It's official, Honda's new Euro-fighting 450cc dual sport is soon to arrive in New Zealand – the CRF450L.
Unlike the CRF250L and our project CRF250L Rally which are based off street bike engines wrapped in a bespoke dual purpose frame, the CRF450L is based on the architecture of the high-performance CRF450 off-roaders with street legal kit bolted on in addition to other changes to make the 450L a streetable machine.
Included in the upgrades to the CRF450L which make it street legal are a full suite of LED lighting, revisions to the engine and gearbox including the addition of a 6th gear.
Suspension comes in the form of 49mm Showa forks which are adjustable for rebound and compression damping, while out back is the traditional Honda Pro-Link system featuring a Showa single shock, adjustable preload, rebound and high- and low-speed compression damping.
The first arrivals are expected at the end of May or Early June according to Blue Wing Honda, with a price of $16,495 plus on-road costs. Blue Wing says the first shipment of bikes are coming from Japan (where the CRF450L is made unlike the Thai built 250L) in US-spec, which means we getting the higher power version of the CRF450L which is reported to be roughly 45hp, 20hp more than our friends in continental Europe where the bike is restricted to around 25hp.
2019 Honda CRF450L Specs
ENGINE
Type: Liquid-cooled single-cylinder Uni Cam
Bore x Stroke: 96.0mm x 62.1mm
Displacement: 449cc
Compression Ratio: 12.0:1
FUEL SYSTEM
Fuel System: PGM-FI Fuel Injection
Fuel Capacity: 7.6 Litre
Starter: Electric
DRIVE CHAIN
Clutch Type: Wet Multiple
Transmission: Constant Mesh, Wide Ratio 6-Speed
Final Drive: Chain
CHASSIS DIMENSIONS
Dimensions (LxWxH): 2,280mm x 852mm x 1,260mm
Wheelbase: 1,500mm
Ground Clearance: 350mm
Seat Height: 940mm
Kerb Weight: 130.8Kg
SUSPENSION
Front: 49mm Showa Steel Spring USD Fork
Rear: Showa Mono Shock Pro Link System
TYRE SIZE
Front: 80/100-21
Rear: 120/80-18
BRAKES
Front: 260mm Wave Disk
Rear: 240mm Wave Disk