Latest Update, 2017 CRF450R(X)?: Where Are They?
We know now, Here is the link to the official information: http://dirtbiketest.com/fresh-dirt/first-look-2017-honda-crf450rx-and-crf450r/
To answer the above question, we can’t. All we can do is speculate with some pretty solid intel. It’s been some time since we first spotted a video of an HRC tech hitting that magic button to fire what could be the 2017 CRF450R. From there, Factory Honda in Japan has been racing what some say is a pre-production machine in the form of a factory race bike. Here are some photos that have been floating all over the internet for the past year.
In America, the closest leak of a new bike was when a box van was stolen from a high desert SoCal hotel with what was rumored to be two prototype or pre-production test bikes. From what we know, those bikes have never been recovered.
Roll forward to present day in Japan, the Honda factory in Kumamoto that assembles and builds CRFs was hit by an earthquake and production was halted. So the fate of the ’17 CRF is still a mystery. In the end, the ’17 CRF could end up as a limited- production run due to the factory shutdown or even due to supplier problems from the same heavily devastated region that produces many different motorcycle parts.
Honda has yet to release any press information on the ’17 CRF. We have heard the bikes might not be ready for sale until October. Again this is not the official word. We can imagine all of the press info was finalized long ago but Honda may not disseminate the information until just prior to the bikes being released. As of right now there no media launch or embargoed information has been distributed nor has a solid date been set.
There have been oodles of speculation with regard to the ’17 450s for over a year now. This is what we “believe” to be true. First, the engine is likely going to be a single-cam head according to all of the race bike images we’ve seen. Many have speculated that the new bike will have a twin-cam head design. Usually by those with better sticker application skills than understanding that cams operate valves in some magical mystical way. The fact that the standard slant valve cover with Uni-Cam is printed right on the ’17 pre-production race bikes in clear sight, says a lot but there just isn’t the room under the cover for a second cam unless Honda has designed a very new way of spinning them with small gears or sprockets.
Yes, Honda does have a twin-cam head engine they run in the HRC rally bikes. From the photos we have seen (pictured is one that appeared in a French magazine) this bike has a totally different engine, which allows for a twin-cam head. The rally bike does make more power/torque, yet the rally bikes are heavier, requiring more torque and delivers a different performance characteristic compared to a motocrosser. Durability is also a factor and the rally engine is likely overall heavier and heavy duty compared to the CRF450R motocross power plant.
Honda has had a new CRF chassis for some time now but getting it put into production is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, Trey Canard raced the new chassis at the Monster Cup a few years back. This was possible because it was not an AMA- or FIM-sanctioned event and the standard rulebook did not apply. So that frame could have been the precursor to what we might see on the 2017s. We can guess the new chassis will redistribute some weight, which will make the chassis slightly more stable and possibly roomier.
From there, the prototype bikes have been seen with electric start and hydraulic clutch. Factory Honda rider Akira Narita’s race bike was often spotted with a cable clutch due to his preference. From what we have learned, there is a good chance these items will not come stock on the showroom models. Meaning electric start and a hydraulic clutch will be available as an HRC accessory. Unlike the KTM, if you run the electric start, you will still have a kick start backup at all times.
Here is the Honda HRC Rally bike with the twin-cam engine, it does not appear this engine will be used in the CRF motocross bike for 2017.
Suspension has been the talk of the town for all brands in the last few years since the inception of the pneumatic spring fork (air fork). Honda has chased down three different fork designs between the 250 and 450. Air forks have advantages with weight and when tuned for a specific rider can work very, very well. Yet they can also be complicated, difficult to tune if you don’t understand how they work, and create extra work checking pressures each time you ride. It is speculated that the ’17 CRF450R will go back to a coil spring fork. Now we are not sure if this will be an older existing design or some sort of hybrid spring and air fork. If they could build a fork where the spring can help hold the bike up and help with small bump compliance but also have the progressive nature of an air fork (that is different than the older natural air spring effect), this could be the next progression. Anyhow, rumor is some sort of coil spring fork will return for ’17.
The ’17 look will have newly designed plastics with possibly several on-demand tuning devices on the handlebar such as launch modes, possibly different “traction control” (a way to control rear wheel spin if the engine revs too quick, and at least two ignition and/or fuel curves to choose from).
Now if you understand how the process works, this bike was not designed and built yesterday or last year, but the concept started years ago—4 to 5 to be exact. Yes, designs change slightly and progress is made during testing, but this bike started life on paper and computer a long time ago. Even if they were able to build a better mousetrap over, say, the 2016 or 2017, they often wait until the lifecycle of a particular model runs its course.
Below is a cheesy video showing the history of the CR staring with the original Elsinore
Now KTM is a smaller company and their business model is slightly different. Because of this they can be a little more creative with bikes like their Factory Editions or fast track technology if they need to keep up or attempt to surpass the competition.
Will There Be a 2017 CRF450RX Off-Road?
OK, the new ’17 motocrossers will eventually be on the way, yet there could be more.
There has been a little news regarding a possible off-road GNCC-type race bike as well. This bike could be similar to the Yamaha YZ450FX or KTM 450XC-F, for example. If the bike materializes, perhaps it could end up being a closed course race bike for off-road and GP-style racing. Probably with an 18-inch rear wheel, slightly larger fuel tank, off-road tuned suspension, possibly wider ratio transmission, and a slightly smoother power delivery. Other little things could be standard like handguards and a skid plate. We would guess this bike would come standard with the electric start, but it could also be a secondary HRC component.
What helps fuel this rumor is the fact that we know that JCR (Johnny Campbell Racing) has been heading back east with a squad to race the GNCC series in both the 250 and 450 classes. They are currently aboard converted CRFs and likely testing what might turn out to be a CRFX and learning and grooming a program and riders for the future.
Now, any day, Honda may release information on their 2017 motocross line and possible off-road race bike, but we may have to wait a little while due to circumstances beyond their control. So it is a waiting game. We pretty much know they will be launching an all-new bike but it will likely come out late in the year around October and some speculate the production run could be in the low numbers and very limited compared to a standard year. But this is not totally solid intelligence at this time. So Honda fans may have to wait to see and get a 2017 CRF450R; and those who wait may have throw some elbows because the number of bikes available may be less than average.
