2021 Honda CRF 450 First Impressions

Goofy Foot
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Goofy Foot 9/17/2020 12:29pm
9/17/2020 12:29pm
Just based on reading the comments above, if I'm going red it will be a Gas Gas...
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RichieW13
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RichieW13 9/17/2020 12:32pm
9/17/2020 12:32pm
Chris99Flannery wrote:
Swap seemed the most honest. Not informative as such, but he seemed a bit underwhelmed it wasnt the handling package right away we were hoping for...
Swap seemed the most honest. Not informative as such, but he seemed a bit underwhelmed it wasnt the handling package right away we were hoping for is what i took. Pat had to get the train back on the ‘positive’ tracks at the end.
"Swap seemed the most honest. "

How so? You think the other guys are saying things they don't believe?
ccullins
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ccullins 9/17/2020 12:47pm
9/17/2020 12:47pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Does this bike still run the steering dampener? The video from Dirt Bike Test with the onboard Go Pro consistently showed the front fender wagging after...
Does this bike still run the steering dampener? The video from Dirt Bike Test with the onboard Go Pro consistently showed the front fender wagging after the apex. I realize Glen Helen sand is a bitch, but it seemed like it needed a dampener.
No it doesn’t have one
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Lastander
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Lastander 9/17/2020 1:20pm
9/17/2020 1:20pm
Chris99Flannery wrote:
Swap seemed the most honest. Not informative as such, but he seemed a bit underwhelmed it wasnt the handling package right away we were hoping for...
Swap seemed the most honest. Not informative as such, but he seemed a bit underwhelmed it wasnt the handling package right away we were hoping for is what i took. Pat had to get the train back on the ‘positive’ tracks at the end.
RichieW13 wrote:
"Swap seemed the most honest. "

How so? You think the other guys are saying things they don't believe?
If anyone buys a bike based on what a c class rider tells them about said bike, i feel sorry for them.

Take everything you hear from these reviews with a grain of salt
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reded
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reded 9/17/2020 2:29pm
9/17/2020 2:29pm
Chris99Flannery wrote:
Swap seemed the most honest. Not informative as such, but he seemed a bit underwhelmed it wasnt the handling package right away we were hoping for...
Swap seemed the most honest. Not informative as such, but he seemed a bit underwhelmed it wasnt the handling package right away we were hoping for is what i took. Pat had to get the train back on the ‘positive’ tracks at the end.
RichieW13 wrote:
"Swap seemed the most honest. "

How so? You think the other guys are saying things they don't believe?
Lastander wrote:
If anyone buys a bike based on what a c class rider tells them about said bike, i feel sorry for them. Take everything you hear...
If anyone buys a bike based on what a c class rider tells them about said bike, i feel sorry for them.

Take everything you hear from these reviews with a grain of salt
What if I’m a C-class rider?
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deluxeman
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deluxeman 9/17/2020 2:46pm
9/17/2020 2:46pm
RichieW13 wrote:
"Swap seemed the most honest. "

How so? You think the other guys are saying things they don't believe?
Lastander wrote:
If anyone buys a bike based on what a c class rider tells them about said bike, i feel sorry for them. Take everything you hear...
If anyone buys a bike based on what a c class rider tells them about said bike, i feel sorry for them.

Take everything you hear from these reviews with a grain of salt
reded wrote:
What if I’m a C-class rider?
Good point
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 9/17/2020 3:00pm
9/17/2020 3:00pm
SwapperMX wrote:
Keefer's break down easily the best. Bike sounds like it's good but not a game-changer as some expected.
Depends how you look at it right? Handling is better than before, power is better, suspension although feeling soft (possibly because of less harsher frame) is still good with a few clicks .... no new bike is ever going to be a game changer at the level they are currently at

If anything it sounds like ECU settings could be better but shit if power is better and broader than last year then heck a ECU refinement is going to make it even more better (excuse the poor grammar)
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 9/17/2020 3:02pm
9/17/2020 3:02pm
LKHill wrote:
Most hype and one of the biggest letdowns ever.
lets see ... Handling is better than before, power is better, suspension although feeling soft (possibly because of less harsher frame) is still good with a few clicks ....what is the letdown?
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LKHill
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LKHill 9/17/2020 3:42pm
9/17/2020 3:42pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2020 3:49pm
kiwifan wrote:
lets see ... Handling is better than before, power is better, suspension although feeling soft (possibly because of less harsher frame) is still good with a...
lets see ... Handling is better than before, power is better, suspension although feeling soft (possibly because of less harsher frame) is still good with a few clicks ....what is the letdown?
It was hyped as a bike to make all before it obsolete. Vital went out six clicks, DB mag in 6. Something wrong there as nobody said they found a great setting. Everybody said the mapping is off. Nobody raved about the handling so it likely won't be the best. Even KK was disappointed with the production bike and he tested for them.

It's a better Honda, nothing more, nothing less. I am not saying don't buy it but it's no world beater. IMHO it can't win a shootout.
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Goofy Foot
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Goofy Foot 9/17/2020 3:49pm
9/17/2020 3:49pm
At this stage, it sounds like a hot chick who's bad in bed....
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sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 9/17/2020 3:52pm
9/17/2020 3:52pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2020 3:57pm
LKHill wrote:
It was hyped as a bike to make all before it obsolete. Vital went out six clicks, DB mag in 6. Something wrong there as nobody...
It was hyped as a bike to make all before it obsolete. Vital went out six clicks, DB mag in 6. Something wrong there as nobody said they found a great setting. Everybody said the mapping is off. Nobody raved about the handling so it likely won't be the best. Even KK was disappointed with the production bike and he tested for them.

It's a better Honda, nothing more, nothing less. I am not saying don't buy it but it's no world beater. IMHO it can't win a shootout.
Just sounds like you want to move some weight off the front. Swap and Keefer both went a bit stiffer on the forks and dropped the fork tubes down. I’m always messing with fork tube height and fork compression on my YZ250F, going the opposite way, trying to get more weight on the front but not ruin the stability. Seems like a great bike if you want something that carves corners tightly but is still stable at speed and makes broad usable power. Thankfully in 2021, all the bikes are pretty damn good, so if you thought the Honda would be head and shoulders ahead of the other bikes that’s an odd thing to expect. Just seems like Honda made a great bike and addressed issues people had!
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LKHill
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LKHill 9/17/2020 3:59pm
9/17/2020 3:59pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2020 4:01pm
sandtrack315 wrote:
Just sounds like you want to move some weight off the front. Swap and Keefer both went a bit stiffer on the forks and dropped the...
Just sounds like you want to move some weight off the front. Swap and Keefer both went a bit stiffer on the forks and dropped the fork tubes down. I’m always messing with fork tube height and fork compression on my YZ250F, going the opposite way, trying to get more weight on the front but not ruin the stability. Seems like a great bike if you want something that carves corners tightly but is still stable at speed and makes broad usable power. Thankfully in 2021, all the bikes are pretty damn good, so if you thought the Honda would be head and shoulders ahead of the other bikes that’s an odd thing to expect. Just seems like Honda made a great bike and addressed issues people had!
To me it sound like they where going for a red kawasaki with better turning while trying to please everybody and didn't get it. I did expect it to possibly be the best bike but that does not seem to be the case.
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Chris99Flannery 9/17/2020 4:02pm
9/17/2020 4:02pm
Goofy Foot wrote:
At this stage, it sounds like a hot chick who's bad in bed....
Can live with that...
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sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 9/17/2020 4:04pm
9/17/2020 4:04pm
sandtrack315 wrote:
Just sounds like you want to move some weight off the front. Swap and Keefer both went a bit stiffer on the forks and dropped the...
Just sounds like you want to move some weight off the front. Swap and Keefer both went a bit stiffer on the forks and dropped the fork tubes down. I’m always messing with fork tube height and fork compression on my YZ250F, going the opposite way, trying to get more weight on the front but not ruin the stability. Seems like a great bike if you want something that carves corners tightly but is still stable at speed and makes broad usable power. Thankfully in 2021, all the bikes are pretty damn good, so if you thought the Honda would be head and shoulders ahead of the other bikes that’s an odd thing to expect. Just seems like Honda made a great bike and addressed issues people had!
LKHill wrote:
To me it sound like they where going for a red kawasaki with better turning while trying to please everybody and didn't get it. I did...
To me it sound like they where going for a red kawasaki with better turning while trying to please everybody and didn't get it. I did expect it to possibly be the best bike but that does not seem to be the case.
To me it sounds like you like your Kawi and want to keep it that way.
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LKHill
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LKHill 9/17/2020 4:10pm
9/17/2020 4:10pm
sandtrack315 wrote:
To me it sounds like you like your Kawi and want to keep it that way.
Has nothing to do with what I want or don't want, it's what others are saying. It is no secret they where going for a kawasaki feel just like yamaha. Just look at their frames, almost exact copies of kawasaki. I wanted a world beater TBO. It would force others to up their game and be better for the sport in the long run as all the world beaters before it where.
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 9/17/2020 4:28pm
9/17/2020 4:28pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2020 4:28pm
sandtrack315 wrote:
To me it sounds like you like your Kawi and want to keep it that way.
LKHill wrote:
Has nothing to do with what I want or don't want, it's what others are saying. It is no secret they where going for a kawasaki...
Has nothing to do with what I want or don't want, it's what others are saying. It is no secret they where going for a kawasaki feel just like yamaha. Just look at their frames, almost exact copies of kawasaki. I wanted a world beater TBO. It would force others to up their game and be better for the sport in the long run as all the world beaters before it where.
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly the same. If you looked at (for arguments sake) a Kawasaki 2021 frame (minus all bodywork, engine, wheels,etc) vs a Honda 2021 frame they are completely different ....especially in the downtubes and main spar shapes...imho
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Sacko
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Sacko 9/17/2020 4:28pm
9/17/2020 4:28pm
When and why is Ping in Fox!?
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LKHill
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LKHill 9/17/2020 4:36pm
9/17/2020 4:36pm
kiwifan wrote:
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly...
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly the same. If you looked at (for arguments sake) a Kawasaki 2021 frame (minus all bodywork, engine, wheels,etc) vs a Honda 2021 frame they are completely different ....especially in the downtubes and main spar shapes...imho
The 2020 Honda and Yamaha frames are dead ringers for the 2018 Kawasaki frame. Your really reaching. Honda itself states they want a softer feel and more stability ala Kawasaki. LMAO!
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sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 9/17/2020 4:39pm
9/17/2020 4:39pm
kiwifan wrote:
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly...
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly the same. If you looked at (for arguments sake) a Kawasaki 2021 frame (minus all bodywork, engine, wheels,etc) vs a Honda 2021 frame they are completely different ....especially in the downtubes and main spar shapes...imho
Agreed, no one is flipping the engines around on the 250 to match the Yamaha. Sure, they ride all the bikes and compare and pick things up, but, for example, the 2022 models are probably close to finalized, so, if you’re chasing another manufacturers bike from the previous year, you’re way too far behind.
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Meister
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Meister 9/17/2020 4:50pm
9/17/2020 4:50pm
What I heard was everything is better and with a little tuning it'll be a great package, just like every 450.

I'm still, maybe even more pumped to get mine. I will be putting my fc valved Honda steering dampener on it and a new set of pegs I have sitting here, but otherwise I'm gonna rock it mostly stock. Might do springs early on but that's it..
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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 9/17/2020 4:54pm
9/17/2020 4:54pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Does this bike still run the steering dampener? The video from Dirt Bike Test with the onboard Go Pro consistently showed the front fender wagging after...
Does this bike still run the steering dampener? The video from Dirt Bike Test with the onboard Go Pro consistently showed the front fender wagging after the apex. I realize Glen Helen sand is a bitch, but it seemed like it needed a dampener.
ccullins wrote:
No it doesn’t have one
The 17 through 20 bikes have the mounts for them if you wish to put one on. I'm not sure about the 2021. I never felt the need for one on my 2017 especially after getting my suspension set up right. And on the older bikes that came with them I never even noticed what they did.
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 9/17/2020 4:58pm
9/17/2020 4:58pm
LKHill wrote:
Most hype and one of the biggest letdowns ever.
kiwifan wrote:
lets see ... Handling is better than before, power is better, suspension although feeling soft (possibly because of less harsher frame) is still good with a...
lets see ... Handling is better than before, power is better, suspension although feeling soft (possibly because of less harsher frame) is still good with a few clicks ....what is the letdown?
Sounds like you'll have to send the ECU out to get polished, but that's no big deal. Don't most people do that anyways? Hell, the mapping on the 17 was one of the biggest complaints and I never got mine fixed! I've been riding and racing on bone stock mapping for 130 hours, lol!
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Meister
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Meister 9/17/2020 5:08pm
9/17/2020 5:08pm
Johnny Depp wrote:
Does this bike still run the steering dampener? The video from Dirt Bike Test with the onboard Go Pro consistently showed the front fender wagging after...
Does this bike still run the steering dampener? The video from Dirt Bike Test with the onboard Go Pro consistently showed the front fender wagging after the apex. I realize Glen Helen sand is a bitch, but it seemed like it needed a dampener.
ccullins wrote:
No it doesn’t have one
hubbardmx50 wrote:
The 17 through 20 bikes have the mounts for them if you wish to put one on. I'm not sure about the 2021. I never felt...
The 17 through 20 bikes have the mounts for them if you wish to put one on. I'm not sure about the 2021. I never felt the need for one on my 2017 especially after getting my suspension set up right. And on the older bikes that came with them I never even noticed what they did.
I saw in one of the naked pics what looked like the places to mount it.
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kiwifan
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kiwifan 9/17/2020 5:13pm
9/17/2020 5:13pm
kiwifan wrote:
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly...
I really dont think manufacturers look at other brands and go lets build a frame like "insert brand name" , otherwise they would all be exactly the same. If you looked at (for arguments sake) a Kawasaki 2021 frame (minus all bodywork, engine, wheels,etc) vs a Honda 2021 frame they are completely different ....especially in the downtubes and main spar shapes...imho
LKHill wrote:
The 2020 Honda and Yamaha frames are dead ringers for the 2018 Kawasaki frame. Your really reaching. Honda itself states they want a softer feel and...
The 2020 Honda and Yamaha frames are dead ringers for the 2018 Kawasaki frame. Your really reaching. Honda itself states they want a softer feel and more stability ala Kawasaki. LMAO!
I thought we were talking about the 2021 frame not the 2020???? Is it me reaching or you?
Bruce372
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Bruce372 9/17/2020 5:13pm
9/17/2020 5:13pm
Save your money and get the suzuki
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Meister
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Meister 9/17/2020 5:19pm
9/17/2020 5:19pm
Bruce372 wrote:
Save your money and get the suzuki
Ha. No.
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IanMac138
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IanMac138 9/17/2020 5:19pm
9/17/2020 5:19pm
Sacko wrote:
When and why is Ping in Fox!?
Because Ping is in different gear all the time doing product testing for all brands. That's part of his job, lucky bastard.
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Johnny Depp
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Johnny Depp 9/17/2020 5:59pm
9/17/2020 5:59pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2020 6:01pm
Taking a Razor Sharp Handling bike to a difficult sand track for the intro was a questionable idea. I'd assume someone rode the bikes beforehand and came up with a setting, but it looks like they missed it.
Put this bike on a harder base track and you would have an easier setup target.

That bike still has engine on everyone, looks sexy as hell, great suspension package, and gold standard ergonomics. Everything else can be tuned.
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Lbarton2287
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Lbarton2287 9/17/2020 6:27pm
9/17/2020 6:27pm
I was at state fair today and overheard the “off the record” comments from majority of the testers. They were comparing The 21 yz 450, 21 KX 450 and 21 crf 450. All 4 riders seemed underwhelmed with the crf 450. They all noted the bottom end “rich” problem. One of the testers, who was a local pro, flat out said he’d be disappointed purchasing the bike. Hopefully they can fix a few of the issues before mass production 😳
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LKHill
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LKHill 9/17/2020 6:34pm
9/17/2020 6:34pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2020 6:41pm
Lbarton2287 wrote:
I was at state fair today and overheard the “off the record” comments from majority of the testers. They were comparing The 21 yz 450, 21...
I was at state fair today and overheard the “off the record” comments from majority of the testers. They were comparing The 21 yz 450, 21 KX 450 and 21 crf 450. All 4 riders seemed underwhelmed with the crf 450. They all noted the bottom end “rich” problem. One of the testers, who was a local pro, flat out said he’d be disappointed purchasing the bike. Hopefully they can fix a few of the issues before mass production 😳
I am sure kiwifan was not one of them. They already did mass production so any fix will be on the dealers.
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