It is a marriage most unusual. Take a long-travel motocross machine and give it a real hard look. What do you see? To some, it is far more than a dirt bike. Some see a lightweight chassis and a torquey motor. Some picture it with modified suspension bits to bring the overall height closer to ground level. The real forward thinkers see it with full road race bodywork, big brakes and slick tires. Can a dirt bike survive a marriage to go-fast-on-asphalt bits? It can indeed. What’s more is it *thrives* on the changes. What used to be a mogul stomper becomes a bonafide corner-carving demon. With a little ingenuity and foresight, a new racing class is born. A class that epitomizes lower cost without sacrificing performance or fun. Enter the realm of the Super Single (aka Formula 450): A dirt bike-bred racer with all the right sights and sounds without bespoke race bike bills.
2006 Honda CRF450 Super Single Racer for sale
The F450 class was the brainchild of motorcycle hall of famer Gavin Trippe, aided by Troy Lee and Roland Sands. The goal was to create more opportunity for younger riders to enter into racing without the high financial hurdles of existing professional classes. It was claimed that a F450 – based on any eligible, existing 450cc motorcrosser – could be assembled for as little as $10,000. In time the actual figures crept up closer to the $15k mark, but even this was far below a competitive 600cc superstock class bike. By 2009 there were nearly 10 different manufacturers that had an offering in the 450cc motocross class – between the cost and bike availability it would seem that the Formula 450 class was a no-brainer. It was not to be quite so easy, however. While F450 classes did exist, the popularity of this route for younger riders was never truly established. Today these are race-worthy machines, outstanding track day mounts, and flat out fun.
From the seller:
All stock internals 2006 CRF450R Motor
Hinson Slipper clutch
Boyesen water pump
Suspension built and tuned by Race Tech (shortened, all race internals)
Custom Race Tech triple clamps
Custom fork boot to accept Brembo setup
Full Brembo brake setup front/back
Forged Marchesini wheels
Custom fully adjustable rear sets
Scott’s steering dampener
Catalyst Racing bodywork
Handmade carbon fiber tank cover, lower fairing, and rear fender “mudguard”
FMF Apex Exhaust
Custom rear subframe
K&N Race air filter w/custom mounts
Many custom machined parts for retrofit
Weighs in at 230lb wet
This particular F450 is a bit of a superstar. You are looking at the AMA F450 champion from 2008, ridden by Tyler Odom. Since the seller acquired the machine, it went through only minor changes, and was engaged in track days. Aside from riding, this is a striking bike that surely belongs astride a billiards table in your man cave. With lots of carbon and what looks like tremendous adjustability from those trick rearsets, you’ll be sitting pretty in no time at all. And when it comes to riding, you will be at the top of your class at the next track day. Perhaps you want to dip your toes into amateur racing? The Super Single class fits into many classes created by regional sanctioning bodies as well. Maintenance and longevity – the Achilles heel of any racer – are maximized via the use of largely stock componentry. This is a lot of bike for not much coin – especially when you compare it to a racing two-stroke machine or cash-hungry open classer.
RSBFS readers have told us that want to see more racers and sano track day bikes. This Featured Listing F450 fits that bill perfectly. With a rich history (the seller has included pictures and verification of the provenance of this machine), an uniqueness far greater than a stripped down R6 or ZX6, and the promise of many years of stock Honda reliability, this prepped and practiced CRF450-based road racer is just the ticket. This bike is selling via Craigslist, and we recommend you check out the advert for all of the details.
MI
