Honda CRF450X 2009, Owner'S Manual & Competition Handbook

Page: 8 / 184

HONDA O/M CRF450X (Eu) 3RMEY620 00X3R-MEY-6200
Important Safety Information
Important Safety Precautions
Your CRF can provide many years of pleasure, if
you take responsibility for your own safety and
understand the challenges you can meet in
competitive racing.
There is much that you can do to protect yourself
when you ride. You’ll find many helpful
recommendations throughout this manual. The
following are a few that we consider to be most
important.
Always Wear a Helmet . It’s a proven fact:
helmets significantly reduce the number and
severity of head injuries. So always wear an
approved motorcycle helmet. We also
recommended that you wear eye protection,
sturdy boots, gloves, and other protective gear.
Never Carry a Passenger. Your CRF is designed
for one person only. There are no handholds,
footrests, or seat for a second person–so never
carry a passenger. A passenger could interfere
with your ability to move around to maintain
your balance and control of the motorcycle.
Ride Off-road Only. Your CRF is designed and
manufactured for off-road use only. The tyres are
not made for pavement, and the CRF does not
have turn signals and other features required for
use on public roads. If you need to cross a paved
or public road, get off and walk your CRF across.
Always Wear Protective Gear. We recommend
that you wear sturdy boots, gloves, and other
protective gear. The exhaust system becomes
very hot during operation, and it remains hot
after operation. Never touch any part of the hot
exhaust system. Wear clothing that fully covers
your legs.
Keep Your Honda in Safe Condition. It’s
important to keep your CRF properly maintained
and in safe riding condition. Having a breakdown
can be difficult, especially if you are stranded
off-road far from your base. To help avoid
problems, inspect your CRF before every ride
and perform all recommended maintenance.
2
Motorcycle Safety
Do not wear loose clothing which could catch on
the control levers, kickstarter, footpegs, drive
chain, or wheels.
Take Time to Learn and Practice.
Developing
off-road riding skills is a gradual, step-by-step
process. Start by practicing at low speeds in a
safe area and slowly build your skills.
Personal instruction from an experienced rider
can also be valuable.
If you need assistance, ask your dealer about
riding groups in your area.
Be Alert for Off-road Hazards. The terrain can
present a variety of challenges when you ride
off-road. Continually ‘‘read” the terrain for
unexpected turns, drop-offs, rocks, ruts, and other
hazards. Always keep your speed low enough to
allow time to see and react to hazards.
Ride within Your Limits. Pushing limits is
another major cause of motorcycle accidents.
Never ride beyond your personal abilities or
faster than conditions warrant. Remember that
alcohol, drugs, fatigue, and inattention can
significantly reduce your ability to make good
judgments and ride safely.
Don’t Drink and Ride. Alcohol and riding don’t
mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and your
reaction time gets worse with every additional
drink. So don’t drink and ride, and don’t let your
friends drink and ride either.