Honda CRF 450L

Having taken the dual-sport world by storm since its debut, the road-legal CRF450L expands customers’ off-road possibilities by enabling access to the best riding trails on public lands, even when that means connecting them via asphalt roads. Based on the CRF450R, the CRF450L is a performance off-road machine, but it also has the comfort and durability to make riding it and owning it a pleasure in the long run. Already armed with features like a titanium fuel tank, six-speed transmission and LED lighting,

Ride anywhere. Ride everywhere. That’s what Honda’s extraordinary CRF450L is all about. A street-legal dirtbike that offers the refinement of a Honda, along with light weight, superior handling, and plenty of power. It’s a motorcycle that’s taking the dual-sport scene by storm, a huge critical success by seemingly everyone who’s scored a ride on one. Powerful 449cc Unicam engine. Twin-spar aluminum CRF chassis. Wide-ratio six-speed transmission. Premium long-travel suspension. Electric start.

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

Standard Features

449cc liquid-cooled Unicam® single-cylinder engine

Fully street-legal equipment package

Fuel injection

Electric starter

Next-Generation twin-spar aluminum frame

Six-speed transmission

Titanium fuel tank

Honda Announces 2020 Dirt Bikes – Performance updates to CRF250R highlight extensive CRF lineup

From the fire-breathing, high-flying CRF450RWE all the way down to the friendly, cute CRF50F, Honda’s off-road motorcycle lineup is the most all-encompassing and versatile on the powersports market, a fact that was driven home when American Honda today made its first new-model announcement of the 2020 model year. With eight and four machines respectively, Honda’s CRF Performance and CRF Trail families offer something for everyone, whether they be pro-level racers looking to give Ken Roczen and Cole Seely a run for their money, youngsters preparing for their first two-wheel forays, or anyone in between.

The newest iterations of Honda’s proven full-size motocross models—the CRF250R and CRF450R, as well as the elite CRF450RWE—all receive important upgrades to raise performance levels even higher, while the CRF150R mini is back again in 2020. The CRF450RX and CRF250RX closed-course off-road racers benefit from the same improvements as their track-focused siblings, while the CRF450X off-roader and CRF450L dual-sport machine return for the new model year with updated graphics. At the other end of the spectrum, the approachable, fun 2020 CRF250F, CRF125F, CRF110F and CRF50F await recreational riders with trail-focused performance and proven reliability.

“For generations, Honda has demonstrated its commitment to the dirt bike market, and that’s never been truer than now,” said Chris Cox, American Honda’s Manager of Experiential Marketing/Press. “Our 2020 lineup of off-road models, including the CRF Performance and CRF Trail families, comprises machines that are top-of-class for motocross, off-road competition, trail riding and, in the case of the CRF450L, even using streets to extend off-road adventures. With such a capable and diverse collection of motorcycles, you can once again expect to see a lot of red on tracks and trails from coast to coast.”

CRF PERFORMANCE LINE
Last year saw Honda significantly expand its CRF Performance family to include machines for riding applications including motocross, closed-course off-road, pure off-road, and even dual sport. For 2020, a number of models in the lineup get important upgrades to keep Red Riders running at the front of the pack.

CRF TRAIL LINE
Motorcycling is armed with legions of riders who got their start on Honda trail bikes, and with the 2020 lineup of CRF Trail models, that trend is sure to continue long into the future.

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 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

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″ 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

VERSATILITY

FULLY STREET LEGAL
The CRF450L is equipped with a catalytic converter and is fully street legal in all 50 states. That means you can ride it wherever it’s legal to operate a motor vehicle—in state and national parks, on the road, on public lands. Plus, you don’t need to haul your bike to the trailhead in a truck or on a trailer. Best of all, it makes finding gas a breeze.

CONVENIENCE
ELECTRIC START
An electric start system ensures trouble-free starting in all conditions. The electric starter also drives the clutch side of the crankshaft to provide superior lubrication to starter gears while producing a narrow engine with a short, strong crank.

PERFORMANCE
449cc UNICAM® ENGINE
Honda’s Unicam® cylinder heads combine the best of single- and double-overhead-cam designs. The configuration contributes to a compact engine that saves weight over a comparable dual-overhead-camshaft motor and also permits a narrow included valve angle. This flattens the combustion chamber to facilitate ignition flame propagation, allowing a high compression ratio. Since less space is taken up in the cylinder head, the camshaft sits lower in the head for a more compact engine and a lower center of gravity.

FUEL INJECTION

The CRF450L features our proven fuel-injection system. It’s part of the reason the CRF450L offers such excellent torque and spot-on metering and response, especially in the critical low-rpm range. It also automatically compensates for elevation and weather changes.

TITANIUM INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES
Lightweight titanium intake and exhaust valves permit use of smaller valve springs, reducing overall engine height.

ENGINEERING
WIDE-RATIO SIX-SPEED TRANSMISSION
Like our CRF450X, the CRF450L rocks a wide-ratio six-speed gearbox. That gives you a low gear perfect for tight, slow situations, and a top gear that’s tall enough for highway riding to the next gas stop or trailhead.

DUAL RADIATORS
The CRF450L’s dual radiators feature a refined core area for superior heat dissipation compared with conventional dual-radiator designs. A coolant recovery tank is located in front of the engine between the frame downtubes for improved center of mass, and the tank is protected by a plastic skid plate.

ELECTRIC FAN
The CRF450L is a “ride anywhere” type of bike, and because conditions vary so widely, we’ve equipped it with a light electric fan for the radiator. Rock crawling or riding on a hot Arizona single-track, it helps keep your engine running cool.

FINAL-DRIVE SPROCKET DAMPER
Designed to keep your bike quieter while not adding any weight, these unique drive sprockets are just another example of the CRF450L’s innovative engineering.

INERTIA-TUNED CRANK
Last year we redesigned the CRF450L’s crank to have 13 percent more inertia than the CRF450R. Why? To smooth out power delivery and make the engine more user-friendly in tight, technical situations.

LED HEADLIGHT
The CRF450L features an all-LED lighting package, including the headlight. That’s a big deal, because it takes a lot of weight off the front end. And the lighting pattern is also specially designed for both on- and off-road situations.

LED TAILLIGHT
The LED taillight is integrated into the rear fender. It’s light, compact and rigid.

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
Light, compact, and offering excellent performance—just like the CRF450L itself! Conventional batteries are heavy, but not this premium piece. It’s all part of why your new CRF450L performs as well as it does.

SKID PLATE
The CRF450L’s factory skid plate is light, yet also offers the engine and lower-frame protection serious riders demand on a machine like this.

TITANIUM FUEL TANK
Holding 2.01 gallons, the CRF450L’s premium titanium tank is light and tough.

HANDLING
18-INCH REAR WHEEL
The CRF450L’s 18-inch rear wheel gives you an excellent choice of on/off-road tires.

IRC GP TIRES
The CRF450L’s tires give you good off-road traction and on-road life. Tires are always a critical part of any on/off-road bike, and we’ve hooked you up with some great ones here.

LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY
The compact Unicam® engine and Honda’s famous concentration on center-of-mass engineering help keep the CRF450L’s center of gravity low. That means the bike feels lighter, and it helps handling too.

TWIN-SPAR CHASSIS
This is the same design as our latest CRF450X uses, and that’s a really big deal. It means the CRF450L is a true off-road bike, and not some compromise. The twin-spar aluminum frame is both light and stiff, and provides the basis for the CRF450L’s excellent handling. The chassis geometry is specially selected for responsiveness, and also is wider than the standard MX frame to accommodate the six-speed transmission.

WORKS-STYLE FRONT BRAKE
Compact twin-piston front brake caliper, anodized-aluminum brake pistons and lightweight 260mm front disc offer great stopping power while minimizing unsprung weight for improved turning and handling.

WORKS-STYLE REAR BRAKE
HRC works-type rear brake system uses a 240mm brake rotor combined with an integrated rear master-cylinder and fluid reservoir, a set-up that eliminates the separate reservoir and hose.

COMFORT
BLACK RIMS
They may not help you go faster, but the sweet black DID DirtStar rims sure look good.

FUEL MILEAGE METER
An important feature for planning gas stops and calculating your bike’s range under varying conditions, the Fuel Mileage Meter shows current fuel mileage and average fuel mileage as well as fuel consumption. Displays in either miles or kilometers, and applies to both the A and B tripmeters. The Fuel Mileage Meter is in the same digital instrument display as the speedometer, odometer, tripmeters and digital clock.

GEAR-DRIVEN COUNTERBALANCER
The Gear-Driven Counterbalancer reduces vibration and drives the water pump. Eight clutch plates provide the surface area necessary to handle the engine’s massive torque, while carefully matched clutch springs provide a light feel at the lever.

SIDESTAND
Hey, a sidestand may seem like no big thing, but take a look at the one the CRF450L uses. Tucked up high and out of the way, this forged alloy piece is just another example of how the CRF450L gets it right.

SUPERIOR ERGONOMICS
Placing the rider’s legs at the narrowest part of the frame helps improve comfort and handling.