First Impression: 2009 Honda CRF450R

swapmoto Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 | 57,379 views |

We did it! We finally got our grubby little hands on the brand spankin’ new 2009 Honda CRF450R. Honda unleashed the press onto their newest creation today at the famous Lake Whitney track in Texas. Check out our first impression of the fuel-injected beast.

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Also, Red Bull Honda star Ivan Tedesco was on hand at the press launch of the new bike, and while he was there he set some time aside to shoot some action photos for Goon Rider Magazine…

Hot Sauce goonin’ it for Goon Rider Magazine

TWMX’s Brendan Lutes getting his first impression

Tags: 2009, CRF450R, first impression, Honda, motocross, press launch, test, video, Videos

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008 at 10:24 pm and is filed under Features, Videos. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

User Comments

Comments to "First Impression: 2009 Honda CRF450R"

bschehr September 9th, 2008 - 10:47 pm

looks to me like the shootout winner AGAIN! Pegs, bars and Ross’s KYB magic revalve and your done

TexasSpeedRacer September 10th, 2008 - 2:05 pm

Did anybody else notice the head shake Lutes was getting in the video. He addressed it by saying they firmed up the steering dampner, but it was pretty previlant in the video. The other thing that makes me nervous is that they launched it at fully prepped Lake Whitney. That track used to make my 2004 YZ 450F seem like it had no turning issues at all. Yamaha launched the 2006 “better turning” 450F at Honey Creek in CA with a similar type of soil to emphasize the increased turing ability. It makes me wonder how the CRF 450 will handle the hard pack. I pray that its not an issue, my deposit is already down.

TSR

codee527 September 11th, 2008 - 6:32 pm

of course its the shootout winner but honda has lost the lites this year its going to kawi

Anonymous November 24th, 2008 - 11:37 pm

shut your fucking mouth honda is gay as shit

Anonymous December 2nd, 2008 - 5:03 pm

what r u smoking honda is the best ur just mad cause the 09 450 is too fast for you

Alex December 10th, 2008 - 9:17 pm

Honda is gay? haha, then why the hell are there more Honda on the line than anything else? haha. okay buddy.

Tricycle stuntman September 14th, 2008 - 12:16 pm

What a bike.. Anyone found any decent pricing on this machine?
Some places are talking 8600 out the door i told the guy call me when when 7K does it for you.
Still waiting. lol.

Tricycle stuntman September 14th, 2008 - 12:27 pm

That was the best bike test sound track for that bike. Way to mix it up TW!! F^^^ these crybabies. Go check out dirt rider they probably have some nice accordion music so you and your grampa can sit back and dream of something you will never have.
You guys should play the new metallica for the FI Kawi intro vid.
Way to be different TW

Whats up for sick soCal prices on this baby, cant pay more that 7k.. Any good prices?

mxracer317 September 10th, 2008 - 12:12 am

Looks great! How come no one is reporting on the new pipe set up?!

P.S. Transworld, lose the lame EXPLICIT songs.

danman September 10th, 2008 - 2:38 pm

That pipe setup is odd looking. Did you notice that it looks really wide coming out, then tapers down a little, only to get wider again later?
Another odd thing. The shock reservoir is like a shorty bottle of beer.
Silencer is REALLY short as well. Makes me wonder how it’s going to be quiet enough to meet the new noise standards.

I won’t be buying one this year, but I would love to try one out.

racerface607 September 10th, 2008 - 6:00 pm

the song is good. ur too old for motocross

mxburt September 10th, 2008 - 8:03 pm

ya mediyoker review. honda is awsome thats nothing new and whats with that crappy song. how come they can say the n-word and get away with it ? double standerds. editor should be canned

wera308 September 10th, 2008 - 6:35 am

Bike looks awesome, will most likely buy one. TWMX I would like to hear the sound of the bike rather than some douche bag running his mouth about b!^%#es and N!&&*rs

jake48 September 10th, 2008 - 7:40 am

Track looks great - bike looks great.
MUSIC? - B!^%#es - N!&&*rs - HOES?
You have got to be kidding me…
Somebody over at TWMX fire the guy who picked the music - pathetic!

samurai101 September 10th, 2008 - 12:38 pm

if they fire swap who is gonna make the videos you idiot. and whats wrong with bitches and hoes hahaha

vandalrandall September 10th, 2008 - 7:59 am

yeah I agree, I’ve never liked it when you dub music over the footage. I want to hear the bike!

danman September 10th, 2008 - 7:59 am

You need to change that video. The music doesn’t represent a professional media outlet such as yourself. If it does actually represent what you want to portray, you just lost a customer.
This music doesn’t portray a positive image of the motorcycle industry. I don’t really care if the people in the industry listen to it, we should portray the industry better than that.
CHANGE IT!

jdh2os September 10th, 2008 - 8:42 am

I agree with the music being completely inappropriate. I would have liked to share this video with my co-workers and then let them share it with their students. The choice of music will now make it so I feel the need to refrain from doing so. Hopefully motocross.com will choose a much more wisely. Hopefully American Honda will feel the same way as everyone else that has responded.

h0lesh0t September 10th, 2008 - 12:30 pm

Oh yeah, share with their students? What the hell is that too! Teach the kids something important. No wonder ya’ll voted for George Bush! TWICE!!! DUH DUH DUH. Long live the freedom of the press.

h0lesh0t September 10th, 2008 - 12:28 pm

Stop worrying about some stupid song and worry about the fact that the country is in a recession and people are dying in a stupid war that the MAJORITY of americans and citizens of the world don’t want to fight! Everyone needs to get a grip. Worry about things that are important. Not some video on a website. G’s UP! HOE’s DOWN! LOL LOL LOL.

eskimo500 September 10th, 2008 - 3:33 pm

4 sure hommie!! lol im gonna put that on my number plate 4 my next race!!!!

Alexmx126 September 11th, 2008 - 5:29 pm

Did you forget what happened 7 years ago? Unless youre being drafted, and youre not, SHUT THE HELL UP. Who cares about a recession? This is a motocross website. i dont log on here expecting to find some hippie liberal BS. i dont imagine you race. If you do i bet you have never stood up for our national anthem. Take that crap somewhere else.

Zoomzoom September 10th, 2008 - 8:42 am

Thanks for the video and the bike review. Thanks for putting it on the internet quickly.
With the vast choices of music, I’m disappointed at the selection of music for this video. I’m wondering if the words and story that the lyrics tell are something that the editor would want his family to listen to? Would he want his wife and kids dancing to it? Who ever chose the music is representing TW and is losing respect…

michaelscrf September 11th, 2008 - 10:53 pm

wow!!! what the hell. its funny to me that you guys continue to complain about the song and its lyrics, and how it badly represents TW and how you wouldnt show your family, and how it takes away from the bike, yet not one of you has complained about half naked girls posing in front of the bikes which TW has done from the beginning. Yeah… because that doesnt take away from the bike, and i would love to show those pictures to my wife and kids. You guys are ridiculous. Find something else to complain about and somewhere else to do it cause this is a motocross website. keep up the good work TW.

Grinson September 10th, 2008 - 9:01 am

Niiiceee.

Hahahaha TWMX just got chewed out, and for a good reason. There is absolutely no reason why you had to put that song on one of the most important videos of the month, and if not, the year.

mxjef September 10th, 2008 - 9:16 am

Bike looks great!!!…after reading the above comments its sad to see that people in this country can be so offended by song lyrics.

mxracer4130 September 10th, 2008 - 9:28 am

Looks like Honda out did themselves this year. As far as the music goes they’re just changing it up. Nothing wrong with change every once in a while. Quit your damn whining. Lets not forget what age group Transworld motocross as well as the entire sport itself caters to. I would bet everyone complaining about the music on the vid is over thirty years old!

danman September 10th, 2008 - 11:05 am

I have to disagree as to the age that the sport caters to. I think the sport caters to families. Look at all of the Honda ads on while SX is on TV, kids and families.
I’m not fond of rap, but there are plenty of rap songs out there that don’t partake in using slang terms that most people would get pissed off to hear any non-black person use.
I do realize others feel different, and that is OK. I just want to hear what TWMX has to say about it.
If they think it is OK, I will be canceling my subscription.

eskimo500 September 10th, 2008 - 12:16 pm

ok thats fine go read the bible instead douche bag

samurai101 September 10th, 2008 - 12:38 pm

If you are going to cancel your sub to the best magazine out there because of a song, maybe you should take up extreme marbles or something else retarded. loser

whoopmonster September 10th, 2008 - 9:28 am

the song is fine. TW always puts new music in new videos.

looks like ANOTHER shoot out winner..

gene158 September 10th, 2008 - 10:25 am

All this whining about the music. Enough already! We get it guys, you obviously hate rap. I personally like the sound of the bike best but I like the music too.

Jimbo250F September 10th, 2008 - 11:16 am

Wow can all you GUYS cry me a river???? Who cares what the music is your not going to be showing your grandma or your kids a video about a 450 motocross bike. . . so quit your bitchin and enjoy the video for what its for. I personally don’t like rap but did I watch this video for the music in it to to hear the impression of Hondas new bike!?

wagner977 September 10th, 2008 - 11:18 am

The video was fine. You guys need to grow up a little bit and pay attention to the video instead of worrying about the song

eskimo500 September 10th, 2008 - 12:07 pm

Sweet ass bike, i can wait to try it out! And as for all you faggots who cant take a little swearing in their music, grow the f*** up!! Transworld isn’t responsible for children like you….

h0lesh0t September 10th, 2008 - 12:20 pm

Dudes and dudetes! You people need to chill the fu** out! Who cares about the music. Ya’ll will watch people get blown to pieces in the media and in movies, but as soon as there is a breast shot or a “bad” word it’s censorship time. Give me a break. In everyday life you hear alot worse than what was on the video. If not, you have to be Ommish,(probably spelt ommish wrong). Besides the right wing fanatics responses, great bike and looking forward to the December issue for more on the bike. Peace!

docweedon September 10th, 2008 - 1:11 pm

Great first impression, which has been overshadowed by the poor choice in music. Honestly TW…if you are going to have music, try to pick something that isn’t as controversial as the song you chose here. It really detracted from the actual content that you were presenting.

alexb2d September 10th, 2008 - 1:37 pm

Im royally laughing at all of you folks complaining about the music. Last time I checked for one, Little wayne is the most influential rapper of all time and currently one of the most listen to artist of 2008. Michel Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all time listens to Lil. weezy. So really, just get over it.

Second hole that really makes me laugh is everyone that is b!tching about there younger kids and this music, last time I checked I think there was four-five pictures of bikini clad hot sexy women in each issue, give or take one or two. Now if you really want to complain about kids listening to something explicit, don’t you think they should be censored more when it comes to half naked women? Now come on, don’t be so hypocritical. TWMX is maybe aimed at a more mature older crowd of people? Keep the lil weezy TWMC!

owned, kthnksbye

BTW, probably going to end up as one of the best honda of all time? Sweet bike.

danman September 10th, 2008 - 2:34 pm

Here’s the difference. Those bikini clad women are showing nothing. They can walk around in public just about anywhere like that all day.
If you walk around all day and spout those words, you will more than likely be arrested.
I’ve got no problem with the song, it just isn’t professional or portray a professional image.

Micheal Phelps can listen to what he wants, no one else hears it. If he had speakers attached to his Ipod and listened to that song, he’d be crucified.

alexb2d September 10th, 2008 - 2:58 pm

I’ll certainly let my kid listen to people swear, then let him look at half naked women.

alexb2d September 10th, 2008 - 3:03 pm

One more thing, last time I checked I when to a concert and people swore, in a public place…

Summer Jam 08 @ kube93 in seattle… All the biggest rappers there…

docweedon September 10th, 2008 - 3:27 pm

There is a big difference between a concert and a mainstream news outlet, which TWMX is. Two different settings with two different agendas.

alexb2d September 10th, 2008 - 5:26 pm

Well, its not really that big of a difference, marketing to sell the song… Marketing to sell magazines… Because the song is popular for the target TWMX is marketing to?

So your saying its okay for 10-14 year old kids to be goging over half naked women? Even though they aren’t showing anything? (lol)

Plus, I can walk around in public and swear all I want, making myself look like a dick, there is a difference, listening to it rather than saying it.

Okay so cancel your subscription and do something about it rather than bitch?

docweedon September 10th, 2008 - 6:31 pm

I brought up nothing about kids. What TWMX shows as far as their pin-ups, any child can see at the beach or at Supercross for that matter.

Yes, you can swear in public. You have that right. But are you going to swear at church or during an interview? Time and place my friend.

And while I visit TWMX and have supported Swap in the past, I don’t agree with the choice in music. It was a bad choice (It was edited well into the video I will say). Again…my opinion.

Why couldn’t the instrumental be used instead of the version with the lyrics? I mean…the “target audience” knows the song, so they would recognize the beat. I think this solution wouldn’t have produced the comments about the music and would have put more focus on the bike impression.

I come to TWMX for motocross/bike news, not for music videos.

alexb2d September 11th, 2008 - 12:30 am

What ever. Bitch about it more, I can see we are never going to see eye to eye. Drop it, you got your edited version, managed to make them do it again.

docweedon September 10th, 2008 - 2:51 pm

What are YOU smoking?! lil’ wayne the “most infuluential rapper of ALL time” ? Are you smoking CRACK?!!! lil wayne is cool, don’t get me wrong, but calling him the “most infuluential rapper of ALL time” is really stretching it. What would you call NWA(and all the solo careers that came from that group..Dre, Cube, DOC, Eze), RumDMC, Public Enemy, Ghetto boys. I would call those groups more influential before I call some hack that is re-hashing what those groups did in the past.

If you are the “target audience” that this new TWMX is shooting for, I’ll be visiting this place very little.

alexb2d September 10th, 2008 - 3:00 pm

I thought I typed “one of the most…” Sorry, ya got me over the internet!

Kman1 September 10th, 2008 - 1:57 pm

I think there should be a bikini model doing the first impression ride along with whatever music TWMX chooses! Ride on TWMX!

bayou boy September 10th, 2008 - 2:02 pm

Great looking bike, but the song is in VERY BAD TASTE!!!

P.S. And I like Lil Wayne…just not for this site that kids can log on to!!

TE619 September 10th, 2008 - 2:12 pm

Hey H0lesh0t, not only did you misspell Amish, which you refer to as “ommish”, but the last time I checked your “alot” should be a lot, two words. Maybe you should go back to school buddy.

h0lesh0t September 10th, 2008 - 6:58 pm

regardless of my poor spelling it doesn’t negate the facts of my comments. By the way, i like Amish people a lot!

BRP650 September 10th, 2008 - 3:11 pm

I’d rather hear the bike. And, it isn’t the bad language that I don’t like. It’s the fact that there is a lot of other music that better represents our sport. Can’t wait to ride the bike.

MOTOFAN September 10th, 2008 - 5:46 pm

HEY GUESS WHAT…IT SOUNDS LIKE A FOUR STROKE….WOW….EXCITING…

TWMX-KEEP WITH THE MUSIC, WE KNOW WHAT A FOUR STROKE SOUNDS LIKE!

h0lesh0t September 10th, 2008 - 6:59 pm

i totally agree, LOL

racerface607 September 10th, 2008 - 6:02 pm

the music is good. you guys are too old for motocross.

h0lesh0t September 10th, 2008 - 7:01 pm

I have to say, this is some FUNNY ASS SHIT! Transworld 90210! DRAMA TIME!

Dylan406 September 10th, 2008 - 9:09 pm

ok heres the scoop ballin bike wicked song and now we have a bunch of losers arguing over the lyrics? come on people this is motocross not sunday school if you hate it so much pick one of those other lame sports because this is ours and will always be living on the edge

p.s the sog is young jeezy not lil wayne

motox623 September 10th, 2008 - 9:13 pm

HUGE let down. bike looks gay as hell. the guy in the video sounds like he is being told what to say and not what he really thinks. plus,TexasSpeedRacer is right, y does he get head shake if they fixed the steering dampener? for sure gonna keep my 08

rm_racer September 11th, 2008 - 10:21 pm

the bike looks awesome imo. and yeah the “music” (if that’s what you wanna call a guy talking to an annoying beat) was pure suckage. the bike is freakin awesome though.

Brendan Lutes September 11th, 2008 - 11:18 pm

Hey motox623, I wasn’t getting headshake, the track was really loamy on that particular day and it poured rain the night before–and I mean POURED rain–making the track very difficult to ride at the beginning of the day, which is when the majority of the footage was shot for the video. We even pressure washed the bike one time to get the mud off after we did the photoshoot and video shoot, and before we got into really seeing how the bike performed. The few times that the front end of the bike was appearing to get “headshake”, I actually didn’t notice it doing so. Sometimes things look much worse in video than they actually feel while you ride. In other words, it wasn’t as bad as it looks; it was due largely to the track. Yes, in the video I did mention that there was a little nervousness, but overall the bike felt great handling wise. Oh yeah, and I wasn’t being told what to say, the words that came out of my mouth were my opinion, not anyone else’s. Enough said. Now everyone enjoy the video for what it is. An impression based on a few hours worth of riding on an all-new bike. If you want more, pick up the next issue of TWMX–like I mentioned in the video…

Skinny September 10th, 2008 - 10:32 pm

Alright, fine. We put an edited version of the song on the video. And we put up the first look before any other site out there for you to get the peek you deserve…sorry if it came with a dose of rap. We like hip hop, and so do a lot of our viewers.

wera308 September 12th, 2008 - 6:23 am

Im not huge on censorship but I must say I do like the edited version more. Sorry. Regardless of what type of music it is (I like it all) I would rather hear the bike with the music in the background. However thanks for the very quick impressions video and thank you very much for all of the TWMX girls on the site and in the mag. More please! TWMX is the best thats why it is my home page.

alexb2d September 11th, 2008 - 12:35 am

haha just for the record, thats mainly a young jeezy song…

Grinson September 11th, 2008 - 11:13 am

Duuurrr… this is a motocross website, and unless you prefer to listen to a retarded rap song over the rumble of a 450 you might as well go and listen to the music video somewhere else!! This is an MX site, and therefore, want to listen to the bike, not a retarded rapper.

Z O SICK September 11th, 2008 - 11:56 am

Looks good!

steven239 September 11th, 2008 - 2:52 pm

Lutes, lookin’ good!

ps. nice lobster claw

motoline September 11th, 2008 - 6:18 pm

I think Honda has done it again! styling will take some getting used to, but it does look sick! the pipe is routed like the 2-strokers.–yeah a little more vulnerable up front but in back it doesn’t stick out the side plate like a big baseball-bat like some of them. The EFI will be awesome also. Honda always seems to be a step ahead of the competition and they always do it right. I am a Suzuki loyalist–just bought a 2008 rmz 450 and it is absolutely awesome!! it handles and feels kinda like a 250, and I love it! But the introduction of it sucked! It was almost 6 months late and had problems when it did come out. Honda seems to have hit a home run with this one! And will probably win the shootout -again-.

ars243 September 11th, 2008 - 9:19 pm

the track and the prep looks like fun:)

Zoomzoom September 13th, 2008 - 11:44 am

“Alright, fine. We put an edited version of the song on the video. And we put up the first look before any other site out there for you to get the peek you deserve…sorry if it came with a dose of rap. We like hip hop, and so do a lot of our viewers.”

Yeah, I like rap and hip hop too. Just the choice of song with explicit lyrics wasn’t in best of taste. Didn’t stop me from watching the video… I was expressing an opinion which is why I thought you had a “Comment” section.

Please feel free to do whatever you want for your magazine. Write articles with the explict words contained in your choice of music such as… eh, nevermind; you know what words were there. But if you want only positive comments, leave instructions as to “Leave Positive Comments Only” and I will do so.

Oh by the way, I subscribe for both my home and my office and keep your mag in my waiting room and check your web site almost daily and have done so for the past four years. Keep on rocking…

Hondaboyy8 September 15th, 2008 - 10:31 pm

All i got to say is the 450 is going to get bike of the year again no doubt!! why? I got one word for you HONDA!!! Although i dont agree with how the pipe raps around the frame but i guess that new efi system makes up for it

downey185 September 16th, 2008 - 3:16 pm

the bike looks sweet especially with the white and red plastics the exhaust is wierd but who cares id love to get one.

Hondaboyy8 September 16th, 2008 - 5:44 pm

Hahaha i just read Brendan lutes’s reply good job tell those stupid kids !!!

ANDREW54 September 18th, 2008 - 7:01 pm

Nothing but a bunch of old pussy’s. Worrying about the freaking song.Instead, check out the point of the video the freaking BIKE!! Transword is obvious way to edgy for you censorship freaks. GO READ DIRT BIKE MAGAZINE! Nuff said..

camilo September 19th, 2008 - 10:17 pm

I have seen all the 450s but now I want to see the 250s in action!!!!

braap 234 September 24th, 2008 - 6:02 pm

is the 09 crf250 dual piped?

braap 234 September 24th, 2008 - 6:07 pm

Honda has the bike of the year award in the bag. take that kawi and suzuki and yami and ktm!

stephen44 September 25th, 2008 - 6:09 pm

wow…. i am way dissapointed in the reaction from the song…this is a video about the new bike and all im reading about is how the song in the video sucks and that they should fire the guy who choose the song… if TW didn’t approve the song they woulden’t have let it on the site. so anyone who keeps bitchin about the song can SUCK IT! love the bike can’t wait to ride it when i can. keep up the good work TW!!

Smout October 31st, 2008 - 12:18 pm

I live and breath Yamaha and this bike excites me

BCH517 December 12th, 2008 - 11:03 am

hahhahahaa. whata buncha fuckin old pussies. get the fuck over it. its a song. MOST of the motocross crowd listens to this kinda music now. stop sterio typing urselfs. watch the fuckin video and stop cryin. i no this is old. but still man. u guys are a buncha pussies(the ones who cried about the song saying “BAD WORDS”)

showtime January 24th, 2009 - 3:36 pm

I love the bike and I like the music! And by the way this was not a video about music it was about the new 450. So please stop freaking crying like a bunch of pussy’s! This is just retarded, I was not even paying attention to the music until I started reading all of these complaints, get over it! Welcome to 2009

Michael January 27th, 2009 - 8:20 pm

So many haters. Let the professionals do there job. It is completely impossible to make everyone happy. As for this DanMan character, how about you read about the bike before you say parts look weird. I would start out by reading the article in the issue. TW puts out a great magazine and website, with rapid updates. I would ride any bike this year they all have there qualities about them. I say choose your favorite color. RAT A TAT TAT!!!!