Good on Honda for recognizing what KTM (and now Beta, Gas Gas, Sherco, etc) has known for YEARS! There IS a market for street legal dirtbikes and we need more of them!
@@captainamerica9353Yamaha use to make a wr250r idk why they stopped. The wr450f was always being converted to street legal but idk why they never made a wr450r I would’ve bought it instantly
@@evantomer1336 It's a sad day. We won't see "normal" prices again in our lifetime. Things will get better in 2024, but by then people and companies will be comfortably numb to the price gouging, so things will continue at the inflated rates. You won't see a new, modern mx or enduro bike for $10k or under. 😞
Guy on the Honda said “what do you get for $900.00” (more), referring to the more expensive Husky. What I would have said “1/2 gallon more fuel, hydro clutch, 8+ more HP, and 40lbs less weight.” Oh yeah, “hand guards too, and a more forgiving Chromoly frame”. Let’s see them drop 20lbs on the Honda for under $900.00;-). Not hating on the Honda, and it’s good there are more choices in this category of motorcycle, but I just got a bit of a biased feel from the review at times. Overall however, enjoyable and good review. Thanks
Justin Rios, LoL. Of course a bike that weighs that much should last a geologic era. Seriously, the Honda does have its reputation for quality, but I would not count my maintenance eggs before they hatch. Especially on a new model bike. Coming from someone who has experience with post Austrian Husky’s and Honda CRF-X 450’s, the most important factor is proper maintenance. BTW, my TE was just as reliable as my brothers 450x. 👍
Well done guys. I rode a new 450L two weeks ago at my local dealership. I really liked it. It was smooth, light clutch pull, comfortable, felt light and was easy to pivot turn from a stop. I regularly ride a CRF250X and an XR650L. I think the new Honda will be the ONE bike for me, letting me get rid of the two. My only complaint is the price. I feel a bike like this should be priced in the 7500.00 range. I think Honda simply priced it like the European offerings because they can.
Hi there.. i am building a CRF250X with a zongshen (NC250) motor in it. I could really take some feedback on installing a Cush Hub kit for the CRF250X. would you recommend it ?? I hear the crf450X cush hub wheels are a direct swap. looking forward to your reponse. Also happen to own a XR650L !! cheers.
T Bahr Honda Monkey 125, out the door , non abs, taxes,title,tag,set up,delivery,etc- $5100.00. The world we live in. Everything is super expensive!! I don’t think its priced to high, especially when you compare it next to a Monkey-125
Honda's are always a bit pricey compared the other Japanese bikes. In this case, I think they priced it like this so it wouldn't be thought of as an inferior bike, budget bike to the KTM and Husky's.
@@micaKTM1290 That's exactly what they should have done, because half the appeal of traditional Japanese dual sports is they are economical compared to Euro bikes, at the cost of a bit of performance. $8,500-$9,000 price range and their sales would shit on KTM/Husky in this category. But they got greedy.
Definitely agree with you on the pricing aspect. And C'Mon... they've been crankin out CRF450's for some time now so it's not like they had to do all that much re-tooling either.
I love this type of real world review where two different size riders swap bakes back and forth. It gives a more complete picture of the bikes ups and downs. So huge THUMBS UP to RMATVMC for all you guys do for the motorcycle riders of the world. Ride On...
Just got my brand new 2022 450RL yesterday at an amazing price 9200 + tax. Awesome machine. Can't wait to ride it more than what I've had a chance to do far. Already ordered a throttle taming kit. I think I could get used to it as is but got it to be on the safe side.
It's worth mentioning that the Husky 501 comes with a 6 month warranty. The Honda 450L comes with a 1 year warranty that can be extended an additional 5 years.
@@oso1165 the 500/501 are totally different bikes than the 450L, yet here they are being compared with shit like warranty life. Lmao. That's the point.
After a few weeks on the 501 I think people are full of it there’s no vibrations at all unless your up in the rpm’s and literally every single cylinder bike has that it’s normal for the single cylinder… not sure what people complain about. On the road if you ride it right low in the rpm’s it’s smooth as butter with all the power as high because it’s lower gear ratio
Just picked up a new FE501 a month ago in Kamloops, BC Canada. Had it for six days. Did the 1 hour service and at 5hrs the engine started making a terrible screeching noise. Its been at a warranty approved shop now for 25 days and they are still waiting for Husqvarna to make up their mind regarding changing all the moving internal parts or ship a new engine from Austria or simply put it together and let me ride it till it leaves me stranded. The shop cannot find the source of the noise however the mechanic and Husqvarna rep agree something is seriously wrong. Also being that this bike is street legal I have paid for a month of insurance I haven't been able to use. Additionally I have essentially missed out on the best time of year to ride. I guess my philosophy of saving to 'buy the best and cry once' hasnt held true this time. Luckily my 2006 RMZ 450 hasn't sold and is still going strong.
@@MaggotDiggo1 yeah still working good at 200 hours. They found the flywheel keyhole wasn't properly lined up so the flywheel was rubbing on the cover making a screeching noise. The engine makes a lot of mechanical noise but has been running fine other then the slave cylinder crapping out at 30hrs which I hear was common. Warranty paid for the part and I changed it. Clutch pull is a bit heavier but at least it hasnt stopped working.
So in short the husky is better for serious off-road and race the Honda is a good all arounder. The husky just looks like it could be pushed harder. Good for Honda though maybe the rest will follow.
Truth, I broke the plate holder on my TE450, so just modified it a little and moved plate to a different part of the plastic that still remained. I get pulled over every so often for plate visibility (or general curiosity), but it's not so bad. The clutch master cylinder on mine leaks. Took it apart and found the same issue as most: anodizing flakes off inside of cylinder. Still haven't replaced it, no need since it doesn't leak bad enough.
I think a 2022 comparison would be worthwhile. Price difference has increased to $1,900 since 2019. Husky/KTM still the gold standard but all 3 bikes are well over most rider's capability levels including mine. With that $1,900 you can go Vortex/Yoshi which cuts 11 pounds, adds at least 10hp and solves the throttle issue. IMS 3 gallon tank and a proper set of tires as well. I recently bought a 300 Rally which I'll keep for longer street days but I am probably going to get a 450 RL to replace my Tiger 900 which is no longer relevant for me.
I've ridden red for 25 years.. 82 xr 80 89 xr 250 86 xr 600 99 xr 600 07 xr 650 l Currently a plated 01 xr 400 an I can hang with the best on it...honda has never let me down!
To me it seems these two bikes do serve two different purposes. While both are high performance off road bikes, the Honda skews more toward dual sport, with the various dampened chassis parts, a quieter ride, less vibration and probably the biggest thing is a metal subframe suitable for carrying stuff. The KTM/Husqvarna skews more toward dirt, with higher power output, more ground clearance, and lighter weight (with a plastic subframe). I applaud Honda for bringing this bike to the market. It fills an unmet need - of mine! I plan on getting one soon for dual sport missions. It will fill a gap in the stable with the Beta 300 for woods, the BMW 1200 for long range, and the Montesa 4RT for trials!
One thing I would like to point out, is that the extra vibrations that exist on the street also exist off-road, and contributes to fatigue. You may not notice it from the other bumps and hits, but it continues to wear at you.
The on/off throttle of the Honda = fun, who doesn’t want a bike that feels light! The aggressive throttle response is what the “high performance” (450l, fe501, ect) side of enduro should be like. If you want super smooth low power go with the 250l😂
Excellent job. I’ve seen reviews and nobody else mentioned all the vibration dampening items that the Honda has. It’s good to know that it’s a lot smoother on the road.
So now after 4 years, Honda has sorted the flame-outs, the touchy throttle, revised the oil change intervals, reduced the weight a little, right? Can't wait to order a new 2023 with all the refinements!
@@lw8447 , I missed a chance to ride a used Honda last year, so I can't speak from experience. Ended up with a new Beta 500 this year and it's been great.
I love my 450L. It's funny how I have test driven a H2 Hummer, Escalade, 662 HR GT500 Cobra but you can't destroy ride a 10K motorcycle, legal liability, bs, A&S Motorsports in Roseville CA or any Harley dealer will let you ride 200 HP Ducati or 30K Harleys. Never rode the ktm 500 or husky 501 and rode the red one a few hundred feet after signing pw, I will have to love it cause after 10k plus I can't go buy white and orange also(love em ALL).
Honda = Dual Sport Husky = street legal Enduro Not every rider wants a race bike, and not ever racer wants a dual sport that can cruise comfortably down the pavement. There's an arse for every seat!
@@E2MotoThe CRF450L is a CRF450X with choked down motor for emissions and longer gearing. The L model makes about 37 horsepower to the tire while the X makes around 40 horsepower to the tire. The X model shares little in common with the CRF450R/RX besides the motor architecture. The R/RX model has better flowing heads, cam, exhaust system, and a 5 speed gearbox. The R/RX model makes around 54 horsepower to the tire. Considering the L is designed for 20K mile intervals before you're breaking head gasket/base gasket seals, I would consider it a dual sport. If you look at an example like a KTM XCW vs the EXCF, they share identical motors. If you are to modify the EXCF with a less restrictive exhaust system, it will make just as much power as an XCW. Service intervals for top end maintenance are probably on the order of 4K to 5K miles. I think this speaks to the fact that the KTM (or Husky) are Enduro race bikes with lights on them, and the Honda isn't.
@@nepats3669 i agree with most of what you said until you said the EXC-F's require top ends at 4-5k. That is not accurate. 15k, sure. It could use a refresh. But as long as you're keeping your air filter clean and oiled, you can extend that interval.
I’ve had plenty of 4 bangers and the thing that did piss me off was that they where all race bikes that need high maintenance. All I really want to do is cruise around and hit the bush tracks up. The crf450l will be my choice of off road bike.
who wants to get to the trail just to go back and get some gas. not every one lives next to the trail. These bikes are great if you are close to a trail but no good if you have to go any distance to the trail or if want to go deep in to the woods on some rough fire roads, or old logging trails. Put a much bigger tank on them and then you got a real on of road bike,
Sure the oil change intervals are short, but the Honda has a 3 ring piston versus the motocross version which has one. So top end life should be similar to drz or comparable. How many rings does husky have?
What about maintenance? Are the two bikes the same or does one have to be maintained more often. Plus price on maintenance. That plays a big part. No one wants to buy a bike like this that has to be serviced or have valve checks after a few hundred miles/kms
Both would out-perform my wr250R in the dirt, but neither have me dying to ditch old faithful. It should be noted you can get a nice used wr250R for $3-5k right now.
I love my WR250R. For half the CCs I still feel I have plenty of power. Of course I don’t fly through the trails at 80mph and don’t intend to really street it. Just needed the DOT for forest service roads.
So far, the Wr250R is the best 50/50 dual sport i've ridden or owned. I own a WR250X with a WR250R wheel set and while it's not without flaws, I can use it for everything including commuting as a super moto, long distance touring, riding single track... the list goes on. Riding a dual sport off-road seems to garner more respect than ridicule because other dudes on yz250's and CRF450's know they have the advantage, but realize the utilitarianism of the WR. Just my 2 cents.
Thanks for this video guys. You are the first to do a comparison video with the Honda. Seems to me the Honda will make a much better base for a lightweight adventure bike. It's for this reason alone that I think it will sell better than the European performance dual sports offerings. It's going to be hugely popular.
My little WR went up and over everything, and had a 300 mile fuel range. In fact, while riding up a really, really steep trail, I had to walk back down the hill to help my riding buddy push his stock KTM500 cc enduro type bike. Yeah, I had a 4.7 gallon IMS tank put on, along with a 52 tooth rear sprocket. It had all the power I needed to carry my 300lb frame. Never, ever had the bike stall out on a steep climb. It didn't matter how steep, it carried me and my gear right up. With six gears it could still go 65mph. Also, had a spring from a victory road bike put on (at Rocky Mountain ATV in the Springs) after that my weight, nor the luggage I carried made little difference. I would get in the rough stuff, and leave most everybody behind. I am not talking about the joke of trails in this video.....I am talking about really steep rough trails filled with troy palomalou head rocks, lol. It just depends on how much you want to spend. Maintenance costs were extremely low, and first tune up wasn't for 25k miles, really! Loved the little bike which was great for me, and that is why I have a problem with the "first performance enduro bike from Japanese companies" statement. The correct term would be "First really, really expensive performance enduro type bike from Japanese companies!". I say that, because I obviously got plenty of performance from the WR, and never a single problem with over 7000 miles of the roughest trail riding you could imagine. Then I sold it for only two grand less than I bought it for. Thanks for the review though, but I feel you were talking up the Honda a little much. Truth be said, I am pretty sure with being lighter and having 20 more HP, the Husky would ride circles around the Honda. Currently, I am eyeing the 701.
Next time you guys are in Saint George let me tag along with my sub $2000 Year 2000 DRZ400! ;) Seriously, that would be a pretty rad Top Gear style comparison!
Еслиб хоть кто нибудь помог купить мне этот мотоцикл я был бы самым счастливым человеком на этой земле.Я русский зарплаты не хвотает даже на самое необходимое,какой уж мотоцикл.А за вас я рад что хоть кто-то имеет возможность купить hondy crf 450l.Эх😢
Oh come on u drz guys can’t honestly compare these bikes. Just take ur drz to a track and tell me what happens out of the corners over jumps and through ruts ur out powered plus ur suspension is garbage these bikes have suspension that cost twice as much as a drz alone. I’d jump these dual sports from 15ft houses and have no problem. If people just changed their oil frequently the bike would last forever u may wanna check ur valves after a couple thousand km but that’s it. Don’t go 1000km before u change ur oil u must be an idiot if u doo.
My dream, that will never be reality, is a counterbalanced 2 stroke dual sport, basically a modern DT1. Alas, we are not allowed to have that much fun. :) The KTM product is far more dirt focused, but the Honda offers broader capability. With a little suspension work and exhaust tuning/crap removal, the Honda is about the closest thing to a do it all dual sport available. Don't let the maintenance interval scare you either. Changing 1.5 quarts of oil once in awhile is no big deal. Stay up on air filter maintenance and the valves wear a long time. I have a '10 slant engine Husaberg FE450, after the initial bed in, the valves have not moved in 9 years. Smoked my 450 by the DMV and it wears a plate. It is a great trail connecting bike, but as a real dirt bike, it sucks on the street. That is just how it is. I have a street bike (FZ1) for street riding. Having a plate is great on the epic rides though. Trailer your dual sport to a place like Gunnison CO, unload it and ride the bike while there, load it when done and drive home. Awesome stuff there!
It seems that Honda is leaving that up to the aftermarket's. We now offer 2 color ways of the 3.0 gallon tank from IMS. You can check that out here. www.rockymountainatvmc.com/parts/ims-fuel-tank-%28no-ca%29-p?v=15810 Thanks for watching! - Wes
Great review and not bias based on power or brand which is refreshing. I think you are missing a key component to dualsport or light adventure which is cruising speed vs rpm. I definitely would like to know where these stack up at street and highway speed (45/65) in that regard. Can’t wait to see the light adv build vids. Nice work.
I read somewhere that the Honda was doing 6300 RPM at 65 mph. That sounds a little high to be comfortable and get good fuel economy but I guess with the dampened parts you wouldn't feel the vibes maybe, I've seen dyno runs where the Honda has about a 10,200 RPM rev limiter that was good for just under 90 MPH. It has a six speed trans so it seems geared pretty low overall to me. My DR650 will barely to 6,500 RPM and it will do right at 100 MPH with only a five speed gearbox.
My ktm525 has a small tank as well and I must say it does get annoying. Because sometimes we're out in the trails for hours and I'll have to cut out to get gas and come back..but i really enjoy the power it has.
While I don’t have a super strong leg to stand on because I haven’t ridden the Honda, let’s be honest, it doesn’t stand up to Husky or KTMs pure performance and suspension components. With that said, you’ll probably be tinkering with the Honda a lot less, and it’ll be smoother on the street...but you’re buying this to be a dirt bike, not a mile munching adv bike. Husky for the win.
They aren't "dirt bikes". There's tons of those, at lower price point. Dual-Sport bikes are hybrids that retain as much dirt bike pedigree as possible, but are also engineered to preform adequately & legally on road (whereas Adventure or ADV bikes are larger road bikes with some off-road capability). If you don't need to be legal on road, then stick to dirt bikes.
Yeah, that's a no brainer. If I ever sell my crf250l it will be for either a second hand wr450f (also street legal from factory btw) or a SWM 500r. I almost bought that one last year but the price on the 250l was too good (4500 euro new lol). It's a pretty good bike but the suspension is shockingly bad.
@@richardosgood3541 you would be correct if you were referring to the North American market. But the Wr450F is sold as street legal in Australia and Europe. Google it if you'd like.
Hoping they bring out a crf450 rally version, like the 250. Even if it's £1000 more expensive, i'd still be interested. But then again that is 2-3 year old africa twin territory...
I love the rmatv bike reviews, and I was SO excited to see this video, but I'm left with most of my questions unanswered. I know from all the other "quick test" videos about the 450L that it is smooth. What are the differences in personality off road? How much does the weight difference effect the ride? What is RPM (and comfort) at highway speeds? I would like to see a few (3+) riders ride the bikes and give opinions afterward. Thanks RMATV for the great content and the great website. I would like to see a part 2 of this video with more a more in-depth comparison.
Leaves a doubt whether it was a sponsored video. I imagine CRF450L is far less exciting than 501. It might make sense financially to buy a Honda, but this comparison it is bound to loose. Hence it’s avoided in the video.
They mentioned they were going to outfit both bikes for light adventure riding and do more videos. But they never come out fast enough for me , haha!! I Jones for good content!
Ugh, I'm so ready for this video! Edit after watching: I'm satisfied that you put something out, but I don't feel the depth and care like I felt from you in the Husq vs KTM video. He really gave an impression of honesty and variety. There was also a ton more riding shown. With both bikes getting some great camera time. IMO I think the Husq/Ktm is more for like Chance said, trail to trail. But maybe not a normal trail... more of enduro rock climbing expert single track. The Honda seems to be a much better for city riding and easier general trails. More of the power utility dual sport than the Husq racing dual sport.
I own both these bikes, to say the husky has better suspension is ludicrous. The Honda kills my husky in suspension and fit and finish. Intial on throttle is rough due to the extreme lean tuning on the bike. No one discusses that honda is held to tighter requirements due to producing cars in CA and NY. That said both bikes need tuning and a pipe to solve fueling on both. I run Vortex on the Husky and will do the same on the honda, this paired with exhaust and we will see how they compare at that point.
Jimpassarotri you cannot modify the stock ECU. That’s why people are using Vortex ECU instead. However you can also buy the stock 450x ECU and flash it with HRC tuner
Nathan F I heard that. But that doesn’t disguise or describe heft. Obviously the 501 wins in this category but a bike that spins up quicker isn’t going to keep you upright if it’s weight isn’t carried well. Us woods guys need every excuse we can get for dropping a bike 👍 Both bikes are awesome!
@@PennsylvaniaDualSport Huh, I thought from their comments and reactions that the CRF450L was a better choice. If I was looking, I'd rather have the Honda for less $ and the riding characteristics they mentioned. I ride a WR250R btw.
#Lenny Rivera Hey i know this is a long shot of you seeing my comment but I see that a year ago you were looking at these 2 bikes and I was curious if you did get a new bike and was it one of these? I am looking at the Honda 450L and the ktm 500 exc-f and wanted some feed back on the bike you bought.
I'm a Honda guy but for offroading I would get the 501. My buddy rides a 12 KTM500 which is the same bike basically and it has gone through so much technically difficult riding.
No way you'll get 150 miles even with a 3 gallon tank. I have a 250L with some mods and a 3 gallon tank, I get about 50 MPGs. I once put a 143 miles on a tank, I literally had just ounces left in the tank.
I’ve owned Hondas all my life. Saved up enough money to finally by a new bike in 2005 right on the dual sport revolution! Bought the CRF 450x figured it fit my kind of riding. Well I’ve regretted it & probably should have bought a Yamaha since they had many years more experience with the new 4 stroke dual sports. For one Honda had two oils and the one bottle of oil was just short of filling it all the way so thought would borrow oil & top it off. Ran it whole weekend low topped it off when I got home headed for local fire roads & a $1400 seas up! Then I thought the battery was always undersized, but come to find it’s the starter or starter clutch. Well just because they couldn’t have the cam tensioner 1/4” one way or another I have to pull the whole motor apart to replace the starter! Man the best bike was a 84 CRF 250 that bike would keep up if not blow away any modern racing bike! Case in point that ruined the mint trails or CB50 when they modernize what was already perfect bikes! U can’t even ride two people on them!
I see some places that states the HP of the 450 is 25. Seems low but one page says it's actually in the mod 40s. I didn't easily find anything on the 501 so I looked at the KTM 500 EXC (almost same engine?) and that's about 58. Sounds like the 501 is likely quite a bit more powerful. I'm about 210lbs so HP would make a difference. I ride a slightly modded DR650 and that's gotta be putting out 50+ HP but @330lbs, either of these would be like a bicycle in the woods for weight.
Nice vid guys! Glad to see some competition for KTM (Husky) for a change. For me (17 KTM 500) the weight is going to be Huge. can't wait to see the next vid. Keep up the great work.
Fuel injection or carbs? More specific power out up (horsepower/torque). And I would love to have seen a drag race or at least a second gear pull side by side. Even a 0-60 comparison would have been cool. Great review of the suspension and other ride characteristics though.
Dont you get the kawasaki klr 650? What about the suzuki drz 400?? Those are road legal dual sport bikes here in australia and both were produced before the crf450l
Husqvarna FE 501 S: 510.4 cc, 239 lbs (108.4 kg) Honda CRF450RL: 449.0 cc, 291 lbs (132 kg) Nope... Honda does not have a good entry. I am sorry for you because you think it is 😥 weighs almost as much as KTM 690/Husqvarna 701. Better comparison would be to those bikes since it is almost in the same weight category. But, the KTM 690 and Husqvarna 701 are 241 CC larger; so ultimately it would lose that battle as well.
Love how you compare the dry weight of the Husky to the wet weight of the Honda. Once you lose the Honda stock muffler and all the emissions the weight difference is about 20 pounds. Everyone knows Husky’s live in the shop and the shed while waiting for parts and paychecks. Meanwhile the Honda will be slinging that extra 20 pounds around everywhere all-day everyday for years with no issues whatsoever.
Dual sport rides I go on typically have fuel between 100-120 miles. These are organized, pay to ride events. So 80-100 miles per tank is just a miss by Honda. I think these companies are stupidly trying to get their total fueled up weight low so we suffer by them having small tanks. IMS/Acerbis/Clarke must love it though! :)
ill stick with my ktm 690 .... im not shelling out basically 11.5 k for any 450, Plus I no longer live in Az , I need the range to get somewhere decent to ride, so all my bikes have bigger tanks so theres another $500
Can also afford to put miles on the thing without constant wrenching and its just getting good and broken in about the time the honda needs a new motor.
whats odd about the "estimate " of engine life is that my wr250r has gone 51K without anything other than a fuel pump and plugs, fantastic compression oil changed @ 1k intervals hauling my fat arse everywhere
@@sparkyobrian6417 they've been putting the same kind of ultra light, high maintenance, ragged edge motors in dirt bikes for years. That's why everyone who just wants to ride and have fun wants a two stroke now. The two strokes are lower maintenance and cheaper to operate. The WR250R motor wasn't based on a dirt motor at all. It weighs more than one and makes 7 or 8 less horsepower, but so what! You can actually use the darn thing.
I wish you would have spent more time talking about the differences in power, clutch action, and transmissions. The Honda seems like a great bike to me and I own a 2017 KTM 500 excf. Alot of talk about the weight of the Honda. People have to realize that honda designed the taillight/license plate holder to be indestructible, unlike the KTM/HUSKY. Mine was hanging by the wires within the first 10 hours. The Honda also has a catalytic converter in the exhaust. Also has a steel rear sprocket that will outlast the aluminum sprocket on the Husky by about 4 times. All depends on were you place your priorities. I wouldn't trade my KTM for it but I guarantee you I'd be perfectly happy if I had the Honda.
@@OgreMoto I've only ever road the Beta 450RR , and the 450L certainly isn't far from it even in stock form. I wish I had some seat time on the new Euro 450/501s to make a real comparison.
looking forward to the many extra after market gizmos to make the 450L a light weight adventure bike. recently had to sell my 2010 CRF450X that was very modified for adventure riding, here is a list of what was done to the bike. large front screen - a must - period, TRX double compression piston with Cosworth DLC coated wrist pin, manual chain tensioner (not needed though), oil cooler, synthetic coolant (boils at 185*C) with thermo fan and temp sensor switch, KOYO bearings throughout, 40mm lowering link, 2" bar risers, MAP2 Nav tower, ICO, Trailtek Vapor speedo, tacho etc, soft rally grips, fastway footpegs, 5"LED spot beam main light, 2 x 10W LED low beam lights, rewired for 150W DC stator with extra heavy flywheel, CRF450R Head, stock cam, SS valves, manual chain tensioner, TM design works chain slider and chain guide, Steel sprockets, Z-VMX520 chain (only chain to fit for min wear and max life), wider seat, After market silencer + re-jet, oil changes using Motol 300V in gearbox and engine min 1000km(oil still clean like new), easily out to 2000km on easy riding, force clutch cover giving +150mm oil capacity, B&B Safari Rally Bashplate with water container, Safari 20L front tank, Safari 5L rear tank, full rewire for min access maintenance, list goes on. It had one major flaw - only 5 gears. Suspension, re-valved, otherwise stock for fatso here 115kg with gear +25kg of luggage. The TRX piston derates the bike a bit but gives + 6000-10,000km before requiring a new one. Is this bike that much better, will like to ride and see. hopefully the fuel injection will improve the fuel economy, bike on adventure riding ranged between 18km/L-20km/L, (freeway riding at 100-110km/hr about 21km/L), stock exhaust and stock jetting etc with no screen 12-17km/L. one thing though you could ride it any way, any conditions, and it was easy to ride, much easier than a KTM or Husaberg / Husky bike, but a lot heavier (fully fuelled about 145kg, +15kg camping gear +10L extra fuel - long distances between fuel here in Australian outback up to 550km some places in Western Australia. on fuel economy the KTM would win hands down every time, so the newer 450L with 6 gears and fuel injection would be a nice contest. oh, and for all thos di hard nuts, get the piston and head + valves ceramic coated, and the sides of the piston properly Teflon coated for way longer life.
Worth mentioning the Husky doesn't typically come with the wheels and tires balanced, and have only a single rim lock on each wheel, and this causes a lot of vibration at higher speeds on pavement. Not sure how the Honda wheel set is setup from the factory, anyone know?
I have that Husky. A few mods here and there to get it trail ready, and re did the mirrors lights and got rid of the plate holder. Love it. Next mod is a vortex fuel controller and exhaust system with coolant bypass. In California they come very very lean and run very hot. It'l set you back around 1200, but once you get them re mapped and unplugged they'l rip your shoulders out of the socket. Also don't forget to drop the gearing. Stock gears are long as a corn field.
Give me the red Honda plus the $900 to make the mods I like (proper handguards, suspension upgrades and good foot pegs), at the end, I will end up having a super reliable dual purpose bike, these bikes are built to make long travels so reliability is a major factor here, dependability is something were Honda wins!!!
