2021 Honda CRF450RL: RIDE IT ALL.
Introducing the 2021 Honda CRF450RL…
Through a winning combination of performance, durability and comfort, Honda’s road-legal dirt bike has made a name for itself in the dual-sport world. And for 2021, it gets a distinguished title befitting its level of performance. Now called the CRF450RL, this capable dual-sport machine powers on with a trail-connecting approach that broadens customers’ ride-planning possibilities. Powered by Honda’s proven 449cc Unicam® engine and wide-ratio six-speed transmission, plus premium long-travel suspension and twin-spar aluminum frame, the CRF450RL now comes standard with lightweight handguards for increased comfort and protection no matter where the ride leads.
It’s such a simple idea—a full-on dirt bike with a license plate—giving you the freedom to ride from trail to trail. The on-road part is usually pretty easy, but the off-road part separates the best bikes from the rest. And that’s exactly where Honda’s extraordinary CRF450RL shines the brightest. It’s such a good off-road bike that this year we’ve even changed its name, showing how closely it’s derived from our CRF450R and CRF450X models. For 2021 we’ve also added factory handguards, new graphics, and updated ECU and fuel-injection settings. The best parts are still its powerful 449cc Unicam engine, twin-spar aluminum chassis, wide-ratio six-speed transmission, long-travel suspension, and effortless electric starting. And then there are the specs nobody can match: Honda quality and reliability.
2021 Honda CRF450RL Totalmotorcycle.com 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
- 49 mm 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
2021 Honda CRF450RL Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits
VERSATILITY
FULLY STREET LEGAL & OFF-ROAD CAPABLE
The CRF450RL is equipped with a catalytic converter and is fully street legal in all 50 states—and off-road capable just about anywhere on the planet. 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 (or lunch) 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
The CRF450RL’s Unicam® cylinder-head combines the best of single- and double-overhead-cam designs, and shares its DNA with our championship-winning CRF450R. The configuration saves weight compared to a dual-overhead-camshaft motor, and the camshaft sits lower in the head for a more compact engine and a lower center of gravity. You also get a narrow included valve angle that flattens the combustion chamber for better ignition flame propagation and a high compression ratio.
FUEL INJECTION
The CRF450RL features our proven fuel-injection system. It’s part of the reason the CRF450RL 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 CRF450RL 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 CRF450RL’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 CRF450RL 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 CRF450RL’s innovative engineering.
INERTIA-TUNED CRANK
The CRF450RL’s crank has 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 CRF450RL 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 CRF450RL itself! Conventional batteries are heavy, but not this premium piece. It’s all part of why your CRF450RL performs as well as it does.
SKID PLATE
The CRF450RL’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 2.0 gallons, the CRF450RL’s premium titanium tank is light and tough.
HANDLING
18-INCH REAR WHEEL
The CRF450RL’s 18-inch rear wheel gives you an excellent choice of on/off-road tires.
IRC GP TIRES
The CRF450RL’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 CRF450RL’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 CRF450RL 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 CRF450RL’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
NEW FACTORY HANDGUARDS
You asked; we delivered. The 2021 CRF450RL comes with handguards installed right from the factory. They’re fully integrated, too, not like some aftermarket add-ons. They attach right to the control-lever pivots, are color-matched to your new bike, and are even vented.
BLACK DID 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 CRF450RL uses. Tucked up high and out of the way, this forged alloy piece is just another example of how the CRF450RL gets it right.
SUPERIOR ERGONOMICS
Placing the rider’s legs at the narrowest part of the frame helps improve comfort and handling.
WORKS MX STYLING
Having a hard time spotting the differences between our factory MX bikes and the CRF450RL? You’re excused. The “RL” looks like our MX bikes because it’s derived from them—the smooth bodywork makes it easy to move around, and the updated for 2021 in-mold graphics not only look cool but are durable, too.
2021 Honda CRF450RL – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $10399 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $12,099 CDN
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £ GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)
| ENGINE | ||
| Type | 449.7cc liquid-cooled 10º single-cylinder four-stroke | |
| Valve Train | Unicam® OHC, four-valve | |
| Bore x Stroke | 96.0mm x 62.1mm | |
| Compression Ratio | 12.0:1 | |
| Induction | Programmed fuel-injection system (PGM-FI); 46mm throttle bore | |
| Ignition | Full transistorized | |
| Starter | Push-button electric starter | |
| Transmission | 6-speed wide ratio; manual | |
| Clutch | Multiplate wet (6 springs) | |
| Final Drive | #520 sealed chain; 13T/51T | |
| SUSPENSION | ||
| Front | 49mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted telescopic Showa coil-spring fork w/ 12.0 in. travel | |
| Rear | Pro-Link system; fully adjustable Showa single shock w/ 11.8 in. wheel travel | |
| BRAKES | ||
| Front | 2-piston caliper hydraulic; single 260mm disc | |
| Rear | 1-piston caliper hydraulic; single 240mm disc | |
| TIRES | ||
| Front | IRC GP21 80/100-21 w/ tube | |
| Rear | IRC GP22 120/80-18 w/ tube | |
| MEASUREMENTS | ||
| Rake (Caster Angle) | 28°30’ | |
| Trail | 122mm (4.8 in.) | |
| Length | 89.6 in. | |
| Width | 33..3 in. | |
| Height | 49.9 in. | |
| Ground Clearance | 12.6 in. | |
| Seat Height | 37.2 in. | |
| Wheelbase | 58.9 in. | |
| Fuel Capacity | 2.0 gal. | |
| Color | Red | |
| Curb Weight* | 291 lbs. | |
*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride
Specifications subject to change
2021 Honda CRF450RL – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details
Engine & Drivetrain
Engine type Liquid-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke
Displacement 449.8 cc
Bore & stroke 96 mm x 62.1 mm
Compression ratio 12.0:1
Valve train Unicam, 4 valves
Fuel delivery PGM-FI electronic fuel injection with 46 mm throttle body
Transmission Wide-ratio, six speed
Final drive #520 sealed chain; 13T/51T
Chassis & Suspension
Front suspension Showa 49 mm leading-axle inverted telescopic coil-spring fork with rebound and compression damping adjustability 305 mm (12 in.)
Rear suspension Pro-Link® Showa single shock with adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability 300mm (11.8 in.)
Dimensions & Additional Information
Tires Front: 80/100-21
Rear: 120/80-18
Brakes Front: 260 mm disc wave pattern disc with dual-piston caliper
Rear: 240 mm disc wave-pattern disc
Ground clearance 315 mm (12.4 in.)
Seat height 940 mm (37 in.)
Wheelbase 1500 mm (59.1 in.)
Curb weight 131 kg (289 lb.) including required fluids and full tank of gas—ready to ride
Fuel capacity 7.6 litres
Colour Extreme Red
Warranty 12 months, unlimited mileage
2021 Honda CRF450RL – Totalmotorcycle.com European Specifications/Technical Details
TBA
Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).
