Street legal 03 CRF-450R tard opinions?

[Akilldema]

Found a pretty nice one that's had a recent top end rebuild and runs like a champ. Much faster than my old KTM and has some nice goodies as well. How reliable are these on the street with frequent fluid changes? I've decided I may just go motard instead of SV as I already have a bike I can cruise around on. This will be strictly for twisties.

[TYEster]

Pretty reliable but make sure it's has TALL gearing otherwise you'll be banging the rev limiter in 5th which isn't nice on the valves. If I had to go the conversion route again, I'd find an X with electric start because kick-only sucks balls.

What mods specifically does it have? How many hours on the recent top end?

BTW frequent fluid changes for a street going bike will require engine change about every 8hrs and trans about every OTHER engine change.(roughly 16) The book will recommend 15hrs for both I believe, but since the duration of motard riding is different than MX, personally I would make them much more frequent to prevent excessive wear.

[Akilldema]

Off of the top of my head: it has a full exhaust, has been re-geared, not sure what brand 17's forgot to look, sliders front and rear, bike stand, aftermarket triple tree and fat bar, CRG levers, Brembo brakes, a chain tensioner or something like that he mentioned, aftermarket oil filter cover, KTM SM front fender, acerbis headlight.. that's about all I can recall ATM. He said 10 tanks of gas since rebuild.

[Krabill]

CRF's are about the worst bikes out there for reliability. It has a new top end for a reason . . . it wore out. For mx bike reliability, Honda is the worst and Yamaha is the most reliable.

[Akilldema]

It's 7 years old, I don't think that's unreasonable.

[TYEster]

CRF's are about the worst bikes out there for reliability. It has a new top end for a reason . . . it wore out. For mx bike reliability, Honda is the worst and Yamaha is the most reliable.

I'd say Kawasaki and Suzuki rank up there long before Honda.

Hopefully the wheels are Excel and not Warp 9. And it sounds like he has a chain slider which prevents the chain from eating up the tire/rim as supermoto wheels are dangerously closer to the swingarm VS the 2" MX rears.

How much is he asking?

[Akilldema]

I'm thinking he'll take 3k. I don't know if that is what he has, he has a supermoto slick on there and he had to make some x cuts on the chain side of the tire with a razor to allow for chain clearance.

[TYEster]

I'm thinking he'll take 3k. I don't know if that is what he has, he has a supermoto slick on there and he had to make some x cuts on the chain side of the tire with a razor to allow for chain clearance.

LOL is that what he told you?

Ya I had "x" cuts on my old slick and my ContiForce tire on the wheel now. That's from the chain. IF he has a chain guard slider on there, he got it AFTER it chewed into the tire. While it's not a problem, he just lied about modifying the tire. Would make me suspicious about anything else he's done or thought he did that might help.(like pulling the head apart thinking it's good and replacing just certain parts and calling it "rebuilt")

But that's just me.

I'd take $3k for mine, however it's missing lights. And we don't live remotely close lol.

[Akilldema]

I did see the old piston and some cables he replaced, so I believe that. I'll ask about the tire, it looked like it was notched with a razor, not chewed by a chain, but I don't know what it looks like when that happens.

[TYEster]

This is what happens when the tire gets worn all the way and the chain has it's way with the rim. It's an easy fix with paint or you can replace the rim($200) you just have to have the wheel rebuilt($60?)
http://www.twowheelfix.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6116&stc=1&d=1260417208

*also look halfway up the swingarm... There's a slider block plate mounted there, that prevents tire/rim damage from the chain. DEFINITELY a must in a converted bike. Factory sumo's are built with necessary chain/rim clearance.

In the attached pic, there's "x" wear on the slick definitely NOT from a razorblade lol.

[Akilldema]

Where can I get one of those things?

[TYEster]

motostrano.com

EVERYTHING supermoto can be had there...

[goof2]

It may also be a good idea to spend some time over at supermotojunkie, especially in their street tarders section. Lots of good info.

[Rider]

CRF's are about the worst bikes out there for reliability. It has a new top end for a reason . . . it wore out. For mx bike reliability, Honda is the worst and Yamaha is the most reliable.

You're on crack. I've owned both Honda and Yamaha and there is no difference in reliability. I've owned Honda Dirtbiks for 25+ years and never had a non wear item go out.

[Akilldema]

Yeah I've been on SMJ since 04 or so. I posted there before here. Tye: you have any experience with larger gas tanks?

[TYEster]

Yeah I've been on SMJ since 04 or so. I posted there before here. Tye: you have any experience with larger gas tanks?

Nope, you can ask several attendees at Elite Trackdays about that... :lol:


If you're going to ride street though, I'd HIGHLY recommend it. As they do run out quick.

*BTW this as close to 03 as I can find for a chain slider
http://epicmotosports.com/epicsupermotochainguidecrf25045002-09.aspx

[Akilldema]

Nope, you can ask several attendees at Elite Trackdays about that... :lol:


If you're going to ride street though, I'd HIGHLY recommend it. As they do run out quick.

*BTW this as close to 03 as I can find for a chain slider
http://epicmotosports.com/epicsupermotochainguidecrf25045002-09.aspx
I think I found a guy with some used stuff I'll get one from. He also has a GPR stabilizer with top and bottom triples/steering stem for 450. Good deal? I'll prob get the tank after that stuff. 200$ for one is about the best deal I'll get, it looks like.

[TYEster]

I think I found a guy with some used stuff I'll get one from. He also has a GPR stabilizer with top and bottom triples/steering stem for 450. Good deal? I'll prob get the tank after that stuff. 200$ for one is about the best deal I'll get, it looks like.

Ya a damper is a great idea on these bikes also if it sees high speeds(like above 80mph :lol:) And if you don't like it, that's worth at least $250 used.

[Akilldema]

He just wants 200 for the damper, 250 for the triples/stem. Seems pretty fair. What's the best coolant to use? Trying to make sure it doesn't overheat if I get stuck in traffic.

[TYEster]

He just wants 200 for the damper, 250 for the triples/stem. Seems pretty fair. What's the best coolant to use? Trying to make sure it doesn't overheat if I get stuck in traffic.

See if he'll do $400 for both, simply because he can't sell one without the other I don't think.

No idea... I'd go with whatever manufacturer recommends plus a little extra water in the mix. Ideally though, you don't want to sit in traffic. It will overheat with a quickness if it's 90+ out.

The idea here is you use your newfound ride and skip around traffic. Lane split, grassy shoulder, curb hop, sidewalk, down stairs, up stairs... Hell supermoto's have an almost unlimited amount of options. Just no mud. They don't tend to fair so well in that unless you have the chunky 17" tires on.

[Akilldema]

Yeah, I used to have this that I bought from Reyn on CF and sold to Riceaholic. I used to raise some major hell on it, and this thing is way faster. I'll probably use engine ice, it used to keep a 2 stroke that majorly overheated with normal coolant from doing so. The rear shock does feel a little loose for me since I'm a 200lber. Can I just adjust the nut on it to make it ride tighter? Don't know shit about suspension.

[TYEster]

I rode on stock susp at 200+lbs in full gear. It's a tad soft also, but I just left it.

You can either redo it for your weight, or try full stiff compression/full soft rebound on the stock internals. May or may not work.

[Akilldema]

I'm hoping to hit 220 within 6 months so I'll def wind up doing something. I think I'm going to take the plunge with this bike. The only thing I'm hung up on is a 07 SXV450 Aprilia SM with 2500 miles and good pressure tests from the factory(blacks sealant) and a new starter. He wants 4k though.

[TYEster]

I'm hoping to hit 220 within 6 months so I'll def wind up doing something. I think I'm going to take the plunge with this bike. The only thing I'm hung up on is a 07 SXV450 Aprilia SM with 2500 miles and good pressure tests from the factory(blacks sealant) and a new starter. He wants 4k though.

I'd stay away.

I love my RSVR and I'd love an SXV, but 08+ only if I had a choice.

There were 3 07's on Craigslist recently, all 07 with black sealant. I think only 1 has sold so far. They have a permanent thread on "problems" for SXVs on the AF1 forum. A major turn off, if they're that finicky, it's not worth it to me.

[Akilldema]

I saw that. I think I'll just get the CRF and spend the extra 1k on upgrades.

[Akilldema]

How often do the valves need to be checked?

[TYEster]

How often do the valves need to be checked?

It's recommended every 15hrs, personally I've seen it be safe to go as far as 30hrs. However there's always exceptions to every rule.

I know someone who rode their 2002 YZ450F for all of 7 years before checking them.

BTW here's a step by step with pictures that I used to check mine.
http://crfsonly.com/howto/crf250x/crf-valve-adjustment/crf250x-valve-adjustment.php

* crfsonly.com is a good place for parts too, but their limited in Supermoto specific stuff