2011 CRF450X and its smaller 250 cc version – these two are considered the best off road motorcycles in their class. Motorcycles have been in use for more than 125 years and since then several types have evolved for several purposes. The dirt bike happens to be one of the most specialized of bikes. Also known as off-roaders, these bikes are known for their ability to handle extremely rugged terrain that would destroy a lesser bike. And the CRF450X has been a hot seller since its debut in 2002. It was intended as a replacement for the XR series of bikes and CRFs are gradually replacing the XR bikes.
The 2011 CRF450X is the latest avatar of the CRF450X and has all the features that the CRF series is famous for. It benefits from the excellent build quality and the excellent engineering that Honda is famous for. This four stroke bike is equipped with a liquid cooled four stroke single cylinder engine. All bikes in the CRF series above 230cc are liquid cooled. Air cooling simply won’t suffice for the high capacity and high rpms of the 450 cc engine. Dirt bikes have to be light and fast and hence have very high rpm. The added load of the water cooling system does make the bike heavier, but then the increase in performance due to efficient cooling makes up for this. But an air-cooled version of the 650 is also available.
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 2012 FX MONSTER GRAPHICS Trim Decals KIT HONDA CRF 450 R 2009 12 15 02336 $105.95 End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 10:24:16 PST Buy It Now for only: $105.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |  HONDA CRF450X CRF450 CRF 450X HINSON CLUTCH COVER 05 08 $176.99 End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 10:31:00 PST Buy It Now for only: $176.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |  05 HONDA CRF450 CRF 450 REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER $45.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 10:40:24 PST Buy It Now for only: $45.00 Buy It Now | Add to watch list |
The CRF450X was in fact the first bike in the now iconic CRF series. The 250 cc version was released a couple years later. The engines of all CRF series bikes including the CRF450X are all 4 stroke and are high-tech engines that use Formula One derivative technology. They use an over-square piston. This means, that the bore or diameter of the piston is bigger than the length of the stroke or the distance the piston travels up and down. This results in a wide-faced piston that travels rapidly up and down. This technology is the secret behind the shattering performance of another iconic bike – the Ducati 999. But then again the 2011 CRF450X is like the Ducati 999 of dirt bikes.
And the short stroke has also enabled engineers to reduce the length of the stroke significantly and this has enabled the CRF450X engine to have a very lightweight piston. However, this means reduced lateral stability, that is the piston has a tendency to move sideways and this wears out the cylinder walls. This is a trade-off for increased performance. But then again, every engineered item is a trade-off – you can’t have all. The engine of a dirt bike doesn’t need to last long anyway, it has to live and shine in the moment.
The 2011 CRF450X has increased power compared to the previous version as the design continues to be refined further to create a more powerful and efficient engine. With constant improvements year after year, looks like the 450 will be the top dirt bike for some time to come.