HONDA CRF450L MEGA THREAD

EXC's have run open countershaft sprockets ever since there were EXC's. There has always been only a tiny little cover over the top. And I have never heard of any issues.

So, y'all will be fine cutting the covers in half or ditching them. That full countershaft cover is pure Honda legal department beats out engineering department overkill.

If you are my age, images of your spyder bike front sprocket eating your bell bottom cuffs comes to mind when you see an open sprocket. But I have gotten used to it.

I got the 120 × 90 for the rear and 90 x 90 for the front. I also used the 3mm thick HD tubes.
They are quite a bit heavier than the stock tires and tubes. I'm hoping for some flywheel effect.
This is the first time I have used this particular tire however I have Motoz Tractionator GPS on my Tenere now.
I am also interested in the RallyZ as a dual sport tire for the 450L. I see MVI is using them now on the NMBDR.

You grew up in such a cool time. Us gen X'rs knew it, and were all secretly jealous

I got my flywheel weight and heavy clutch basket in and took it out for a couple of good rides. It definitely doesn't stall out as easy now. My buddy put them in his bike also his is stock otherwise. It helped smooth some out the on/off throttle jerkiness. I have the Vortex and FMF and it has made it so I don't have to ride the clutch as much going slow on rough terrain.

The brake pedal on the L has a spring hook cast into the side of it that the others don't have, so unless you have done the banjo bolt brake light switch mod it won't activate the brake light. Aftermarket brake pedals are cheeper than stock also. I figured that out this weekend when my buddy bent his.

Have you ridden your CRF yet, or are you still spending $100's making improvements that the internet tells you that you absolutely have to do?

I turned my idle to factory specs never have I had to work the clutch or have a stalling problem with or without the vortex unless I was slow to look ahead and make a quick decision on my path and I ride baby head size rocks in desert washes often.
Maybe your riding style would be more suitable for a Rekluse clutch rather than a steamroller weighted crank.

I think I can make an attachment point.

Thats great, for me on the 2020 before the vortex my bike loved to die in tight single-track. When riding and standing up it made it a workout of core strength to keep from going ass over teacups over the front fender.. Switching to the vortex fixed that for me.

You could be right but they're more than twice as much money, and I'm wasn't looking to spend that kind of money at the time. I have noticed no unwanted side effects for me. It probably revs a little slower but I'm not a racer so that doesn't bother me. The power delivery is even smoother now than with just the Vortex which I find an added plus. It still will pull 5th gear power wheelies not something I was expecting with the Vortex but I do enjoy way too much.

Edit: My biggest stalling problem is when idling along in 2nd while looking around on mostly flat ground, and hit a small bump that I think it should have rolled over. It usually dies with a bang that sounds bad for the crank. I have the idle set correctly and have even tried turning it up a little bit. I rode around on lost of baby heads in Moab last summer. I don't have much trouble stalling on rough terrain, it's the smooth ground that gets me when leisurely looking around.

I feel like Elvis riding the bike all stock with no Vortex with all that " jenky " throttle and massive engine braking.

Myself I think I would be worried about rod bearings by putting more weight on the crank like that or even bending the connecting rod as the piston is forced down there is more resistance to spin that crank when your lugging then hitting the throttle as the wheel is trying to spin with the extra weight. It would be even worse if your a bigger guy or carrying luggage but only time will tell just pay attention to vibrations coming from the engine. Just a thought......
Did you replace the judder spring with a normal clutch plate and some R springs?
That could be a weak spot keeping things spinning with momentum too

Might need another shot, vortex is back!

Yes I have replaced the judder spring. I don't have any problem stalling while using the clutch. My hands fall asleep when doing a lot of clutch work, or hard riding. It's when I'm on mostly smooth ground getting the feeling back, left hand not even on the handle bar. The engine doesn't sound like it's laboring just rolling along then boom dead, and it's a small dirt clod "smaller than my fist" or a 2 inch square edge. If they line up with the compression stroke it's like you turned the key off. So I believe it is a combination of high compression and low rotating mass that doesn't agree with my riding style. I have not experienced this with my other bikes 650L, KLR, DRZ, or my wife's Super Sherpa.

I have mounted and ran the 130/90-18 Motoz Tractionator Enduro I/T, taller, but fits fine on the CRF450L

I found that idle speed must be spot on, even with the vortex ecu. Don´t have a tach so setting it by ear has been a bit trial and error and had some flameouts when blipping the throttle from idle until I reached what seems to be good although it sounds a bit high to my ears. I also would like to know what kind of TPS this bike has. If it´s one where idle adjustment also changes TPS values or if idle adjustment is independent from the TPS and doesn´t change it´s values

Got the Moose Skidplate on and my home made front fender pull strap.

Both the KTM, WR and CRF450L had new Motoz RALLZ on them 10 days ago.
The RALLZ are still good enough for the upcoming RNR (www.dualsportuniverse.com) and the AMA OZARK 200.
I measured both the WR and CRF rear tread in several spots, and the mean tread depth is still 9-10 mm on the middle lugs after 1600+ miles of BDR.



RALLZ worked amazing well for true DS tire. Dirt, Rocks (similar to the Alpine Loop), Gravel, Sand, Road/Tarmac.

The only shortcoming I can list is the front tire performance in on Section 2 , 100 miles of Sand from ToC to San Antonio NM , along the blue path up and along the White Sands Missile Range.
I would have preferred a S/T Front tire there, but overall I have to rate the RALLZ as a 9 out of 10 for the NMBDR.

The WR and KTM had no complaints of the RALLZ, even in the sand, however my CRF was pretty heavily loaded with all the tools, spares, fuel and medical equipment.





I recommend RALLZ for anyone considering BDR's , or the TAT.