Honda TRX450R
Bazz gets in the queue to ride Honda's latest, and much awaited 450cc sports ATVIt's difficult keeping up with all the ATVs coming out at the moment, and Honda recently added to the smorgasbord when it released the rip-and-shred TRX450R.
The new sports model is based on the ATV that won the Baja 1000 endurance race in the US last year, as Honda likes to point out, beating all the other sports ATVs by more than an hour. (Of the first five ATVs over the line, three were Honda. A Bombardier DS650 was second and a Yamaha YFZ450 fifth).
Honda launched the Australian TRX in Canberra in late May this year, where a bunch of scruffy journos, who were also evaluating the CRF250X at the time, lined up to have a bash at the new ATV.
I haven't had a lot to do with sports ATVs so the first impression this thing left on me was how bloody quick it was. It actually felt faster than the Polaris Predator 500.
We'll be getting a test model shortly, and a fair dinkum champion will soon joint the DBT test crew for the express purpose of evaluating sports ATVs. Something Very Big is about to happen for ATVs too, and we'll let you know about that when we've nailed down the details.
Stay tuned for that one, Boris. Meanwhile, dive face-first into Honda's smorgasbord.
The TRX is a good looking ATV from any angle. It has the aggressive styling riders like these days, and the techo stuff to back it up. The engine is CRF450 derived, with more than enough punch to keep recreational riders grinning from ear to ear. Honda likes that. Engine specs include twin-sump lubrication; a gear-driven counter-balancer; a five-speed tranny; and solid-state CD ignition.
A lot of, work has gone into the new model. The braking system uses twin-pot calipers up front with dual 174mm rotors, and a single caliper/190mm combo rotor on the rear. Dry weight is a claimed 159kg.
HONDA SPORTRAX TRX450R
Engine
Type: Single-cylinder, liquid cooled four-valve
Displacement: 450cc
Carburetor: 42mm Keihin with TPS.
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES
Front suspension: Independent double-wishbone, Showa shock.
Rear suspension: Honda Pro-Link, Showa shock.
Front brake: Dual 174mm rotors with twin-pot calipers.
Rear brake: Single 190mm rotor with single-pot caliper.
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed dry weight: 159kg
Seat height: 828mm
Fuel capacity: 12.1 litres
OTHER STUFF:
Price: $11,990.
Colours: Red, Red and Red.
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