Distilled to its fundamental elements, dual-sport riding comprises linking together trails via sections of road. Enter the CRF450RL, which performs admirably both in the dirt and on the tarmac. Based on the legendary CRF450 Performance off-road platform (including a 449cc Unicam® engine, twin-spar aluminum frame and premium, long-travel suspension), but with street-legal features like a quiet muffler, a vibration-damping urethane-injected swingarm and a wide-ratio six-speed transmission, this is the quintessential on/off-road machine. Throw in Honda’s legendary durability, and there’s little wonder that the CRF450RL has made a name for itself in the dual-sport world.
KEY FEATURES
- Lightweight, protective hand guards defend against the elements and trail-side shrubbery
- Lightweight, 2.0-gallon titanium fuel tank
- Riding time maximized by lightweight, compact LED lighting system, featuring a headlight with high-intensity projection for illuminating a broad area
- Rear-view mirrors
- Lightweight lithium-ion battery with increased capacity compared to CRF450R, to power electrical components
- Lightweight, compact digital meter with black characters on a white liquid-crystal background is easily legible while riding
ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN
- 449.7cc Unicam® engine specially tailored for trail-to-trail riding
- Finger rocker arm contributes to compact layout while using dedicated design to attain on- and off-road-specific power characteristics. DLC surface treatment reduces friction
- Dedicated valve timing for smooth power delivery in technical riding
- High crank inertia (up 12% over CRF450R) for tractable power delivery in technical terrain
- 12.0:1 compression ratio
- New piston with three-ring design
- Wide-ratio six-speed transmission is ready for a wide variety of off-road terrain and on-road riding
- Special clutch design enables light lever pull. Primary damper mechanism with friction springs suppresses engine torque fluctuations, ensuring smooth running
- Large-capacity radiators with high heat-exchange efficiency for strong performance in demanding off-road conditions
- Electric fan and thermostat control engine temperature in harsh conditions
- ECU with dedicated settings
- Noise emissions minimized via covers on the left and right crank cases
- Powerful AC generator for street-legal lighting
- Air cleaner box
- Dedicated single-muffler exhaust system provides great sound while meeting emissions requirements
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
- Aluminum twin-spar frame designed for nimble-yet-stable handling on trails
- Subframe designed to ensure optimum rigidity balance appropriate for carrying tools
- 49mm Showa fork with dedicated settings for trail-to-trail riding
- Shock based on that of the CRF450R but with dedicated settings and link ratio for off-road riding
- Front brake uses design from CRF450R, but with additional fade resistance thanks to thicker discs and large-capacity reservoir
- Endless sealed chain withstands the elements
- Front and rear sprockets, produced in durable steel material, feature damper system for smooth, quiet running
- Urethane injection in swingarm to reduce road noise
- Fuel tank cap with a cut-off valve prevents fuel from flowing out of tank if the bike is on its side
- LED turn signals with flexible mounts for durability
- Easily accessible electronic component box on left side of the frame
- Black 7/8-inch Renthal® handlebar with red pad
- Compact, lightweight handlebar switches
- In-mold graphics are resistant to peeling caused by washing or abrasion
- IRC GP-21F/GP-22R tires provide great balance of on- and off-road performance
- Black rims for strong presence
