So, everyone goes on about the CRF450R and its power, right? And look, they’re not kidding. It’s not just a little bit more than your average dirt bike; it’s a whole different animal. I thought I knew what to expect, I really did.
I’d been riding a 250F for years, a good little bike, reliable. But I kept getting left behind by my buddies on their bigger machines, especially on the longer climbs or when we’d hit sandy washes. So, I finally decided to step up. Got myself this CRF450R. Big mistake to think I could just hop on and ride it like the old 250.
My First Real Taste
I remember the first proper weekend I took it out. We went to this spot, Miller’s Canyon, got some decent hills and a few fast, open sections. I was feeling pretty confident, you know? New bike, all that jazz. First couple of hours were okay, I was taking it easy, getting a feel. But then, there was this one uphill, not even the steepest, but kinda loose and rutted.
I gave it what I thought was a reasonable amount of throttle, like I would on my old bike. Man, oh man. The front end just wanted to say hello to the sky. It wasn’t a gentle lift; it was an aggressive, “we’re going up NOW” kind of thing. I chopped the throttle, nearly went over the bars, heart hammering. My mate, Dave, he was just laughing. “Told ya it’s got some poke!” he yelled.
- That initial surge, it’s just instant. No waiting.
- You twitch your wrist, and it responds. Right now.
- It’s not forgiving if you’re clumsy with the gas.
Later that day, on a faster, flowing trail, I opened it up a bit more. The sheer acceleration was something else. It just pulls and pulls. You run out of straight road way faster than you think. My arms were aching by the end of the day, not from wrestling the bike, but just from hanging on and trying to be smooth. It demands your full attention, this thing.
I didn’t crash, thankfully, but I had a few moments where I thought, “Okay, this is serious. I need to relearn a few things.” It wasn’t like the power was unusable, not at all. But it was so much more readily available than anything I was used to. You couldn’t be lazy with it.
It took me a good few rides to really get in sync with it. Had to work on my throttle control, be way smoother, anticipate more. It wasn’t just about twisting the grip; it was about feeling what the bike was doing underneath me, being precise.
Now, I wouldn’t trade it. That power, once you learn to respect it and use it properly, it’s incredible. It gets you out of trouble as much as it can get you into it if you’re careless. But yeah, that initial period of adjustment? It was an eye-opener. Definitely not a bike for the faint of heart or for someone who isn’t prepared to really focus. It makes you a better rider, I think, because it forces you to be.