350thumper 337 Posted May 23, 2018 Plated and reliable. Honda quality proven off road race experiance from honda . Spank. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wintyfresh 49 Posted May 23, 2018 I'm thrilled to see a Japanese manufacturer make a 450 dualsport, but at 289 lbs (wet, admittedly) and just $600 less than a KTM 500 I wonder how much business they'll be taking from the Austrians. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
350thumper 337 Posted May 23, 2018 I used the word spank and ktm came up.. I think you mean take business away from China . Cf moto, Chinas biggest reproduction plant has paired up with ktm to mass produce the ktms before being shipped to USA. Heres the pic. As long as it crosses the finish line first . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wintyfresh 49 Posted May 23, 2018 That's certainly my hope, or maybe we'll see that 6-speed, fuel-injected DRZ 400. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken S 165 Posted May 23, 2018 Someone buy one and get it setup proper. Be interesting to see what it takes to make it work good. I put 4 grand plus into my 18 500 and 2 grand into my 15 WR450F to get them where I was happy with them (race ready) Cant wait to drag race one up a sand dune against my 500 EXC. And my 15 WR 450. Honda has made some fast bikes in the past. Ask 350 Thumper about his 450R death trap. Some of the fastest riders in Desert Racing are riding 5-10 old 450R and 450Xs I loved the Honda’s I had in the past Rode many a 3 wheeler into the ground with little maintenance and went thru a bunch of 80’s era XLs Put 100,000 on a Gold Wing I bought used and wrecked with nothing but tires and a half dozen oil Changes Maybe they got it right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken S 165 Posted May 23, 2018 46 minutes ago, haywood said: Can Yamaha be next? A plated version of the WR450 that gets better fuel economy and still performs the same would be cool. My WR 24 mpg My 500EXC 45 mpg. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oracle 206 Posted May 23, 2018 9 minutes ago, Wintyfresh said: That's certainly my hope, or maybe we'll see that 6-speed, fuel-injected DRZ 400. I'm so glad I wasn't drinking coffee when I read this... As far as the Honda. It's great to see them step into the market. That's something we've all wanted to see for a long time. I would have wished it was priced a bit less than the KTM. $9500 range would have made it a bit enticing. But if they want to price close to KTM, I'm going KTM all day long in the dual sport market. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alyeska 50 Posted May 23, 2018 maybe it will have Honda reliablility and that would be nice, Im 50-50 on ktms lasting, my 1190 took a ---- at 800 miles but my 690 is awesome, I will buy one of these as soon as I see one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasDualler 32 Posted May 24, 2018 I would be really tempted to get one of these but yeah if it's going to be that close in price I'd go KTM as well. If it's going to be anything like the 250L emission controls and DOT safety wise all you'd have to do is ditch the stock muffler, install a lithium battery and swap the taillight for something slimmer and you could easily cut 10-15lbs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
350thumper 337 Posted May 24, 2018 Was pounding my 12 yr old CRF 450R hard, till it pounded me.then sold it for more than i bought it for. Is anyone riding a 12 yr old ktm? Just kidding everyone knows theres no such thing. I wanted the new bike to be a 650r with inverted forks, e start , injected, with sick black wheels and anodized hubs. Wishful thinking. Doesnt matter i cant afford a 100000 bike. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wierdrider 189 Posted May 24, 2018 04 racing four stroke with 12,000 miles?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SoCalMule 106 Posted May 24, 2018 2 minutes ago, 350thumper said: Was pounding my 12 yr old CRF 450R hard, till it pounded me.then sold it for more than i bought it for. Is anyone riding a 12 yr old ktm? Just kidding everyone knows theres no such thing. I wanted the new bike to be a 650r with inverted forks, e start , injected, with sick black wheels and anodized hubs. Wishful thinking. Doesnt matter i cant afford a 100000 bike. 07 KTM 450 exc, 10k miles plus, 367 hrs, just rebuilt engine to do it all over again... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SoCalMule 106 Posted May 24, 2018 I see this move by Honda as a big win for those of us that haul our "plated bikes" to the trail head as if they were green stickered bikes; only slabbing to reach the next trail. This should increase our numbers of "keep our trails open voting members" by the dyed-in-the-wool" Japanese Rules Enthusiasts that want a competitive dirt bike pretty much right out of the box. The Japanese manufactures will no doubt will keep a very close eye on Honda's results into this market, and be sure that there are street legal KX's, RM's, YZ's on the drawing board right now. Finally there are becoming more options to the (pretty close to race ready) dual sport world that can expand our "dirt bike workaround" of what trails are "legal" to ride on! Wouldn't it be something to see in the near future, AMA sanctioned enduros held be new clubs popping up, holding enduro events in the San Diego area? Many of us would be very competitive in all the classes... Novice, Intermediate, Senior, and Masters. I welcome this with my Austrian open arms! Kangei Honda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alyeska 50 Posted May 25, 2018 Was at fun bike yesterday and my bike will be there first week in September, hope it as good as it sounds, I never buy anything sight unseen but Honda has never let me down before in MX bikes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikey777 44 Posted May 25, 2018 I trailer my plated bike to the trail so I don't have to change tires and oil all the time. PTA and esplensive. Only reasons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SoCalMule 106 Posted May 25, 2018 1 hour ago, alyeska said: Was at fun bike yesterday and my bike will be there first week in September, hope it as good as it sounds, I never buy anything sight unseen but Honda has never let me down before in MX bikes. Congratulations! Will be interested in the mods that you install. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
socalhodaka 115 Posted May 25, 2018 22 hours ago, 350thumper said: Was pounding my 12 yr old CRF 450R hard, till it pounded me.then sold it for more than i bought it for. Is anyone riding a 12 yr old ktm? Just kidding everyone knows theres no such thing. I wanted the new bike to be a 650r with inverted forks, e start , injected, with sick black wheels and anodized hubs. Wishful thinking. Doesnt matter i cant afford a 100000 bike. I’m still riding my 02 520, here with Jeff on his 2016 500. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crfxer 87 Posted May 25, 2018 22 hours ago, 350thumper said: Was pounding my 12 yr old CRF 450R hard, till it pounded me.then sold it for more than i bought it for. Is anyone riding a 12 yr old ktm? Just kidding everyone knows theres no such thing. I wanted the new bike to be a 650r with inverted forks, e start , injected, with sick black wheels and anodized hubs. Wishful thinking. Doesnt matter i cant afford a 100000 bike. Rode my 01 KTM 300 till 2 years ago. Had it 8 years and it never let me down. Also sold it for more than I paid for it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
97xr400r 122 Posted May 25, 2018 Its got you thinking doesn't it Dave! Hah I put 40,0000 miles on my all original HRC hopup xr400r adv riding, commuting, supermoto flogging. I was simply impressed with how that bike took it. Honda reliability? It sounds like the engineering "safety factor" cyclic fatigue etc that was applied to the engine components was a great choice... "Chuck Miller: “Five years ago I was in product planning and we knew that we wanted this machine. We knew that we had a great X platform and really we wanted an X with a plate on it. But, Honda’s standards are so different between a competition machine, a performance machine versus a street-legal machine. Street legal bikes have sound regulations and exhaust emissions, as well as certain light issues, such as a light has to go out so far. Part of it was helping the engineers understand that we really want this competition machine to just be street legal. It was difficult for Honda to understand both of those in the same bike. Because our street standards are so high for durability, so to have them understand that we want a performance machine with that same durability it has been a challenge. Over the last few years they’ve been able to overcome some of the sound and emissions issues with the performance of the machine and some of the parts they put on it. CM: “It will be a little more like a street bike actually. One thing we will be recommending on this bike is a more frequent oil change than the X and part of that is because, if someone rides it on the pavement all the time or down the freeway wide open for hours, they would need to check their oil. I think there is 1.8 quarts of oil so if you were to use some oil or it got too hot the maintenance intervals are a little sooner for sure. What’s interesting is that we’ve been talking about the crossover between the L and adventure bike riding. Because this is adventure bike too, in a lot of ways. It’s just a more aggressive adventure bike. I can already see soft bags and some racks for the back, that the aftermarket will take care of and you’ll see people riding these bikes all over the country.”" So glad to see Honda stepping up. I'm really hoping a rally version is in the works. Price is steep but it does have some trick parts (Titanium fuel tank, Litium batery all LED lighting) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reximus 10 Posted June 20, 2018 On 5/24/2018 at 9:37 AM, 350thumper said: Was pounding my 12 yr old CRF 450R hard, till it pounded me.then sold it for more than i bought it for. Is anyone riding a 12 yr old ktm? Just kidding everyone knows theres no such thing. I wanted the new bike to be a 650r with inverted forks, e start , injected, with sick black wheels and anodized hubs. Wishful thinking. Doesnt matter i cant afford a 100000 bike. Hell yes to a EFI BRP!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Champ 116 Posted June 20, 2018 I would hate to buy one and have to replace a titanium tank with a desert tank for some range. I wonder what real range will be. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SoCalMule 106 Posted June 20, 2018 I would hate to buy one of theses Hondas and realize that it only makes 25 horse power and the torque ratings are just as dismal... I wonder if it might me nice to have 63 HP in the same class of bike like some of the other manufactures provide in a street legal format? I would prefer owning a bike that I would not have to remove/replace 50% of the stock parts to make it ridable. "Supposed Honda reliability" at such a sacrifice does not make sense to me. I'm glad that the DS market is gaining a foothold with a non European manufacturer. A modern 450cc engine with twenty five horse power though? Come on?! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TexasDualler 32 Posted June 20, 2018 2 minutes ago, SoCalMule said: A modern 450cc engine with twenty five horse power though? Come on?! The 25hp claim is a bogus claim. It’ll make power close to the CRFX numbers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
