HONDA CRF450R VS. WORKS EDITION–WORTH IT? THE WRAP
Last week, we got to ride the 2019 Honda CRF450R back-to-back with the new Works Edition. What we found surprised us. The WE isn’t exactly what we expected. For that matter, the standard 450 was a little surprising too. The 2019 Honda doesn’t look that different from the 2018 version, but Honda made some big changes. The engine cases are new (without the kickstarter boss), the frame is new (less rigid), the swingarm is new (also less rigid) and the mapping is different. Also, the bike now has launch control.
If you’re a Honda guy, you’ll notice the changes right away. We had Justin Jones as one of our test riders, and he’s about as familiar with the previous Honda as anyone. He had absolutely no trouble spotting the changes. He felt that the bike was more comfortable and that the frame changes were a step in the right direction. He also pointed out that in the past,Honda riders generally learned to run more engine oil than the manual recommended to get the clutch to last. The new cases hold more oil, so that’s been corrected. The biggest change of all was power. The Honda gained a little everywhere. There are differences to the head, the pipe and the mapping that account for this.
We say the Works Edition isn’t what we expected because we associate it with the KTM Factory Edition and the Husky Rockstar Edition. It’s actually a different concept. Those bikes are both previews of the next year’s model with a little extra bling. They don’t offer any performance increase over the bike to come. In Honda’s case, the differences are clearly performance driven. The head is hand-ported, the suspension has internal Kahima coatings and Ti Nitride on the tubes and the mapping is different. Like KTM, the Honda’s muffler is an upgrade–Yoshimura twin slip-ons, in this case. And like KTM, the graphics are a tribute to the company’s big star–Roczen, in this case.
The power increase is undeniable. The Works Edition has more mid-range and top end. Between the power increase of the standard model and the Works Edition bonus, it might even be the class champion, power wise. That contest will have to wait. The most surprising difference of all was the fork. The two Showa coil spring forks have identical internals aside from the coating. They have the same valving, the same springs and everything. Yet they felt completely different. The WE’s fork moved much more quickly. It actually threw off all our settings at first. It went though the stroke so much more quickly that it felt harsh. When we increased both rebound and compression damping, it was much better. Don’t expect the same setting to work on the two bikes. The one omission on the WE is a hydraulic clutch like the one on Roczen’s real bike. That’s the one change that the average rider can’t buy, and one that the Honda desperately needs.
The big question, of course, is straight forward enough. Is the CRF450RWE worth $2200 more? The WE is actually the most expensive MX bike available right now, surpassing even the KTM Factory Edition. Only 500 will be available, so dealers might even be asking more. If you price out the items individually, it all pencils out. The Yosh slip-ons are worth almost $1000, the suspension coatings are worth more than that and head porting can go from $250 to $1500. But are these the exact modifications you want? Most riders will want their own suspension work and their own graphics. In truth, the Works Edition isn’t for high-end pros planning on riding Nationals. Those guys ride highly modified bikes and they don’t want someone else deciding which modifications they run. It’s more for the older rider looking for a prestige bike. The same goes for the KTM Factory Edition. Look for the complete test in the October, 2018 print edition of Dirt Bike.
LORETTA LYNN’S AMATEUR NATIONALS
This week, the Amateur Nationals kick off at Loretta’s. You can access results as the racing week unfolds by clicking here. This is how it will all go down:
Sunday |
|
|---|---|
| 9 am | Chapel Service with Rev. Kevin Cozadd of MXers for Jesus (followed by baptism at the Creek): Thor Semi |
| 12 pm – 2 pm | Youth Rider Registration: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 2 pm – 5 pm | Yamaha bLU cRU Decal Pressed on Rider Bib and Pit Board & T-shirt giveaway: Yamaha Pits |
| 2:30 pm | Nathan Hall Memorial Bicycle Training Ride – 5K with Police Escort: Announcers Tower |
| 3 pm – 5 pm | Amateur Rider Registration: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 4 pm | Cobra New Family Orientation: Cobra Pits |
| 5 pm | CMA Blessing of the Bikes: Starting Line |
| 5 pm | Cobra Track Walk: Starting Line |
| 6 pm | Oakley Golf Cart Parade: Greenville |
| 7 pm | Red Bull Mini Moto for Mechanics Invitational: Starting Line |
Monday |
|
| 7:30 am | Practice Begins |
| 7:30 am – 6 pm | Yamaha bLU cRU Decal Pressed on Rider Bib and Pit Board & T-shirt giveaway: Yamaha Pits |
| 8 am – 10 am | Amateur & Youth Rider Registration: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 7 pm | Dr. Paul Reiman, Medical Director AMMU MX Sports Pro Racing, Racing Concussion Discussion: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 7:30 pm | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Opening Ceremonies and Riders’ Meeting: Lucas Oil Arena |
Tuesday |
|
| 7:30 am | Racing Begins |
| 12 pm | Suzuki Family Luncheon (By Invitation): Suzuki Pits |
| 7 pm | Cobra Family Dinner (Open to all Cobra riders and families): Lucas Oil Arena |
| 7:30 pm | 2019 Cobra Models Introduction: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 7:30 pm | Annual AMA Organizer Appreciation Reception: Western Town |
| 9 pm | Lucas Oil Drive-In Theatre: Lucas Oil Pit |
Wednesday |
|
| 7:30 am | Racing Begins |
| 1 pm – 4 pm | Talent Show Registration and Auditions: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 1:30 pm | Ricky Carmichael Autograph Signing: Cometic Display |
| 1:30 pm | Autograph Session with Jeremy McGrath and Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki Riders: Greenville |
| 5 pm | Kawasaki Team Green/Parts Unlimited Racers & Family Dinner, followed by Q&A with Jeremy McGrath and Riders: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 5:30 pm | MX Sports Pro Racing Orientation for Future Pro Riders: Suzuki Pits |
| 7 pm | Yamaha Track Walk with Ryan Villopoto. Start, First Turn, and Ten Commandments. All Riders Welcome: Starting Line (Following last moto) |
| 7 pm | Chapel Service with Rev. Kevin Cozadd of MXers for Jesus: FMF Pits |
| 7:30 pm | US Motorcycle Coaches Association (USMCA) Reception: Western Town |
| 8 pm | FMF Karaoke: FMF Pits |
| 8:30 pm | Teen Rave: Lucas Oil Arena |
Thursday |
|
| 7:30 am | Racing Begins |
| 11 am | Music on the Beach |
| 1 pm – 2:30 pm | Yamaha Autograph Signing with Ryan Villopoto: Yamaha Pits |
| 6 pm | Yamaha bLU cRU Family Dinner and Team Photo (wear your Loretta Lynn’s bLU cRU team shirt): Lucas Oil Arena |
| 8 pm | Moto Playground Sidewinder Finals: Sidewinder Track |
| 9 pm | Fright Night presented by Racer X Showing The Conjuring 1 & 2 : Woods Across from Beer Tent |
Friday |
|
| 7:30 am | Racing Begins |
| 7:30 pm | On Track Graduation: Lucas Oil Arena |
| 8 pm | Yamaha/MotoTees Talent Show: Lucas Oil Arena |
Saturday |
|
| 7:30 am | Racing Begins |
| 4 pm | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Award Ceremonies: Lucas Oil Arena |
In General |
|
| Sat – Thur: SXMX/FCA/Team Faith Ministry: Fun Park at Lake Loretta | |
| Sun – Sat: Kawasaki Team Green Trackside Support Available to all Riders | |
| Sun – Wed: Kawasaki Racers and Family Member Dinner Wristband Pickup: Greenville | |
| 7:30 am – 6 pm | Mon – Wed: Registration for Thursday Yamaha Family Dinner: Yamaha Pits |
| 10 am – 12 pm | Mon – Fri: Camp Loretta’s – Enter Near Medical Center |
| 1 pm – 3 pm | Mon – Fri: Camp Loretta’s – Enter Near Medical Center |
| 7 am – 7 pm | Mon – Sat: Burnout Area Open |
| 10 am – 6 pm | Mon – Sat: Specialized Pump Track, Presented by FCA |
| 7:30 am – 6 pm | Tue – Fri: Yamaha bLU cRU Pit Board and T-shirt Giveaway: Yamaha Pits |
| Tue – Sat: CMA Blessing of the Bikes: Staging Area Daily | |
| 8 pm – 12 am | Sat – Sat: Beer Tent Open Daily: Lake Loretta |
OLD TIMEY HUSKY ADS
That’s all for now!
–Ron Lawson
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