Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

Got a guy down the road who has a 1981 450R for sale, looks to be in pretty good shape, needs the usual, rear shock rebuilt or replaced, plastic, needs frame painted, says the engine is tight, good seat. $650
Is there any demand for this year model? Haven't quite figured out how it all works yet. See some 74's (125 and 250)go for big money on ebay then some don't. Same with the 79's. I know some of you guys have them (450)or have had them, wondered what you guys thought?

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Garry Mainer
#33m (retired)
Honda Cr250r 1980
Honda Cr250r 1980
Yamaha TY250C 1976
Arctic Cat 650 H1 2007

The '81 CR450R is interesting (collectible?) because it was the first in a new line of open class bikes for Honda. The bad news is that it was the first in a new line of open class bikes from Honda. I have read that the suspension was off, and the combination of the gear ratios and the power band made it hard to ride.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

Read the previous posts titled 1981 CR450 Bottom 10. I can tell you from personal experience, having bought one new in 1981, it has to be the worst scooter that I have ever owned.

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1978 CR250R
1979 CR250R
1980 CR250R
1980 ME360
1986 CR250R

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

On the other hand... Price a '67 GTO,

Reason I make the comparison is I was there when the muscle car thing hit and so was naturally there when it went bust.

Two things to remember: They aren't making two strokes any more and they stopped making the GP machines a while before that as sales were never strong.

It may take a while to happen, it may never happen, but you may want to be sitting on a 400cc+ scooter if it hits. The same exact things were said about the muscle cars when they went bust.

Rick

I had a '67 GTO I sold for $50 in 1977 because I couldn't afford to have the crankshaft turned and put a new main bearing in. Not one dent or tear in the interior. Sigh........

Yeah, I guess you could use the CR450 for a good bookend.
I would advise against any agressive riding on one of these junk piles. If you try to ride that sucker hard, there may be a high probability that you end up selling the bike after your crash to supplement payments for your hospital stay.

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1978 CR250R
1979 CR250R
1980 CR250R
1980 ME360
1986 CR250R

I have a 1982 CR480 and I love it. The 4 speed pulls like my 2003 CRF450. I can ride in 2 & 3 gear around most vintage MX tracks. They say there is a big difference in a 1981 CR450 and the 1982 CR480 and that the 1983 CR480 is even better. Anyway I got about $1800 in rebuilding my bike. Everything has been rebuilt and the bike is better than new. The front forks are as good as my CRF450. The rear shock feels and rides like a 1982 shock even with new spring and revalve, its OK but not close to a modern shock. The 1982 will turn as good or even better than my 2003. The photo is my bike before I rebuilt it.

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AHRMA #13k
SEVMX #13k
1982 Honda CR480
1983 Honda CR480
1978 Suzuki RM50
2006 Honda CR250R
1973 Yamaha MX250

Looks pretty good if thats before you rebuilt it!
Just wonder how much difference there is in power between the 480 and the 450F?
My nephew has a KX250(05 I think, 2 stroke) and a KX250(06 4 stroke) and the 2 stroke will flat eat the 4 stroke for lunch!!

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Garry Mainer
#33m (retired)
Honda Cr250r 1980
Honda Cr250r 1980
Yamaha TY250C 1976
Arctic Cat 650 H1 2007

The 2003 CRF450 that I ride is faster on a MX track than the 1982 CR480. The differents is nite & day.

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AHRMA #13k
SEVMX #13k
1982 Honda CR480
1983 Honda CR480
1978 Suzuki RM50
2006 Honda CR250R
1973 Yamaha MX250

I love old bikes, but have no illusions about the benefits of disc brakes, modern suspension, and the flat torque curve of a modern four-stroke. It is a total grin to start on the CR480R in a field of modern bikes at a GP, but later on its a bit of a wake-up call.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

I think that the 450 is quite collectable, that is certainly why i bought one . Oh and because im a Honda nut!

In Regards to the CR450R being a junk heap, is it really that bad? There is a Magazine Article on this site written in 1981 that says otherwise. Actually they said it was the best one they'd ridden to date. I can just imagine Honda fans in 1981 hopping off of a 250 and on to a CR450 and having the shit scared out of em.......Thats what happened to me the first time I rode a big two stroke.......scared the living christ out of me. And I loved it. Anyway maybe thats why some people didnt like it. Just a Theory.
Will
Loving owner of a 1981 CR450R Book end. photos to follow.....posting.php?mode=reply&f=21&t=1420&sid=8b372e518a248ae08d9d08f7aa9ce933#