1983 Honda CR480R Retro Bike Review

tblazier
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8780
Joined
7/20/2011
Location
Leesburg, VA US
Edited Date/Time 1/19/2019 1:50pm


As some of you probably know, I write classic motocross bike reviews for PulpMX.com. In them, I use my extensive classic MX magazine collection to look back at what people thought of a bike at the time of its introduction. As a lover of all things moto related, I really enjoy doing these and I thought it might be fun to try doing one in video format for you to enjoy. 

For this first video review, I thought I would revisit one of those Classic Steels and do a video review of Honda's groundbreaking 1983 CR480R. This is a bike I have actually owned two of and really enjoyed. At the time of its introduction, this was by far one of the best motocross machines Honda had ever produced and it remains a very popular vintage racer to this day.

If you enjoy it, let me know and I will try and do some other classic machines as well.

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BR8ES
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1914
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6/3/2018
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Bennett, CO US
1/19/2019 8:29am
enjoy your content and such, this was good. I would enjoy something like this with less popular machines too.
1
gt80rider
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Boulder, CO US
1/19/2019 9:13am
My hands went numb just reading the title... LoL.
1
Denn700
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Shreveport, LA US
1/19/2019 9:15am
I have read all th classic steel’s. I’m really excited you are going to video. I would love to see something on the YZ250 RJ built for the Rodil Cup World SX finals.

The Shop

S.A. Weave
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104
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12/31/2018
Location
Kennewick, WA US
1/19/2019 10:02am
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it, plus the old promo videos are cool, nice work!
Kyle_Miller
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37
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5/21/2018
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Harborcreek, PA US
Fantasy
1070th
1/19/2019 10:08am
This is awesome! Love the old bikes! I was into supermoto for awhile and on one of the sites they were talking about how supermoto started with the superbikers. I remember watching a video someone had recorded of a superbikers race on NBC and Steve Wise was racing a CR480. Always thought that was a badass bike! Thanks for the video, definitely cool to see the old bikes and get some history on them! Gives me motivation to get moving on my 1975 KX250 project I have in the shed.
tblazier
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8780
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Location
Leesburg, VA US
1/19/2019 10:11am
S.A. Weave wrote:
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it...
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it, plus the old promo videos are cool, nice work!
The 1983 CRs used an 18" in the rear and a 21" in the front. Thank you for the kind words as well.
blaze 57
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378
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4/11/2018
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Inchelium, WA US
1/19/2019 10:47am
The 83' Honda CR 480 was a giant leap forward compared to the 81' 450.
ctbale
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1/4/2014
Location
Gustavus, AK US
1/19/2019 11:31am
Nice! I will watch all your future reviews ... brings back good memories!

1
PRM31
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8/7/2009
Location
Northern, VA US
1/19/2019 1:11pm
gt80rider wrote:
My hands went numb just reading the title... LoL.
Isn’t that the truth! I was racing one when I was 16. Really nice bike.
Wandell
Posts
7563
Joined
12/17/2008
Location
Cairo, GA US
1/19/2019 1:29pm
One of my old riding buddies purchased one of these new in 83. It was an awesome bike! Sadly, he passed away last year but I think of him every time I see a 1983 CR480. We had a lot of good times and that big CR was always involved!
1
Superdave19
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1102
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10/10/2012
Location
Spring, TX US
1/19/2019 1:44pm Edited Date/Time 1/19/2019 2:01pm
I bought one a couple of yrs ago.. Raced one vintage race and freaking loved it. The power band on the 480 is just amazing.. useable.. all mid, but hard to describe. Pulls like a crazy. Very light feeling, and corners amazing (I guess because it's so under sprung) I sold it last yr, as I have to work wkds, and couldn't hit any races.

If you ever have an itch to dabble in Evo, these bikes a hard to beat..
1
tblazier
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8780
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Location
Leesburg, VA US
1/19/2019 2:25pm
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2019/01/19/319219/s1200_480.jpg[/img]

Oh man, I love that seat! It looks like one of the trick MXA ones Ozzy was importing in the 90s.
1
Lightning78
Posts
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12/12/2007
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
1/19/2019 2:37pm
S.A. Weave wrote:
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it...
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it, plus the old promo videos are cool, nice work!
tblazier wrote:
The 1983 CRs used an 18" in the rear and a 21" in the front. Thank you for the kind words as well.
Balze... AWESOME VIDEO! Keep em coming .....and I have to thank you again for remembering me when you did the 2003 KX250 and emailing me the articles. That was way cool of you and I appreciate it!
tblazier
Posts
8780
Joined
7/20/2011
Location
Leesburg, VA US
1/19/2019 2:53pm
S.A. Weave wrote:
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it...
That was really good! Did that bike have 20"/18" wheels? Your video format is good because you can put more pictures of the bike in it, plus the old promo videos are cool, nice work!
tblazier wrote:
The 1983 CRs used an 18" in the rear and a 21" in the front. Thank you for the kind words as well.
Balze... AWESOME VIDEO! Keep em coming .....and I have to thank you again for remembering me when you did the 2003 KX250 and emailing me the...
Balze... AWESOME VIDEO! Keep em coming .....and I have to thank you again for remembering me when you did the 2003 KX250 and emailing me the articles. That was way cool of you and I appreciate it!
My pleasure!

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