MCL 2022 - OFF-ROAD
Kicking up Rooster Tails for 50 Years
The milestones keep coming when you’ve been creating iconic motorcycles for over 70 years. This time it’s the turn of the dirt bike world. So come on over; it’s time to get down and dirty.
It wasn’t just actor Steve McQueen who went crazy over the Honda CR250M Elsinore in 1973; the entire MX fraternity did too. On Honda’s dirt bike stand this year, you can see the mighty 2023 model 50th Anniversary CRF450R to mark this memorable milestone. The updated CRF450RX will also be on display.
Thanks to its recent extensive revamp, the CRF250R features the same HRC-developed chassis as its championship-winning 450cc big brother. Stop by and see what other ground-shaking upgrades we’ve made.
Dirt bike genius Tommy Searle recently clinched the British MX1 Championship on board his bulletproof CRF450R for team Crendon Fastrack Honda. Find out about Tommy’s fantastic season. While you’re there, say a big hello to Honda Racing Team Manager Dave Thorpe, who is also at this year’s Motorcycle Live show.
Plus, check out Honda’s off-road section. Here, you can find more info about the great off-road school led by three-time World Championship winner Dave Thorpe.
Let’s kick up some rooster tails at Birmingham’s NEC.
Five Decades of Raising Roosters
This year saw Tommy Searle win the prestigious MX1 Motocross Championship. So, it’s little wonder that Honda’s focus is on the all-conquering CRF450R. This incredible dirt bike received a recent major upgrade and the changes are paying dividends.
The big bore motocross legend kicked off its career in 2002. At the time Honda was looking to manufacture a motocross bike with world-class control, agility and durability. More importantly, though, they wanted it to be accessible to everyone.
In 2017, Honda launched operation ‘Absolute Holeshot’. This redesign saw Europe’s much-loved, open-class dirt buster receive a rebuild from the ground up.
The CRF450R’s revamp began in 2017 with a new chassis and brand-new engine that offered a significant top-end power boost.
Annual updates continued with standard-fit electric start in 2018. One year later, the HRC-developed cylinder head upped power and torque considerably. The racing department produced launch control for the bike and by 2020, the CRF450R gained Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC).
Thanks to HRC development work during Tim Gajser’s triumphant 2019 and 2020 wins at the MX GP Championships, Honda was able to incorporate the hard-won results into the CRF450R. The old philosophy of ‘race it on Sunday, sell it on Monday’ still held.
By the time 2021 rolled around, apart from the wheels and basic engine architecture, the big red thumper was a whole new motorcycle.
Once again, feedback from the FIM World MXGP, AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross Championships are responsible for steering the direction of recent CRF450R developments.
Ride Easier, for Faster and Longer
The 2023 CRF450R and its enduro-focused sibling, the CRF450RX, are easier to ride faster and for longer but the evolution of the species continues.
The 23YM CRF450R features new narrow intake ports, a longer air funnel and a 44mm diameter throttle body. Together with revised, factory-rider spec cam timing, the result is an impressive boost of low-rpm torque of over 10%.
The increased and smoother low-down power delivery is ideal for powering hard through corners, while at the same time, maintaining control.
To ensure the power increase is manageable, a revision of frame rigidity saw an increase in the rear spring rate and damping. This improvement gave better rider feedback, control and drive over rutted ground.
As a result of the handling improvements, the 2023 CRF450R enjoys heightened front tyre grip and stability. It turns faster and has improved suspension reaction and bump absorption.
No attention to detail escaped Honda engineers. That said, even tougher, more durable aluminium in the muffler didn’t result in a weight gain.
A Great Team and a Fantastic Bike Make a Champion
Tommy Searle had no fewer than five UK Youth Championships under his belt before advancing to the world stage in 2005. Within one year, the plucky MX racer was standing on the podium of the Swedish Grand Prix. He completed the season ranked 8th in the 250 MX2 world championship rankings. Quite an achievement for a 17-year-old.
Searle climbed slowly up the leaderboard in the following two years, finishing his best year to date, securing second place in the World Championships. Impressed with the rising star’s efforts, KTM North America lured Tommy to the other side of the Atlantic to race in the AMA MX Lites series.
Searle’s time in the States didn’t turn out quite the way he hoped, crashing out with injury in both seasons. Returning home in 2010, Tommy led another assault on the World Motocross Championship.
Once again, luck was not on the young racer’s side. Although a strong contender to lift the crown, mechanical failure in three events pushed him downwards to a disappointing 2nd place.
Go Big or Go Home
The season was not without its highs though. At 23, Tommy Searle became the third most successful British MX rider behind Jeff Smith and the legendary Dave Thorpe. Searle decided it was time to go big or go home.
Searle made the jump to MX1 and it was a good move. In 2020, with two British MX1 Championships under his belt, he was fortunate enough to sign up with Honda.
The Pandemic put paid to a full racing calendar but he still went on to win the only Pro Championship running that year.
New Sponsor, New Bike
In 2021, the stars at last aligned. Along came a new sponsor in the shape of Crendon Fastrack and the all-new Honda CRF450R. Backed by a fantastic team and mounted on Honda’s cutting-edge bike, Searle’s grit and determination paid off, winning the ACU British Motocross Championship.
Tommy Searle’s Honda-powered star continued to rise. Following a double win in the opening round of the 2022 Championship, a faultless succession of races saw him hold on to the leader’s plate from beginning to end.
Searle marked his final season for the Crendon Fastrack Honda Team with another magnificent ACU British Motocross Championship win. During the 2022 season, Searle dropped the bike not once. The bulletproof Honda CRF450R didn’t miss a single beat, a fitting tribute to man and machine.
Call into the Honda off-road stand and discover first-hand why the Honda CRF450R is the choice of champions.
Honda CRF450RX
With so much development work and resources poured into the CRF450R, it makes sense for the enduro-focused CRF450RX to enjoy the same benefits.
Due to the nature of the sport, although the requirements for the cross-country RX differ, the fundamentals of a fast, responsive engine in a tough agile chassis remain.
Enduro riding is all about battling through long bouts of rugged terrain, so the added engine power and handling are most welcome. It was, however, 3-level torque control (HSTC), an engine mode selector that alters engine character and drive, plus launch control, that delivered real-world benefits.
With a larger fuel tank, 18” rear wheel, side stand, knuckle guards and unique engine mapping, the CRF450RX provides a fast ride with less rider effort and for longer.
Dirt bike domination
To celebrate the anniversary of Honda’s five decades of dirt bike domination, the factory marks the event with the CRF450R 50th Anniversary. The special edition motorcycle has a host of signature features. These include a blue seat, white number boards, gold wheels and handlebar, metallic grey top/bottom yokes and unique radiator shroud graphics.
If Steve McQueen was still raising roosters, you can bet he’d have one of these beauties parked alongside his beloved Elsinore.
Like its larger stablemate, the mid-sized adventure scooter manages to combine the sophistication of a premium scooter with the ability to handle the roughest of roads. Just as well, the appalling state of Europe's pothole-riddled urban highways is bad enough to give the ADV350's suspension a serious workout.
On the topic of suspension, the ADV350 features motorcycle-style USD forks with a decent 125-mm of travel. A steering rake of 26.5-degrees means the steering should be precise and predictable.
Remote reservoir, pre-load adjustable rear shocks are good for 130-mm of travel. A 120/70x15 tyre in the front and a 140/70x14 tyre at the rear give an impressive ground clearance of 145-mm.
Honda has gone for a tubular steel frame and X-pattern aluminium wheels to keep weight to a minimum. As you would expect, tyres are quite chunky, running dual-sport style block pattern treads. Tyres should be able to handle everything from cobbled streets to tightly packed gravel tracks.
Last but not least are the brakes. The 256-mm front disc and 250-mm rear come with 2-channel ABS provide plenty of stopping power for the 183-Kg scooter.
In real terms, although the scooter's suspension and tyres suggest otherwise, the majority of the ADV350's life will see it cutting a swathe through urban jungles.
With this in mind and despite its wide trail-style handlebars, the scooter's physical dimensions make it a nimble weaver in congested traffic rather than a destroyer of wing mirrors.
A seat height of 31.3” means most riders will get both feet safely planted on the ground and the four position adjustable screen should keep most of the weather at bay.
HONDA CR
To celebrate 50 years of the CR range we headed to the 2022 VMXdN at Foxhills. We spoke to the owners of some truly iconic bikes and milestones in the evolution of Motocross. Hear the passion that these bikes inspire in the voice of their owners.
CRF250R: A Need for Speed
For motocross, ground-ripping power is essential. Yet, without control, you’re going nowhere. This philosophy is something Honda understand. For this reason, we’ve set out to make going fast a whole lot easier.
Following the successful revamp of the CRF450R, it became apparent that reducing rider fatigue is a significant factor in producing faster lap times.
Whether you’re a world-class rider or just starting in the sport, not having to waste time fighting your ride is a big deal. In which case, upgrading the 250 with all the best bits of its big brother was a no-brainer.
The CRF250R’s new frame and swingarm’s rigidity, combined with tighter geometry and extra ground clearance, boosted cornering performance and ease of handling.
Meanwhile, the Showa suspension has new valving to improve bump absorption, traction and control.
Low down boost
While some riders loved the CRF250R’s top-end power hit, feedback suggested a need for more mid-range. In response, Honda extensively revised both intake and exhaust efficiency. The result is a much-improved low-rpm drive.
A 9-plate clutch and strengthened gearbox with optimised ratios ensure that none of the engine’s extra punch is wasted.
One feature of the 21YM that divided opinions was its dual muffler exhaust. So, for 2022, the CRF gets a single pipe and muffler. This change allows a better exit for the spent gases. What’s more, the larger bore system enhances combustion stability and exhaust efficiency. The new compact system allows a slimmer body and saves 1.7kg over the previous design.
By altering the angle of the radiator and the number of fins, extra heat generated by a harder-working engine is lessened. Re-designed shrouds also offer additional airflow.
Other developments for the 2022 model concentrate on extra levels of reliability. A thicker water pump gear copes with higher-temperature oil. Meanwhile, alterations to the cylinder head increase pressure for faster oil flow.
Electronic Aids
For over a decade, electronic rider aids have majorly featured in the MX race bike market.
The HRC’s Launch Control system offers all riders the best option for a strong start. There are 3 modes to choose from:
Level 3: 8,250rpm, muddy conditions/novice
Level 2: 8,500rpm, dry conditions/standard
Level 1: 9,500rpm, dry conditions/expert
Activating Launch Control is easy. All you need to do is turn it on, engage the clutch and push the start button on the right. The LED blinks once for Level 1 selection. Push the start button again for half a second or longer and the LED blinks twice for Level 2. Repeat the process and the LED blinks 3 times for Level 3. It’s that simple.
The Engine Mode Select Button (EMSB) alters the engine’s characteristics. There are three maps to suit riding conditions or rider preference. These are, Mode 1 (Standard), Mode 2 (Smooth) and Mode 3 (Aggressive). The LED also displays the mode selected.
You can locate the rider control input and the LED indicator in a small 3-button consul on the left side of the handlebars.
Riding faster is all about riding smarter. The all-new CRF250R has lots of slick features. Don’t take our word for it, though. Ask Team Honda rider Jett Lawrence. Jett has taken the AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship for two consecutive years riding his trusty CRF250R.
Let your Off-Road Adventure Begin
Do you want to get down and dirty learning some off-road skills but aren’t lucky enough to own a dirt bike? Or are you not psyched about putting your pride and joy through some serious paces?
Then head out to the Honda Adventure Centre. In the heart of the Exmoor National Park, you’ll learn some invaluable off-roading skills riding Honda’s dual sport CRF1100L Africa Twin and CRF300L dirt bikes.
The legendary British motocross racer and three-time World Motocross Champion, Dave Thorpe, heads up the Somerset centre. Tuition is courtesy of highly rated instructors who will teach you everything you need to know to become a competent off-road adventure rider. You’ll begin by learning the essential, must-know basics and build up to fine-tuning your dirt riding ability.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie to off-road adventure or a master of mud looking to hone your skills. There is, quite literally, something for everyone.
Over the course of one or two days, instructors split the groups depending on experience level. Riders will neither feel pushed beyond their limits nor forced to hold back their two-wheeled horses.
Putting the Bikes through their Paces
Dave Thorpe sums it up best, “one thing that Honda really prides themselves on is that they have the facilities with all their bikes, for people to look in the showroom. To sit on them, touch them and feel them. Then, to be able to come and try them.”
Better yet, he says, “this center is for anyone who is thinking about buying an adventure bike or thinking about buying an Africa Twin. Come and try it because to actually feel what the Honda can offer you is second to none.”
With the 2023 calendar of events just released, there’s never been a better time to try before you buy. To find out more, click here.
OutstandING in their Field
It’s a real buzz to meet and greet so many Honda fans visiting our stand at the UK’s biggest and best Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham’s NEC.
As we enjoy over five decades of building competitive MX bikes and dual sports, our roots are planted firmly in the off-road sector.
The championship-winning CRF450R is drawing plenty of attention at this year’s event, and right alongside it is the Anniversary CRF450R. This unique Special Edition anniversary model celebrates 50 years of Honda MX bikes.
We have lots of updates and exciting news for all riding tastes. We think you’ll agree that our off-road section is trailblazing.
What’s more, the good news is that there’s still time to check out the king of MX2, the CRF250R.
Discover everything there is to know about Tommy Searle’s record-breaking season. Speaking of champions, get the low-down on the loose stuff with Dave Thorpe’s Honda Adventure Centre.
Are you mad about mud, crazy about competing or tempted to tackle challenging off-road terrain? Then we look forward to seeing you on the Honda stand.
Off-roading is an adventure. So, celebrate your dirty deeds by sharing your pics and reels here:
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