Recalled Handlebar clamps for '25 - '26 CRF 450

Can't you just buy a set of ride eng mounts and be done with it?

Seriously, why aren't people just buying some aftermarket handlebar mounts? They are just rubber mount/post clamps.

If your bike is sitting at a dealer waiting that's on you.

Pro Circuit, BRP, Ride Eng., ODi, Tusk, Turner... the list and price points are near endless. Can spend less than the fuel that it cost you to haul the bike to your dealer and back if you want.

What do you mean they said no? You may have to sign something to accept liability, but NO shop is keeping my machine!

We'd dont keep customer bikes waiting on backorder parts if you want to take it with you.

Thats bullshit

Not necessarily on him. My mother just bought a new motorhome. After she dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s the dealer stated that it had a warranty for a solar panel bracket and they would not let her take the motorhome due to “liability reasons”. The motorhome sat for about 30 days while the “rushed” the part. I don’t know all the legalities but it seems once they have your vehicle for a warranty issue they have the ability to hold the vehicle until it’s fixed. I was quite upset of the situation and it makes no sense to me. Not necessarily on him. My mother just bought a new motorhome. After she dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s, the dealer said it had a warranty issue with a solar panel bracket and wouldn’t let her take the motorhome due to “liability reasons.” It sat there for about 30 days while they “rushed” the part. I don’t know all the legalities, but it seems that once they have your vehicle for a warranty issue, they can hold it until it’s fixed. I was pretty upset about the situation. I felt like they took advantage of her.  It makes no sense to me.

It’s undoubtedly an important part and I understand the dealer not wanting to let the guy loose with the bike with potentially faulty handlebar clamps. But this dealer’s approach is almost unbelievably stringent. Holding the bike hostage can’t be the best option. My take on how this should go:

The dealer needs to make it clear to the customer that they can’t, in good conscience, let the bike out the door with faulty clamps. They’ve done that much. But they need to do more than just sit and wait until the replacements arrive from Honda. As Beta480RX pointed out, there are plenty of perfectly serviceable clamps out there. If it’s my bike I’d agree with the dealer that the clamps should be replaced at Honda’s cost, and then propose that I buy a replacement of my own choosing and that instead of giving me the clamps they reimburse me for the value of the Honda clamps or the value of the aftermarket clamps I buy, whichever is less. Everyone is happy - the safety issue is  addressed, the customer gets to use the bike, and the dealer has generated some good will by being a reasonable  person, willing to work towards a solution. 
I wonder if there was a sternly worded message from Honda about how to handle this, or if the dealer has been sued before or is terrified of legal liability? Reasonable people can generally find solutions instead of just putting their foot down and insisting that it’s this way and nothing else will do. 

Was about to take my bike in this week. Guy on the phone said "usually takes about a week" to get the part.  I noticed that Motorsport and Rocky Mountain have the OEM lower mounts available, I would assume those would be the updated ones?? I'd prefer to spend $50 on them vs taking the bike to the dealership that is an hour away and doing multiple 2 hour round trips.  Or might just go with Renthal ones, though I have heard they can be more rigid? Never tried them.

Just buy aftermarket clamps. My dealer wanted me to drive 3 hours there, luckily mine were fine when I measured them. 

Good idea.  It's my understanding that if you bought replacement clamps before you received the recall notice, Honda may reimburse you.

I did buy replacement clamps but would still prefer the OEM set.  I guess I'll just continue to use my aftermarket set until Honda has the replacement clamps in stock.  One thing I'm not going to do is have my bike sit at the dealership for a good chunk of the summer race season waiting for replacement OEM clamps to arrrive.

Id be ringing Honda corporate. No dealer is gonna hold my bike hostage for 300$ for a mandatory recall.