Hey Keefer,
First of all, I love the podcast and all the bike test just friggin awesome an informative. My question has to do with the Honda CRF450R and it suiting taller riders. I know that the Yammy and Kawi (I’ve owned both) suited me well (I’m 6’2). I’m interested in the new Honda’s as an option for me once my knee heels completely from surgery and I can get back to racing. I don’t believe I’ve seen or heard any reviews on taller guys on the Honda. Any feedback you give would great…..by the way these manufacturers are making it difficult as shit to choose haha -Wesley
Wesley,
Honda does fit taller guys better than they used to. The new 2017 cockpit is more suitable for taller guys and with the 2019 having a lower bar bend and different bar mounts it helps the triangle more.
I am 6’0 and have zero problems with the Honda’s rider triangle. Only thing I think you may want to do is go with a firmer seat on the 2019 Honda. That helps the bike feel slightly taller in the middle.
-KK
Hey Keefer,
I’ve been listening to the Pulp show a lot lately and really getting into it and love your testing podcasts and stints as co host etc.
I’m an Aussie guy who has been over to California a few times to ride/race. nothing to serious some amateur days here and there before nationals and a few national hare and hound events. all novice/intermediate classes. Love REM days. MY wife and I did all this pre kids. Yes she races too. we still ride and race post kids just a bit more selective.
Anyways I’m Getting our bikes ready for one of Australia’s Biggest off road events. Hattah. its a 4+ hours desert race in sand. not your California rocky deserts I’ve raced in. This is more like beach sand in sections. I am looking to change my clutch fluid. Something I’ve never really done before. Done pretty much everything else on the bike maintenance side of things. Wanted your opinion on best fluid to use in the Brembo KTM hydraulic system. Not sure if bike type makes a difference here but Mine is a KTM300EXC 2017 modified head, scalvini exhaust, keihin carb. My Wifes is a 350EXCF 2017. Yoshi system no other engine mods.
Any advice on fluids for this for best feel/longevity would be awesome.
Also I’m not in your league with the testing but I am a test rider for my local suspension shop. I’m the KTM enduro range test dummy as my wife refers to me. But I also provide feed back to a few of our sponsors who provide us with some products. generally i have had an unstructured feedback however after listening to some of your testing review pods especially your recent Tyre test i added some formality to my notes and wanted to thank you for that info.
Also your training for the novice rider pod was very interesting and I got one very important thing out of it. sorry to give you the life story but i want to put some context on my comments so you know i have some credibility to what I’m saying. I’m have a masters in physiotherapy and a bachelors degree in exercise and sport science. so when I listened to your pod i thought i wasn’t going to get anything from it. But i did! And I think a lot of novice riders will love it if they listen carefully. My favourite part was the using the automatic lap function on your garmin. I personally prefer the Polar V800 but i never set up the auto lap. I did it after i listened to the pod and it instantly gave me some accountability for each lap i put in. Which wasn’t there before.
I have a request for a pod. not sure if you have done it. I have a significant wrsit injury some years back. Not dissimilar to roczen Left wrist just minus the elbow issue he also has. But it results in me need to use a wrist brace. I have recently shifted to the Mobius brace but would love to hear a pod on these products. I approached a few companies about testing their wrist braces when I was last in California but at the time I got turned away and feel you might have better luck at getting access to them and then as i was trying to do inform the public of best uses and improve rider safety. Would love to hear your thoughts on this idea and a pod in the future.
Anyways if you read all this awesome. Sorry it got a bit long winded there. Just wanted to give some details. I feel like listening to all the pods i know you. but you dont know me from shit at this point so trying to event things out. Thank you and I will be listening in alot more in the future.
David Hogan #127
David,
Thanks for the email and the background, I like that.
I assume you’re talking about the fluid inside the Brembo hydraulic master cylinder correct? If so, Motorex has a 5.1 brake fluid that is recommended in those machines. That is all I ever ran and I have had zero problems.
As far as engine oil try a Maxima 10/40 Premium Oil or a Moto Blud 10/40 Synthetic Oil if you like synthetics?
I appreciate you trying some new things to your riding and I am sure it will help in the long run. I feel like some of the basics get lost when trying to gain some speed and technique.
Actually have one of my test guys trying a couple wrist braces for a review that will be going up very soon! He has had wrist problems and he is the perfect guy to test these and give the average guy some feedback.
Thanks for listening to the show and writing in!
Cheers,
KK
Kris, I have a few questions for you about corners and terminology. I hear you talk about riders staying “lite” in the corners or burying the bikes in the corners. What does this mean and how does a rider do this? Another question I have is, what do you mean when you talk about rolling corner speed?
I just wanted to say that I appreciate all the knowledge and hard work you put into Keefer Inc. for the average guy.
Thanks,
Collin Fletchall
Collin,
Staying Light Means: Light on the footpegs with your feet as you can hop over a lot of bumps. Staying just below the soft berms (very tops) and to burying it in the soft stuff helps lap times. Look at a Roczen or Musquin versus a Barcia to really learn the difference between the two.
Rolling Corner Speed Means: How much you’re on the throttle before the corner starts and then continue that speed throughout the corner. Doing this without jamming on brakes or locking them up.
Thanks for the question and heading over to Keefer Inc!
KK
Kris,
Thanks again for all your info you provide. I’m picking up a new 2018 RM-Z450 on Wed. and I’m very interested in your thoughts on the Ride Engineering link for that bike and the suspension for tracks up here in NorCal.
Does the link really make that big of a difference? I could use that $200 toward a re-spring/re-valve, but there’s a chance I might not need to revalve / re-spring right away. I’m 5’11” – Sr. (50) Vet Int. – 200lbs.
Should I just ride the bike and get used to it?…or is the link an absolute must have?
Thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks,
Ted
Ted,
The link is a very good mod that will compliment your suspension re-valve. It helps the bike on straight line and helps it settle in corners much better. I rode back to back and it was a good quarter point difference (if you’re familiar with my testing rating).
If you choose to get hit up Adrian @ Ride Eng. and use the code Keefer-20 to get 20% off.
Also, I understand the “gimmick” marketing BS too! However Adrian is pretty good at making good shit that works. I help him with R&D so I DO NOT endorse crap that is fake.
FC doesn’t offer a link yet, but they will soon..
Also, I am a very stock guy myself just lie you unless it makes a big difference..
If I was a 2018 RM-Z450 owner my bike would have…….
FMF Full system
Suspension Re-Valve
HC Piston
Ride Link
Hinson Clutch
Otherwise leave it…
Congrats on new bike!!
Congrats on new steed..
-KK
What’s up Keefer?
I want to first start off by saying I am huge fan of yours and love everything you do for the sport with both PulpMX and Keefer Inc Testing!
I am 27 years old and getting back into riding after 4 years off after my wife and I had our twin daughters and moved from Illinois to Georgia. I am local A rider and have been racing since I was 5 years old. I recently bought a brand new 2018 Honda CRF450R two weeks ago and rode for the first time last weekend to break it in. My initial reaction to the bike is its a rocket ship. I barely hit the throttle and it rips out of the corners and is a little scary for me at times but love the adrenaline rush again. Definitely a huge improvement in power since the last two bikes I had in a 2012 Yamaha YZ250 two stroke and 2012 Yamaha YZ450F. I went through all the maps and really couldn’t get used to any of them in the short break in time I had. It seems like Map 1 will be the best for me on the hard Georgia clay local tracks I am riding most of the time until I am able to shred Monster Mountain and Millcreek in Alabama every few weeks or Echeconnee MX and Aonia Pass MX in Georgia when they’re open and be able to let the 450 eat some deep, loamy soil in Map 3. The suspension felt very stiff, rigid and was kicking my ass going into the corners on decel. I did 4 clickers down on the forks and two clickers down on the rear shock to kind of mellow it out but the rear shock seems like it wants to step out on me still through rollers and still kicks me a bit going into corners. I’m 5’10 and weigh 190 lbs. I heard your podcast and you recommended 107 sag and that’s what I have it at but still isn’t comfortable to me. I’m not the greatest at suspension but if you could give me a few pointers that would be great. I may also need to stop being a pussy and just have fun on the bike and put some time in on it after being off the bike for the last 4 years. Any tips you have on the Honda CRF450R would be greatly appreciated.
One last thing boots related. How do you keep your Alpinestars Tech 10’s so clean. I have brand new all white Tech 10’s and have only wore them the one time riding so far and the Georgia red clay is brutal on them. I have power washed and hand washed with soap and water twice now and still have the red clay stains in a few spots. Any help on keeping them new would be greatly appreciate as well.
Thank you!
Ryan Padgett
Ryan,
Congrats on your twins and getting your riding back! Very cool!
The Honda 2018 CRF450R is very finicky and takes some tie to break in as well. Make sure you’re at 107-108mm of sag and your fork is up 2-3mm in clamp to start with.
Slow the rebound down in the fork two and also the shock.
To get more flex there are some top engine hangers that are really good that you can read about on my site. Look into those! Those will help rigidity balance. Also take the top two fuel tank bolts out! It works!!
Lessen the torque on the swingarm pivot bolt 4-5 ft.lbs and that helps the rear free up as well!
Try these tips and let it break in at least 6-7 hours and let me know how it goes. Thanks for listening and keep ripping!
-KK
Hey Kris,
I’m a +40A east coast mx’er. I am currently on a 17 ktm 350 sxf. I notice that if the track is really fast with some elevation I’m getting a lot of front end bias coming down the hill. I compensate by keeping the throttle on a bit while I’m braking. I also get this feeling in freshly ripped loam. With what you said about the chassis of the 19 being more balanced, would that relate to my circumstances in what I’m noticing? Thank you very much for your time and thank you so much for all that you contribute to our great sport! Your a great asset and personality for Moto. Thanks again James.
James,
Yes! The new 2019 chassis helps that pitching sensation you’re feeling! I got some of that on the 2018 model as well. From what I have noticed SO FAR is that the 2019 doesn’t have that sensation as much. Feel more planted and less dive. The front tire has more contact patch to the ground and I am able to flick the bike around a little more as well.
Thanks for listening!
-KK
