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Here’s a video of a 06 racer x did last year, pretty interesting if you haven’t seen it.
I just love that thing so much. It's got a shit ton of hours on it and it's still rock solid. Just great all around bike.
The 07s are supposed to be even better but l don't see how.
So basically what I’m trying to say is that for most riders, those older crf 450s are more than adequate.
As for likes and dislikes, I love how smooth it rides, especially compared to the two stroke. It almost glides around the track. Like most newer 450s you can just roll on the throttle and it goes, no feathering the clutch or need to over rev. Dislikes have to be the breaks. Coming from a KTM it is really noticeable. I’m sure with some aftermarket stuff you can get it closer, but stock mine leave a lot to be desired.
The Shop
The '06-'08 generation is preferred with the '08 still considered a great bike even today.
Let's face it - at the local-for-fun level, the bike is generally not the weak link.
Having said that I had an 2007 in 2012 and that was a great bike at the time, just heavier springs and a revalve,
more than enough bike for a 200 lb C grade rider.
All in all though l think the 08 was just the culmination of the R&D run for that model and it was as good as they could get it. Which was pretty damn good.
Sincerely,
Jason Holub
Pay attention to the title of the thread.
Pit Row
They would suck the valves up into the head. Everyone was replacing the stockers with Kibblewhite stainless.
But if you are on a budget you can't go wrong with an '08.
The 05-08 models are solid mx bikes. Owned a few & never had any issues with them.
H4L has it right: 24mm offset from 2002-2007, then 22mm in 08’ with HPSD. (Don’t forget, Honda pulled the 4T steering back 2mm in 2006 at the axle lugs as well, making 08’ geometry similar to original 2002-2004 fix of 20mm clamps…)
2005 is it’s own animal; 2006-2008 are much improved. Crank offset, weird frame mounted silencer mount (like a 450X), fork tube length, etc. Good info here: https://motocrossactionmag.com/2006-honda-crf450-test/
FGR01 is on the right track with the 41mm FCR, but I’d completely disagree with the statement that 07/08 are basically identical. The 08’ HPSD works, as evidenced by the fact that modern Geico bikes and Factory CRF’s still utilize them (and RC’s 04’ and Kdub’s CRF’s used them as well). The 08’ feels more nimble with the 22’s, and the mapping that changed between 1st, 2nd, and 3-5 really put the power to the ground in a usable way. Some manufacturers detuned bikes of this era with snow-cone silencer inserts (cough YZF), but the CRF remained quite potent. Similar, yes, but having ridden each back to back, they’re unique to themselves; and the 07’ was a better engine for me at the time racing 450B.
Good history here for the 08’: https://motocrossactionmag.com/2008-honda-crf450-race-test/
I’m currently on my third 2008 CRF450R and looking for a fourth; at the expense of my 17’ CRF450. Crazy, maybe, but I’m just that much more comfortable on it. Both bikes have Kit suspension and are all dialed in, but the 08’ just feels like home. Lap times are identical having ridden both back to back at my slow 30A pace.
Having tested all the 2019’s, I can honestly say that the 06’-08’ CRF’s hold their own against modern offerings (for the right rider who doesn’t necessarily need, or want, the ‘latest and greatest’). They’re stable, reliable, and have a wealth of industry backing. No, they’re not EFI and stupid crisp and responsive (hyper, even, in the case of 17-19 CRF’s) but they work (excellent!). I’m more mechanically inclined than most, and working on the 08’ is simple compared to the 17’; I’d rather keep my carb proper than d*ck with EFI hiccups, any day. Red Rider rant over
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