2013 HONDAs BREAK COVER

Honda has completely revised the CRF450R, with new chassis, forks, twin-muffler set-up, engine refinements and ergos.

Just last week Kawasaki announced they are running KYB’s Pneumatic Spring Forks (PSF) – Kayaba’s all-new air forks – in their 2013 450cc model, and this week Honda has done the same. You’ll find the 48mm inverted PSF mounted on an all-new twin-spar aluminum frame. As well as the new chassis comes a revised subframe, swingarm, and dual exhaust, which is said to centralise the bike’s centre of gravity. Plus, the shock has been shortened.

The engine gets a new piston head shape, porting and valve timing, moving the compression from 12.0:1 to 12.5:1. While the intake and exhaust ports and the transmission have been re-designed to help increase torque at the low-to-mid rpm range.

Finally there’s a six-spring clutch for better feel at the lever. The radiators are smaller and flow more air. And the front tyre is now Dunlop’s new MX51, which has been specifically designed for the CR-F. The fuel tank capacity has been increased slightly and the machine gets a sharp looking new bodywork and ergo package.

As for Honda’s quarter-litre model, the 2013 CRF250R only receives minimal updates compared to the 450, but sees changes to the powerplant and suspension. A new fuel injection setting refines the engine and power deliver response in the low to mid range, while stiffer fork springs claim to deliver better absorption and traction. It also receives Dunlop’s new-generation Geomax MX51FA tyres.