dual sport.
Unfortunately KTM/Husky give you dry weights so they seem lighter. Hondas weights are "wet" Ready to ride. There isn't a huge weight difference between the two. The Honda has a easy 10-15 pounds to shave off. But again there is always the compromise of having the extra weight for on road use where it is helpful. Depends on what your really looking to do.
lmao $10k bike that weighs like a pig and with performance maintenance. Rather just get a HuskyFE450 or KTM. better trail bike, much lighter and nimble. if this was a true dual sport with 3k mile oil changes then yeah different story. I was hoping this would have been the DRZ version of honda with 6 spd and auto tran. Sat on one the other day at the dealer and dang its not light feeling at all. similar to a drz with European performance price tag and maintenance
Don't flash or reprogram the ECU! Honda's Jack ass locked the ECU and it bricks itself if you try to tune it. I learned the hard way and now Honda won't warranty it haha
