[OLDFATGUY]

Do we have to use a smog bike to start with? Could we use a bike from a dofferent state? OFG

[WillCRF]

The obvious choice is to enter this dream 450x as the ultimate off-road / trail machine. This is the venue for which the bike was designed. I also agree with many here to avoid major modifications to the engine such as cams, pistons, big bore kits, etc. Certainly these enhancements can add more power to the beast but it will make a bigger splash if we stay within the theme of selecting add-ons that the “averageâ€￾ owner can install. The minute we pop off the valve cover and go deeper in the guts of the engine, we loose the abilities (me included) of the masses.

There seems to be some debate brewing to keep this machine environmentally friendly. This is probably not a bad thing since we all need to step up and show our commitment in maintaining access to our public riding areas. With that said, not sure if we have to go as far as staying with the stock exhaust. There are several aftermarket pipes that deliver acceptable sound levels while reducing weight and possibly improving performance. Plus this is one of those add-ons that has wide market appeal for the average rider. It will be interesting to see how all this will plays out.

Looking forward to seeing this project get underway.

Will

[silverfox]

I agree with the noise issue, but I would go with somthing lighter, eg, FMF Q2 Quite and light. Would love to see it in old school colors, like the David Baily's
CRF. Gold rims ,blue seat, Maybe even a 1 off silver elsinor touch. All you photoshop guy's should be able to give us a preview?? Suspension is more important than power. power is overrated. mind you, I'd love to ride one with an R head and X cam??
Just be carful with all the bling that it doesn't get to HEAVY

[450x down under]

Great news on the choice of bike 450X is the bike,
The type of bike to be built should be for the use that it was designed enduro/Trail.
Build it with good low end and very strong in the first 3 gears.
for all the tight twisty stuff.
There is no reason this should not be one hell of a bike just about every mod and part you can think of is fitted to one memebers bike or another (or in dougs case everything is fitted and more)
so you can use parts that have been tried and tested by the riders.
Lets use what works and works well.
Best of luck let me know if i can help in getting anything you need.
Best of luck Ken and CRF's only members
Leo

[04 crf450]

im all for the off road/trail idea! they should build a baja bike, that would be sweet!!!!

[uniped]

Silverfox Great suggestion with only one exception, the graphics kits you mention both require Plastic kits in a customized color. Only a problem because One Industies,Throttle Jockey and many other companies seem to have no interest in the Off road market and subsequently do not make the kit for X models. This would not work becuase it would not have a finished product appearance. In addition as a CRFsOnly project it would be good to use a CRFsOnly kit.

In addition I previously used the term more efficient air pump. I used this term in referance to the internal combustion engine and not the "Smog valve". I personnaly think Honda wasted their time putting this thing on the bike as the only thing it could do is add weight and hinder performance.

Scott

[fat_boy_on_crf450x]

The other states dont have air pumps on their bikes for Gods sake, and it must be noted this is the same idiocy in government state who outlawed charcoal grills !

I agree Doug. In case my suggestion of leaving the smog pump alone has conjured up visons of this fat guy hugging slender, nubile trees and worrying about the fate of thier seedlings, please know that is far from the case (I even ran over a bush once without the slightest remorse). The only reason for my suggestion is in case the CRFsOnly bike could somehow be penalized in its review because of blocking the smog off. I actually say that for the very reasons Doug brought up - because of all the misguided attention to this from the air quality folks and pressure that some magazines feel from that.

I wouldn't waste anymore energy debating this, if Ken feels that it won't be an issue to Dirt Rider in judging our bike, then let's block off the damn thing.

You guys are killing me with this keep the stock pipe thing, please someone talk some sense into the stockers, write a nice compelling piece on changing the pipe to convince the stockers of their misguided HEAVY thinking.

I wasn't even thinking about weight - my bad. I just didn't want the magazine to attribute the performance gains of the JD kit and airbox mods to a new pipe. I agree with Doug again that this will be an opportunity to shine a deserving spotlight on the JD kit. In the end, weight alone is the reason many change the stocker to an aftermarket slip-on. And weight is important in bike reviews. I think some narrative from Ken about the JD kit when he submits the bike should suffice in the end.

[[email protected]]

Fat Boy, don't be silly, I KNOW you're not one of those flakes bud !
Actually your thought is quite sound, because they may insist on it unless we label it "closed course" off-road,though I really hope not ! Doug

[-r0b-]

I even ran over a bush once without the slightest remorse

Egad!

[crfsonly]

i was going to let the CRF450X type selection process run the rest of the day but it's look like it's obvious where it will take us. so CONGRATS on selecting the CRF450X off-road/trail build selection.

now the moment we've all been waiting for...selecting the mods!

just a couple of thoughts in doing this. we are building a CRF450X as a purpose built off-road bike. it's a great offroad bike directly from honda. so, our job is to make a great bike even better. better in performance, handling, egonomics, range, durability, and appearance.

i don't think any accessory or modification should be off-limits. remember this isn't your budget building this bike. you might ask yourself when you make your recommendations, "what would i recommend if i could build my dream 450X off-road bike and budget wasn't an issue?"

we do have to be careful not lose sight of the purpose for building this bike...to make it the best off-road bike the CRF450X can be. what we don't want to build is a bloated goat that represents the combined product catalogs of every aftermarket company in the industry.

having said this...if the group feels we should be working with a specific budget then we can work from that angle too. this really is your build and i'm just here to facilitate the decisions you make and then to build it. so, lets get busy and have some fun showing everyone what CFR's Only members and the CRF450X are all about.

ken

p.s. bike type is selected which closes this thread. excellent work!