2019 Honda CRF450L Dual Sport

[Nice Goat]

Honda will get a lot of mileage out of that clip.  Should put the "low power" fear to bed.

Experienced Moto Vlogger Can't Handle
Honda's New "Big Red Panther"

[Nice Goat]

I called Cool Springs again for a price, and they wanted $11,800 out the door.  They added $400 for assembly and doubled their normal doc fees.  I've purchased two new bikes from them before without these added fees, so I told them that I won't be back.

If I do get one of these bikes, it'll be after the hoopla dies down.

[kylepeterson]

I called Cool Springs again for a price, and they wanted $11,800 out the door.  They added $400 for assembly and doubled their normal doc fees.  I've purchased two new bikes from them before without these added fees, so I told them that I won't be back.

If I do get one of these bikes, it'll be after the hoopla dies down.

that's pretty heavy into ktm 500/690 territory, isn't it ?



seems like the logical come for a dr650 replacement, a lot more per, much improved suspension, all day long cruising and rip snorting tire shredding on demand.

are you opposed to the more mature ktms, or just really interested in testing out the Honda because it's brand spanking new? with your photographic skills and narrator coffee, great/home reviews should be right up to alley... if you ever wanted to get into that kind of thing. :-)

[Nice Goat]

that's pretty heavy into ktm 500/690 territory, isn't it ?

seems like the logical come for a dr650 replacement, a lot more per, much improved suspension, all day long cruising and rip snorting tire shredding on demand.

are you opposed to the more mature ktms, or just really interested in testing out the Honda because it's brand spanking new? with your photographic skills and narrator coffee, great/home reviews should be right up to alley... if you ever wanted to get into that kind of thing. :-)

Yes, same price as KTM 500/690 and about $2k more than a brand new Beta 500...

What I really want is a 50-50 dual sport with 400-500cc engine, fuel injection, 3-4 gallon gas tank, long valve check intervals, and decent road manners for those days on the pavement.  It looks like the Honda is not it.  If it really is just a plated dirt race bike, that's great, but not really what I was hoping for.

What I want still does not exist, I am afraid.  But I'll wait for the reviews to start on Monday, when Honda lifts their silly media ban.

[kylepeterson]

Yes, same price as KTM 500/690 and about $2k more than a brand new Beta 500...

What I really want is a 50-50 dual sport with 400-500cc engine, fuel injection, 3-4 gallon gas tank, long valve check intervals, and decent road manners for those days on the pavement.  It looks like the Honda is not it.  If it really is just a plated dirt race bike, that's great, but not really what I was hoping for.

What I want still does not exist, I am afraid.  But I'll wait for the reviews to start on Monday, when Honda lifts their silly media ban.

Dr790 might be what you need, with some emulators in the forks or something.

I saw, the video Wrangler Star made of the Honda.... He looped it out before the test ride started, I thought "up that's me on any given test ride"

[TWJohn]

Harley Adventure Bike!

[Nice Goat]

Prefer something around 290-300 pounds.

[TWJohn]

The HD adventure Bike was more me kidding than anything. I bet the Honda has very long valve intervals.

[springer]

Prefer something around 290-300 pounds.

Honda CRF 250L maybe? \/

[norton73]

Last summer I was at Freedom and looked at the CRF250 Rally.

picking it up off the sidestand and then a DR650, there didn't seem to be much difference. A look at the specs shows the Honda at 345 lbs, the Suzuki at 365. 20 lbs and 400cc difference?

As much as I wanted to like the Rally, I couldn't see any advantage.

Too bad Honda didn't put a 450cc motor in it.


http://hondanews.com/releases/2018-honda-crf250l-rally-specifications

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/DR650SE/2018/DR650S

[Nice Goat]

The Honda is too heavy, too weak, no suspension adjustability, and not 400-500cc.

[klaviator]

Last summer I was at Freedom and looked at the CRF250 Rally.

picking it up off the sidestand and then a DR650, there didn't seem to be much difference. A look at the specs shows the Honda at 345 lbs, the Suzuki at 365. 20 lbs and 400cc difference?

As much as I wanted to like the Rally, I couldn't see any advantage.

Too bad Honda didn't put a 450cc motor in it.


http://hondanews.com/releases/2018-honda-crf250l-rally-specifications

http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/DR650SE/2018/DR650S

Putting a 450 motor into would have raised the price quite a bit.  They could have used the 300cc motor they use in their street bikes with little or no increase in cost or weight.  It would have been a useful increase in performance.

[KevinB]

I can't remember if it was on FB or ADV, but someone posted a close-up of the neck of the 450L frame and there were unexplained/unused bosses that look like they could be threaded...hinting at potential fairing mounting points of a future Rally version.

[Nice Goat]

...hinting at potential fairing mounting points of a future Rally version.

That gives me hope!

[norton73]

Putting a 450 motor into would have raised the price quite a bit.  They could have used the 300cc motor they use in their street bikes with little or no increase in cost or weight.  It would have been a useful increase in performance.

The same guy that made the 351 kit in my KLX250s also offers a 305cc kit for the CRF250l.

http://bandbcyclerestoration.com/Page_1.html


Maybe if I stumble on a used Rally at a good price I might be tempted.