110KG / 55HP Nice ratio!
MOTOCROSS ACTION IMPRESSION: WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RIDE THE 2013 HONDA CRF450
Honda went back to the drawing board and completely overhauled the CRF450. The frame is new, as is the swingarm, clutch, body styling, and two short mufflers replace the single. Find all there is to know here! |
The 2013 Honda CRF450.
FLYING INTO THE UNKNOWN
By John Basher
In my tenure at
Motocross Action magazine, I've never been apart of such a secret operation as what Honda planned last week. I feltlike I was told the secret to eternal life and then had to keep it tomyself. Disseminating the information probably would have led to astoning by Honda's staff. For six very long days I had to hold mytongue. But the day has come for me to reveal the biggest secret I'veevery kept-what it's like to ride the all-new 2013 Honda CRF450.
Zaca Station from the helicopter.
I honestly didn't know that I would get the opportunity to do so. A month ago Honda's PR staff sent out a cryptic email. The invitation failed to include any information regarding what Honda vehicle I would be riding. Maybe it was a new water craft, a dual-sport bike, or perhaps Honda was bringing back the two-stroke! The message did contain specific instructions to bring board shorts and work gloves. Was I going to be chopping down trees and wrestling alligators? I didn't have a clue. I was also told to pack lightly.
This past week I met Kevin Aschenbach, the press relations coordinator, at American Honda in Torrance, California. Upon arrival Kevin was still tight-lipped about the day's activities. It wasn't until we arrived at Torrance airport and walked to a helicopter that I realized we were going to Catalina Island. Wrong again.
An hour later we were circling the Zaca Station motocross track. North of Santa Barbara, Zaca Station is a pristine track and a popular spot for bike manufacturers to hold press introductions. Adding everything together, I nearly sprinted from the helicopter to the Honda truck in anticipation. What I discovered was the 2013 Honda CRF450.
DISSECTING THE CRF450
The writing was on the wall-I'd be one of the first people in the world to test ride the radically new Honda CRF450. I could hardly contain myself. I circled the bike like a vulture, marveling at all of the changes that Honda made. Aside from the edgy body styling, the most obvious change is the twin-pipe design. Upon closer inspection I noticed the larger gas tank, unusual fork caps, different swingarm, and frame spars that were considerably lower on the head tube compared to the 2012 model.
Article from MotocrossAction , more here:
http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/5ab5b434-62cb-48b5-bdf7-8a1b5fa086e5.aspx