First Impressions: 2017 Honda CRF450R; Have any Questions?

ML512
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ML512
Here we go folks! Finally got to spend a bit of time aboard the 2017 Honda CRF450R. It's a bit different riding out here on the East Coast at a new facility for an intro, but somethings were still very clear about the new bike. If anyone has any questions, kick them in here and I'll attempt to answer or explain what I can. Thanks for viewing!

http://www.vitalmx.com/videos/features/First-Impressions-2017-Honda-CRF…



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Moto520
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Moto520 10/19/2016 8:32pm
10/19/2016 8:32pm
2017 Honda crf450 or 2017 ktm450sxf.......which is the better bike off the top of your head?
GuyB
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GuyB 10/19/2016 8:34pm
10/19/2016 8:34pm
Moto520 wrote:
2017 Honda crf450 or 2017 ktm450sxf.......which is the better bike off the top of your head?
That sounds like a shootout question, not a Honda first ride question.
Braap19
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Braap19 10/19/2016 8:37pm
10/19/2016 8:37pm
How'd the bike sit, tall or low and sleek?

I got to ride a 250 last week and it felt tall. I liked the feeling
Flip109
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Flip109 10/19/2016 8:39pm
10/19/2016 8:39pm
Did it give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside first ride?? That's all I wanna know lol

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Moto520
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Moto520 10/19/2016 8:42pm
10/19/2016 8:42pm
Moto520 wrote:
2017 Honda crf450 or 2017 ktm450sxf.......which is the better bike off the top of your head?
GuyB wrote:
That sounds like a shootout question, not a Honda first ride question.
I know.....but I need to know. Can he compare the two?
Thanks for offering to answer the questions. Do you feel as if it is a game changer? Talk about the fork.....how did it compare to a cone valve kit or SSS?
Did it feel light? Lots of engine braking or similar to the 2016?
How was the track? I love that place.
Moto520
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Moto520 10/19/2016 8:45pm
10/19/2016 8:45pm Edited Date/Time 10/19/2016 8:46pm
I guess my question is the same question I want to know whenever a new, highly changed model comes out.....Did it feel like it's THE bike? S it the best bike you've ever ridden?

Do I have to have this bike? I guess the only time I e ever felt this way was with the new ktm450. Did it give you that must have feeling?
yz133rider
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yz133rider 10/19/2016 8:45pm
10/19/2016 8:45pm
What did you think of monster mountain when you first pulled in? That track is awesome I was there one time a couple years ago and was blown away by it!

This Honda 450 is the first Honda mxer since the 08 crf450r that has my attention honestly. For someone who likes to ride the meat of the power and stay in taller gears does this new crf do that well? Is the front end traction up there with the famed rmz's scalpel like handling?

Looking forward to and further details and comments on the trip and bike!
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jeffro503 10/19/2016 8:48pm
10/19/2016 8:48pm
Forks.

Did you have enough time to play around with the clickers? How did they feel and are they truly comparable with an A-kit ftom a few years ago?
mingham97
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mingham97 10/19/2016 8:49pm
10/19/2016 8:49pm Edited Date/Time 10/19/2016 8:50pm
You said the suspension had suspension internals similar to what we would see on an A-Kit, did you feel it?? Or despite borrowing features from HRC stuff, are their still many components that hold the suspension back?

EDIT: I see jethro beat me to it!
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hippie 10/19/2016 8:50pm
10/19/2016 8:50pm
Im quite curious to see how it feels in the cock pit. I've always been a Honda guy, but being 6'3 I've always felt cramped on the Honda's in the past.
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 8:54pm
10/19/2016 8:54pm
yz133rider wrote:
What did you think of monster mountain when you first pulled in? That track is awesome I was there one time a couple years ago and...
What did you think of monster mountain when you first pulled in? That track is awesome I was there one time a couple years ago and was blown away by it!

This Honda 450 is the first Honda mxer since the 08 crf450r that has my attention honestly. For someone who likes to ride the meat of the power and stay in taller gears does this new crf do that well? Is the front end traction up there with the famed rmz's scalpel like handling?

Looking forward to and further details and comments on the trip and bike!
It's a different feel than the Suzuki. For me, the Suzuki has a very heavy front-end feel that keeps it planted, while this new Honda is more new KTM-ish; it feels lighter up front, but follows the ground well and the feedback is excellent like I mentioned in the video.

I think it has enough power to do so, but you may have to throw an extra tooth on the rear to carry third in the tight stuff, as second and third gear are both very "tall" feeling.
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 8:58pm
10/19/2016 8:58pm
mingham97 wrote:
You said the suspension had suspension internals similar to what we would see on an A-Kit, did you feel it?? Or despite borrowing features from HRC...
You said the suspension had suspension internals similar to what we would see on an A-Kit, did you feel it?? Or despite borrowing features from HRC stuff, are their still many components that hold the suspension back?

EDIT: I see jethro beat me to it!
My honest answer, A-Kits aren't magic, period. Just like any set of suspension they have to be setup well. Honestly, these don't feel the same as traditional A-Kit as the bike has been designed with them in mind. In the soft conditions we're dealing with here at Monster Mountain, they're performing well, but I'm curious how components of this size will deal with west coast hardpack where we can't load the front end the same.
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 8:59pm
10/19/2016 8:59pm
Flip109 wrote:
Did it give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside first ride?? That's all I wanna know lol
I had fun... Tongue Smile
Flip109
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Flip109 10/19/2016 9:02pm
10/19/2016 9:02pm
Flip109 wrote:
Did it give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside first ride?? That's all I wanna know lol
ML512 wrote:
I had fun... Tongue Smile
It's all good then folks! Whistling Laughing
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motosicko 10/19/2016 9:11pm
10/19/2016 9:11pm
What would be the first few upgrades you would do to make it better personally for yourself? I have thrown the FMF single 4.1 TI on my 2016 and would most likely lean towards the same thing on the 2017 for the weight loss.
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 9:23pm
10/19/2016 9:23pm
hippie wrote:
Im quite curious to see how it feels in the cock pit. I've always been a Honda guy, but being 6'3 I've always felt cramped on...
Im quite curious to see how it feels in the cock pit. I've always been a Honda guy, but being 6'3 I've always felt cramped on the Honda's in the past.
At 5'9" on my best day, I can't help you.. HA...

It did feel a bit more open and roomy than the previous model.
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tobz 10/19/2016 9:28pm
10/19/2016 9:28pm
Cool video ML. One of the better first impression videos around that isn't just a Honda rep saying how good it is. Cool to see Roczen whip a stock bike around, and when he lays it over in a rut with both feet still on the pegs Woohoo

Not sure what I was expecting but doesn't seem to be ground breaking stuff. A motor that's on par with what currently available, and suspension with bigger internals and a fancy pedigree doesn't automatically make it any better than what's already available.

A pretty hyped build up to release had me thinking it would be THE standard for a dirt bike. Looking forward to more videos when you get more seat time on a familiar track!
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 9:34pm
10/19/2016 9:34pm
tobz wrote:
Cool video ML. One of the better first impression videos around that isn't just a Honda rep saying how good it is. Cool to see Roczen...
Cool video ML. One of the better first impression videos around that isn't just a Honda rep saying how good it is. Cool to see Roczen whip a stock bike around, and when he lays it over in a rut with both feet still on the pegs Woohoo

Not sure what I was expecting but doesn't seem to be ground breaking stuff. A motor that's on par with what currently available, and suspension with bigger internals and a fancy pedigree doesn't automatically make it any better than what's already available.

A pretty hyped build up to release had me thinking it would be THE standard for a dirt bike. Looking forward to more videos when you get more seat time on a familiar track!
I mean, it's not the 70s or even 80s anymore where someone is going to drop a bike that will literally destroy the field. I'll be honest, I never expect that going into a launch event, it's near impossible these days.

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Heath B.
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Heath B. 10/19/2016 9:41pm
10/19/2016 9:41pm
Here's Ken Roczen today with the 2017 Honda at Alabama's Monster Mountain MX
Kenny tweeted they need to race at Monster Mt.!!! Finally, one of the PRO's got to see how awesome the track is.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLwjRjmgZMm/

Here's a better view of Monster Mountain MX if your ever down South and looking to ride.
https://youtu.be/GdIlZrSA8jM
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NeedMoto 10/19/2016 9:44pm
10/19/2016 9:44pm
ML, your first impression blows away MXA's!

Keep up the good work, have fun, and can't wait to hear more about it Smile
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Superdave19 10/19/2016 9:45pm
10/19/2016 9:45pm
...any notable difference in engine braking, or is it about the same as previous yrs? Does it feel any more narrow?
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hippie 10/19/2016 9:46pm
10/19/2016 9:46pm
hippie wrote:
Im quite curious to see how it feels in the cock pit. I've always been a Honda guy, but being 6'3 I've always felt cramped on...
Im quite curious to see how it feels in the cock pit. I've always been a Honda guy, but being 6'3 I've always felt cramped on the Honda's in the past.
ML512 wrote:
At 5'9" on my best day, I can't help you.. HA...

It did feel a bit more open and roomy than the previous model.
Thanks for the reply ML. Foster actually mentioned it felt a bit more roomy, he's a taller guy too. Looking forward to getting my hands on one myself
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tobz 10/19/2016 9:55pm
10/19/2016 9:55pm
tobz wrote:
Cool video ML. One of the better first impression videos around that isn't just a Honda rep saying how good it is. Cool to see Roczen...
Cool video ML. One of the better first impression videos around that isn't just a Honda rep saying how good it is. Cool to see Roczen whip a stock bike around, and when he lays it over in a rut with both feet still on the pegs Woohoo

Not sure what I was expecting but doesn't seem to be ground breaking stuff. A motor that's on par with what currently available, and suspension with bigger internals and a fancy pedigree doesn't automatically make it any better than what's already available.

A pretty hyped build up to release had me thinking it would be THE standard for a dirt bike. Looking forward to more videos when you get more seat time on a familiar track!
ML512 wrote:
I mean, it's not the 70s or even 80s anymore where someone is going to drop a bike that will literally destroy the field. I'll be...
I mean, it's not the 70s or even 80s anymore where someone is going to drop a bike that will literally destroy the field. I'll be honest, I never expect that going into a launch event, it's near impossible these days.
Good point, I suppose it's too early to tell but I was expecting it to kinda dethrone what is considered the benchmark for certain aspects of a bike that magazines always tend to refer to. Yamaha's SSS suspension, Suzuki's 450 handling, Yamaha's 450 motor, Honda's 08 450 package, KTM's craftsmanship and brakes are all something that testers seem to compare any other bike to.
From what I've seen, this 450 is a lot more competitive than the '16, but nothing ground breaking.

Time will tell! Cool
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Heath B. 10/19/2016 9:56pm
10/19/2016 9:56pm
Still not a fan of the double exhaust. Probably more of a look thing for me. Always loved Honda's though.
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CarlinoJoeVideo 10/19/2016 10:01pm
10/19/2016 10:01pm
Knowing that the bike is on the heavier side of the scale, did it feel heavy when riding?
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Heath B. 10/19/2016 10:03pm
10/19/2016 10:03pm
@ML512 - How did the Honda do pulling the hill at Monster Mt.? Seems in Kenny's GoPro video that it was lacking power? Also, what did you think of the track? We've been wanting Monster to get picked up on the schedule. They chose muddy creek last go around. Would love to stop driving to Tennessee and Atlanta, Ga to watch races. Thanks
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 10:08pm
10/19/2016 10:08pm
Heath B. wrote:
@ML512 - How did the Honda do pulling the hill at Monster Mt.? Seems in Kenny's GoPro video that it was lacking power? Also, what did...
@ML512 - How did the Honda do pulling the hill at Monster Mt.? Seems in Kenny's GoPro video that it was lacking power? Also, what did you think of the track? We've been wanting Monster to get picked up on the schedule. They chose muddy creek last go around. Would love to stop driving to Tennessee and Atlanta, Ga to watch races. Thanks
I almost looped out three times going up that hill, it did just fine! Second time here, it's amazing! The area and basic layout would be great for a national, just needs a few bigger jumps. (Ken Roczen said the same thing, he thought it would make a great national but just needed to be bigger on the obstacles for their level of riding)
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snape99 10/19/2016 10:09pm
10/19/2016 10:09pm
Can you find out if the current wheels will fit on new bike?
Cheers
ML512
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ML512 10/19/2016 10:14pm
10/19/2016 10:14pm
It's midnight here and I have another full day of testing tomorrow, so I need at least a few hours of sleep for once. I'll jump back in here early tomorrow to answer a few more on our way to the track.
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mxb2 10/19/2016 10:24pm
10/19/2016 10:24pm
snape99 wrote:
Can you find out if the current wheels will fit on new bike?
Cheers
X2 on the wheels, from a 15 crf450,also A kit for the 15 crf 450 also. Thanks. Btw good video and info.

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