Honda CR450

The Honda CR450 was actually a 430. A 430 with a hopelessly spaced four- speed gearbox and a powerband like the tip on an X-Acto blade. It shook the steering head like someone removed the bearings, and tracked like a buffalo on steroids. The front number plate looked like a hangnail, and the suspension was a mass of confused Showa leftovers that didn't like each other. This bike would get into a high-speed wobble at 38 mph, stalled easily and the odd spacing in the gear box always kept you over-revving the engine or bogging below the power curve.

Oh sure, it had a lot of power, but the power delivery was freaky. It would either hit hard, or hesitate, but you were never sure which would happen. Geared for off-road use, low gear would take you out to 45 mph, while fourth gear might squeak up to 80. Topping off its list of bad habits was that it was hard to start when cold, harder to start if you dropped it and when it got hot, and it tended to foul plugs and ping.

1981

1981 Honda CR450R

The Honda Elsinore designated CR450R'81 was sold in 1981. It was Honda's first production "open class" MX bike. One color was available: Tahitian Red. The fuel tank stripe was black and white. The number plate panels were yellow. the engine color was red. The engine was a 431cc 2-stroke reed valve single with a 4-speed transmission. The serial number began JH2PE0203BC000001.

1981 Honda Motorcycle Full-Line Brochure