-->
|
|
|
THIS MUCH WE KNOW! MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR 2012 HONDA CRF450 —NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD NEW BIKES We forgive Honda for not liking MXA very much. We understand their frustration with us over our 2009–2012 CRF450 bike tests. They weren’t exactly rave reviews. Honda takes no comfort in knowing that MXA has had issues with every production motocross bike ever made. The fact is, expressing our honest opinion can and does lead to hard feelings, which is why most other bike-test sources never say anything negative. It is no secret that, in the past, the MXA wrecking crew has been banned by Honda, Yamaha, C...
MXA'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2010 HONDA CRF250 This is the 2010 Honda CRF250 the way the MXA test crew raced it. As a rule, we don’t go for exotic or expensive mods, but if push comes to shove, we will seek competent help (no matter how much it costs). Use MXA ’s mods as a guide. Clutch: We burned through the CRF250 clutch in six hours. Honda lengthened the 2010 clutch springs and added more coils. These changes provide a better clutch feel but don’t create enough grip. We ran $59.95 Hinson Hi-Temp clutch springs. For more information, call (909) 94...
MXA'S 2013 HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS TEST: YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW ALL ABOUT IT, BUT NOT UNTIL YOU READ THIS TEST Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 CRF450 BETTER THAN THE 2012 CRF450 ? A: Yes. As an overall package the 2013 Honda CRF450 is significantly better than the 2012 CRF450 (and by proxy the 2009, 2010 and 2011 CRF450). Q: WHAT DID HONDA CHANGE ON THE 2013 CRF450 ENGINE? A: To the casual viewer the 2013 engine looks identical to the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 engines. And, for the most part it is, but the 2013 mill did get five...
MXA’S 2013 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: WE AREN'T TELLING YOU WHAT TO BUY – JUST WHAT WE WOULD BUY (PLUS VIDEO) It has been a long and winding road, fraught with peril and surprises around every corner. But, the MXA wrecking crew managed to get through testing the 2013 250 four-strokes with nary a scratch. As for our six bikes, they took the brunt of our countless hours on tracks around the United States. It was all in the name of finding out the good, the bad and the ugly of each bike. What’s so unique about our 2013 shootout? You might have noticed that Husqvarna has joined the party. We welcome the Italians an...
WE RIDE SERVICE HONDA’S CR250AF TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS BIKE When four-strokes motocross bikes took over the motocross world—the second time, not the first time—only Yamaha and the European brands stayed in the two-stroke business. And that was a shame. Imagine what would have happened if Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki continued to offer and develop two-strokes for motocross. Even if they couldn’t justify all-new designs, they could have easily put the old two-stroke engines in their modern four-stroke running gear. It is not a stretch to see that Kawasaki could hav...
FOLLOW-UP HOP-UP! MXA REVISITS THE CYLINDER WORKS HONDA CRF270 TOP GET MORE OUT OF IT Perhaps you recall our test of the Cylinder Works big-bore Honda CRF270 we tested in the May issue. To summarize, the bike was a blast. The big-bore kit catered to a wide range of riders, but we felt that it could be improved. Following the compl etion of our test cycle we discussed our thoughts of the CRF270 with Cylinder Works rep Jay Clark. Jay said, "If you liked that setup, you'll love what I have in store for you next." A few weeks later we met at Glen Helen to re-test the bike. Already quite sati...
2013 CRF450 PIPE SHOOTOUT: DYNO CHARTS, SOUND TESTS, TEST RIDER COMMENTS & RATINGS BY PROS, INTERMEDIATES AND NOVICES The MXA wrecking crew took its time during this test. We did test sessions with different skill level riders with each exhaust system, and we discovered that different skill levels required different types of powerbands. The favorite pipe of the Pro test riders wasn’t always the first choice of the Novices, while the Intermediates always seemed to seek the middle ground. Thus, you have to have an inner dialogue with yourself about what you really want out of an aftermarket exhaust. We raced with each ex...
WE RIDE DR.D’S 2013 HONDA CRF450: MR. YAMAHA BUILDS AN EXOTIC HONDA CRF450 Former factory Yamaga motocrosss race Doug Dubach is known around the industry as “Mr. Yamaha.” A longtime test rider for the manufacturer, Dubach has been influential in many significant Yamaha motocro ss innovations. Doug’s finger is on Yamaha’s pulse because he gets to test future concepts and bikes that the public won’t see for several years. Because of this, Doug is at the forefront of technology, testing new ideas and designs, some of which might never see production. “I’VE ALWAYS BEEN STRONG AT S...
WE RIDE YOSHIMURA’S FULL-RACE 2013 HONDA CRF450 TWIN-PIPER Yoshimura’s 2013 Honda CRF450 bike test is significant for several reasons. Let us count the ways. (1) The 450 four-stroke with the most updates for 2013, the Honda CRF450 has received considerable attention from consumers and, in turn, aftermarket companies. A redesigned chassis, revised combustion chamber, Kayaba PSF air forks, six-spring clutch, twin mufflers and new bodywork have made ripples in the motocross industry. It’s no surprise that Yoshimura would focus on research and development for the 2...
WE RIDE CYLINDER WORKS’ BIG-BORE HONDA CRF501 When it comes to building or rebuilding a Honda CRF450 , the MXA wrecking crew has several options. First, we could go with OEM-spec engine parts for a freshly rebuilt 450cc engine. This is the most common rebuild, and it breathes new life into a tired warhorse. Second, we could take the opportunity during the rebuild phase to add a little extra oomph to our CRF450 by going to a fairly straight-forward big-bore 470cc kit with a new cylinder, rings and piston. We could have done either of these things, b...
WE RIDE JUSTIN BARCIA’S GEICO HONDA CRF250: AFTERALL, HE DOESN'T USE IT ANYMORE The last 250 Nationals of 2012 marked the end of a chapter in motocross lore. Justin Barcia, the wild child known for his long blonde locks and aggressive riding style, moved up to the 450 class full-time following the outdoor series concluding moto. “Bam Bam” fittingly won the last moto of his 250 career at Lake Elsinore. Moving to the Muscle Milk factory Honda team for 2013 and beyond, Justin had to leave the Geico Honda squadron behind. And, fortunately for us, he also left his Honda CRF250 race stee...
MXA'S 2013 HONDA CRF250 MOTOCROSS TEST: A VASTLY IMPROVED BIKE THAT IS ONE CLICK SHORT OF PERFECTION FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2013 HONDA CRF250 BETTER THAN THE 2012 CRF250? A: Yes. There is, however, a caveat. It is by no means the best CRF250 ever built (we still have fond memories of the carbureted 2009 model), but it’s the most refined CRF250 of the latest generation. An improvement in the handling department has yielded a bike that isn’t as quirky as in the past. So yes, the 2013 Honda CRF250 is better than the 2012 model. Q: HOW MANY CHANGES CAN BE FOUND ON THE 2013 CRF250? A: You didn’t ...
FIRST LOOK! 2013 HONDA CRF250; PLUS THE STREET-LEGAL CRF250L & THE MID-SIZED MINI-110 The 2013 model-year season is in full bloom. Everyone has been talking about the 2013 Honda CRF450, but the 2013 CRF250 has been low-key (even though it is joined by the street-legal CRF250L and the electric-start, automatic-clutch CRF110F (that replaces the CRF70F). In addition, Honda offers a wide ranging line of offroad bikes that includes the CRF230F, CRF150F, CRF100F, CRF80F and CRF50F. Here is Honda press info on the new bikes. 2013 HONDA CRF250: NEW MAPPING & SUSPENSION Even with winning both...
HOW TO BUILD CHAMPAGNE HONDA CRF250 ....ON A BEER BUDGET Testing dirt bikes can be a dirty business–both in the figurative and literal sense of the word. It is because of MXA ’s commitment to testing motorcycles and products without prejudice that we sometimes end up in hot water. Case in point, Honda hasn’t been very pleased with the MXA wrecking crew for the past four years. Communication with Honda, although civil, has been strained by the fact that we have written accurate, but less than glowing tests about the CRF450 and CRF250. It’s not uncommon for two...
VIDEO: WHERE TO SPEND YOUR HOP-UP MONEY... PIPE? CAM? OR PISTON? WE DYNO EACH ONE The big three of the hop-up world are pipes, cams and pistons—this trinity of parts compromises a major portion of every serious race program. The question is, what does does each piece of the hop-up puzzle bring to the overall picture? The motocross world is full of anecdotal stories of 65 horsepower CRF450s with nothing more done to them than one tooth skipped on the camshaft sprocket and a muffler modified with a butter knife. But, the ravings of backyard mechanics aside, the MXA wrecking crew wanted...
MOTOCROSS ACTION IMPRESSION: WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RIDE THE 2013 HONDA CRF450 The 2013 Honda CRF450. FLYING INTO THE UNKNOWN By John Basher In my tenure at Motocross Action magazine, I’ve never been a part of such a secret operation as what Honda planned last week. I felt like I was told the secret to eternal life and then had to keep it to myself. Disseminating the information probably would have led to a stoning by Honda’s staff. For six very long days I had to hold my tongue. But the day has come for me to reveal the biggest secret I’ve every kept–what it’s...
INSIDE MXA’S WORKSHOP: BUILDING THE ULTIMATE 2012 HONDA CRF450 – IT IS LIGHT TO BEGIN WITH, NOW YOU JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT RIGHT By John Minert After all of the 2012 bike test and shootouts are done, every MXA test rider is allowed to build his dream bike. There is no budget, not limit and no rules. It is a reward for spending almost a year riding what the test riders were assigned, and often racing a different bike between motos. For this test, test riders were free to choose the bike they want, the parts they want, the suspension they want and go-for-broke. They have spent all year testing products, riding works bikes and worki...
MXA WRENCH TECH: HOW TO INSTALL A HINSON SS CLUTCH IN THE HONDA CRF450 Honda’s four-spring clutch is a thing of wonder—most Honda CRF450 owners wonder what Honda’s engineers were thinking. If you ride hard and put it away wet, odds are that Honda’s four-spring clutch will not be in good working order by the end of the moto. Most MXA test riders can get four hours out of the stock CRF450 clutch before it needs new plates (some get four minutes). That is too often to be forced to replace $80 worth of clutch plates. So, MXA decided to solve the problem by installing Hinson’s ...
2012 250 DYNO SHOOTOUT! HOW MUCH HORSEPOWER DO THE 2012 250s REALLY MAKE: WE REVEAL THE INNER SECRETS OF THE 2012 POWERBANDS The MXA wrecking crew spends the majority of its test time racing and riding brand-new production motorcycles, but early on in each test session every bike gets its day on the dyno. It really isn’t all that revealing because by the time its strapped down it has already been ridden to break in the engine, seat the muffler packing and get a feel for where it rates. Test riders form their opinions in the saddle and rely on the dyno numbers to reinforce what they already know. When the dyno numbers are spit...
MXA’S 2012 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: OUR BRUTAL & HONEST OPINIONS OF THIS YEAR’S 250 CLASS Let’s face it, not everyone is in the market for a 2012 250 four-stroke. That’s okay with us. There are many choices when it comes to purchasing a motorcycle—two-stroke, four-stroke, 125, 250 and 450. Depending on your wants and needs, a 250F might not be your cup of tea. But whatever you decide to spend your hard earned cash on, don’t overlook the positive attributes of a 250 four-stroke. The MXA wrecking crew can attest to the utter delight of holding a motorcycle wide open and blas...
MXA TEAM TESTED: YOSHIMURA 2011-2012 CRF450 RS-4D EXHAUST WHAT IS IT? The Yoshimura RS-4D uses the same basic design and dimensions as their standard RS-4 system, but with the addition of a unique dual-core muffler design. WHAT’S IT COST? $1045 (titanium with carbon end cap), $1095 (titanium with carbon canister and end cap). CONTACT? www.yoshimura-rd.com or (800) 634-9166. WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Yoshimura CRF450 RS-4D exhaust. (1) Development. Yoshimura is the official exhaust supplier to Team Suzuki and Team Honda, w...
WE RIDE JACK PHINN'S HONDA CRF450 DIRT TRACKER There are specialized motorcycles available for just about every motorcycle discipline, but the most versatile of all is the motocross bike. With some reasonable modifications, a CR, YZ, SX, RM or KX can be transformed into a desert racer, enduro bike, supermoto bike, dirt tracker, TT racer, sidecar racer or even a road racer. An old race bike or seldom-used play bike sitting in the garage has a ton of potential. It could be transformed into something from a different world—and it is definitely fun to e...
MXA'S 2012 HONDA CRF250 MOTOCROSS TEST: HONDA TRIES TO WORK ON THE FLAWS Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 HONDA CRF250 BETTER THAN THE 2011 CRF250? A: Yes! Is the 2012 Honda CRF250 significantly better than the 2011 model? No. Truth be told, Honda followed their typical strategy of making several minor updates instead of going whole hog. Why did Honda chip away at the CRF250’s bugaboos as opposed to starting from scratch? Let us review. (1) Economy. Unless you own oil reserves in the Middle East, you’ve been affected by the economy. Honda hasn’t been immune to the downward...
THE MXA WRECKING CREW BUILDS A HONDA CRF264 PROJECT MOTOCROSS BIKE What’s unique about this MXA project bike is that it wasn’t possible a few months ago. In the past, the MXA wrecking crew has had phenomenal success with big-bore engines—with the sole exception of the Honda CRF250. From its inception, the CRF250 has defied the hop-up mavens’ attempts to make it big. It isn’t that building a big-bore CRF250 isn’t a good concept, it’s just that from 2004 to 2009, it couldn’t be executed. Honda’s cylinder liner was barely thick enough to contain the forces of...
MXA'S 2012 HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS TEST: THEY HIRED NEW TEST RIDERS FOR 2012 Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2012 CRF450 BETTER THAN THE 2011 CRF450? A: Yes. As the two bikes sit on the showroom floor, the 2012 model has three features that make it a better all-around motocross machine. Q: WHAT ARE THE THREE CHANGES THAT HONDA MADE TO THE 2012 CRF450? A: Before we talk about the three major changes for 2012, let’s rehash all the changes that Honda has made to the new-generation CRF450 since its introduction in 2009. (1) Maps . The 2010 CRF450 got a new program that produced ...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2012 450 SHOOTOUT: WE TELL YOU THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE ELSE PUSSYFOOTS AROUND The Honda CRF450, KTM 450SXF, Yamaha YZ450F, KTM 350SXF, Kawasaki KX450F and Suzuki RM-Z450 are all major players in what consumers might well think of as a $8500 crap shoot. It is the MXA wrecking crew’s goal to take the gamble out of buying a 2012 450cc motocross bike. We are going to tell you what we think is the best bike in the 450 lottery, but not even the MXA test riders believe that there is one perfect bike for every person. Even among MXA ’s test crew you will find riders ch...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2011 450 SHOOTOUT: WE DON'T CARE WHAT BIKE YOU BUY, BUT WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE AN UNINFORMED DECISION Pity the poor fool who enters headstrong and dimwitted into the 2011 motocross fray. For the uninitiated, the motocross world is a confusing maelstrom of conflicting information—made all the worse by the rapid expansion of avenues of personal expression (and most of what is expressed is wrong). If every product is the best, which one really is the best? If every bike is the fastest, which one is really the fastest? If every suspension is the plushest, which one is really the plushest? Pity the buyer who...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2010 MXA 450 SHOOTOUT: REAL TESTS THAT GO STRAIGHT TO THE CHASE Let’s cut to the chase, which in Hollywood parlance means let’s skip ahead to the action-packed part of this horse opera. You don’t need to be the Amazing Kreskin to realize that motocross racers read shootouts for three reasons: (1) Guide: To find out what the best bike is before they plunk down the filthy lucre they earned in the corporate sweat shop. (2) Confirm: To confirm that the bike they already own is as good as they th...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S BITE-SIZE 2010 450 MOTOCROSS BIKE SHOOTOUT: NUMBER ONE: 2010 KTM 450SXF There is only one bike in 2010 that can claim to have the most peak horsepower, most top-end rev, best handling, strongest clutch, most powerful brakes, a no-tool airbox and an electric starter—and that is the KTM 450SXF. Even with all of that, it is lighter than the YZ-F, KX-F and RM-Z. The KTM powerband has the hard-to-find combination of an easy-to-use low-end and a top-end that just keeps pulling. It’s mellow in the ruts and then turns into a monster as...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2009 450 SHOOTOUT: ALL THE FACTS WITHOUT THE WHITEWASH! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW Historically, choosing shootout winners is easy for the MXA wrecking crew. We race the bikes every weekend for six months, switch back and forth (sometimes between motos), try every possible gearing and suspension combination, and then, by universal acclaim, anoint the bike that was the standout performer. It’s easy! Never has it been so hard as in 2009. When asked to pick the 450cc four-stroke of the year, most MXA test riders just stared back with a blank look of...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S BITE-SIZE 2009 450 SHOOTOUT: RIDE 'EM. RACE 'EM. WRECK 'EM. REVIEW 'EM: NUMBER ONE: 2009 KAWASAKI KX450F Unlike the other fuel-injected bikes, which stumble at 8000 rpm, the 2009 Kawasaki KX450F keeps pulling to 9400 rpm. The ‘09 KX450F has the second most horsepower in the class and decent suspension. Its handling is mediocre. It needs to go on a serious diet, because at 238 pounds it weighs 12 pounds more than a CRF450. PLUSES: The only fuel-injected bike that can compete in the mid-and-up range. MINUSES: Gappy gearbox, missed shifts...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S TWO-STROKE VERSUS FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: 2004 CRF450 VERSUS 2001 CR500 First, let’s get one myth out of the way up front. It is common for modern critics of the 450cc four-stroke to claim that the AMA 500cc National Championship was terminated because bikes like the CR500 and KX500 were too powerful. Not true. Not even close to true. The reality is that the AMA dropped the 500 National Championships after the 1993 season under political pressure from Suzuki and Yamaha. No surprise there; neither Suzuki nor Yamaha built a competitive 500cc motocross bike. In fact, Suzuki ha...
2011 HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS TEST: THE BIKE THAT ALL OTHER BIKES ARE MEASURED BY (AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO SALES) Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2011 CRF450 BETTER THAN THE 2010 CRF450? A: That depends on your definition of “better.” Honda made some changes for 2011 that, on paper, should have made a significant difference, but on the track there is some question about whether they were worth the effort. Q: WHAT CHANGES DID HONDA MAKE TO THE 2011 CRF450? A: Here are the six areas that Honda focused on for the new model year. (1) The jumbo-sized 50mm throttle body has been reduced to 46mm in an attempt to impr...
2011 HONDA CRF250 MOTOCROSS TEST: HONDA BETS THE BANK ON A MINI-VERSION OF THE CRF450; WARTS AND ALL Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2011 HONDA CRF250 BETTER THAN THE 2010 HONDA CRF250? A: Yes. After going for the gusto in 2010 with an all-new CRF250, the Japanese manufacturer made a handful of changes for 2011. These updates were noticeable, but not earth-shattering. Suffice it to say that the 2011 Honda CRF250 is better than the 2010 model, but not resoundingly so. Q: HOW MANY CHANGES CAN BE FOUND ON THE 2011 CRF250? A: After Honda completely redesigned the CRF250 last year, we figured that the 2011 mo...
WE RIDE KEVIN WINDHAM’S GEICO HONDA CRF450 Is it strange to note that a wily veteran, entering the twilight of his illustrious career, has received the most support from the droves of Supercross fans this year—or that the soft-spoken man/child with a friendly Southern drawl still challenges riders nearly half his age? In stadiums fit for gladiatorial warfare, Kevin Windham is the people’s champ. Kevin Windham has earned a legion of steadfast fans because he is a perennial contender. And more important, he’s a good guy. Championship opportunities...
WE RIDE RYAN HUGHES' UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS BIKE: Ryan Hughes has always appreciated the FIM World Motocross Championships. His appreciation started when he was a little kid standing by the fence at the Carlsbad USGP cheering on the Americans, and it culminated in him representing his country as a member of the winning 2000 Motocross des Nations team and the second-place U.S.A. team in 2003. Before that, Ryan spent a year in Europe racing the GPs (finishing fourth overall in 1999). The last time Ryan Hughes saw a United States Grand Prix was from behin...
WE RIDE MILLENNIUM TECHNOLOGIES’ HONDA CRF264 BIG BORE If you have a carbureted CRF250 you are out of luck for an effective big-bore. The 2010 and 2011 CRF250s have thicker cylinder liners that offer more than enough room to go bigger. As a rule, the MXA wrecking crew keeps our test bikes in stock trim. Even though we have access to every hop-up part in the world, we need to keep our bikes as stock as possible to ensure a fair platform for testing individual aftermarket products and different settings throughout the year. When we test major modifications, w...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2009 HONDA CRF250: 1. Forks. We didn’t like the 2008 Showa forks, and, surprise, we didn’t like the 2009 forks either. We dropped the oil height by 10cc to greatly reduce the midstroke harshness. This was a must-do. 2. Jetting. Bigger might be better, but that wasn’t the case with the CRF250’s 40mm Keihin carburetor. It bogs and coughs at the least opportune times. We have always preferred the older 37mm carb, but we have to work with what Honda specs. As a rule, we change the pilot, needle and leak jet. In addition, we r...
MXA TEAM TESTED: BRAKING OVERSIZED CRF REAR BRAKE CALIPER WHAT IS IT? It’s a complete replacement rear brake caliper for the modern CRF that does away with Honda’s small caliper and brake pads. WHAT’S IT COST? $299.00. CONTACT? www.braking.com . WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with Braking’s Honda rear caliper. (1) History. In 2002, Honda’s engineers, in an effort to save weight, downsized the rear brake caliper and swapped to 50-percent smaller brake pads. Many Honda riders had trouble with the new rear brake. The smaller brake pads re...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2009 HONDA CRF450: 1. Fork springs . The stock 0.46 Kayaba fork springs are too soft. We switched to 0.48 or 0.49 kg/mm springs. 2. Fork valving. With stiffer fork springs installed, the midstroke valving was too light. We sent the forks to Pro Circuit to be revalved. www.procircuit.com 3. Shock spring. For riders over 175 pounds, the stock 5.4 kg/mm shock spring is fine (it will work for riders up to 210 pounds). Lighter riders (under 175 pounds) will need a softer 5.2 kg/mm shock spring. 4. Shock linkage . As it sits, t...
2012 NEW MOTOCROSS BIKE BUYERS GUIDE: THE 2012 HONDA CRF50, CRF70, CRF80, CRF100, CRF150, CRF250 & CRF450 2012 HONDA CRF450 Press release: Since its introduction, the CRF450R has served as the standard by which all other bikes are judged in the big-bore class of motocross machines. In 2012, Honda raises the bar once again with a host of improvements that will help the CRF450R stay at the head of the pack. A new, stiffer fork outer among other refinements bring a more solid feel to the front end, and stiffer fork springs , revised suspension settings front and rear plus a new shock linkage yield improved tra...
FRIDAY'S USED MOTOCROSS BIKE GUIDE: HOW TO SETUP YOUR 2010 HONDA CRF450: This is the 2010 Honda CRF450 the way the MXA test crew raced it. As a rule, we don’t go for exotic or expensive mods, but if push comes to shove, we will seek competent help (no matter how much it costs). Use MXA ’s mods as a guide. Clutch: We don’t know what Honda was thinking with their four-spring clutch, but we do know that Team Honda’s riders have used Hinson six-spring clutches in their race bikes. Honda’s four-spring clutch doesn’t have enough clamping pressure for a 50-horsepower engine (unless...
START THE FOUR-STROKE REVOLUTION WITHOUT ME...BY WILLY MUSGRAVE By Willy Musgrave You may have heard of me, and you may not have—that isn’t all that important to this tale. For some background, you should know that I’ve been around the block in motocross. I graduated from MMI, worked in dealerships, was the production manager for ATK, got the patent for an exhaust system used by the White Brothers, raced in the 2001 Motocross des Nations World Cup race for the Czech Republic team, won a round of the World Supercross series back in the 1980s (in Pune, India), have sp...
MOTOCROSS ACTION'S 2011 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: HOW THEY RANK AGAINST EACH OTHER & WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY We live in a world of constant judgment. Critical eyes and biased opinions are everywhere. Everyone has an opinion on everything—even stuff they know nothing about. Sadly, one man’s opinion is another man’s resource for a fact. Ignorance compounds ignorance until the overall IQ of the populace is reduced. The world wide web functions like the rats during the Bubonic Plague outbreak. It spreads misinformation with fleas of stupidity and it infects the minds of the masses with half-truths and outright lie...
WEIRD STUFF! HONDA 3R-C: Honda 3R-C concept is three-wheeled, single occupant, zero emission, electric motorcycle (and is one of a long line of show concepts that never see the aft end of a production line). HERE IS WHAT HONDA HAS TO SAY: This revolutionary three-wheeled battery electric vehicle concept shows what a future minimal urban transport vehicle for one person might look like. The battery electric drivetrain is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis, therefore keeping the centre of gravity low and thus im...
WE RIDE HINSON CLUTCH COMPONENTS HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS BIKE: When somebody mentions a spring, you probably picture a standard coil spring that looks like a steel pigtail. Most motocrossers immediately envision the shock spring on a race bike. A spring, however, is any elastic object that stores energy. A lesser known type of spring is a Belleville washer. Belleville washers are a type of disc-shaped cup with an extremely high tensile strength. Originally developed in the mid-19th century by Julian Belleville, Belleville springs are used in a variety of environmen...
WE RIDE THE TEAM CRUNCHIES' HONDA CRF450 MOTOCROSS BIKE: Crunchies Food Company offers a wide assortment of dried fruit and vegetable snacks. What makes them crunchy is their drying process—which takes place in a refrigerated vacuum. Supposedly, this allows the fruit to retain more natural flavor and nutrients, so Crunchies can avoid the use of sugar, preservatives or chemicals. One of the owners of Freeze-Dried Crunchies Natural Snacks is a motocross fan. Through the luck of an enterprising AMA National Motocross privateer, MXA test rider Dennis Stapleton an...
WE RIDE THE DANISH ICE WORKS’ 2010 HONDA CRF250: This bike test was of interest to the MXA wrecking crew for reasons not obvious to the casual observer. What’s so special about the Ice Works Honda CRF250? In an effort to boost foreign relations, the MXA gang embarked on a journey that crossed cultural and language barriers. You’re probably thinking that we traveled to some faraway land. In reality, the only distance we logged was a short commute from the palatial MXA office to our local motocross track. So where does the adventurous part of this bike ...
FIRST LOOK! 2011 HONDA CRF450 & CRF250 2011 HONDA CRF450 Long regarded as the bike of choice in the big-bore motocross division, the 2011 CRF450R incorporates improvements that will help this bike retain its premier standing. The prodigious powerband is now even stronger thanks to more low-end pull and midrange grunt along with enhanced throttle response via a new throttle body. Revised suspension linkage and settings yield improved control, increased ride plushness and enhanced rear-wheel traction. A new Honda Progressive Steering Da...
LIVING WITH & LOVING LIFE WITH THE 2010 HONDA CRF450 (OKAY, THERE WAS A LITTLE HATE INVOLVED) There was a ton of buzz about the totally redesigned 2009 Honda CRF450. Some of it was good, and some of it was bad. As a magazine test rider, I have the privilege of being among the first to ride new bikes, and I had quickly established myself on the negative side. You may have been shocked by MXA ’s criticism of the 2009 Honda CRF450 , but it didn’t come as a total surprise to me. The CRF450 was really great in 2007 and 2008, but I thought Honda was beginning to make some mistakes. In 2008, Honda moun...
REAL TESTS! 2010 MXA RACE TEST OF THE HONDA CRF450: Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2010 CRF450 BETTER THAN THE 2009 CRF450? A: Yes and no. The small number of changes that Honda made for 2010 culminate in a bike that is a little better in several areas and a little worse in others (although the “worse” parts are subjective and can be undone). Q: WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES THAT HONDA MADE TO THE 2010 CRF450? A: Calling them “major changes” is a bit of a stretch, but here is a list of the five areas that Honda massaged. Let us count the mods. (1) EFI map. T...
REAL TESTS! 2010 MXA RACE TEST OF THE HONDA CRF250: Q: FIRST AND FOREMOST, IS THE 2010 CRF250 BETTER THAN THE 2009 CRF250? A: No. Last year, when we tested the Honda's fuel-injected 2009 Honda CRF450, we were very clear to state that if we had to compare the 2008 CRF450 against the 2009 CRF450, the 2008 model would win. Guess what? Deja vu! Every MXA test rider preferred the 2009 Honda CRF250 over the 2010 CRF250. Q: WHAT DID HONDA CHANGE ON THE 2010 CRF250? A: Considering that the 2010 Honda CRF250 is totally new, there are changes a plenty. (1) P...
MOTOCROSS ACTION PRODUCT TEST: YOSHIMURA HONDA CRF450 DROP-IN CAM WHAT IS IT? An easy-to-install, drop-in, single overhead Honda camshaft for the Honda CRF450. WHAT’S IT COST? $499.95. CONTACT? www.yoshimura-rd.com or (800) 634-9166. WHAT STANDS OUT? Here is a list of things that stand out with Yoshimura’s Cam Shaft kit. (1) Manufacture. The cam was designed, developed and tested in the USA, but made in Japan. The cam is CNC-machined from billet bar stock and sent to Yoshimura of Japan for special metallurgical treatments. The cam sprockets are also machined from a bi...
WE RIDE TREY CANARD'S GEICO HONDA CRF250: Testing a factory-level motocross bike is always special for the MXA wrecking crew. We can’t help but admire the passion and effort that factory teams invest in their bikes. Every square inch of the machine is checked, changed, strengthened or massaged before every race. It’s taxing work, but it’s done for the sake of winning. To think that an engine alone takes over a day to rebuild, not to mention entirely stripping the bike down to the frame between race weekends, is mind numbing in terms of time and...
WE RIDE MX-TECH'S 2010 HONDA CRF450: The MXA wrecking crew has the privilege of working with all different sorts of characters in the course of testing and building bikes. We deal with everyone from factory tuners to backyard mechanics, marketing men, parts changers, duct tapers, cool guys and not so cool guys—all with varied personalities and modus operandi. One of the most pleasant to work with is Jeremy Wilkey and his crew at MX-Tech. Technically, these guys are incredibly knowledgeable and super-creative. We especially like them becaus...
MXA'S BITE-SIZE 250 MOTOCROSS BIKE SHOOTOUT: NUMBER ONE: 2010 KAWASAKI KX250F The Kawasaki KX250F won the MXA 250 shootout in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It got nudged out by the sweet Honda CRF250 in 2009. But, Honda abdicated the throne for 2010, and the revised KX250F slipped right back into the top spot with a powerband that is tailor-made for racing. It’s strong, fast and caters to Intermediate and Pro-level riders. The MXA test riders have a few quibbles with the handling, suspension and gearing, but in a class that is defined by...
REAL TESTS! 2010 MXA 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: CRF250 vs.YZ250F vs TC250 vs KX250F vs 250SXF The 2010 MXA 250 Four-Stroke Shootout is the most comprehensive test that you will find in any magazine, on any website, or anywhere else. MXA leaves no stone unturned, and while we will probably no longer receive Christmas cards from several manufacturers after this shootout, we tell the whole truth so that you can make the best purchasing decision. Simply said, if you’re in the market for a 2010 250 four-stroke, this test is for you. It’s worth mentioning that the 2010 Suzuki RM-Z250 isn’t included in...
REAL TESTS! 2010 MXA 250 SHOOTOUT: HONDA CRF250 VS. YAMAHA YZ250F: This is a shootout between the two best-selling 250 four-strokes in America. The Yamaha YZ250F and Honda CRF250 are available in over 3000 dealerships across the land. One of them (the Honda CRF250) won last year’s MXA Shootout , while the other (the Yamaha YZ250F) finished third. The MXA wrecking crew wanted to know how these two machines would rank against each other after a winter of hardcore R&D. Don’t confuse MXA ’s CRF250 versus Yamaha YZ250F shootout with the full-blown, five-bike, 2010 MXA 2...
MOTOCROSS ACTION PRODUCT TEST: HINSON HIGH-TEMP CRF450 CLUTCH SPRINGS: WHAT IS IT? Hinson’s high-temp steel clutch springs keep the 2009 and 2010 Honda CRF450’s four-spring clutch from slipping. WHAT’S IT COST? $49.95 (four clutch springs), $199.95 (springs, fiber and steel plates), $189.99 (CNC-machined pressure plate), $499.99 (pressure plate and inner hub). CONTACT? www.hinsonracing.com or (909) 946-2942. WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Hinson high-temp clutch springs. (1) Theory. Honda considered it a marketing coup when they introduced...