I is for Impenetrable...
Okay, so I'm busy making my new CRF450X mine; that is to say, customizing it to suit my needs. First thing is to protect my investment. Those radiators are vulnerable; in fact, I've already tweaked the left one in my very first fall -- Dammit! We'll address that weakness post haste with some radiator guards.
But first: the most vulnerable part of any offroad motorcycle (offroad vehicle for that matter) is the underbelly. Frankly, I think Honda should be ashamed for selling the damn thing with nothing more than a fragile vinyl sheet and a couple wimpy plastic wings protecting the sump. I mean this is their flagship offroader, not a bargain basement entry-level bike. This isn't protection. It's like a gazelle just rolling over for the Tiger and saying, "Go ahead, rip my stomach open and feast on my giblets, Mister Puddy-tat."
Stock skid plate, such as it is.
See what I mean?
I researched skid plates/sump guards/belly pans -- whatever you want to call them -- and decided the toughest on the market was from Works Connection. It was also the most expensive of the options I looked at, but, hey, were you listening when I said this was the most vulnerable part of an offroad bike? The guard arrived super fast from CRFs Only, a great place for all things CRF, and I installed it in less than 30 minutes. Fit and finish are excellent. Everything lined up great (not always true with aftermarket parts!).
Let me tell you, this is a damn impressive piece of hardware. Godzilla himself couldn't rip through this sucker! Yes, it probably added a few pounds to my bike, but I think it's worth it. Bring on the rocks around Clayton Lake; I'm ready!
As the CRF450X and I continue to prepare for true offroad mayhem, I'll post more. Stay tuned!
(And, yeah, I know I still owe everyone the second half of the "Chicken Run" ride report. It's coming. Promise!)
But first: the most vulnerable part of any offroad motorcycle (offroad vehicle for that matter) is the underbelly. Frankly, I think Honda should be ashamed for selling the damn thing with nothing more than a fragile vinyl sheet and a couple wimpy plastic wings protecting the sump. I mean this is their flagship offroader, not a bargain basement entry-level bike. This isn't protection. It's like a gazelle just rolling over for the Tiger and saying, "Go ahead, rip my stomach open and feast on my giblets, Mister Puddy-tat."
Stock skid plate, such as it is.See what I mean?
I researched skid plates/sump guards/belly pans -- whatever you want to call them -- and decided the toughest on the market was from Works Connection. It was also the most expensive of the options I looked at, but, hey, were you listening when I said this was the most vulnerable part of an offroad bike? The guard arrived super fast from CRFs Only, a great place for all things CRF, and I installed it in less than 30 minutes. Fit and finish are excellent. Everything lined up great (not always true with aftermarket parts!).
Let me tell you, this is a damn impressive piece of hardware. Godzilla himself couldn't rip through this sucker! Yes, it probably added a few pounds to my bike, but I think it's worth it. Bring on the rocks around Clayton Lake; I'm ready!
As the CRF450X and I continue to prepare for true offroad mayhem, I'll post more. Stay tuned!
(And, yeah, I know I still owe everyone the second half of the "Chicken Run" ride report. It's coming. Promise!)
Labels: alphabet soup, crf450x, motorcycles
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