2010 Honda CRF450R First Look

Weather you’re a professional rider planning to win 2010’s most challenging motocross or supercross closed course competitions or simply a dirt bike rider with plans to go big, the 2010 Honda CRF450R is one of the numerous “tools” for the job. Honda claims they now offer an even more powerful bike with greater handling capabilities, so let’s just see how they achieved that.

The 2010 Honda CRF450R is now improved with a new ECU programming and injection settings for better throttle response and a new auto-decompressor system for easier kick-starting. Furthermore, the Japanese company mentions that the HRC fuel-injection tool and electronics can now be connected without removing the tank, easing adjustments. In what the suspension is concerned, the fork now has revised valving and needs more oil to smoothen out the ride, while the rear shock has a redesigned piston and different compression adjuster.

It is by now clear that Honda plays their safe card with this new CRF450R and they don’t even bother making it look more aggressive or at least different as they know that a year from now, the name of this precise motorcycle will be on everyone’s lips.

Still, Honda won’t be starting quite from scratch as the CRF450R is not a brick. In fact, it features slim bodywork with the least number of plastic parts. Good looks and weight savings were clearly priorities for those designing it and the fact that the 2010 CRF250R now looks just like the 450cc bike shows how satisfied the little fellows at Honda actually are with their work.

For 2010, you get the same red color and unchanged graphics, so you’ll actually have to get close to one and look at the ID plate to confirm it’s the latest model year out there. Not fun. In the end, we’ll have to say that the Honda CRF450R did hav a successful 2009 year and what we’re now looking at is nothing more that a slightly improved (the word upgraded is too much for it) version, but it should do the trick.

MSRP $8,099

2010 Yamaha YZ450F First Look

ENGINE LAYOUT
The first thing you notice about the new engine is that the exhaust pipe is missing. With the cylinder head reversed so the intake comes in the front and the exhaust out the rear, the exhaust pipe now features a “Tornado” coiled design that moved it to where the airbox used to be. The intake is located at the very front of the engine allowing for the most direct path straight into the 44mm Keihen Fuel Injection throttle body. Helping create that direct path is the rearward slanted layout of the cylinder and cylinder head.

Once you get past the visible changes on the outside of the engine the inside is just as different. The new engine features a four-titanium valve head with a pent-roof combustion chamber shape. This layout was found to work the best with the new fuel injection system. The piston itself is offset on the crank to eliminate power robbing friction that is caused by piston rubbing on the cylinder wall during combustion.

POWER AND PERFORMANCE
The YZ450F features a powerful titanium 4-valve DOHC liquid cooled single cylinder 449cc engine, using a battery-less electronic fuel injection system. Crack the throttle and instantly feel the rear wheel churning up dirt. That kind of instant throttle response is at the heart of the new engine. Power is there whenever you need it at a moments notice. All new intake and exhaust cams, along with a higher compression piston have the 2010 YZ450F battling for holeshot after holeshot.

The technologically advanced 2010 YZ450Fis equipped with a tunable electronic fuel injection system featuring a 44 mm Keihen® throttle body, and 12-hole injector which provides exceptional atomization of the fuel for maximum power, unrivaled throttle response and automatic altitude and temperature adjustment. The system also includes idle speed control for easy, reliable startup. Through the use of the GYTR Power Tuner you are able to tune the ignition and fuel injection system to better suit your individual needs with a simple standalone device that doesn’t require a laptop, battery or a PhD to operate.

BILATERAL BEAM ALUMINUM FRAME
The new YZ450F features a lightweight, Bilateral Beam Frame with over 16 different pieces made up of Extruded, Forged and Die-Cast Aluminum. Developed with the goal of being the ultimate cornering motocross bike the unique double S-bend shape of the frame plays a key role in the positioning of the new engine layout as well as the overall nimble handling feel of the bike. Hitting inside lines, carving through deep ruts and making quick direction changes are no problem for the 2010 YZ450F new chassis.

OPTIMIZED SUSPENSION
Yamaha prides itself on great out of the crate suspension and the 2010 YZ450F features the same KYB SS Forks that have garnered much of that acclaim. To work with the new chassis the forks have been lengthened 10mm and re-valved with a new dampening character.

The KYB Shock features a new Piggyback design thanks to the additional room that the new engine layout allows. The shock is now centrally mounted in both the bilateral beam frame and swingarm, which allow for the shock to better absorb the rigors motocross throws at it.

SIMPLE SERVICE ACCESS AND RIDER COMFORT
The all-new YZ450F has the benefit of years of Yamaha Factory Racing experience – one resulting highlight is simple race prep and service. Common bolts and nuts are used from most engine and plastic parts. The oil tank is integrated with the crankcase so servicing the engine is a snap.

The YZ450F also boasts ProTaper® handlebars with four-position adjustability, allowing riders of any size to find a comfortable setting. The seat design is very flat, allowing plenty of freedom for the rider to be able to slide back and forth to get in the right body position on the bike.

The new YZ450F comes in a standard color Team Yamaha Blue/White or in a second color White/Red.

MSRP $8,090 (white/red)
$7,990 (blue/white)

2010 Suzuki RM-Z 450 First Look

No one expected 2010 to be such a big year for Suzuki dirt bikes.

Suzuki Dirt Bike engineers have been busy dialing in and improving on its big RMZ450 MX bike. Modifications to the 2010 RM-Z450 engine include revised cam profiles, cylinder-head porting, and an improved camchain tensioner. Suzuki also optimized the RM-Z450’s electronic fuel injection, reversing the throttle valve movement. Changes to the chassis include a two-piece head stock that’s 9mm-taller than last year. The Showa 47mm forks have new spring rates. The extruded and cast members on the rear section of the frame are now wider, and the motorcycle’s wheelbase is 0.6-inches longer. The Showa rear suspension features revised spring and damping rates.

Suzuki Dirt Bike engineers have carefully developed the RM-Z450’s powerful 449cm3, DOHC, 4-valve engine to increase power throughout the rev range. Always known for its incredible midrange, the 2010 RM-Z450 now has arm-stretching high-rpm power. A combination of revised cam profiles and reworked cylinder-head porting give the 2010 RM-Z450 amazing idle-to-redline thrust. An improved camchain tensioner provides more consistent performance. Also a modified throttle linkage makes the low-speed throttle response more progressive.

Improved Fuel Injection: For 2010, the RM-Z450’s electronic fuel injection is improved with a reversed throttle valve movement. Such a simple alteration pays handsomely: The fine fuel-air mist from the 12-hole fuel injector is directed away from the throttle valve for a more uniform mixture producing increased power and enhanced throttle response.

Chassis Dynamics: Everywhere you look, the RM-Z450’s twin-spar aluminum alloy frame has received detailed improvements to optimize rigidity & balance. It starts with the head stock, which is now a two-piece design that’s 9mm taller than before. The sections at the rear of the frame, which are made up of extruded and cast members, are now wider for increased rigidity. More strength comes from a wider upper frame bridge beneath the saddle, while material wall thickness was strategically designed to save weight.

High-Quality Showa Suspension: The RM-Z450 employs race-bred, state-of-the-art Showa suspension front and rear. For 2010, both ends of the bike are given suitably revised spring and damping rates. The new rates work together with the chassis’ optimized rigidity balance to improve handling. Showa 47mm inverted forks provide optimum wheel travel and can be adjusted for compression as well as rebound damping. A Showa rear shock offers both high- and low-speed compression damping adjustment along with rebound damping and spring preload adjustments. Working through Suzuki’s rising-rate linkage system (now with revised link-bearing tolerances for precise handling performance) the shock provides 310mm of wheel travel while delivering maximum traction.

MSRP $7,990