2021 Honda CRF450X Guide

2021 Honda CRF450X: BUILT TO DOMINATE OFF ROAD.

Introducing the 2021 Honda CRF450X…

When it comes to motorcycle racing in Baja, “dominant” doesn’t quite do justice to Honda’s record. Twenty-two of the last 23 victories in the legendary Baja 1000 have gone to Honda, including SLR Honda’s convincing 2019 win, and 13 of those belong to the CRF450X. Not only does it rule desert racing, but the CRF450X is a great trail bike, thanks in part to its 50-state year-round off-road-legal status. With off-road appropriate features like a side stand, 18-inch rear wheel, headlight, sealed chain and six-speed transmission, it’s ready for desert expanses or tight woods.

Life is full of compromises—unless you’re riding a Honda CRF450X. What we’ve done here is take the light weight, responsive handling, and cutting-edge performance of our CRF450R motocrosser and put it into an awesome off-road package that doesn’t give up a thing. In fact, we think it makes the CRF450X better in every way for the serious off-road rider. You get a legendary engine tuned for the way off-roaders ride, a wide-ratio six-speed gearbox, aluminum chassis, electric starter, and long-travel suspension. And this year there are new handguards, and a super-crisp new styling and graphics package. Factory riders and privateers use this machine to get to the top of the podium in Baja. You’re going to find it turns your weekends into you own private podium performances, too.

Sharing similar styling updates as its CRF Performance Line counterparts, the 2021 CRF450X features all-new graphics and handguards.

2021 Honda CRF450X Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

• Lightweight, protective handguards defend against shrubbery when riding down tight trails or wood sections
• Lightweight, 2.0 gallon titanium fuel tank offers good range for long, enjoyable rides
• Aluminum side stand facilitates trailside stops
• 18-inch rear wheel enables tall tire sidewall for optimum traction in technical conditions
• Lightweight, compact digital meter with black characters on a white liquid-crystal background is easily legible while riding
• Off-road-ready, emissions-compliant muffler with spark arrestor
• Endless sealed chain withstands the elements
• Lightweight, compact halogen headlight and LED taillight extend riding time

Engine/Drivetrain

• 449.7cc Unicam® engine specially tailored for off-road riding
• Finger rocker arm contributes to compact layout, while its dedicated design attains off-road-appropriate 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
• Piston with three-ring design
• Wide-ratio six-speed transmission is ready for a wide variety of off-road terrain. Construction from high-strength material ensures durability in demanding conditions
• Special clutch design enables light lever pull. Primary damper mechanism with friction springs suppresses engine torque fluctuations for smooth running
• Large-capacity radiators with high heat-exchange efficiency for strong performance in demanding off-road conditions
• ECU with dedicated settings
• Specially developed exhaust system with optimized pipe length and diameter for excellent responsiveness at low rpm

Chassis/Suspension

• Aluminum twin-spar frame designed for nimble yet stable handling on trails
• 49 mm Showa fork with dedicated settings for challenging terrain
• CRF450R-inspired front brake but with dedicated master cylinder and hose for off-road-appropriate braking performance
• Lightweight lithium-ion battery with increased capacity compared to CRF450R, to power lighting
• Front and rear sprockets feature damper system for smooth, quiet running
• Fuel-tank cap with cut-off valve prevents fuel from flowing out of tank if the bike is on its side
• Easily accessible electronic component box on left side of frame
• Gray metallic Renthal handlebar with red pad
• Compact, lightweight handlebar switches
• In-mold graphics last long and are resistant to peeling caused by washing or abrasion
• Fork protectors are shaped to prevent damage in off-road riding
• Dunlop MX52 tires provide excellent traction and feel in wide range of conditions

2021 Honda CRF450X Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

ENGINEERING
WIDE-RATIO SIX-SPEED TRANSMISSION
Having six speeds in the CRF450X’s transmission compared to an MX bike’s typical five gives you more choice, and makes this versatile bike even more versatile. You have a gear for everything from east-coast rock crawling to wide-open Baja blasts.

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
Light, compact, and offering excellent performance—just like the CRF450X itself! Conventional batteries are heavy, but not this premium piece. It’s all part of why your new CRF450X performs as well as it does.

TUNED-WEIGHT CRANK
The CRF450X gets a special crankshaft, different from our CRF450R MX bikes and our CRF450L dual-sport. Why? The crank’s weight and inertial character make a huge difference in how a bike delivers power. A crank is expensive, but it’s no place to scrimp and try to save—with the CRF450X, power delivery is just what you want.

DUAL RADIATORS
The CRF450X’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 gravity, and the tank is protected by a plastic skid plate.

TITANIUM FUEL TANK
Holding 2.0 gallons, the CRF450X’s premium titanium tank is light and tough.

SKID PLATE
The CRF450X’s factory skid plate is light, yet also offers the engine and lower-frame protection serious riders demand on a machine like this.

LIGHTING PACKAGE
Your CRF450X comes equipped with a complete lighting package (headlight and taillight) for riding at dusk.

CONVENIENCE
ELECTRIC STARTER
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.

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

FUEL INJECTION
The CRF450X features our proven fuel-injection system. It’s part of the reason the CRF450X 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.

HANDLING
TWIN-SPAR CHASSIS
The CRF450X uses a twin-spar aluminum chassis that takes advantage of all the lessons we’ve learned on the MX track and from winning countless Bajas. The frame is both light and stiff, and provides the basis for the CRF450X’s excellent handling. The chassis is also wider than the standard MX frame to accommodate the six-speed transmission.

DUNLOP MX52 TIRES
The CRF450X’s Dunlop MX52 tires give you good superior off-road traction in a wide variety of terrain and conditions. 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 CRF450X’s center of gravity low. That means the bike feels lighter, and it helps handling too.

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 to its integrated rear master-cylinder and fluid reservoir, a set-up that eliminates the separate reservoir and hose.

18-INCH REAR WHEEL
The CRF450X’s 18-inch rear wheel gives you an excellent choice of off-road tires. Plus, the black DID rims look great too.

COMFORT
NEW HANDGUARDS
You asked; we listened. The 2021 CRF450X now comes with factory handguards as standard equipment. Exclusively designed for the off-road rider and manufactured to Honda standards, they help protect you from rocks, branches, thorns and brush. Plus, it gives your CRF450X that “finished” look, right from the start.

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.

NEW WORKS MX STYLING
For 2021, we gave the CRF450X some super-crisp new styling and graphics. The “X” looks like our MX bikes because it’s derived from them—the smooth bodywork makes it easy to move around, and the in-mold graphics not only look cool but are durable, too.

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

SIDESTAND
Hey, a sidestand may seem like no big thing, but take a look at the one the CRF450X uses. Tucked up high and out of the way, this forged alloy piece is just another example of how the CRF450X gets it right.

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.

2021 Honda CRF450X – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $9799 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $ See Dealer for pricing in CDN
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £ GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride
Specifications subject to change

2021 Honda CRF450X – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details

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2021 Honda CRF450X – Totalmotorcycle.com European Specifications/Technical Details

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Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).