↓
 

Texas Adventure

Dual Sport Adventure Motorcycling

Texas Adventure
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Rides
  • Products
    • Ride Guides
    • Texas Adventure Rider stickers
  • Ride Reports
  • Bikes
  • Articles
  • About
Home→Tags CRF450L

Tag Archives: CRF450L

Honda CRF450L in the wild

Texas Adventure Posted on September 17, 2018 by RichardSeptember 17, 2018

After a well telegraphed build-up, Honda has finally released the 2019 CRF450L – one of the most anticipated dual sport bikes in history. Honda (and Japanese) motorcycle fans have been demanding new dual sport bikes from Japan for years as KTM, Husqvarna, and other smaller European manufacturers have trounced the ancient offerings from Japan Inc.

2019 Honda CRF450L
2019 Honda CRF450L

Moto journalists were recently invited to a press ride and the first reports on the bike are just now being released. Is the CRF450L everything the dual sport community has been demanding? Not surprising, opinions vary, depending on the skill and experience of each reviewer. Here’s what famed motorcycle racer Jimmy Lewis had to say about the new 450.

“This is not a bad motorcycle. In fact it is very good. But instead of having to read between the lines and guess what others are trying to tell you, here is the plain straight up fact. This CRF450L is not going to replace your KTM 500 EXC. It isn’t in that category though many hoped it would be. The CRF450L is a modern day XR650L..”

In other words, the best comparison for this bike are the WR250R, DRZ400S, XR650L, and DR60. Not the KTM 350 or 500 EXC bikes. This is not a “dirt bike with blinkers”. Instead, it is a modern version of the XR650L or the DRZ400 dual sport bikes. With a really short recommended oil change interval (600 miles). Here’s how Jimmy Lewis put it.

“Yet maybe this bike will be a better match for a different customer and best ridden stock? There are plenty of 250cc dual sport riders who might be looking for the next step up. Riders coming off a Suzuki DR-Z400 would be happily impressed. And if you are one of the many Honda XR650L riders out there looking for a lighter and higher performance Honda option, this bike is right in your wheelhouse. Want to do more trails than your Kawasaki KLX will handle, now we’re talking.”

How well will this bike sell? Time will tell but I could see it going one of four ways.

  1. “What???  The KTM 500 EXC is only $800 more than the CRF. For that kind of money, I want the more powerful, lighter weight, and longer oil change intervals of the EXC bike.”
  2. “What??? 600 mile oil change intervals? To hell with that. I’ll buy a WR250R and change the oil every 3000 miles.”
  3. “What??? $10,300 for a dual sport? No way am I spending that much money on a Japanese dual sport. I can buy 1.5 new DRZs for that kind of money.”
  4. “I want one. I want one now. I must have one. Now.”

 

Clearly, Honda is hoping that the majority of people go with option four.

So do I. I hope Honda sells a million of these bikes.

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged CRF450L | Leave a reply

Now Is Your Chance

Texas Adventure Posted on May 23, 2018 by RichardMay 23, 2018

You’ve been wishing, hoping, praying, and hollering for the Japanese to come out with a modern 450 dual sport bike. You swore that if they would just make it, you would buy it. Your wish has been answered – today … Continue reading →

Posted in Motorcycles | Tagged CRF450L, Honda | Leave a reply

Featured Content

Guide to dual sport adventure riding Are you new to the wonderful world of dual sport adventure riding and wondering where to start? If so, this guide is for you.
- Introduction Start here.
- What is Dual Sport Adventure Riding?
- Selecting the Perfect Motorcycle
- Protecting your bike

Popular Posts

  • Finally, A Wide Ratio Transmission
  • DR-Z400S Adventure
  • Texas Dual Sport Adventure Riding – An Overview
  • Wind management – adding a windscreen to the DRZ
  • Rides
  • Going Big – no replacement for displacement
  • Husqvarna TE610
  • Lynx Fairing
  • The KTM 500 EXC build
  • Bikes

Tags

701 Enduro Adventure Adventure Bikes adventure guide Adventure Photography Africa Twin Arkansas Big Bend Big Bend Ranch State Park BMW R100GSPD DR-Z400S DRZ Galeana Gear General Zaragoza Great Divide Ride Hill Country Honda Husky Husqvarna Husqvarna TE610 Kawasaki KLR KLR650 KTM 500 EXC KTM 690 K Trail Mexico MexTrek Motorcycles New Mexico Ozark Mountains Ozarks Real de Catorce Roll the Bones Rundown Sandy Creek Terlingua Ranch Terra Texas Adventure Ride Texas Hill Country TR650 TR650 Terra Triumph Tiger XR650L
©2021 - Texas Adventure - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑
WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com