Crf45o Revision Decision

CRF45O REVISION DECISION

Word is finally out, and spy photos be damned, the 2007 Honda CRF450R motocrosser doesn’t get twin pipes, fuel-injection or a wholesale redesign after all. It did, however, receive plenty of smaller changes that might just keep this five-time Ten

Best Bikes winner tops for another year. Final verdict on that, of course, has to wait ’til we ride it. In the meantime, changes fall in the “refinement”

column. A new 41mm Keihin FCR (plus 1mm) carburetor feeds a new 450X-like cylinder head with smaller exhaust valves, all of which is said to improve flow and offer smoother power delivery. To reduce weight (down a claimed .9 of a pound) there is a more compact, lighter engine-decompression system and lighter

chain guide. For improved durability, the clutch basket is manufactured from stronger material. Braking is said to be improved by a new link-type front master

cylinder. What about mass centralization as championed on the CRF250R last year? That is covered, too, with a new subframe mount that positions the muffler farther forward. -Ryan Dudek