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Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Titanium valves have been very common for decades now. I know Yamaha's modern (00's) YZ four strokes have pretty much always had them.
For what it is worth. I rode the 27 at Millville for the media day (can see my reactions in "Kincade Pavich's" Youtube video shared in the last page of this forum) and as a very very average skill leveled motocross racer... I felt that the changes made a significant difference.
I have ridden a Honda race bike of every generation from 2011 till now and this 2027 had a few key improvements that made a very very noticible difference to me.
First, the engineers managed to make the power much more linear which IMO took out a bunch of the jerky/pitchy feel you get when getting on the gas. Didn't feel "scary" or "tooo much torque" but still had all the power you could want.
Second, they made it feel much much more stable on some of the straight line speed. Wether that was with the ergo changes, suspension changed, or updated body work (or probably all of that) it was definitely better.
Third, (and mainly as a taller rider) I really really enjoyed the changes to the cockpit. The wider contact point for your shins and knees was a nice change, and I like the 5mm change in pegs (really think this played a factor in the stability).
With that being said, the 2026 and older Hondas are still great IMO (and I am a Honda fanboy) but the 2027 does make some of the biggest jumps I think you can feel from one years stock bike to another.
Do you think the ergo changes and wider contact point for shins and knees would help a rider who has size 12 feet like myself? I notice that if I'm on the balls of my feet the inside of my boot tends to sit behind the frame rails or has little contact patch where I can grip it, beyond my knees and legs. Made me love the RJ wing seat on most of my bikes except my yammie, which I can't even feel it.
That 2009 CRF450 was the biggest POS since the 1981 CR450 (and honda bit me on that turd, too), BUT every now and then a new bike hits it out of the park. I think with the 2008 being the handling target (stability and turning) and Honda going away from that BS "razor sharp handling" mantra they have def made an improvement here.
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Yamaha has been using titanium exhaust valves since the 426 iirc. I've had a 98 wr400, it's valves were steal, 03 yz250f, 07 wr250f, two 19 450fx's, and a 24 450fx with zero valve issues. Keep the filter clean and they'll outlast the bike.
Being taller you may not have noticed, but did you notice the seat height being any lower? The specs have it as one of the lower bikes now. As an inseam-challenged rider, seat height matters.
Edit: checked out your video and you guys did a great job. Enjoyed it.
Gee if the base 450 is a good as it sounds (from all magazine tests) then how good is the WE???!!!!
Stiffer fork springs, pc lowering link, and learned a little trick to overfill the Trans oil by about 300cc, kept the clutch cooler and I had no fade problems (I also am not a clutch abuser)
Loved that bike.
👍 I had a 2010. I did the same mods. It was one of my favorite bikes.
I do not think the frame felt much different along my feet (I am super tall but only wear a size 10) but anywhere above the ankles and on the plastic/subframe felt way better for contact points and gripping. In actually run a wide seat on my 2025, and I did on my 2023 as well, but I do not think i will need to run a wide seat when and if I can buy a 2027.
Also, they moved the shift lever forward 5MM (plus the peg back 5MM) so I felt it was better for shifting.
Personally, I did not feel like the seat height felt any lower. More specifically, I would say that I did not feel more "crunched" in the rider cockpit. Of course I am no professional tester like them other boys, but that is how I felt.
I will say that Alex Martin spun some laps out there and I did hear him say he LOVED it... And boy oh boy did he look good and wicked fast out there haha.
Also, thanks for watching our video and I am glad you liked it.
will never buy a new year bike again.
and wonder how the 27' motor durability will play out, since they shaved 6 lbs.
When was the last time Honda released a bike, and later had to fix a reliability issue?
the reliability testing Honda does is light years ahead of any other manufacturer. I wouldn't think twice personally
Pit Row
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