A Closer Look At The Honda CRF450L Dual-Sport Dirt Bike

---

The 2020 Honda CRF450L dual sport motorcycle will be available in October 2019 with an MSRP of $10,399. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

Back in May, Honda announced its 2020 lineup of motorcycles, which included the reveal of several CRF Performance and CRF Trail models. One model that stands out from that original announcement is the CRF450L dual-sport dirt bike, designed to not only handle off-road trails with ease, but also to be right at home on the street, which means you can travel on asphalt roads on the way from one trail to another. Honda specifically designed it to be just as comfortable on short rides as it is on longer excursions. The combination of rider comfort, durability, and versatility makes the CRF450L a motorcycle to watch out for when it releases in October with an MSRP of $10,399.

---

The CRF450L has a 449cc Unicam engine, a six-speed transmission, and electric start. It also features a catalytic converter and LED headlight and taillight, making it fully street legal in all 50 states. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

Performance & Specs

The Honda CRF450L features a 449cc liquid-cooled, four-stroke Unicam engine; a six-speed, wide-ratio transmission; and electric start; and the equipped catalytic converter and LED headlight and taillight make it road-legal in all 50 states. Honda engineered the dual-sport motorcycle with an electric fan for keeping the dual radiators cool in hot climates, a skid plate that protects the lower frame and engine, a lighter-weight lithium-ion battery, and a lightweight-yet-durable titanium fuel tank with a capacity of just over two gallons (7.6 liters).

The CRF450L also has superior handling thanks to a lower center of gravity and a twin-spar aluminum chassis that matches that of the CRF450X, featuring “geometry that is specially selected for responsiveness,” according to Honda. Other performance-based features include an 18-inch rear wheel, IRC GP tires well-suited for both on- and off-road riding, a 260-millimeter front disc brake for improved stopping power, and a 240-milimeter brake rotor in the rear.

---

The CRF450L has styling similar to the CRF450X and has new in-mold graphics that resemble Honda’s Motocross bikes. (Photo courtesy of Honda.)

Comfort & Style

Honda designed the 2020 CRF450L to look as good as it feels to ride, as evidenced by new in-mold graphics that are similar to the company’s lineup of Motocross bikes with a red color scheme that contrasts the black DID DirtStar rims. Rider comfort features include a gear-driven counterbalance that improves control and reduces vibration; an instrument panel that’s easy to glance at with a fuel mileage meter, speedometer, odometer, trip meter, and clock; and a forged alloy side stand that Honda says tucks “up high and out of the way.”

Source: Honda