Honda CRF450R specifications
Honda · Motocross
The 2025 redesign is the basis of today's chassis. Dirt Bike Magazine notes that Honda did not change the geometry dramatically but discarded around 70 percent of the individual pieces used to build the frame, and that the bike's combination of more power and less weight made it more stable, better turning and easier to ride, a result DirtBikeTest was surprised by. At 37.5 in the seat is tall.
Honda CRF450R
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2027 |
| Engine | 450cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke |
| Displacement | 450cc |
| Bore x stroke | 97.0x60.8 mm |
| Compression ratio | 13.8:1 |
| Fuel system | Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), 46mm throttle body |
| Transmission | Close-ratio five-speed manual |
| Final drive | #520 Chain; 13T/51T |
| Rear suspension travel | 12.0 in |
| Front tire | Dunlop MX34 80/100-21 |
| Rear tire | Dunlop MX34 120/90-19 |
| Seat height | 37.5 in |
| Wet weight (curb) | 238 lb |
| Wheelbase | 58.7 in |
| Fuel capacity | 1.9 gal |
| Ground clearance | 13.1 in |
| Valve train | Unicam SOHC; four valves per cylinder |
| Starting MSRP | $10,099 |
| Class | Motocross |
| Front suspension | 49mm inverted Showa fork |
| Front suspension travel | 12.2 in |
| Rear suspension | Pro-Link Showa single shock |
| Front brake | Single 260mm disc with twin-piston caliper |
| Rear brake | Single 240mm disc |
| Rake (caster angle) | 27.3° |
| Trail | 4.6 in |
| Destination charge | $600 |
How the CRF450R makes power
The bike is so quiet that riders who equate loud exhaust with high power may be misled.
Chassis and handling
The 238 lb weight is level with Kawasaki's KX450SR.
Where the CRF450R stands in the class
The 450 is now a competitive bike again. Dirt Bike Magazine calls last year's redesigned CRF450R the best motocross bike Honda had produced in more than 15 years, with the current version more of the same, and notes it has been 16 years since the CRF450R won a shootout. The most significant performance change last year was an airbox that flows more.
The bike weighs 237 lb without fuel on the magazine's scale, right in the middle of the class.
DirtBikeTest describes a powerband with no single standout zone, just an abundance of usable power at any throttle position, and found that in tight, rutted corners second gear was more usable than the habit-driven third, though the bike will carry third if the rider has the speed. A 200 lb tester without gear never bottomed the suspension. The seat is highly comfortable though not overly grippy.
CRF450R against the YZ450F, KX450SR and RM-Z450
Yamaha's YZ450F costs $200 more at $10,299 and weighs 243 lb, and Suzuki's RM-Z450 is the cheapest at $9,699 and heaviest at 247 lb. Kawasaki's KX450SR is priced at $13,699, above the Honda's Works Edition, at 238.2 lb. KTM's 450 SX-F lists at $11,649.
Honda CRF450R — specification referenceThe 450's engine is its selling point. Dirt Bike Magazine says the CRF450R has more low-end power than any current production motocross bike, and that a rider can cruise at what sounds like half throttle and still make more power than any 250 ever made. DirtBikeTest adds that the engine holds a very long peak spread, making the power feel flatter than usual, and that the five-speed's ratios suit the engine's linear character, with taller overall gearing and a slightly wider spread between gears.
- Model-year range
- 2026–2027
- Compared editions
- 2
- Specification entries
- 20
- Entries that differ
- 11
2027 Honda CRF450R questions
How much power does the Honda CRF450R have?
Dirt Bike Magazine says the CRF450R has more low-end power than any current production motocross bike. DirtBikeTest adds that the engine holds a long peak spread. So the power feels flat, and that it is quiet enough to feel slower than it is.
What is the difference between the CRF450R and the HRC Works Edition?
The HRC Works Edition costs $12,999 against $10,099 for the standard bike, both before a $600 destination charge. It is built on the same 450cc engine and chassis.
The 2027 Honda CRF450R is a 450cc liquid-cooled Unicam motocross bike with larger valves and a higher compression ratio than the previous engine. Dirt Bike Magazine says it has more low-end power than any current production motocross bike. It suits an intermediate to expert rider who wants strong, flat power and a stable chassis, and it stays quiet enough to mislead riders who judge power by exhaust noise.
Other models in this reference: Honda CRF450X, Honda CRF300L Rally, Honda CRF50F.