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As you discribe it and watching it,I would say it's performance is like a mx bike that's what I ride up there.get a tuner and if you don't like the shocks turn them down just make sure not to much so they bottom out.
Having grown up in the Willamette Valley, and now living in Central Oregon, watching your videos gives me constant inspiration to get out and explore our beautiful state. Thanks for the quality content!!
When you bought your DRZ i convinced myself to buy one. Now you're convincing me to keep it. The fact that it's paid for and I'm a cheap bastard might be factors too. I do hope you get the Honda sorted out.
First priorities for my '22 RL were: Seat Concepts Throttle Tamer 5 gallon Nomad tank. (I LOVE IT!) Rear rack Mosko Rekless 40 luggage Now running a 14/52 sprocket combo Finally got the Vortex (5 months and 6500 miles after ordering) Much smoother overall. Very Nice! Hated the stock tires! Changed them @ 1300 miles. No flameouts yet! (Killing it because of low RPM/low flywheel weight is not "flameout" it is you getting used to the light flywheel ) Yep, she can wear you out! ✌😎
Maybe it's an apples to oranges comparison, maybe not. I had a similar experience a few months ago. I had a KLX300 that I was using as a single-track trail bike, not as a dual sport. I traded it for a CRF250RX, which has the same horsepower, but less torque, than your CRF450L. I had feelings about the suspension being a bit too harsh, the power delivery being too abrupt/jerky, and the bike feeling twitchy. I had buyer's remorse. But I (had no choice and) stuck with it. I tried actually pushing myself to ride it a bit faster than I'd ride the KLX300 and learned something: the way the bike is set up rewards faster riding and can easily handle the faster riding. Now I love it and have absolutely no regrets for buying it and keeping it. In fact, I love it so much that it's making me want the closest thing to it for street legal riding, the CRF450RL. For now, I'm waiting for the state to update my title, switching my 250'RX from Off Highway Motorcycle to Motorcycle so that I can get it plated to connect trails. Basically, I'm making a CRF250RXL. l've modified it and it's passed the safety inspection, just waiting on the bureaucracy. But I'd still like to add the 450L or RL to the stable. Let's see, I have a Triumph Scrambler that I no longer ride much, a Versys X300 that I use as my daily commuter, and an XT250 that is my back up trail bike/ buddy bike. All my buddies used the XT as the gateway and have bought their own trail bikes, so it's outlived its purpose in that regard. I could sell those three bikes and get a 450RL. My wife would appreciate fewer bikes in the garage, so maybe it would be a win/win. Anyway, looking forward to your progress with the bike. Maybe with a bit more saddle time you'll learn the bike and want to keep it. But it seems a lot of people don't.
I had 0 flame outs after a rekluse install, you can just chug around in 2nd on single track all day - also the G2 is a really nice cheap mod. Also make sure to play with the suspension compression and rebound settings, they make a HUGE difference on this bike, especially for a heavy guy like myself.
@@realxxbulletsxx7624 Not really, I did the rekluse initially for carpal tunnel issues, then I did a vortex and exhaust later for fun not as flame out solution. I think the rekluse was 6 or 700. I just got the clutch pack and not the cover.
Yeah, with no aftermarket ECU, it’s a bike I would never own but with the vortex or whichever you get, it’s incredible. My DR650 didn’t instill much confidence in me as a new rider on tighter stuff and deep sand but this bike has made me a better more confident rider.
There are none for sale anywhere near me, up in northern MN / WI. Yes, it's still snowmobile weather (March 2023), but I've seen few if any on Craig's, Facebook, eBay, etc., even last Fall. I see a few 300L's, all priced above retail, where are all these 450's ?
I owned a brand new SC-500 Yamaha when they came out, back in the day. This thing would leave your eye teeth in the trench it left taking off. But I learned to control the power output, and tailor it to my riding style, which was "Full Wide Open." No one I rode with could ever catch me on the trails, ever. Did the mods, and it really was a fantastic bike. Have matured a lot in the years, I am now 65, so my steed of choice is now a 2012 KLR650. Love your new mount, groom her, and she's yours! With respect Expanding Knowledge.Cheers!
I tell ya what. Suspension would be the first mod I would do. After hating my WR450F I decided to get the suspension tailored to my weight. It made so much difference in the riding experience. The tires really no longer mattered once the suspension was set correctly. After that, the very first thing I do with all my bikes, minus the 2022 Africa Twin, is yank my suspension and send it off to my local shop. My buddy thought I was nuts because I got a brand new 2021 KX250F and he came over to see it and it was in pieces. Yup, front was off and rear shock out. You will get used to the twitchiness if you just keep putting the hours in. I absolutely hated the WR450 when I first got it but ended up being one of the bikes I regretted getting rid of.
Everyone in the comments section talking about throttle tamers and flywheel weights... I hate to break it to you, but the only thing that fixes the flame out and the twitchy throttle is the vortex ECU. You can take or leave the other two mods after that, but don't expect either of these mods to fix the issue without the ECU. Speaking from experience... Been riding my 450RL for 2 years now
I also highly recommend the Athena GET ECU, also from Taco Moto. Pairs best with the full Graves exhaust, but my goodness, what a difference! The graves saves a ton of weight, and the GET is wonderful, smooths that throttle out and gives it loads of power!
I just changed out the factory Dunlops for Shinko 244s on my 2022 KLR650 and so far, with just around town and highway riding, they feel much better. Was surprised to hear the lugs "whine" on the highway. Hopefully will be able to get into the nearby woods this weekend to see how it does off-road. After hitting 50, being out of shape and over-weight, and not having ridden off-road since 1984, my first trip into the woods on a new KLR with factory tires, a full gas tank, and no idea what I was doing, was quite unsettling. I thought the bike was defective, the tires defective, and wrote off the whole experience as a mid-life crisis failed experience. However, after watching your BDR series, upgrading my tires, and simply riding more, I am gaining confidence daily. I am getting stronger and losing weight. I will hit the woods again this weekend with the new tires and increased skill. Love your content as it is delivered honestly, humbly, and without the typical trucker-hat hype and bravado. Some day, I will meet you in person and shake your hand for creating truly great content on YT. Headed to Mule Days in Enterprise, OR next weekend, but no where near you on the West coast.
I vote this bike being named "Twitchy McGhee." It definitely is a thing but that g2 ergonomics throttle tamer will help for sure. Hope the panel works for ya!
Go to Taco Moto and get the things they recommend, the fly wheel weight, ecu, throttle tamer and Recluse maybe. Definitely a seat concepts seat. Don’t give up on this bike. I think with the full subframe and we know you like too overpack this will make a great BDR slayer. Glad to see dual sports back ob the channel.
@@mattsloop2736 It does but with these high strung dirt bikes converted to dual purpose bikes and emissions that’s what you have to do to get them where you want them, no matter the color of bike. We still win getting these legal plated bikes to buy.
@@mattsloop2736 , but opinions vary a lot. Some say they just need a pipe, or just an ecu. Or only a throttle tamer. Lately I see more comments that they need a full break in, say a 1,000 miles, and most of the issues are gone. But I agree for the money they should be more refined out of the box.
It's so enlightening to see you get the bike you always wanted. Groom this fine motorcycle to conform to your wish list, you can't go wrong with a Honda! I feel the same about my KLR650 2012. CHEERS!
Two of the best things I've done to my RL, AIM from Tacomoto co., Golden tire GT216AA "fattie front" and Shinko 505 cheater rear. These two mods alone completely transformed the bike, it is now a true dirt bike. Id also look up frame/enginemount/swing arm re-torque procedure so that the frame is less harsh, that really improved the square edge hits for free. Get rid of all the smog crap and plastic bits and save 3-4lbs.
I feel you were too hard on yourself when you dropped the bike. Don't worry about it! If you're out pushing yourself and adapting to new situations it's bound to happen a few times.
i went from a 230F to a 3002T enduro. Much more power, and snatchy. I did the G2 throttle tamer (and rode in a higher gear) and it sort of worked. In the end (after maybe 20 hours of light trail work) realized it was the wrong tool for the job, or for me, or both. Took a loss, sent the bike of a better home. It is what it is
My 2017 450x flames out - even with full clutch engagement during slow speed riding. It wants to run unleashed in wide open desert. Only then is it “at home” and spectacular.
I'm in the process of selling my Africa Twin at the moment because I just don't ride it as much or at all since buying a KTM 690 enduro. It was a whole new learning curve riding the 690 compared to the twin, but after riding it for awhile it became clear that I wouldn't be riding the Africa Twin as much. The KTM is not a great adventure bike for long distance, but for shorter rides it's perfect for me. A couple of weeks ago some friends and I went to central Oregon and rode part of route 2 and I'm glad I didn't take the Africa Twin. The 690 took on every trail we rode and did it it flawlessly. The 690 is the best off road bike I have ever redden. I can't say much about the 450L because I have never redden one, but I'm sure once you get used it and how it handles you'll like. I will look forward on the updates on your 450L. In the meantime when I sell my Africa Twin I may go back to a KLR? Maybe?
Good vid Ben, as always. The throttle tamer will help a lot. I put one on my 500EXC when I first got it and it calmed it down at "off idle" riding. Also, the 450, being a converted motocrosser is way more sensitive to suspension set up. The sag being to much can really make the front end vague and it's worse if you sit down. Being a bigger guy too, I know the benefit of respringing it as it probably comes set up for a 160 lb rider. We used to add flywheel weights to our converted MX trail bikes but that wasn't an option for my KTM, so I added a clutch weight. Also helps with low RPM control. People cringe when I say there's a lot about my old DRZ over my KTM I really liked for dual sport riding. I think you'll see what I mean after a few rides. Stick with it, sort out the gremlins and you'll love it. I'm easing my KTM over to an "adventure light" bike as well for more BDR stuff riding solo. There's lots of good info out there and you've got a great team around you so I know it will be awesome.... Keep up the good work!
Still riding my 22RL mostly stock including the tires in NJ. Tons of soft sand here. It’s a slip and slide for me whenever I get into soft sand. Have to stay on the throttle. I haven’t really had any issues with flame outs. Only when my bike is cold but once it’s warm it never does it to me. I plan on getting the vortex ECU and Yoshimura pipe before spring of next year.
I bought a 450 RL after coming of a crf 230. At first there was a learning curve. It likes to be ridden hard, and its an absolute riot. The throttle is snappy but i have gotten used to it, and even on moderately tough single track it will do it stock. Like you said alot more clutch work and keeping the rpms up. But it is also essentially a motocross/enduro bike for the road. If you drive it like a motocross or enduro rider it can play nice. Dont get me wrong a seat concepts seat and a G2 throttle tube is in my future
Hang in there. It gets way better with the DSport Tires, Seat Concepts, and Seat Time. I haven't done ECU or G2 Tamer and still almost never stalls. It seems to smooth out and you will too.
Good choice for content! All the videos I watch on the CR450L make them seem to be kinda of a crappy enduro bike out the showroom. People want to love the bike, I know I do, but not sure it's lovable. Not a lot of options on the market.
I have a 09 450x with Baja kit on it (registered in Washington since I’m in Oregon ;) and had flame outs often until I got the throttle tamer, added two teeth to the rear sprocket, and learned better clutch control. The high revs on highway are worth it for better off-road performance. I would bet an ECU would probably do the trick. The guys at Rocky Mountian use these bikes as their camera man bikes and they often perform better than the bikes they’re showcasing. Except that they do seem to run out of gas often, haha. Have fun on the new ride!
I tried so hard to love my 450L, Vortex, full FMF, and everything else that all the cool kids say it needs and it sure ran better. Although you will never over come the weight no matter what you do so I went back to a white KTM.
Check the torque on the bolts on the lower triple clamp for your forks, too tight will cause the fork tube to pinch the inner fork tube. Check the air pressure bleed screws on top of the forks. Set the preload on the springs. It should be smoother ride I would focus on the suspension big time! Again check the manual for your correct torques for the front forks. The guys that asse.ble the bikes can over tighten those bolts easily and cause them to bind. Also all the rear suspension linkage should be greased right away, steering stem too. They put just a light coat of grease on those bearings, work some good bel ray or maxima grease into them. Or pay hundreds and the tears of rusted to hell hundreds of dollars! Miss riding in Oregon! Cheaper life in Minnesota on a lake!
I started my riding days in 2014 and my purchases have mirrored yours to some degree, starting with my 250l. My ride journey included a trip to Beaverton Moto for a 450l in December 2020 and after 3 flame outs on a test spin and no ride home, I left with 2021 KTM 500EXC-F. I have never been more pleased! You will love the 450 after those mods and a dedicated BDR, lightweight ADV bike is game changing. Congrats! BTW we are hitting the WABDR in a few weeks if ya care to test it out or I can send you some gaia tracks for Sisters, OR that are perfect for that bike.
Been loving my 22rl. I found that steg pegz helped with the arms being torn off feeling. Makes you feel like the bike is pushing you along. The bike is not for everyone that is for sure, but it sure is for me :)!
From factory the idle is adjusted far too low. Turn it up a bit and flameouts are almost completely cured. Its still jerky due to the ecu but an easy flame out cure.
I bought one of these when they first came out. I bought everything for it including a vortex, yosh exhaust, throttle tamer, 3 teeth bigger rear sprocket, seat concepts seat, gas tank, you name it. Was just never happy with it. Happiest day was the day I sold it. If you’re going to keep it, vortex and yosh exhaust with bigger rear sprocket will help a lot.
I have a 22' RL @2500 miles. Before you put the throttle tamer on reroute the throttle cable (unbunch it from the fork tube brackets. Costs nothing but helps or get the 450x cable which is shorter). I went with a power commander and that helped alot at half the price of the vortex. It breaks in around 1500 miles. Stick with it and riding a gear higher always helps.
Great video. I've been on the CRF450RL for over a year now and it can be a handful on singletrack. It is my unicorn bike. Three suggestions if you want to do singletrack on this bike. First: Vortex ECU running map 1. Secondly: Steahly flywheel weight. Third: Rekluse auto clutch. No exaggeration... in this configuration I cannot get the bike to flameout or stall. You can rip it like a MX bike or put it in a gear taller and just putt up, over, and through anything while Rekluse handles all the clutch work. The beauty of this machine is that you can set it up for Your riding style.
@@JohnnyBoy919 it's a 2022 model with currently 10,400 miles on it. I bought it new in July of 2021. I know I ride a lot 🙂 I have my idle set to 1850 rpms. I have no need to raise it as it never flames out in with the Vortex and Rekluse. Proper TPS calibration with the Vortex is just as important as the correct idle speed in eliminating flame outs.
@@jctoth Well your idle is set to where it should be. According to the manual it should be set at 1800 +/- 100 rpm. Did you end up raising it to that or did it come that way? Reason I'm asking is I'm wondering if just adjusting the idle to where it should be would fix the flameout issues without having to do the other stuff. I always try to do 1 thing at a time to see if it fixes rather than multiple things at once.
@@JohnnyBoy919 it was def something less than that. I remember after purchasing the tach I had to raise the idle speed a couple of clicks to get it where it should be. Idle speed is very important in preventing flameouts on 4 strokes. I've even heard of some guys taking it 100 rpms above the factory recommendation for added assurance although I never found that necessary with the Rekluse.
Hello, I'm all most to the point in my riding at my age lighter is better, still plan on keeping my '07 beemer for the tar/distance old but simple and comfortable. been riding '13 dr650 for couple years in the dual sport stuff but getting ready to go CRF450RL so thank you for the content I'll be watching.
450 is too much for most, 350 is the sweet spot and the majority would be best on a 250. I started on a 250 4 stroke which taught me good clutch technique and i moved up stage by stage on motors and now comfortably ride a 300 2 stroke but it was progressive not just jumping on the most powerful bike. You on the 450 reminds me of when you started on the Africa Twin IMO. Love what ya do and hope it all works out on the 450.
That’s a lot of bike no doubt but it looked like towards the end of the video, you were more confident and going faster. Awesome video and those views were killer!
Awesome! Those are great bikes! Try raising the idle up a bit should help a bit with the flame outs. They definitely are a much more work on the body but once you get usto it there alot of fun. Tighten up the bike with your knees while standing eases the strain on the arms. So glad your on that bike. Once you get a little confidence and experience on that bike you'll be ripping those single tracks! Hang in there bud and enjoy it! There a ton of fun!
Assuming you have the 3x3 and jet mod on the DRZ it should have the exact same hp/tq of the CRF. The vibration in your voice was clearly audible, and I assume it's because your CRF suspension is was stiffer than the DRZ will ever be, but you can certainly soften the CRF up by adjustment. I kinda prefer less stiff, but not squishy lol :-) For me, the flame out would drive me nuts. Its hard enough staying on single track without that in the back of your mind, but i'm sure there is a fix for it, whether aftermarket power commander or what ever. Keep it light ;-)
A 450L isn't what most dual sporters expect. It doesn't like to chug or crawl around at a casual pace. It wants to roost and burn corners and test your limits especially once uncorked. I currently own a 22 450RL and have watched your channel and riding style for a couple years now. I bet the Drz overall will be a better fit for you then what the 450L offers up. Time will tell and stay with it if you are unsure. Seat time builds confidence more anything.
I hope this works out for ya cuz I’m looking forward to the BDR Slayer build 👍🏻 I looked at one new and after a lengthy discussion with my local salesman and shop owner….we all decided that the 250L was better suited for what I do. 🤷🏼♂️
Stock tires aren't a knobby but are a pretty decent dual sport tire IMO. Don't blame them for you taking a bad bounce. To add dual sport versatility to the L check out Red Matt's mod, Nomad tanks, Radius X and Tubliss. Combined with your throttle tamer and seat you ordered you'll have the best dual sport available.
I have a 21 450RL and love it. Enjoy! Be interested to hear what you think! And yeah after trying to make it a technical woods bike it does not like slow speeds. Dirt roads and trails for me and it. And no ecu change here.
Congrats on the new bike. I also picked up a 2019 CRF450L recently. We were probably competing for one in western Oregon. I am using the JD Jetting 6X. I can't compare it to a new ECU, but it definitely helps with twitchiness. It seems to start better as well.
I miss the power but I don't miss the flameouts in the tight woods and slow riding like in grown up fire breaks or the lousy fuel mileage. I had a JD tuner and FMF Q4 on my bike. The flameouts were unpredictable and always seemed to happen at the worst timing. The stock front tire is dangerous. I had it washout on wet leaves in my yard. The KLX230 I have now is a tractor. No flameouts and will run down to a stupid slow rpm with no clutch work needed. The suspension and power and lacking compared to the 450 but it weights the same and feels lighter. I would love a big bore dual sport with the characteristics.
have that suspension tuned, the high speed adjuster on the shock needs some work after hearing your voice on the choppy road, may need a spring to personalize it for you and get you at the correct ride height so you aren't too far down in the stroke. and a revalve if the spring is a fairly big rate change to help the rebound settings. I'm a bigger guy myself and found that it truly makes bikes more enjoyable to ride when they are configured just for you. I have some guys in my group that are 140-160lbs and they get by great on stock setup.. its incentive for me to get in better shape.. but along the way suspension will change your riding world when you have someone who truly knows what they are doing set it up for you.
Hopefully with a tuner that flameout issue goes away. I had the same issue with one I test rode a few months ago. The other thing that might be nice to add to that bike might be a Scott’s Steering Stabilizer. Should take a lot of that twitcheness out of the front end.
Great to see you out on the bike after the reveal. That flameout/stalling would do my head in, hope you can sort it. Heard some KTM's suffer with it as well. Kinda glad my Beta has never been an issue for it. I think you need to give it some more saddle time and maybe soften the suspension a little before deciding if it is the right bike or not, being so different from your other bikes will need some dial in time. Am assuming you are running offroad pressures in the tyres? Could go to TuBliss with it maybe as well, I am really impressed with it on my Beta.
Get the Rekluse CX plus ECU mod and you won’t have any of the performance issues. D606 tires are great too. I actually still have a Power Commander V and it does fine for me. Extra power but does pop a little. Not bad though. Exhaust is cool, I got the Yoshi full system.
Sorry that was somewhat disappointing for a first time out. But it demonstrated why I've held off buying one even though I 'love' the bike. Still having a hard time knowing I got to put another $2K into whatever 'good deal' I find to make it what I hope it to be in the end. One thing you didn't mention that I have seen on another youtube video with this bike was the person talked about it overheating in technical single track riding. And would actually cut off and was hard to start back until it cooled off somewhat. They demonstrated that in their video. So that was another concern. Great luck to you going forward and hope it all gets sorted. Watching with interest as your experience will no doubt sway some of us one way or the other on taking a chance with this bike or not. 😀
I've only just leaned about this bike & I guess what I like is the ability to be on the highway @ 70mph but people say it gets blown around a lot? But more that the 250cc 's? She's tall for me but I do like being able to hang w/ traffic. TY for the vid!
wondering if a heavier flywheel weight would work on those 450s. it made my cr 500 much more manageable. it was more like a thumper. and it might keep the engine from dying.
I sold my 2019 due to the low speed issue/flameout and I started doing a lot of road riding and the small tank and high maintenance wasn’t going to work for that. I wasn’t adding a $1,000 ecu to fix an issue that shouldn’t exist. Someone said that a lighter flywheel helps also. The issue still isn’t fixed on the 2022.
@@DorkintheRoad it will be a fantastic bike if you fix that low speed issue and put a bigger tank on it. Amazing power and great suspension. Now that I’m in a financial position to add some parts to one I may pick up another in the next year or so now that I have a new KLR for my road riding. Enjoy and keep the content coming.
@@DorkintheRoad This is a motocross bike with some added weight. It's probably geared too high and the tires look overinflated. I'd try about 16 lbs. On a track probably 12. First gear is only to get moving.
You should have gotten the 2021+ model year of the crf450rl. I never buy first year models. I'd rather wait for them to work out the issues. The 2021 model got new ecu and updated tuning on the fuel injection settings. I heard alot of the crf450ls left dealerships with the idle set too low, so raising that helped with the flameouts. Also the more miles you put on I'm sure the better it gets.
It doesn’t matter what tires you put in that thing. It is going to spin off-road with heavy throttle. Just need to get used to sitting forward in the seat and lean towards the bars when you lay in the power. Elbows up and squeeze the bike with your thighs. It’s a competition dirt bike you have to ride it like one or it could bit ya in the ass
@@DorkintheRoad sometimes you get the bear sometimes it gets you. I still think the bike has potential to be great but the ECU did not solely cure flame out so I am pairing the aim ecu with a rekluse radius cx. I am excited to see how you end up gelling with the bike and the direction you take it. Then again I might be using my crf450rl not for its intended use lol.
@Dorkintheroad Hey Ben, I'm not sure where to ask you this question, so I'll post it here, and hope you see it: Which of the motorcycles you've owned or tested, would be cable of riding two-up AND hauling all of your needed camping gear? I dont have my ADV bike, yet, but my intent is the Africa Twin, when I have the money. My concern is total weight of me and my wife plus all the gear. Thanks in advance, love the channel!
My high performance WR250F with GYTR ECU has a similar warmup knob but I haven't had to use it in any conditions, hot, cold, high elevation, mid elevation....
I have a CRF150rb I’ve converted to a trail bike ,put heavy fly wheel on , then get G2 tamer, it still wanted climb trees with me on. Changed the rear sprocket from 56 to 47 night and day difference. This is not for everybody but bike is more like a trail bike not Mx bike. One 64 yr old man’s opinion. So all said you might try gearing. ???
Thats why I didn't get 1 over the drz , I ride way too much tractor mode and the mods would just keep coming. only 2K more in Oz but just needed Tractor .
Yeah, my brother's crf450x and my Husky501. Got to compare them Back to back...have to say my 501 is so much easier to ride and less flame out. Still that Honda had scary torque.....definately more ready to race with a powerband. And yes that crf liked to flame out....there may be some relief with sprocket swaps for slower trail riding.
Get the mods and tires it is much better but still powerful. Adjust and dial in your suspension it will reward you. Give a good try after that and see what your opinion is mine changed quite a bit after changes I made the flame out is real
Did (would?) you ever consider a Beta 390RRS. Good suspension, not twitchy, no flame-outs, no huge yank on/off throttle, smooth progressive power delivery, 25 pounds lighter, no need for ridiculous modifications (KTM, Husky, HONDA!). Great bike. Had KTM and wouldn't go back.
I thought you might have wanted to get a WR250R after your ride/ review recently. Agree with your review of it btw and wishing I still had mine but I sold it because I got used to the power and it was so reliable, it was boring in a way lol.
If you keep this bike, please follow up on the flame out issue. I've seen so many people complaining about it, but I haven't seen anything on what they do to fix it... other than get a new bike. The 450L seems like a good fit for me, but I'm concerned about this issue as I'm more of a slow going trails guy.
I've read that the idle speed should be raised, and that most of the problems are resolved after about 1,200 miles. But the opinions seem to vary a lot.
For the cost of these bikes new, you shouldn't have to spend a single penny to ride them the way you're supposed to be able to. As a diehard Honda guy, it really pains me to admit in this case the DRZ is the superior bike
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As you discribe it and watching it,I would say it's performance is like a mx bike that's what I ride up there.get a tuner and if you don't like the shocks turn them down just make sure not to much so they bottom out.
This makes up my mind about getting a DRZ.. Over 20 years later, and it's tough to beat. It's still the best "Every mans bike"
Having grown up in the Willamette Valley, and now living in Central Oregon, watching your videos gives me constant inspiration to get out and explore our beautiful state. Thanks for the quality content!!
When you bought your DRZ i convinced myself to buy one. Now you're convincing me to keep it. The fact that it's paid for and I'm a cheap bastard might be factors too. I do hope you get the Honda sorted out.
Please keep this one and get it dialed in. These things have so much potential and get way more complaints than they deserve.
First priorities for my '22 RL were:
Seat Concepts
Throttle Tamer
5 gallon Nomad tank. (I LOVE IT!)
Rear rack
Mosko Rekless 40 luggage
Now running a 14/52 sprocket combo
Finally got the Vortex (5 months and 6500 miles after ordering) Much smoother overall. Very Nice!
Hated the stock tires! Changed them @ 1300 miles.
No flameouts yet! (Killing it because of low RPM/low flywheel weight is not "flameout" it is you getting used to the light flywheel )
Yep, she can wear you out! ✌😎
Maybe it's an apples to oranges comparison, maybe not. I had a similar experience a few months ago. I had a KLX300 that I was using as a single-track trail bike, not as a dual sport. I traded it for a CRF250RX, which has the same horsepower, but less torque, than your CRF450L. I had feelings about the suspension being a bit too harsh, the power delivery being too abrupt/jerky, and the bike feeling twitchy. I had buyer's remorse. But I (had no choice and) stuck with it. I tried actually pushing myself to ride it a bit faster than I'd ride the KLX300 and learned something: the way the bike is set up rewards faster riding and can easily handle the faster riding. Now I love it and have absolutely no regrets for buying it and keeping it. In fact, I love it so much that it's making me want the closest thing to it for street legal riding, the CRF450RL. For now, I'm waiting for the state to update my title, switching my 250'RX from Off Highway Motorcycle to Motorcycle so that I can get it plated to connect trails. Basically, I'm making a CRF250RXL. l've modified it and it's passed the safety inspection, just waiting on the bureaucracy. But I'd still like to add the 450L or RL to the stable. Let's see, I have a Triumph Scrambler that I no longer ride much, a Versys X300 that I use as my daily commuter, and an XT250 that is my back up trail bike/ buddy bike. All my buddies used the XT as the gateway and have bought their own trail bikes, so it's outlived its purpose in that regard. I could sell those three bikes and get a 450RL. My wife would appreciate fewer bikes in the garage, so maybe it would be a win/win. Anyway, looking forward to your progress with the bike. Maybe with a bit more saddle time you'll learn the bike and want to keep it. But it seems a lot of people don't.
I had 0 flame outs after a rekluse install, you can just chug around in 2nd on single track all day - also the G2 is a really nice cheap mod. Also make sure to play with the suspension compression and rebound settings, they make a HUGE difference on this bike, especially for a heavy guy like myself.
wait.. you did a $1200 Rekluse vs a $250 efi ??
@@realxxbulletsxx7624 Not really, I did the rekluse initially for carpal tunnel issues, then I did a vortex and exhaust later for fun not as flame out solution. I think the rekluse was 6 or 700. I just got the clutch pack and not the cover.
Yeah, with no aftermarket ECU, it’s a bike I would never own but with the vortex or whichever you get, it’s incredible. My DR650 didn’t instill much confidence in me as a new rider on tighter stuff and deep sand but this bike has made me a better more confident rider.
Thanks for being honest with your initial thoughts. That’s why people love this channel
Congrats on the new bike! I guess I should film the KTM 690 I just bought...
Dude. That's awesome 😂
Hi. For both of you. Please recommend 890, T7, 690 or 450RL for transamerican trail. Then later, Florida riding.😊
Love your honesty. The flameout is a well known issue and that’s why there is so many for sale. Keep it real like you’re doing! Well done!
There are none for sale anywhere near me, up in northern MN / WI. Yes, it's still snowmobile weather (March 2023), but I've seen few if any on Craig's, Facebook, eBay, etc., even last Fall. I see a few 300L's, all priced above retail, where are all these 450's ?
I owned a brand new SC-500 Yamaha when they came out, back in the day. This thing would leave your eye teeth in the trench it left taking off. But I learned to control the power output, and tailor it to my riding style, which was "Full Wide Open." No one I rode with could ever catch me on the trails, ever. Did the mods, and it really was a fantastic bike. Have matured a lot in the years, I am now 65, so my steed of choice is now a 2012 KLR650. Love your new mount, groom her, and she's yours! With respect Expanding Knowledge.Cheers!
I tell ya what. Suspension would be the first mod I would do. After hating my WR450F I decided to get the suspension tailored to my weight. It made so much difference in the riding experience. The tires really no longer mattered once the suspension was set correctly. After that, the very first thing I do with all my bikes, minus the 2022 Africa Twin, is yank my suspension and send it off to my local shop. My buddy thought I was nuts because I got a brand new 2021 KX250F and he came over to see it and it was in pieces. Yup, front was off and rear shock out.
You will get used to the twitchiness if you just keep putting the hours in. I absolutely hated the WR450 when I first got it but ended up being one of the bikes I regretted getting rid of.
Beast! TH-camr ChasingTrail went from that bike to a 300L to a KTM six days and ended up settling on a Beta 430
Everyone in the comments section talking about throttle tamers and flywheel weights... I hate to break it to you, but the only thing that fixes the flame out and the twitchy throttle is the vortex ECU. You can take or leave the other two mods after that, but don't expect either of these mods to fix the issue without the ECU. Speaking from experience... Been riding my 450RL for 2 years now
I also highly recommend the Athena GET ECU, also from Taco Moto. Pairs best with the full Graves exhaust, but my goodness, what a difference! The graves saves a ton of weight, and the GET is wonderful, smooths that throttle out and gives it loads of power!
I just changed out the factory Dunlops for Shinko 244s on my 2022 KLR650 and so far, with just around town and highway riding, they feel much better. Was surprised to hear the lugs "whine" on the highway. Hopefully will be able to get into the nearby woods this weekend to see how it does off-road.
After hitting 50, being out of shape and over-weight, and not having ridden off-road since 1984, my first trip into the woods on a new KLR with factory tires, a full gas tank, and no idea what I was doing, was quite unsettling.
I thought the bike was defective, the tires defective, and wrote off the whole experience as a mid-life crisis failed experience. However, after watching your BDR series, upgrading my tires, and simply riding more, I am gaining confidence daily. I am getting stronger and losing weight. I will hit the woods again this weekend with the new tires and increased skill.
Love your content as it is delivered honestly, humbly, and without the typical trucker-hat hype and bravado. Some day, I will meet you in person and shake your hand for creating truly great content on YT. Headed to Mule Days in Enterprise, OR next weekend, but no where near you on the West coast.
I vote this bike being named "Twitchy McGhee." It definitely is a thing but that g2 ergonomics throttle tamer will help for sure. Hope the panel works for ya!
Go to Taco Moto and get the things they recommend, the fly wheel weight, ecu, throttle tamer and Recluse maybe. Definitely a seat concepts seat. Don’t give up on this bike. I think with the full subframe and we know you like too overpack this will make a great BDR slayer. Glad to see dual sports back ob the channel.
It's sad for the price they are asking it needs this much to make it good tho.
@@mattsloop2736 It does but with these high strung dirt bikes converted to dual purpose bikes and emissions that’s what you have to do to get them where you want them, no matter the color of bike. We still win getting these legal plated bikes to buy.
@@mattsloop2736 it's $3000 less than a 500EXC-F. People are buying that bike and still doing ECU, Rekluse, Seat Concepts, etc, etc...
@@jctoth yep. People will buy anything and mod it for power and performance lol.
@@mattsloop2736 , but opinions vary a lot. Some say they just need a pipe, or just an ecu. Or only a throttle tamer. Lately I see more comments that they need a full break in, say a 1,000 miles, and most of the issues are gone. But I agree for the money they should be more refined out of the box.
It's so enlightening to see you get the bike you always wanted. Groom this fine motorcycle to conform to your wish list, you can't go wrong with a Honda! I feel the same about my KLR650 2012. CHEERS!
Two of the best things I've done to my RL, AIM from Tacomoto co., Golden tire GT216AA "fattie front" and Shinko 505 cheater rear. These two mods alone completely transformed the bike, it is now a true dirt bike. Id also look up frame/enginemount/swing arm re-torque procedure so that the frame is less harsh, that really improved the square edge hits for free. Get rid of all the smog crap and plastic bits and save 3-4lbs.
I feel you were too hard on yourself when you dropped the bike. Don't worry about it! If you're out pushing yourself and adapting to new situations it's bound to happen a few times.
My fuel injected KTM 350 has the same cold start knob on the throttle body, so I don't think it's very unusual that your 450 has one. Nice first ride.
i went from a 230F to a 3002T enduro. Much more power, and snatchy. I did the G2 throttle tamer (and rode in a higher gear) and it sort of worked. In the end (after maybe 20 hours of light trail work) realized it was the wrong tool for the job, or for me, or both. Took a loss, sent the bike of a better home. It is what it is
My 2017 450x flames out - even with full clutch engagement during slow speed riding. It wants to run unleashed in wide open desert. Only then is it “at home” and spectacular.
I'm in the process of selling my Africa Twin at the moment because I just don't ride it as much or at all since buying a KTM 690 enduro. It was a whole new learning curve riding the 690 compared to the twin, but after riding it for awhile it became clear that I wouldn't be riding the Africa Twin as much. The KTM is not a great adventure bike for long distance, but for shorter rides it's perfect for me. A couple of weeks ago some friends and I went to central Oregon and rode part of route 2 and I'm glad I didn't take the Africa Twin. The 690 took on every trail we rode and did it it flawlessly. The 690 is the best off road bike I have ever redden. I can't say much about the 450L because I have never redden one, but I'm sure once you get used it and how it handles you'll like. I will look forward on the updates on your 450L. In the meantime when I sell my Africa Twin I may go back to a KLR? Maybe?
Good vid Ben, as always. The throttle tamer will help a lot. I put one on my 500EXC when I first got it and it calmed it down at "off idle" riding. Also, the 450, being a converted motocrosser is way more sensitive to suspension set up. The sag being to much can really make the front end vague and it's worse if you sit down. Being a bigger guy too, I know the benefit of respringing it as it probably comes set up for a 160 lb rider. We used to add flywheel weights to our converted MX trail bikes but that wasn't an option for my KTM, so I added a clutch weight. Also helps with low RPM control.
People cringe when I say there's a lot about my old DRZ over my KTM I really liked for dual sport riding. I think you'll see what I mean after a few rides. Stick with it, sort out the gremlins and you'll love it. I'm easing my KTM over to an "adventure light" bike as well for more BDR stuff riding solo. There's lots of good info out there and you've got a great team around you so I know it will be awesome.... Keep up the good work!
Throttle tamer makes a huge difference! 👍
Still riding my 22RL mostly stock including the tires in NJ. Tons of soft sand here. It’s a slip and slide for me whenever I get into soft sand. Have to stay on the throttle. I haven’t really had any issues with flame outs. Only when my bike is cold but once it’s warm it never does it to me. I plan on getting the vortex ECU and Yoshimura pipe before spring of next year.
I bought a 450 RL after coming of a crf 230. At first there was a learning curve. It likes to be ridden hard, and its an absolute riot. The throttle is snappy but i have gotten used to it, and even on moderately tough single track it will do it stock. Like you said alot more clutch work and keeping the rpms up. But it is also essentially a motocross/enduro bike for the road. If you drive it like a motocross or enduro rider it can play nice. Dont get me wrong a seat concepts seat and a G2 throttle tube is in my future
Hang in there. It gets way better with the DSport Tires, Seat Concepts, and Seat Time. I haven't done ECU or G2 Tamer and still almost never stalls. It seems to smooth out and you will too.
Good choice for content! All the videos I watch on the CR450L make them seem to be kinda of a crappy enduro bike out the showroom. People want to love the bike, I know I do, but not sure it's lovable. Not a lot of options on the market.
I have a 09 450x with Baja kit on it (registered in Washington since I’m in Oregon ;) and had flame outs often until I got the throttle tamer, added two teeth to the rear sprocket, and learned better clutch control. The high revs on highway are worth it for better off-road performance. I would bet an ECU would probably do the trick. The guys at Rocky Mountian use these bikes as their camera man bikes and they often perform better than the bikes they’re showcasing. Except that they do seem to run out of gas often, haha. Have fun on the new ride!
I tried so hard to love my 450L, Vortex, full FMF, and everything else that all the cool kids say it needs and it sure ran better. Although you will never over come the weight no matter what you do so I went back to a white KTM.
Check the torque on the bolts on the lower triple clamp for your forks, too tight will cause the fork tube to pinch the inner fork tube. Check the air pressure bleed screws on top of the forks. Set the preload on the springs. It should be smoother ride I would focus on the suspension big time! Again check the manual for your correct torques for the front forks. The guys that asse.ble the bikes can over tighten those bolts easily and cause them to bind. Also all the rear suspension linkage should be greased right away, steering stem too. They put just a light coat of grease on those bearings, work some good bel ray or maxima grease into them. Or pay hundreds and the tears of rusted to hell hundreds of dollars! Miss riding in Oregon! Cheaper life in Minnesota on a lake!
I started my riding days in 2014 and my purchases have mirrored yours to some degree, starting with my 250l. My ride journey included a trip to Beaverton Moto for a 450l in December 2020 and after 3 flame outs on a test spin and no ride home, I left with 2021 KTM 500EXC-F. I have never been more pleased! You will love the 450 after those mods and a dedicated BDR, lightweight ADV bike is game changing. Congrats! BTW we are hitting the WABDR in a few weeks if ya care to test it out or I can send you some gaia tracks for Sisters, OR that are perfect for that bike.
Been loving my 22rl. I found that steg pegz helped with the arms being torn off feeling. Makes you feel like the bike is pushing you along. The bike is not for everyone that is for sure, but it sure is for me :)!
Have you had any issues with flameouts? How is it in single track? I heard the idle may be set too low as well.
@@JohnnyBoy919 no flameouts. I don’t have any single track around. Rips on twin track though
From factory the idle is adjusted far too low. Turn it up a bit and flameouts are almost completely cured. Its still jerky due to the ecu but an easy flame out cure.
I bought one of these when they first came out. I bought everything for it including a vortex, yosh exhaust, throttle tamer, 3 teeth bigger rear sprocket, seat concepts seat, gas tank, you name it. Was just never happy with it. Happiest day was the day I sold it. If you’re going to keep it, vortex and yosh exhaust with bigger rear sprocket will help a lot.
The stock 13 /51 gearing isn't short enough? You could always buy a Trials bike.
Looks like fun. Also, I'm a lot more interested in the 300L rally now.
I’m finally getting to watch the 450L videos. I’m looking forward to it.
This was so much fun to watch. Thanks man. Definitely been looking at this bike for my first dual sport bike.
I have a 22' RL @2500 miles. Before you put the throttle tamer on reroute the throttle cable (unbunch it from the fork tube brackets. Costs nothing but helps or get the 450x cable which is shorter). I went with a power commander and that helped alot at half the price of the vortex. It breaks in around 1500 miles. Stick with it and riding a gear higher always helps.
Great video. I've been on the CRF450RL for over a year now and it can be a handful on singletrack. It is my unicorn bike. Three suggestions if you want to do singletrack on this bike. First: Vortex ECU running map 1. Secondly: Steahly flywheel weight. Third: Rekluse auto clutch. No exaggeration... in this configuration I cannot get the bike to flameout or stall. You can rip it like a MX bike or put it in a gear taller and just putt up, over, and through anything while Rekluse handles all the clutch work. The beauty of this machine is that you can set it up for Your riding style.
What year is your bike and how many miles do you have? Have you tried raising the idle?
@@JohnnyBoy919 it's a 2022 model with currently 10,400 miles on it. I bought it new in July of 2021. I know I ride a lot 🙂 I have my idle set to 1850 rpms. I have no need to raise it as it never flames out in with the Vortex and Rekluse. Proper TPS calibration with the Vortex is just as important as the correct idle speed in eliminating flame outs.
@@jctoth Well your idle is set to where it should be. According to the manual it should be set at 1800 +/- 100 rpm. Did you end up raising it to that or did it come that way? Reason I'm asking is I'm wondering if just adjusting the idle to where it should be would fix the flameout issues without having to do the other stuff. I always try to do 1 thing at a time to see if it fixes rather than multiple things at once.
@@JohnnyBoy919 it was def something less than that. I remember after purchasing the tach I had to raise the idle speed a couple of clicks to get it where it should be. Idle speed is very important in preventing flameouts on 4 strokes. I've even heard of some guys taking it 100 rpms above the factory recommendation for added assurance although I never found that necessary with the Rekluse.
@@jctoth that's good to know, I've heard of people raising their idles to 1900/2000 rpm as well.
Hello, I'm all most to the point in my riding at my age lighter is better, still plan on keeping my '07 beemer for the tar/distance old but simple and comfortable. been riding '13 dr650 for couple years in the dual sport stuff but getting ready to go CRF450RL so thank you for the content I'll be watching.
450 is too much for most, 350 is the sweet spot and the majority would be best on a 250. I started on a 250 4 stroke which taught me good clutch technique and i moved up stage by stage on motors and now comfortably ride a 300 2 stroke but it was progressive not just jumping on the most powerful bike. You on the 450 reminds me of when you started on the Africa Twin IMO. Love what ya do and hope it all works out on the 450.
Nice buy Road Dork. Congratulations with your new place. Stay safe and rubber side down Around Bend Oregon out!
That’s a lot of bike no doubt but it looked like towards the end of the video, you were more confident and going faster. Awesome video and those views were killer!
Awesome! Those are great bikes! Try raising the idle up a bit should help a bit with the flame outs.
They definitely are a much more work on the body but once you get usto it there alot of fun. Tighten up the bike with your knees while standing eases the strain on the arms.
So glad your on that bike. Once you get a little confidence and experience on that bike you'll be ripping those single tracks! Hang in there bud and enjoy it! There a ton of fun!
Assuming you have the 3x3 and jet mod on the DRZ it should have the exact same hp/tq of the CRF. The vibration in your voice was clearly audible, and I assume it's because your CRF suspension is was stiffer than the DRZ will ever be, but you can certainly soften the CRF up by adjustment. I kinda prefer less stiff, but not squishy lol :-) For me, the flame out would drive me nuts. Its hard enough staying on single track without that in the back of your mind, but i'm sure there is a fix for it, whether aftermarket power commander or what ever. Keep it light ;-)
A 450L isn't what most dual sporters expect. It doesn't like to chug or crawl around at a casual pace. It wants to roost and burn corners and test your limits especially once uncorked. I currently own a 22 450RL and have watched your channel and riding style for a couple years now. I bet the Drz overall will be a better fit for you then what the 450L offers up. Time will tell and stay with it if you are unsure. Seat time builds confidence more anything.
Its hard to stop the flame outs for the simple reason the flywheel is to light, rekluse is a game changer but bloody expensive 🙄🙂
I hope this works out for ya cuz I’m looking forward to the BDR Slayer build 👍🏻
I looked at one new and after a lengthy discussion with my local salesman and shop owner….we all decided that the 250L was better suited for what I do. 🤷🏼♂️
Same bro. Made me look at the CRF300L in a different light.
Too much bike for you? Nah! You'll grow into it. Like the saying goes, better to have too much than not enough.
Let's hope the mods make it what you want. I'm still happy with my Drz400s but that 450L sure looks fun to rip on!
Stock tires aren't a knobby but are a pretty decent dual sport tire IMO. Don't blame them for you taking a bad bounce. To add dual sport versatility to the L check out Red Matt's mod, Nomad tanks, Radius X and Tubliss. Combined with your throttle tamer and seat you ordered you'll have the best dual sport available.
I rode with these tires for a year on my 250l. I'm very familiar with their limitations.
I have a 21 450RL and love it.
Enjoy! Be interested to hear what you think!
And yeah after trying to make it a technical woods bike it does not like slow speeds.
Dirt roads and trails for me and it.
And no ecu change here.
Glad you're loving it!
I used to have a 250L got stolen last year i went and i got an kawi 300r i fricking love it im 45 yrs old and i love how nimble is the kawi
Expensive options but both will make the bike 100% better a Recluse clutch and an after market ECU like a Vortex
Congrats on the new bike. I also picked up a 2019 CRF450L recently. We were probably competing for one in western Oregon. I am using the JD Jetting 6X. I can't compare it to a new ECU, but it definitely helps with twitchiness. It seems to start better as well.
I miss the power but I don't miss the flameouts in the tight woods and slow riding like in grown up fire breaks or the lousy fuel mileage. I had a JD tuner and FMF Q4 on my bike. The flameouts were unpredictable and always seemed to happen at the worst timing. The stock front tire is dangerous. I had it washout on wet leaves in my yard.
The KLX230 I have now is a tractor. No flameouts and will run down to a stupid slow rpm with no clutch work needed. The suspension and power and lacking compared to the 450 but it weights the same and feels lighter. I would love a big bore dual sport with the characteristics.
have that suspension tuned, the high speed adjuster on the shock needs some work after hearing your voice on the choppy road, may need a spring to personalize it for you and get you at the correct ride height so you aren't too far down in the stroke. and a revalve if the spring is a fairly big rate change to help the rebound settings. I'm a bigger guy myself and found that it truly makes bikes more enjoyable to ride when they are configured just for you. I have some guys in my group that are 140-160lbs and they get by great on stock setup.. its incentive for me to get in better shape.. but along the way suspension will change your riding world when you have someone who truly knows what they are doing set it up for you.
Hopefully with a tuner that flameout issue goes away. I had the same issue with one I test rode a few months ago. The other thing that might be nice to add to that bike might be a Scott’s Steering Stabilizer. Should take a lot of that twitcheness out of the front end.
Thx for the vid dude. I’ve considered this bike every time one pops up.
Great to see you out on the bike after the reveal. That flameout/stalling would do my head in, hope you can sort it. Heard some KTM's suffer with it as well. Kinda glad my Beta has never been an issue for it.
I think you need to give it some more saddle time and maybe soften the suspension a little before deciding if it is the right bike or not, being so different from your other bikes will need some dial in time. Am assuming you are running offroad pressures in the tyres?
Could go to TuBliss with it maybe as well, I am really impressed with it on my Beta.
15:45 thats sasquatch on the left of the trail
Get the Rekluse CX plus ECU mod and you won’t have any of the performance issues. D606 tires are great too. I actually still have a Power Commander V and it does fine for me. Extra power but does pop a little. Not bad though. Exhaust is cool, I got the Yoshi full system.
Great vid! I would love to ride one, but funnily enough, this bike isn’t available here in the Japanese market.
Throttle tamer, flywheel weight, a bigger rear sprocket, and 1500 miles smoothed mine right out.
Playing the flameout drinking game. Have a nice buzz going....hope I don't die from alcohol poisoning by the end of the video...
I just bought a 2022 yz250fx from power motorsports. I told them credit you the sale.
Sorry that was somewhat disappointing for a first time out. But it demonstrated why I've held off buying one even though I 'love' the bike. Still having a hard time knowing I got to put another $2K into whatever 'good deal' I find to make it what I hope it to be in the end. One thing you didn't mention that I have seen on another youtube video with this bike was the person talked about it overheating in technical single track riding. And would actually cut off and was hard to start back until it cooled off somewhat. They demonstrated that in their video. So that was another concern. Great luck to you going forward and hope it all gets sorted. Watching with interest as your experience will no doubt sway some of us one way or the other on taking a chance with this bike or not. 😀
Have you tried increasing your idle speed yet. It will help with flameout provided you don’t lug the engine at slower than idle rpm speeds.
As you get better at the clutch and less stressed by the difference in rpm from the drz, it will be less stressful.
I recommend a Reklus clutch for that rascal
I've only just leaned about this bike & I guess what I like is the ability to be on the highway @ 70mph but people say it gets
blown around a lot? But more that the 250cc 's? She's tall for me but I do like being able to hang w/ traffic. TY for the vid!
wondering if a heavier flywheel weight would work on those 450s. it made my cr 500 much more manageable. it was more like a thumper. and it might keep the engine from dying.
Good idea
Did you turn your idle up? Before I got my vortex I turned it up to about 2k. That helped. G2 as well. Also, it's gets better with miles.
I sold my 2019 due to the low speed issue/flameout and I started doing a lot of road riding and the small tank and high maintenance wasn’t going to work for that. I wasn’t adding a $1,000 ecu to fix an issue that shouldn’t exist. Someone said that a lighter flywheel helps also. The issue still isn’t fixed on the 2022.
Yeah the detuned dirt bike thing definitely doesn't play well with the slow speed technical stuff. Sorry yours didn't work out for you.
@@DorkintheRoad it will be a fantastic bike if you fix that low speed issue and put a bigger tank on it. Amazing power and great suspension. Now that I’m in a financial position to add some parts to one I may pick up another in the next year or so now that I have a new KLR for my road riding. Enjoy and keep the content coming.
@@DorkintheRoad This is a motocross bike with some added weight. It's probably geared too high and the tires look overinflated. I'd try about 16 lbs. On a track probably 12. First gear is only to get moving.
You should have gotten the 2021+ model year of the crf450rl. I never buy first year models. I'd rather wait for them to work out the issues.
The 2021 model got new ecu and updated tuning on the fuel injection settings.
I heard alot of the crf450ls left dealerships with the idle set too low, so raising that helped with the flameouts. Also the more miles you put on I'm sure the better it gets.
Now you know why so many people sell them with so few miles!
It doesn’t matter what tires you put in that thing. It is going to spin off-road with heavy throttle. Just need to get used to sitting forward in the seat and lean towards the bars when you lay in the power. Elbows up and squeeze the bike with your thighs. It’s a competition dirt bike you have to ride it like one or it could bit ya in the ass
A Vortex and Yoshimura exhaust transforms the bike. San Diego Powersports desmog is worthwhile as well.
Oh I know the feeling on this bike I'm at the back end of a 4 week recovery thanks to a stall on a Jump. The crf450rl demands blood sacrifice
I'm sorry to hear that, man. That's scary.
@@DorkintheRoad sometimes you get the bear sometimes it gets you. I still think the bike has potential to be great but the ECU did not solely cure flame out so I am pairing the aim ecu with a rekluse radius cx. I am excited to see how you end up gelling with the bike and the direction you take it. Then again I might be using my crf450rl not for its intended use lol.
@Dorkintheroad
Hey Ben, I'm not sure where to ask you this question, so I'll post it here, and hope you see it:
Which of the motorcycles you've owned or tested, would be cable of riding two-up AND hauling all of your needed camping gear?
I dont have my ADV bike, yet, but my intent is the Africa Twin, when I have the money.
My concern is total weight of me and my wife plus all the gear.
Thanks in advance, love the channel!
Remove the airbox cover and idle it up just a little, with a g2 throttle tamer and that will solve the flameout and twitchy throttle.
My high performance WR250F with GYTR ECU has a similar warmup knob but I haven't had to use it in any conditions, hot, cold, high elevation, mid elevation....
Great video. Thank you for sharing. I'm curious how you loaded and unloaded that bike from the bed of your Tundra.
I have a CRF150rb I’ve converted to a trail bike ,put heavy fly wheel on , then get G2 tamer, it still wanted climb trees with me on. Changed the rear sprocket from 56 to 47 night and day difference. This is not for everybody but bike is more like a trail bike not Mx bike. One 64 yr old man’s opinion. So all said you might try gearing. ???
Should've got you a gen 1 klr instead. Just kidding, love your insight and logic.
Thats why I didn't get 1 over the drz , I ride way too much tractor mode and the mods would just keep coming. only 2K more in Oz but just needed Tractor .
Yeah, my brother's crf450x and my Husky501. Got to compare them Back to back...have to say my 501 is so much easier to ride and less flame out. Still that Honda had scary torque.....definately more ready to race with a powerband. And yes that crf liked to flame out....there may be some relief with sprocket swaps for slower trail riding.
Get the mods and tires it is much better but still powerful. Adjust and dial in your suspension it will reward you. Give a good try after that and see what your opinion is mine changed quite a bit after changes I made the flame out is real
Did (would?) you ever consider a Beta 390RRS. Good suspension, not twitchy, no flame-outs, no huge yank on/off throttle, smooth progressive power delivery, 25 pounds lighter, no need for ridiculous modifications (KTM, Husky, HONDA!). Great bike. Had KTM and wouldn't go back.
Love mine! Wish it had longer service intervals but otherwise, pretty perfect.
I thought you might have wanted to get a WR250R after your ride/ review recently. Agree with your review of it btw and wishing I still had mine but I sold it because I got used to the power and it was so reliable, it was boring in a way lol.
If you keep this bike, please follow up on the flame out issue. I've seen so many people complaining about it, but I haven't seen anything on what they do to fix it... other than get a new bike. The 450L seems like a good fit for me, but I'm concerned about this issue as I'm more of a slow going trails guy.
I've read that the idle speed should be raised, and that most of the problems are resolved after about 1,200 miles. But the opinions seem to vary a lot.
First mod should be the correct shock and fork spring rate
Looks fun though on and off road. I wouldn't mind the workout
For the cost of these bikes new, you shouldn't have to spend a single penny to ride them the way you're supposed to be able to. As a diehard Honda guy, it really pains me to admit in this case the DRZ is the superior bike
I would not own that bike without a Rekluse clutch. Nothing beats a Rekluse on a modern 4t.