[JimDirt]

Planning my trip for tomorrow to go to Pasco Washington to pick up this brand new 2020 CRF450R



Unfortunately , I won't be able to ride it for another week , as I had a little tip over at the track last Sunday in a berm , and I think I broke my thumb on my good (right) hand , so I can't hold on to the throttle , the swelling has mostly gone down , but the underside of my thumb is bruised , so not sure if it is just a impact bruise or because it is broken ... I might have to get a x-ray .......... Anyway , spending today getting things ready for the trip , so I don't forget anything , it will be about 5+ hour drive , as I will have to stop by my friends house in Kennewick after I get the bike , and then head to Selah to visit with my sister , then head back home Sunday , it will be about a 700+ mile trip when I am done ...

I am going to sell my 02 when I get back , and use that money to pay off my truck , as I only owe $1,700 on it now , so selling the bike will easily pay that off .... then I will still be at 1 payment , instead of 2 , I was hoping to get it by my 61st B-Day , so I am only a couple weeks past that , so all is good ....

[Aussiecrf230]

Congrats Jim on your new baby.
The other bike is 18 so is old enough to look after itself.

Try arnica cream on the bruise, it helps bring it out to the surface and stop the pain. Just hope it isn't broken and needs a pin.
You have broken enough bones to know if it is but the xray might be a good idea.

I get an iron infusion at end of month for my heart failure which suppose to help with fatigue, memory etc. Hopefully get back to riding, getting boots on stuffs me at the moment.

Pictures once you get it home of course.

[Back2-2]

Nice Jim!
How is the fire situation going in your area?

[JimDirt]

I have some of that Ray , I have been using it , along with icing it , and using Lidocaine on it as well , and wrapping it with a Ace Bandage/Wrap ,which mainly helps so if I accidentally bump it , I don't pee my pants ... ... but it still hurts when I move it certain ways and bending it is not working well , I can't hold a bottle of water , or turn a doorknob , that makes it hurt too much ..... I just got back home tonight about 8:30 pm , as I stopped at my sisters and spent the night after getting the bike , then driving home today .... I will take some pics tomorrow before my Chiropractor appointment for my back ...... and Neil ... the smoke in Oregon and Washington is bad , maybe 1/4 mile visibility for the most part , I had to use my inhaler a lot while I was there ...... back home in Weiser , it is better .... still smoky , but more like a couple miles visibility , so much better , but still not healthy .....

[Back2-2]

My friend lives out side of Reno in Nevada and it's really, really bad there.
Hope they get the fires under control pretty soon.

Cool new bike !

[JimDirt]

Here is a couple quick ones , I have not unloaded it yet , and have a Chiropractor appointment , so I will unload when I get back ..

[Back2-2]

Wow - That is nice !

[Aussiecrf230]

Sweet ride.
Hope you didn't leave it out on the driveway like that while visiting the chiro.

[JimDirt]

Sweet ride.
Hope you didn't leave it out on the driveway like that while visiting the chiro.

No I left it attached and I backed up to his front door ,and had it cable locked to the hitch hauler . it was not going anywhere

[JimDirt]

More pics



Map Switch(L) and Traction Control Switch(R)


Head and entire engine is smaller than the older models




Needed some Red Gear to go along with the bike

[Aussiecrf230]

Enjoy

[Leardriver]

It will be interesting to get your take on the bike.

Here is mine on my son's '19 450R:

It is a razor sharp track bike. Bullet fast. Earlier gen bikes don't have a chance against an equal rider. You don't have to modify anything to win a race. No exhaust or suspension changes needed. Mere mortals can't handle the power that this thing makes stock.
A real engineering marvel. Push button start is awesome, so is the FI mapping. When Motorcyclist magazine tested the early V-Max, they used an expression that I never forgot. "I saw Jesus so many times that I started using him for a braking marker." That's how fast your new bike is.

So the "bad" part, if there is one, is that everything is so perfect and dialed in for a no-compromises track bike that it isn't very good off road for technical rock crawly slow going. It is a lot of work, and will tire you out quickly.

Any changes that you make to fix that will take away from the precision behavior it gives you on the track. You would have to undo precision standards that it meets for MX competition.

I rode it at Moab for a 1/2 hour on Poison Spider, and it whooped my old out of shape self. My Cadillac '08 450X was like a cushy limousine in comparison.

[Aussiecrf230]

Well If Jim gets rid of the 450R the new bike is going to be his new track bike.
He is use to his bikes beating him up and throwing him off he will just be able to do it faster and with more precision, LOL.

I am happy to plod along myself unless I disengage the brain and think I am a teenager again. Dangerous that be.

[JimDirt]

It will be interesting to get your take on the bike.

Here is mine on my son's '19 450R:

It is a razor sharp track bike. Bullet fast. Earlier gen bikes don't have a chance against an equal rider. You don't have to modify anything to win a race. No exhaust or suspension changes needed. Mere mortals can't handle the power that this thing makes stock.
A real engineering marvel. Push button start is awesome, so is the FI mapping. When Motorcyclist magazine tested the early V-Max, they used an expression that I never forgot. "I saw Jesus so many times that I started using him for a braking marker." That's how fast your new bike is.

So the "bad" part, if there is one, is that everything is so perfect and dialed in for a no-compromises track bike that it isn't very good off road for technical rock crawly slow going. It is a lot of work, and will tire you out quickly.

Any changes that you make to fix that will take away from the precision behavior it gives you on the track. You would have to undo precision standards that it meets for MX competition.

I rode it at Moab for a 1/2 hour on Poison Spider, and it whooped my old out of shape self. My Cadillac '08 450X was like a cushy limousine in comparison.

Thanks for the input , Though I will be using this pretty much for track , as I , like you , still have my 06 450X for trails and tight single track , where it shines ..... I added a few upgrades to the bike , mainly for wear/tear protection , and life maintenance monitoring , though I do have about $280 worth of Decal Works stuff coming to dress it up a bit , it should be here in a few weeks , but it will make the bike a little closer looking to the 21 ,by having ALL red plastic with no white , and some backgrounds and numbers (my old 859 B-Day date , just like my 02 and X have)

I am going to start off with the mild Map (#2) and Traction Control on to mellow it out for Break In , once I get thru that initial break in and first oil change this weekend , then I will switch it to Standard (#1) Mapping , then try Aggressive (#3) Mapping , and mess with the Traction Control settings more to get a feel for what everything does together and separately , then I will mess with Fork Height in the clamps , then Sag , then clickers.... that way I get a feel for each thing ,and see what I like or don't like about each setting as it is going to be worlds apart from my 02 .... I am hoping to go to that track I like in Oregon soon ,depending on my buddys work schedule ,as it is 275 miles each way (about 30 miles more each way for my friend) ,so he has to haul his 45 ft Toy Hauler ( I just sleep in a tent and use my Hitch Hauler) , so it is a major effort for him to get ready to go ......... But at that track I can see how it jumps . as that track ( last time I was there) has about 17 or more jumps , 1 is a 60 footer step up , it is a blast to hit in 3rd or 4th , and most of the rest are 20 - 30 footers and smaller , so those should be easy for me no matter what bike I am riding ...

I do love going out in the shop and touching a button and it fires right up .... that in itself is a major upgrade ....

[JimDirt]

A few pics of some upgrades .... I can't wait till I get the backgrounds and Red plastics on it

Works Connection Hour Meter ... This will be the last time those 2 numbers will be there


Installing Wires for Meter


Acerbis Frame Guards


Polisport Ignition Cover


Installed


Clutch Cover Installed


After this weekends Break In ride , I will remove the wheels ,and put in my Tubliss front/rear , and tear the suspension apart and re grease everything , (steering head bearings , linkage , swingarm ,wheel bearings) , then I should be good for the rest of the season , then tear the suspension apart and change the suspension oil ..... Hopefully my Factory Service Manual shows up soon .....