I would think without F/I and a 12:1 piston you would deffinately need to run around 100 octane.Our 416 with 12:5 piston I run 2gallons of 110 with 3 gallons of 93 octane to get 100.It runs fantastic!!

 

I added between one - two gallons of race fuel and it did seem to eliminate the low rpm knock.

The HRC kit was installed in my 450 on Friday. With the no-lid airbox, I quickly noticed the noise Honda claimed was coming from the carbeurator slide/roller assembly and there is definitely rattle coming from that carb. I actually couldn't believe how much noise it was making at an idle.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

Well, after a week at Glamis, the bottom line is, I love this 450R! Here's my update:

I just came back from a week at Glamis with my 06 450R. Great quad for the dunes. I ride 80% dunes, 10% trail, and 10% desert. I have the HRC kit, and the power is very impressive (I now believe the 50 hp claim). But I did not get a chance to race much.

I did blow away a YFZ450 (stock) on Olds Hill, but that was to be expected. My son rode it and blew past an 05 YFZ450 with a pipe .....but that might have been an inexperienced rider, no telling.
I also have a very well set up Predator (piped, jetted, intake, CDI, etc.) and my new 450R blew past it on the China Wall, with a good and lightweight rider on the Preddy. I also blew past a well set up 97 Banshee (Toomeys, etc.). None of these races were close at any time.

The very few 06 450R's at the Sand Drags were running very well.

Both my son and I are very impressed with this quad. He is used to his piped 88 250R, and he said this new 450R is much better. I agree. He has +2 arms, so he thought the front on the 450R was a tad narrow. I feel it is fine. I run ITP dual rib sand tires up front on Douglas Blue, so I get a bit more offset there. Not tippy at all to me. He jumps a lot and he really liked the 450R jumping. He was able to wheelie in 4th gear accelerating up Olds Hill. I was also wheeling up the China Wall in 3rd. I am running Skat Trak Edge on Douglas Blue on the rear.

450R suspension seems just about right to me....I am an average sized guy, I did not feel compelled to adjust it. It eats up bad bottoms easily. Whoops were no problem.

Braking is top notch. Steering is great. Ergos are perfect for me. The seat is just a wee bit hard, but no problems with a week of riding. Thumb throttle is a bit stiff, so I was looking for an aftermarket throttle to give me a bit more comfort there. I could not find anything yet for the 06, since it is a different throttle control assembly with the electric start. No sore thumb after a week, but at times on the dunes I did want a break....the longer thumb lever would have been welcome.

With the Kit installed (and so the silencer is opened) I hear no low rpm knock at idle, but it does knock if I lug it at low rpm in the dunes.....just a reminder to get on the gas! I think I will try mixing in some race gas to see if that makes a difference.

Shifting was excellent. Gearing seemed good to my son....I thought it was pretty good, but I felt like it might be worth my time to try a 12 tooth up front, just to see the difference. I had a 12 with me, but did not switch.

I just read the ATVRider write-up on the 06 450R and they were brief but positive, unlike ATV Action (what are they smoking?).

This is definitely the best quad for the dunes, coming right out the dealer's door, that I have ever seen! I will ride my friend's new Raptor 700 and race against it at Christmas,...that should be interesting. Hopefully, someone in the group will have the 06 YFZ450 to tryout.

My axle lock nut came loose, but a drop of blue Locktite fixed that. And I tightened the chain slightly after one day, then it was OK for the rest of the week. Easy chain tightener, same as the 250R.

One complaint: I am getting a very slight weeping of oil coming from around my oil check window. It seemed to get less as the week wore on, so I am going to try it again at Christmas week to see if it continues. I did not have to add any oil. My friend ecncountered the same problem with his 06 450R.

Enjoy the riding....whatever you like to ride.

 

Nice, nice review!! It's great to see some quality time taken. I too feel about the same way on my '06 but the only thing I've noticed so far is some minor valvetrain noise from breakin which was said to be expected. Although I am still waiting for the hrc kit to get here (next monday). Oh, and about your oil window--my friend just bought one last week and the oil window started leaking first ride. I think there might be a defect and you might end up having that side case replaced under warrentee. I know my other friend with an 04 had a minor leak on the right side case and they replaced it under warrentee.

 

Just back from Glamis again...
The 06 450R (HRC Kit) continues to impress. It hasn't been beaten yet.
It is going into the shop for a badly needed valve adjustment, and to check the slight oil weep around the oil check window.

I did race and ride the 06 Raptor 700, Piped. A very nice machine! Comfortable, torquey, fast...but 2-3 lengths behind the 450R.
I raced the 06 YFZ450, stock...beat it consistently and easily.
I raced two 05 YFZ450s, piped and jetted with K&N....and beat them by 1-2 lengths.
Racing on sand up China Wall.

I added some race gas to raise the octane to 105, but it didn't seem to make much difference.

I went to one tooth less up front, and I like it better geared down. I lose a bit on top end, but I don't really need top end that much.

I did soften the front shocks a bit, just because the sand was getting cut up after a week.

I had to increase the idle a bit, about 2/3 turn. It wanted to stall at idle when hot.

I am still looking for an extended thumb throttle lever for it.

And I want to add an aftermarket air filter....Any recommendations?

 

www.cdsatvaccessories.com

You can get the thumb extender here. The thumb throttle is a little tight. My daughters have there extender on there e-ton vipers and they ride all day with no pain and they are 9,6 and 4 so it does work. The price is $19.99 and you have it in two days.

 

Well, I have the simple lever extender on it. After a week of riding, I just bought the extender at Vendor's Row. But I want to get the nice alloy aftermarket long lever throttle piece to replace the stock throttle lever.....I think DG and a couple others make them....but the 06 throttle is a new design, so nothing out there yet that I have found.

 

4fitty,

I put a 13t front on mine, and it wheelies in 4th gear just by gassing it. I cant imagine what a 12t front would do!!!! How do you keep the front end down climbing big hills? I found most decent incline hills I went up, I was on two wheels all the way. I too have the HRC kit and run 93 oct........mine is an 04. Everybody is talking about frequent rebuilds with the hrc kit..........Im not a real fast rider, but keep up with the pack. Mine runs as strong or stronger than the first day I bought it. Not sure why the rebuilds are necessary so frequently. Maybe im just a PUSS, and dont ride as hard as I think. LOL

Rhino

 

I run 22 inch tires on in the sand so I geared down for them it works great

 

i am getting a new quad but don't know what too get between a 400ex or 450r people have told me that you need to rebuild the engine after a awhile on a 450 is that true? i want to get the 450 but i don't want to keep going to a mechanic and i also need the quad for at least 7 years is that too much to ask from a 450?