Air to the throne
By Martin Craven on 28th Sep 12
As far as weekends go, a trip to Faenza for the Italian MX Grand Prix on Sunday, followed by testing the all-new, 2013 Honda CRF450R at the track on Monday is pretty much up there, along with Take That getting back together!
Throw in a fat guy with a big white beard and you've got Christmas Day.
The eagerly-awaited trip didn't go exactly to plan though and seven hours on the motorway, one missed plane and one stolen i-phone later put a bit of a downer on proceedings.
Luckily the new 450 Honda soon put that right.
Since its inception way back in 2002 – when Honda launched the first CRF450 four-stroke – it has proved a winning package in the hands of professionals and amateurs alike.
As we all know, motocross is a fast-moving sport in every sense and on every level the CRF450 has constantly evolved, responding both to the competition and to riders' needs in equal measure. Honda started mass-producing motocross bikes with an aluminium twin-beam frame ahead of their rivals way back in 1997, beginning with their two-stroke range.
Just over a decade later came the fifth generation, with the main aim of each update being to strike an ideal balance between rigidity and agility.
Honda's pursuit of the best-possible bike for winning races prompted a thorough examination of the most efficient means of transmitting power and to achieve a more planted feel, with ultimate traction.
Step forward to 2013 and the sixth-generation aluminium twin-beam frame, which has been built from the ground up, retaining a focus on one of Honda's biggest mantras, whether in connection with road bikes, road racing or motocross – mass centralisation.
It also features rigidity levels that are tuned-in to certain key areas, to improve rider feel when landing from jumps, with revised geometry for increased front and rear traction and turning ability.
It is all about the scrub generation, as it is commonly known these days (I remember when a one-handed tail-whip got you front page coverage) and as scrubs are the future it is no surprise that Honda is dialling in on that theme.
The 2013 9.35kg aluminium twin-beam frame is completely new and was designed from the outset to facilitate mass centralisation and low centre of gravity.
The spec includes short, light, balanced dual tailpipes, contributing to the mass centralisation theme, with a really noticeable effect.
Once on the track you can instantly feel the nimble, light-feeling handling and stability of the machine.
Granted, the Faenza track was tacky and smooth and to be honest a Harley Davidson would have felt nice around it – at least for the first session.
After bedding the bike in it was exciting to see what the sixth-generation Honda was capable of, especially as the track got rougher as the day wore on.
My first impression was that it was short of nothing – and to be honest that impression didn't alter all day.
FOR FULL TEST AND PICTURES SEE TMX NEWS SEPTEMBER 28
