Honda CRF 450X (enduro) engine in a Honda CRF 250 L/ Rally

KTMphil

Senior member
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bikes
2007 KTM 990 Adventure Suzuki DRZ 400
Away from Husqvarna / KTM, with their crazy road legal (500,000 Baht +) prices, there isn't a road legal, high performance, offroad bike, option, in Thailand.


A friend came up with the idea of why not put a Honda CRF 450 X enduro engine in a Honda CRF 250 L/ Rally?

1. Easy to re-register the bike with an aftermarket engine that has been imported into Thailand correctly.

2. Modification will be a headache but doable.

3. CRF 450 X engine's on ebay for 50,000 Baht (plus shipping and import tax)



You end up with a 45HP bike v's a 19 HP bike and its road legal in Thailand.


crf 450 by Triangle Golden 007, on Flickr
 
a guy on advrider put a 500cc from a cbr500 engine in the crf250l ,well i say put in he had to cut half the frame away and refabricate a new one....
 
Sounds like "why not put a ferrari engine in a fiat uno" to me. Not a good solution, also that crf-L frame is terrible, Ton's crf-L frame is cracking after 1 day "light" motocross. Now imagine with a 450 engine in it.
 
The problem with Phil's idea...as you just pointed out...is the quality of the alloy and the fabrication method employed that results in inconsistent and at times seriously inferior frames.
One cannot expect the same results from a "similar alloy" costing half and welded "thai style" when compared to say...a YZF frame (which can accomodate the 450 engine into 250 frame as demonstrated).
Having said that...take the 250 crf frame...reinforce a couple of spots and change a few welds properly and you're in business.
 
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