2009 Honda CRF150R/Expert Review

Introduction

For starters, the idea behind these small machines is a very effective one. Why create two different engines with very close displacement and slightly different chassis and so have another motocross category when you can simply mount the same engine on an upgraded chassis and call it Expert. No reason. As a result, both the small and big Honda motocross models are being powered by the 149cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke; Unicam, four-valve engine. The unit proved enough powerful both for the uninitiated rider and the expert one so the only differences that intervene are purely regarding size.

2009 Honda CRF150R Expert

Most visibly, the Expert model features a 19-inch front tire and 16-inch rear one while the normal model features 17-inch front and 14-inch rear rubber. Everything from wheelbase, rake and trail as well as seat height and ground clearance make the difference on the Expert model, but, yet again, the riding feel will be similar as the suspension package is almost the same. I am saying almost because although you’ll find the same 10.8 inches of travel of the 37mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted Showa cartridge fork, the pro-link fully adjustable Showa single shock features 11.5 inches of travel on the Expert and 10.8 inches of travel on the CRF150R. The brakes feature 220mm front, respectively 190mm single discs on both models.

Apart from the Red color scheme, Honda adds a new, Black, special one that comes in a limited number. No more than 500 of these will be made.

History

Honda started production of the CRF150R dirt bike at the end of 2006 as a 2007 model year. Because it came to replace the CRF85R, it had to be powerful, reliable and yet user-friendly as the riders to which it addressed remained the same. The smart people at Honda achieved precisely that by combining the features I’ve mentioned above.

The Expert model was there from the very beginning and, apart from graphics and the 2009 color addition, not much has changed during the short time of existence.

Competition

In the 2009 lineup, Honda features no two-stroke model, but only the two CRF150R four-stroke bikes which compete with pretty much everything that the Supermini class has to offer: mostly 85cc bikes.

2009 Yamaha YZ85

Yamaha, for example, is a fierce competitor for the small CRF with their YZ85 model although the 34 inches of seat height tend to position it against the Expert also. This features a carbureted, 84.7cc, liquid-cooled, crankcase reed-valve inducted, two-stroke engine that is mated to a six-speed gearbox, compensating for its slightly weaker engine and hoping that Honda will not add a six-speed gearbox to their CRF competing models.

2009 Suzuki RM85

In the same situation is Suzuki with the RM85 and the RM85L. Sticking to two-stroke engine performance, this builder fits both its machines with the same carbureted 84.7cc, liquid-cooled, two-stroke motor and six-speed constant mesh transmission. Like in the case of the CRF150R and the CRF150R Expert, the RM85L features 19-inch front and 16-inch rear wheels over RM85’s 17-inch front, respectively 14-inch rear ones. Still, the simple RM carries on to 2009 while the Large model remains a 2008 model year which could signal Suzuki’s intention to remove that from the lineup in the favor of a four-stroke model. Now that would be some competition.

2009 Kawasaki KX100

But, until then, Kawasaki offers – apart from the KX85 – the 2009 KX100, also a carbureted, liquid-cooled two-stroke single only that featuring 99ccs and implicit more power. This would be a good time for Honda to worry as the Kawasaki KX100 features a six-speed gearbox which sets it further apart from those 85cc two-stroke bikes and closer to 150cc four-stroke ones. Also, with a seat height of 34.3 inches, it clearly aims towards the Expert. Ouch!

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