CRF 450R

[suitcase]

CRF 450R Help

Who knows about these bikes? I just bought one, and well Holly Crap!!!! What did I do? Got my boy an XR 100 for his birth day, so of course I thought I needed one. Have rode bikes for yrs. but it has been yrs. since I have rode, and never anything newer than 01, and for sure never a crf 450. Is the R the motorcross bike?

But now I own it so my next question is I think I want to go at least one tooth smaller in the front. It has a 13 in front and a 48 in the rear now. What I am finding is it halls but in First gear. Need to slow it down a little for the Mts. Any thoughts form anybody?

 

[Bkinz]

The R is the motorcross version, and as for gearing it down I would go to a 50 in the rear and leave the front the same for now. I wouldn't go anything smaller than a 13 in the front. I have a 13-48 on my yz450f, and it is still a lil bit on the high side, but it works for me. It might be still to fast though if you are trying to follow your kid on his 100. 13-50 would work pretty good if the 13-48 is still to fast though.
Brad

 

[JuicedRMKryder]

Nice thing about drpping 1 tooth in front is usually you can use the same chain, thats what I did on my crf450x. Makes it alot more managable in the tight rough stuff, but you do loose some top end if you ride many roads.

 

[lil734 doo]

Put a 13 once flywheel weight on it the gearing set good 13 bye 48 is very good gearing Had this set up on a 05 and it worked great And all was on single track trails

 

[suitcase]

Does three teeth in the rear equal 1 in the front? So if I go to a 50 that would almost be 1 in the front.

If I drop 1 tooth in the front how much would it knock down the top end 10 MPH or more?

What does the 13 once on the fly wheel do?

All great info, thanks guys

 

[Bkinz]

A 50 would be almost equal to a 13 in the front, and it would probably slow you down around 5-10mph. Thumpertalk.com has some very helpful info as well.

 

[Ricks 32]

I've had 5 CRF's and they are awesome bikes! I ride in the sand a lot and I also like to hit the single track trails and hillclimbs here in Idaho. I like to run a 13/54 setup in the mountains/hillclimb areas. If I run in the sand or somewhere where I want stock gearing for going faster, I put a 14 tooth in the front. 14/54 is the same gear ratio as the 13/50. CRF's in '02 and '03 came with the 13/50 gearing, and didn't go to the 13/48 til '04. I've always liked the feel of the 13/50 (or 14/54) ratio's the best. I don't feel the snap of the 13/48 is as crisp as the 13/50.

If I was riding with a XR100, I'd go with the 13/54 gearing. You won't have to be on the clutch all the time and 1st gear will manage any situation you will see. I'd also recommend a TM Designs chain guide as well. It will offer you more clearance when running the larger rear sprocket.

Good luck!

 

[AndrettiDog]

The motocross version (R) and the woods bike (X) are night and day. The powerband on the R version is more snappy and doesn't work as well when creek crossing and crawling over the big rocks. It really takes some clutch work. I turn my idle up just a tad to help out. Gearing will probably help and it sounds like Ricks and others have the right idea. I'm curious how the 450 will do for you. So many guys say you have to have a 450, but that could be a handful for someone who hasn't ridden much. Wait until you twist more than you mean to !!! Have fun on the moto!

 

[suitcase]

I think I will try the 54, sounds like what I'm working for.

Funny you should say a hand full because that is what I thought the first time I pulled it out of the truck and ran across the lot, almost came over backwards. (should I gone with just the 250). It was at that point that I thought I had to much bike. (A little history on my rideing) I rode for many yrs. started out on a XR 100 and went up from there, stoped at the 500. But that was many yrs ago, so the bikes now are much diffrent than 10 yrs ago, these new 4 strokes are awsome! Have been in the hills several times now with the new 450 with stock gears, and get allong better every trip. So with everyones help on the gears of these newer bikes, I'm hopeing to get what I want as far as speed and control in tight places. After rideing the power house for awhile now and am getting more confortable with it, and understanding the power a little better, I think it might have been the right choice. We will see what I think in another week or two.

Thanks again everyone. If you have anymore Ideas please feel free.

P.S. tore up my elbow last night, came over on me. Had a good wheelie going!!!!

 

[bannockrider]

we got a 09 CRF 450 R this spring too. if i was you id go 12 in the front and 50 in the back. and make sure you get a new chain. stock chains are junk!!!

 

[suitcase]

Mine is an 05 with after market o-ring chain. any reason you would change booth front and rear? Or does that give you the ratio that you need?

 

[Ricks 32]

Look for an 18 inch rear wheel on Ebay or Craigs list. The 18 is 100% better on the trails than the 19. You'll be glad you did on any technical or off-camber trails. I bought one for $200 with rear rotor and sprocket. I'm not sure on the 12 tooth sprocket. I've never used one myself, but that's a tight area for a 520 chain to wrap around. I have seen a chain "ball up" on the countershaft spocket on a CR500 and a CRF450. Both bikes had the 12 tooth on the front. That has kept me from using the 12 tooth, but I personally have never ran one.

Be religious with you oil changes and keep the air filter clean. Your valves will thank you. The '05 was the last CRF with the older valve seats, but they do last forever if you keep the filter cleaned. I've always removed the backfire screen and used a Twinair Air filter with the backfire resistent foam. That really helps with the air flow, especially in the top end. On the '05 I also ran a QuickShot accelarator pump in the bottom of the carb. They are $89 and well worth it. The 450 has a tendency to "flame out" when in slower technical areas (large rock or crossing fallen tree) or getting off and on the throttle quick, and the Quick Shot will eliminate that.

The don't hold a candle to Sleds, but they are fun when it's hot outside!

 

[suitcase]

Thanks Rick, that 12 has me worried a little. Don't know if I will go that way.

Have any of you other guys had this same problem with the 12 on the front?

 

[Mjunkie]

Someone else on here mentioned something about the flywheel. I believe the "x' model has a bigger flywheel than the "r" model. A lighter or smaller flywheel will make it accelerate faster, but a heavier one will be a lot less likely to stall when going slow and lugging the motor. It sounds like you ride mainly on rocky trails so you might want to look into either changing the flywheel or getting the "x" model with it already. Gearing will make a difference also, but the bigger flywheel will make a huge difference in those slow speed technical riding places. I ride in both rocky trails and in the sand, but mainly in the sand, so I haven't done any gear changes or flywheel changes because I like how it is in the sand, but every gnarly trail ride makes me think about it more!!

 

[xrated]

if you rode a 500 you should be fine And times 2 or 3 on the flywheel....good stuff.

but I don't know much, I ride a 1 2 and 5 smoker with the 19 still on the back, no kick stand and cut down bars with bark busters.

 

[mynameislance]

Ditto the flywheel comments. Also, put a trials tire on the rear. I've never tried it but a lot of woods riders swear by them. They won't do as good in the mud but for rocks/logs it'll turn your bike into a mountain goat.

There's also the Rekluse auto clutch option too if you are constantly on the clutch in tight stuff. I've never had any experience with one so I can't offer much insight.

 

[Shelfrost]

Check out this link for good info on crfs.

http://www.crfsonly.com/forum/login.php

It's full of stuff for the hondas.

 

[suitcase]

Went to the 54 in the rear and made a big diffrence. I sure I will go to the heavier fly wheel, also, just can't lug it enough...

 

[mynameislance]

Get a rekluse auto clutch, it sounds like it'd fit your riding perfect

 

[johnny be bad]

if you wanna make that thing work awesome. add a flywheel weight, a rekluse clutch and gear it down. depending what you ride for trails. i added 2 teeth to the rear. and it works awesome. the flywheel weight is a must for the tight trails. wont stall near as much and the rekluse is like cheating. the bike will tractor up rock faces like a trials bike.