WHAT IS IT? Pro Circuit’s single is an easy way to add 2. 6 horsepower to the 2013 Honda CRF450, with the financial benefits of one muffler instead of two.
WHAT’S IT COST? $779.95.
CONTACT? www.procircuit.com or (951) 738-8050.
WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the 2013 Pro Circuit single-sided T- 5 Honda CRF450 exhaust. (1) Design. The single-sided T- 5 is designed to replace Honda’s twin pipes with one exhaust pipe and one muffler. It is $600 cheaper than Pro Circuit’s Ti- 5 CRF450 twin pipe. It also costs less to replace or repair after a crash, is twice as easy to repack, and makes better sense. ( 2) Construction. In Pro Circuit’s hierarchy of pipes, the T5 sits just below the all-titanium Ti- 5. Pro Circuit’s $779.95 T- 5 exhaust uses stainless steel for the head and mid-pipe and aluminum for the muffler canister. It comes with spare packing, a removable spark arrestor, resonance chamber and an optional stinger tip. The T5 meets AMA Amateur sound limits ( 94 dB at 4500 rpm) and the AMA Pro two-meter-max test sound limits (with the optional tip installed). ( 3) Weight. The Pro Circuit T- 5 single-sided exhaust weighs 2 pounds less than the stock twin pipe. ( 4) Performance. In stock trim, the 2013 Honda CRF450 is pleasant, mild and mellow. Its best feature is its solid, low-end throttle response, but there are diminishing returns as the revolutions per minute climb.
By the time the CRF450 hits 8500 rpm, it stops gaining horsepower and goes flat on top. It still revs, but it doesn’t go anywhere unless you short-shift. The single- sided T- 5 adds a sense of excitement to the mundane stock powerband. It provides a lively midrange hit, revs quicker and is more responsive to throttle input. The extra midrange power is noticeable, usable and racier. ( 5) On the dyno. The Pro Circuit single-sided T- 5 exhaust system produced an impressive 53.02 horsepower at peak (compared to 51. 63 for the stock pipe). Above 7000 rpm, the single-sided Pro Circuit pipe made an average of one horse more across the range. ( 6) Stinger inserts. The consumer can run the 2013 CRF450 single-sided pipe without the insert, with the insert or with the spark-arrestor insert. Every MXA test rider preferred the muffler without either insert. It was more powerful by half a horse over the regular insert and one horse over the spark-arrestor insert.
WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? The MXA test riders didn’t like the aesthetics of the bulging and now-empty, left- side panel. Also, even though twin mufflers don’t make much sense on a motocross bike, they do look cool.
The T5 weighs less, costs less, is easier to maintain, looks cleaner and produces more power. What’s not to like?
MXA RATING
PRO CIRCUIT T- 5 CRF450 SINGLE-SIDED EXHAUST
MXA TEAM TESTED
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