Did anyone else notice Honda's subtly bold move in their ad for the 450R?
Yamaha's YFZ450 ad states: "Suddenly everything else is on standby..."
Then Honda's tactful, but ballsy reply, directly to Yamaha: "Standby for the TRX450R."

If you're reading this, Honda marketing executives; well done and well said...*IF* your engineers can back it up.

No-one questions whether Honda's engineers have come up with another near-bulletproof quad...that's a given. But we (die-hard Honda fans) all just pray that that they designed the new quad & engine under their own motorsports motto: "Performance First," and created a new 'R' capable of at least YFZ450 performance levels, if not higher. They know what the YFZ was capable of, as it came out months ago, and they should know by now exactly what the quad-riding public wants in a new 'R': HIGH PERFORMANCE.

If you're reading this, Honda engineers and Honda motorsports executives:
Standby for our opinions ($$$) on how well you listen to us...

 

I was going to post a thread about that advertising move by Honda. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]Very, very clever and gutsy. That's Honda for ya!

 

Based on the 2 or 3 ride reviews, it seems like the 450R is at least in the ballpark power-wise with the Yamaha. Honda says 42 HP stock and 13% increase to 48 HP with HRC power-up kit....wonder if its accurate, and measured at wheels or crank...

 

I'm thinking it has to be at the crank, but those are still some very impressive numbers. After reading that I would definantly get the HRC kit and a slip on pipe if I buy the bike. That should put it at just about 50hp. Bombadier claims 48hp on their DS650. Can you imagine a bike weighing 130lbs less with the power if the DS? It would be nice.

 

the 450r should be able to dus a yfz450 in a straight line.The 450r is a true 450 and the yfz is like a 439cc.The 450r is also lighter than the yfz and cheaper.I think the yfz looks better though.The 450r headlight looks like a bubble.

 

I think it's kinda cool lookin' actually. It looks like a mean bug or something. The racers will just remove the headlights anyway and that will look even better I think.

 

acuttly there the same weight both at 350(or somethign right around there)

 

Hearing more and more that the Yammi doesnt weigh 350. Will the Honda?

 

Those numbers are at the wheels. The 450 engine makes about 53hp at the crank.