The DH1 Racing skidplate is
one of the most heavy-duty on the market.
When Honda began the thought process geared for an
aluminum frame, I doubt they were as concerned as most off-road
riders when it comes to protecting the softer frame material. The
Red Engineers sought after something revolutionary, light and
ground breaking for the motocross market. They succeeded, but as a
result the enthusiasts and racers alike, who slam their way up,
over and around rocks, tree roots and logs suffer. Why? Aluminum is
a notoriously soft metal, relatively speaking. This could result in
a severely damaged frame is one was to hit a rock "just right" (or
just wrong, I guess). DH1 Racing is known for it's billet products,
such as triple clamps, shark fins, bar mounts and the like, along
with vital protective items such as the skid plate tested on our
450.
The negative? No holes to
ventilate the motor...but we drilled our own!
This was the first item we received shortly after
taking shipment of the '02 CRF. Based out of Vegas, I was not about
to even break the bike in without the frame protected with a
skidplate. The DH1 unit is made of the thickest 3/16" aluminum
which will resist nearly any hit. Mounting the skid was as simple;
it took longer to dig the skidplate out of the box. The downside?
For some reason, the skidplate comes to a "V" shape as it heads
toward the back of the bike, which exposes part of the frame rails;
this isn't good. The only other downer is the fact that the skid
may hinder the motor from much needed ventilation (we layed the
plate under a drill press and quickly solved that problem).Overall, the thickness of the aluminum alone is a
positive point that typically out-matches many competitors. Fit,
finish and quality were top notch, the owner negative being the
lack of coverage underneath the frame.
DH1 Racing Prices as tested:
Product
Price
Skidplate
$
75.00
Holeshot
Endo
Constructed of heavy-duty 3/16"
aluminum.
Excellent quality
Bolts up in minutes
No vent holes to help keep the motor running
cool
The skidplate comes to a "V" shape as it heads
toward the back of the bike, which exposes part of the frame
rails.
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