CRF450X » Electrical

CRF450X McKenzie Motorsports’ Baja Light Bar

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:54:50 +0000

McKenzie Motorsports has released this trick new light bracket that allows you to mount your lights directly to the frame instead of on your front fork while still reataining the functionality of lights that turn when your front wheel does. You can find this setup at Mckenzie’s website located here http://www.helmetkits.com/lightbar.htm

The lights bar retails for $500 and doesn’t include lights. Here’s some information from their site…

“Catering to the Baja crowd, McKenzie Motorsports are specialists in professional-racing-communication systems. The latest offering from McKenzie is the Light Bar bracket system, which is made to mount the Baja Designs Dual Lighting system onto the frame instead of onto the fork tubes. This helps keep the weight off the front end and also allows the light to articulate with the forks. The Light Bar system comes with everything you need to mount to the frame of your Honda CRF450 or XR650R, though some welding is necessary. Quality made in the USA by FOES racing.”

For more information on CRF450X HID lights please see our lighting post at http://www.crf450x.net/2007/05/31/hid-lighting-options-from-baja-designs-for-the-crf450x/

HID lighting options from Baja Designs for the CRF450X

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Thu, 31 May 2007 19:55:10 +0000

In preparation for the Las Vegas to Reno race that it looks like a few friends and I will run I was researching headlight options.Â My personal opinion is that HID lighting works better in the desert.Â The color seems to let things stand out better than a standard Halogen light.Â So knowing that Baja Designs is the company that most people go to when they need race quality lighting that’s where I’ve turned first.Â There are quite a few options available for your CRF450X.

Â The first thing you need to know about upgrading to HID lighting on your X is that you’ll need a rectifier/regulator and an upgraded stator.Â The Regulator/Rectifier runs $50 and the rewinding runs about $120 through Baja Designs. Â Don’t forget you’ll also require a wiring harness available for around $40.Â So your at around $210 for the basics to get you started.Â Now for the real money…..

Â The first light in the bunch is the Diablo HID.Â This one clocks in at $395.

Â Second we have the 8 inch single HID, this one prices out at $525.

Next is the dual Fuego Hid light setup, with one driving light and one wide cornering light, it’ll cost you $905 to look this stylish.

Â And here it is, the big daddy of them all (not the KTM!!), the Dual 8 inch HID Racelights.Â Running a nice $975 these are the ones we are hoping to run in the race.Â Now it’s just up to one of our sponsors to help out.

Don’t forget each of these lights has endless options for protection and guards.Â Different switch types, etc.Â And most of these lights are available in a Halogen version for half the price.

System Rig HID Lighting for the CRF450X without a stator rewind.

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:07:37 +0000

While looking around for some updated lighting for the CRF450X we’ve come across this HID lighting kit that doesn’t require a stator rewind according to the manufacturer.Â It appears the kit uses the stock headlight housing and only adds 1.6 pounds to your bike.Â HID lights are typically 3-4 times brighter than standard halogen bulbs of the same wattage.Â If your not looking for a HID light and just want a cheap way to upgrade your stock light.Â Check out this updated bulb for the CRF450X.Â This kit looks like it’s available for the Honda CRF250X, Honda CRF450X and the Honda TRX400.Â At a retail price of $299 it’s also a couple hundred dollars cheaper than other HID kits we’ve come across.

You can find the system at http://www.systemrig.com/HID-lighting.htm

Here’s the information from the manufacturer.

SYSTEM:RIG HID Now Available for Honda CRFX Models 1.6 lbs weight – $299.00 retail – hundreds less then other HID systems

System:Rig introduces another â€œreal retrofit kitâ€ this high density lighting system for the Honda CRF450X produces daylight type illuminator and brightness and produces about 3 times the amount of lumens compared to a halogen light. â€œReal HID!â€

This system is the solution for your lighting requirement at the dunes, in the desert or mountain trail riding.

The unique HID bulb has no filament, so vibration is no longer a problem to a long operating life. This System:Rig HID light system uses a very high voltage ballast (20,000) to generate an arc of energy between two electrodes sealed within a gas-filled bulb. A single bulb can produce lighting equivalent to 250 watts of Halogen while actually consuming only 50 watts.

Greatly reducing heat while consuming less energy. The System:Rig lighting kit is provided complete with a HID light bulb, wiring, ballast and hardware. Some minor modifications may be required, but no need to rewind the stator or make any mods to the motor, so keeping your horsepower left alone.

Brighter Headlight Bulb for the CRF450X and the CRF250X.

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:45:17 +0000

Looking for a brighter bulb for your CRF450X that will fit in the stock headlight/ number plate? PIAA has a replacement that is available that most users have claimed is twice as bright as stock!

PIAA XTreme White Tech Bulb (70023)

Bulb Type	H6M ATV/Scooter Bulb
Color Temp	4150K
Wattage	35W/35W=60W/60W
Technology	Xtreme White with XTRA Technology

The light is available at this link..

PIAA H6M ATV BULB 510 ATP REPL

The price is $28.99 and seems well worth the cost according to most 450x owners. It’s not quite a Baja Designs setup, but it’s an improvement that’s well worth the cost.

Honda Bulletin for 2005 CRF450X Closed Course Competion Modifications…

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 10:24:04 +0000

So honda put out a bulletin to it’s dealers a while ago about mods that should be made for people racing the CRF450X in closed course competition (aka “Smog Exempt” in California). Here’s a copy of the bulletin along with the information contained.Â Click on the picture to get it bigger.

So here we go, directly from the bulletin……..
2005 CRF450X
Competition Use Only

It is the dealer’s responsibility to investigate any potential law violation pertaining to these modifications. You should refer to the procedures based on a customer request to ride the CRF450X in closed course competition only.

To increase performance for closed course competition use only, follow the steps below. You must make all of the changes to gain more performance.

1. Confirm the customer will be racing the CRF450X on closed course race circuits such as motocross tracks where they will not be violating noise or emissions regulations.

We recommend you write the following or similar text on work order, sales invoices, or parts receipts:
Customer understands parts installation and performance modifications are not emissions or noise compliant and are for closed course competiton use only. Riding in non-competition, non-closed course setting may result in the customer receiving fines or penalties for vioulation of noise limits or exhaust emission laws.

2. Replace the standard CRF450x camshaft with a CRF450R camshaft.
-Camshaft
P/N: 13110-MEN-670, H/C: 7530843

3. Replace the standard CRF450X exhaust header pipe and protector with CRF450R parts. Also replace the exhaust gaskets.

-Exhaust Header Pipe
P/N: 18320-MEN-730, H/C:7819618

-Exhaust Protector
P/N: 18323-MEN-730, H/C: 7819626

-Exhaust Gasket
P/N: 18291-MEB-670, H/C: 6844559

4. Replace the standard carburetor parts.

-Main Jet (from #142 to #162)
P/N: 99101-357-1620, H/C: 0419200

-Jet Needle
Change the clip position from #2 to #5

-Leak Jet (from #70 to #65)
(Accel. pump bleed)
P/N: 99108-KSC-0650, H/C: 7660558

5. Set the pilot screw to 1 3/4 turns out.

6. Remove the diffuser pipe from the muffler.

7. Increase the airbox opening as follows:

-Remove the subframe and airbox.

-Drill out the two pop rivets holding on the air snorkel and remove it.

-Cut othe section shown inside the raised cut line while wearing eye protection.

-Reinstall the airbox and the subframe.

9. Behind the left side cover there is a “natural” color main coupler. On the ECU side of this natural coupler there is a Pink wire. Underneathe the Pink wire is a blank terminal plugged with a rubber cap.

Swap the positions of the Pink wire and the rubber cap. Reconnect the coupler to the wiring harness. (In modified form, the Pink wire is NOT connected to any other wire.) For more pink wire information click here.
10. Remove the noise and emission compliant label from the rear fender.

Remind the customer these modifications are for closed course competition use only.

There you have it!!

Finally some real logic on what the pink wire mod for the CRF450X does.

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:19:59 +0000

The pink wire mod is one of those highly debatable mods for the CRF450X. Seems everyone has an opinion as to whether it does anything or not. Only one result has been verified by everyone and that is that the mod raises the RPM limit by 500 revolutions per minute. But does it do anything else?
Ok guys, so here it is. After looking at the schematic located here and reading through the technical documents on the Honda CRF450x we’ve personally determined in our minds that the CRF450X Igntion Control Module retards timing in certain situations.

The throttle position sensor is connected directly to the ignition control module. Honda states the following in the CRF450X sales literature…

“Carburetor features a throttle position sensor (TPS) that helps maintain linear throttle response throughout the rpm range.”

The TPS is an electrical device, there is no air or fuel connection electrically on the 450X. Therefore the only method to provide a linear throttle response would be to manage the spark circuit via Ignition Control Module based upon RPM which is determined from the Ignition Pulse Generator and compared against the TPS to determine what changes to make. What the pink wire does is take one leg of the circuit off of the TPS and effectively eliminates or reduces the dynamic spark management. Removing this wire more than likely causes the control module to default to a default spark curve/map that was optimized for power from the factory.

Therefore the pink wire mod is a valid power adder depending upon your riding style and how you use your throttle grip actuator. If your easy and roll in and out of your throttle you probably won’t notice any difference. However if your a throttle jockey like I’ve been accused of, you’ll probably notice the engine responding a little snappier due to the lack of spark management.

So what are we going to try next???

-Remove the pink wire and see how it effects the bike in back to back test on the track.

-Remove the TPS from the CRF450X circuit completely and again test the bike in back to back tests on the track.

-Find a CRF450R wiring diagram and see if it’s possible to wire in a an aftermarket hot ignition module such as a Tokyo Mods module and if it makes a noticeable difference.

Stay tuned for more tiral and error with this mysterious mod.

2005 CRF450X Electrical Wiring Diagram / Schematic

CRF450X - 450X Admin — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 21:44:06 +0000

Here’s the electrical layout of the Honda CRF450X. This is from the 2005 model but all year Honda’s to this point should be identical. Clicking on the picture below will get you a bigger sized schematic to use. This should be fairly helpful to those of you wishing to add a key to your 450X, upgrading your lighting (the high and low beams on the bulb are disabled stock, see the white wire on the bulb) and any other general troubleshooting your trying to perform.