81 CR 450

[jbsleddin]

Anybody here ever owned or rode a CR 450 (not a thumper, smart-ass!). I'm looking at another "project", and the guy seems to think it's an 81 CR480, that's what the dealer told him! I'm trying to get serial #'s out of him to indeed determine if it's an 82 480, or in fact, an 81 450, which I have heard NOTHING good about. I was really hoping for an 83, but who can tell me the differences, besides the obvious 4 speed? Thanks.

[Roostius_Maximus]

I have a 1981 450 .25 over stock bore. If you need a topend or a parts motor let me know. I was going to hillclimb it but that never happened.

[Kartwheel68]

I had an '81 450 (its actually 430cc) a few years ago. Terrible bike, the trans ratios are all jacked up and the power is either on or off, nothing in between. Not only that, but the chassis is terrible too, the first year of the Pro-Link had the rising rate all wrong (too much rate increase). The '81 450 is nothing like the '82-'83 480s, which are great bikes, if I was you I would avoid the '81.

[Roostius_Maximus]

great museum bikes

[redrocket190]

The '81 CR450R should be avoided unless it is in great condition and you plan to keep it as a collectible. It was a work in progress bike and there's no reason to ride one if you can get a '82 or and '83 CR480R.

The primary differences between the '82 and the '83 are the forks and the transmission. The '82 has 43mm Kayabas with 3 compression adjustments. The 83' has 43mm Showas with 15 compression clicks. The '82 is a 4-speed, the '83 is a 5-speed. There are plenty of other differences in terms of seat, tank, plastic etc...

There are '82s in vintage racing, probably because the 4-speed is no real disadvantage. If you are going to do off-road / desert or something the extra cog would probably be critical.

[Roostius_Maximus]

the '81 has a transmission made of glass, so i'm told