Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with my CRF450L lately, trying to squeeze some more juice out of it. You know, get that horsepower up. It’s a sweet bike, don’t get me wrong, but I just felt like it had more to give. It’s that classic “I want more power” itch.
First thing I did was look around online to see what other folks were saying. Found a bunch of forums and articles talking about the CRF450L’s power. Some were saying it’s around 38 horsepower stock, others were throwing around numbers like 41 or so. I even saw some dyno results. This one place called Cycle World said they got 38.21 hp on their dyno, which seemed in line with what I was reading elsewhere.
I took my bike to a buddy’s shop. He’s got all the fancy tools, including a dyno. We strapped the bike down and gave it a few runs. Let me tell you, the sound of that engine screaming on the dyno is something else! Every time we started it, it felt like we were racing again. After a few pulls, we were looking at numbers pretty close to what I’d seen online. We were getting around 38 horsepower and 27.8 lb.-ft. of torque, right around the 7,500 rpm mark. It was cool to see the numbers in real life and not just read about them.
But I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted to see if I could push it further. I started thinking about mods. Now, I’m no mechanic, but I’m pretty handy, and I’ve got friends who know their way around an engine. We started brainstorming, and we started with the basics. We swapped out the stock exhaust for an aftermarket one. That alone made a noticeable difference. The bike sounded meaner, and it felt like it was breathing easier. Then we played around with the ECU mapping. Tweaked it a bit to optimize for the new exhaust. My buddy did most of the work on this part, he was really into it. It took us a while to try out each change, but it was worth it.
After all that, we put the bike back on the dyno. I was stoked. The numbers were up! We managed to bump the horsepower up. It wasn’t a huge jump, but it was definitely there. More importantly, the bike felt different. It felt more responsive, more eager to go. We achieved the results we wanted, and it felt great.
It’s been a fun little project. I learned a lot about my bike and what it’s capable of. Plus, it’s always a good time hanging out with friends, wrenching on bikes, and talking shop. It reminded me of when we were kids, always tinkering with our bikes. We’ve just upgraded to bigger toys now! At the end of the day, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about the process, the learning, and the satisfaction of making something your own. It is great to share this experience with you guys!
- Started with research: Looked up what others were saying about the CRF450L’s horsepower.
- Dyno testing: Took the bike to a friend’s shop to get some baseline numbers.
- Modifications: Swapped out the exhaust and tweaked the ECU mapping.
- Results: Got a noticeable increase in horsepower and a better-feeling ride.
- Enjoyed the process: Learned a lot and had fun with friends along the way.
What’s next?
Well, I’m not stopping here. There’s always more to tinker with, more to improve. I’m thinking about maybe looking into the air intake next. See if I can get even more air flowing into that engine. And who knows, maybe I’ll even get into some internal engine work eventually. The possibilities are endless!
