Additional Maintenance Procedures - Honda CRF450R 2009 Owner's Manual & Competition Handbook

Refer to Safety Precautions on page 23.
Steering Head Bearing Inspection
1. With your CRF on a box or optional
workstand (front wheel elevated), turn the
handlebar to the right and left to check for
roughness in the steering head bearings.
2. Stand in front of your CRF, grab the fork (at
the axle), look at the steering head, and push
the fork in and out (toward the engine) to
check for play in the steering head bearings.
If any roughness or play is felt, but you do
not see any movement in the steering head,
the fork bushings may be worn. Refer to an
official Honda Service Manual for
replacement or adjustment procedures, or see
your Honda dealer.
Handlebar Inspection
1. Check the handlebar (1) for bends or cracks.
2. Check that the handlebar has not moved from
its proper position the end of the right
handlebar holders (2) is aligned with the paint
mark (3).
3. Check the torque of the handlebar upper
holder bolts (4):
16 lbf·ft (22 N·m, 2.2 kgf·m)
Tighten the front bolts first.
(4) (4)
(1) (2)
(1) handlebar
(2) right handlebar holders
(3) paint mark
(4) handlebar upper holder bolts

Additional Maintenance Procedures

Control Cables
Periodically, disconnect the throttle and clutch
cables at their upper ends. Thoroughly lubricate
the cable pivot points with a commercially
available cable lubricant. If the clutch lever and
throttle operation is not smooth, replace the
cable.
Be sure the throttle returns freely from fully open
to fully closed automatically, in all steering
positions.
(3)
103
Servicing Your Honda