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X1Glider
0
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2004
- Messages
- 3,883
- Reaction score
- 1,851
- Location
- Tomball, TX
- First Name
- Bob
- Last Name
- Krzeszkiewicz
I'm going to make a very long winded post about this (it's not like any of you are actually working like you're supposed to be
), hoping it will help as it isn't a well known machine. Pics and details of the bike for sale will be in the 2nd post.
Up for sale is a pretty cool dirt bike. For those who have never heard of Christini, they are based out of Philadelphia, PA. They've been building AWD bike setups for about 10 years that I'm aware of based on KTM and Honda CRF frames. They've had some pretty good results in some extreme enduros like Last Man Standing and Erzberg due to the skill of Geoff Aaron at the helm.
First, some background...
The Bike itself is built by AsiaWing in China who builds all the small displacement Hondas for the Asian/Indian market. They use the exact tooling, drawings and engineering/material requirements used on Honda's '06-'07 CRF450X enduro. Is it a bad thing that it's based off the 06-07? No. The CRF450X has basically been unchanged since it's inception in '05. What changed for '06 and '07 is a revised 3rd gear, slight engine placement geometry and a 22mm vs 24mm fork offset. Changes to later models have been a basically useless steering damper and bold new graphics. The best change happened in '13 with a revised AP spring and AP timing in the carb. (Which I took care of on this bike)
Is there a quality difference between this and a real Honda? The bike is exactly the same with the exception of a different design head and carb, lower budget brakes and a die cast aluminum clutch cover. All other Honda parts fit. The Honda brakes may be better for flat out racing but on the trails where I've never seen more than 40mph, they're plenty powerful and modulate easy. The Honda clutch cover is cast magnesium and sucks just as bad. Guaranteed to poke a shift lever through it the first crash.
There are 2 BIG differences.
1 is the carb. It's still a Keihin (sp?) FCR but it uses a single throttle cable, relocates the choke cable to be handlebar operated (AWD system on the frame blocks usual placement) and has a fixed 50 leak jet in the bowl. (just right for east Texas)
2 is the head. The decompression bits are slightly different and the compression ratio is a point lower (12:1 vs 13:1). Oh, and the smog block off is standard!!!!
Are those differences a big deal? No. In fact an owner at Advrider.com dyno'd his and got 37 RWHP, same as the Honda. It's every bit as snappy and fuels just as well. I owned a 450X before this (sold to Thrashberg) and I honestly think drivetrain performance is truly equal. I also have no reason to believe it will be less durable that an actual Honda over the lifespan.
I'll tell what, IMO, is better than the Honda.
1. The Morzocchi forks. Better Sprung and damped compared to the Showas.
2. The shock. Exact copy of the Showa but better sprung and damped as well.
(I spent $1500 at RG3 to get the Honda suspension to work this well for the woods)
3. Billet triple clamp and 1 1/8 aluminum bars. Bars can be offset in 4 different positions.
4. Supersprox style rear sprocket.
5. Better performing/lighter aluminum muffler.
6. Better Talon billet hubs and DID rims.
7. 2.6 gallon tank
Those are all the differences between a bone stock Honda CRF450X and a Christini 450E minus the AWD setup. The frame is modified to run a chain off a double front sprocket that goes to a separate clutch housing for engaging/disengaging. then a shaft connects to a bevel gear system in a beefier headstock that drives 2 counter-rotating driveshafts via the bottom tree. Then the 2 shafts drive a custom billet hub. The hub freewheels going forward in normal operation and engages to drive when the rear wheel starts spinning faster than the front. the amount of slippage is determined by the secondary drive. Right now the ratio is .73:1 and stock is .64:1. So, now, the front kicks in sooner which is great for the miles of sand in Texas. Also great in mud bogs and other slick snotty stuff. Rather than the front swapping places with the rear, it pulls you ahead straight. Very nice!
It can be run in rear wheel drive only or you can engage the front for 2 wheel drive via a handlebar mounted lever. I leave it on since it doesn't actually do anything until the rear starts spinning too fast. But if you like to back the rear in everywhere, you can turn it off or change back to the stock ratio (included).
), hoping it will help as it isn't a well known machine. Pics and details of the bike for sale will be in the 2nd post.Up for sale is a pretty cool dirt bike. For those who have never heard of Christini, they are based out of Philadelphia, PA. They've been building AWD bike setups for about 10 years that I'm aware of based on KTM and Honda CRF frames. They've had some pretty good results in some extreme enduros like Last Man Standing and Erzberg due to the skill of Geoff Aaron at the helm.
First, some background...
The Bike itself is built by AsiaWing in China who builds all the small displacement Hondas for the Asian/Indian market. They use the exact tooling, drawings and engineering/material requirements used on Honda's '06-'07 CRF450X enduro. Is it a bad thing that it's based off the 06-07? No. The CRF450X has basically been unchanged since it's inception in '05. What changed for '06 and '07 is a revised 3rd gear, slight engine placement geometry and a 22mm vs 24mm fork offset. Changes to later models have been a basically useless steering damper and bold new graphics. The best change happened in '13 with a revised AP spring and AP timing in the carb. (Which I took care of on this bike)
Is there a quality difference between this and a real Honda? The bike is exactly the same with the exception of a different design head and carb, lower budget brakes and a die cast aluminum clutch cover. All other Honda parts fit. The Honda brakes may be better for flat out racing but on the trails where I've never seen more than 40mph, they're plenty powerful and modulate easy. The Honda clutch cover is cast magnesium and sucks just as bad. Guaranteed to poke a shift lever through it the first crash.
There are 2 BIG differences.
1 is the carb. It's still a Keihin (sp?) FCR but it uses a single throttle cable, relocates the choke cable to be handlebar operated (AWD system on the frame blocks usual placement) and has a fixed 50 leak jet in the bowl. (just right for east Texas)
2 is the head. The decompression bits are slightly different and the compression ratio is a point lower (12:1 vs 13:1). Oh, and the smog block off is standard!!!!
Are those differences a big deal? No. In fact an owner at Advrider.com dyno'd his and got 37 RWHP, same as the Honda. It's every bit as snappy and fuels just as well. I owned a 450X before this (sold to Thrashberg) and I honestly think drivetrain performance is truly equal. I also have no reason to believe it will be less durable that an actual Honda over the lifespan.
I'll tell what, IMO, is better than the Honda.
1. The Morzocchi forks. Better Sprung and damped compared to the Showas.
2. The shock. Exact copy of the Showa but better sprung and damped as well.
(I spent $1500 at RG3 to get the Honda suspension to work this well for the woods)
3. Billet triple clamp and 1 1/8 aluminum bars. Bars can be offset in 4 different positions.
4. Supersprox style rear sprocket.
5. Better performing/lighter aluminum muffler.
6. Better Talon billet hubs and DID rims.
7. 2.6 gallon tank
Those are all the differences between a bone stock Honda CRF450X and a Christini 450E minus the AWD setup. The frame is modified to run a chain off a double front sprocket that goes to a separate clutch housing for engaging/disengaging. then a shaft connects to a bevel gear system in a beefier headstock that drives 2 counter-rotating driveshafts via the bottom tree. Then the 2 shafts drive a custom billet hub. The hub freewheels going forward in normal operation and engages to drive when the rear wheel starts spinning faster than the front. the amount of slippage is determined by the secondary drive. Right now the ratio is .73:1 and stock is .64:1. So, now, the front kicks in sooner which is great for the miles of sand in Texas. Also great in mud bogs and other slick snotty stuff. Rather than the front swapping places with the rear, it pulls you ahead straight. Very nice!
It can be run in rear wheel drive only or you can engage the front for 2 wheel drive via a handlebar mounted lever. I leave it on since it doesn't actually do anything until the rear starts spinning too fast. But if you like to back the rear in everywhere, you can turn it off or change back to the stock ratio (included).
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