Short answer: the Honda CRF450RL is the closest thing to a street-legal race bike that Honda sells — a 449.7cc liquid-cooled single with long-travel suspension, a 37.2-inch seat and a 289-pound curb weight — and this Honda CRF450RL review judges it on that narrow, honest brief. The 2027 model costs $10,199 plus a $600 destination charge, comes in Red only, and is fully street-legal in all 50 states. It is not a comfortable commuter, not a cheap dual-sport, and not a motocross bike with a plate bolted on. If you want a lightweight, factory-legal enduro you can ride to the trail, this Honda CRF450RL review says it is the best Honda for that job — provided you accept the 2.0-gallon tank, the tall seat and the race-derived service schedule.
Honda CRF450RL Overview and Model-Year Updates
This Honda CRF450RL review starts with what the bike is, because the CRF family tree is where most buying mistakes begin.
What Is the Honda CRF450RL and Who Is It Designed For?
The Honda CRF450RL is a factory street-legal dual-sport enduro: a motorcycle built from Honda’s CRF450 motocross platform, then fitted with lights, mirrors, turn signals, a horn, a catalytic converter, emissions equipment and a wide-ratio six-speed gearbox so it can be ridden legally on public roads and hard off-road. It is designed for experienced riders who ride trails, singletrack and fire roads and want to connect them by highway without a truck or trailer. This Honda CRF450RL review is written for that buyer, not for a first-time rider: the 37.2-inch seat and sharp low-speed throttle demand respect, though the engine is smooth and tractable once rolling. It is also not the bike for a rider whose week is mostly commuting — that buyer is better served by the lighter, cheaper, fuel-injected Honda CRF300L family, covered in our companion CRF300L review. What the CRF450RL offers instead is genuine enduro capability with a license plate, straight from the showroom, with a warranty.
CRF450L in 2019, Renamed CRF450RL in 2021 and Latest 2027 Changes
Honda launched this motorcycle for 2019 as the CRF450L, after a gap of nearly three decades since its last big dual-sport, the XR650L. For 2021 Honda renamed it the CRF450RL, to show how closely it is derived from the CRF450R and CRF450X, and made the changes that matter most to owners: factory handguards, new plastics and graphics, and updated ECU and fuel-injection mapping aimed at the low-speed fuelling complaints of the first two years. Dirt Bike Magazine’s full test of the renamed bike notes the price held just under $10,000 at the time — $9,999 for 2021 — and that Honda had already announced an unchanged 2022 model, which tells you how Honda treats this line: long production runs, few changes. The 2023 model stepped to $10,099, and the current bike in this Honda CRF450RL review is the 2027 model at $10,199 plus $600 destination, with fresh bold horizontal graphics inspired by Honda’s HRC racing identity, according to Honda’s own 2027 brochure. Mechanically the story is continuity: the same Unicam engine, the same twin-spar frame and the same long-travel Showa suspension, refined rather than replaced.
Honda CRF450RL Engine and Specifications
The specification sheet of this Honda CRF450RL review is short, and every number below comes from Honda’s own 2027 specification page unless stated otherwise.
449.7cc Unicam Single at 12.0:1 and Wide-Ratio 6-Speed Gearbox
At the heart of this Honda CRF450RL review is a 449.7cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke with Honda’s Unicam cylinder head — a hybrid design that uses a single overhead camshaft to operate four valves, keeping the engine compact and the centre of gravity low. Bore and stroke are 96.0mm by 62.1mm, compression is 12.0:1, and fuel is delivered by programmed fuel injection through a 46mm throttle body. The gearbox is a wide-ratio six-speed manual, which is the single most important difference from a motocross bike: low first gear for technical trails, tall top gear for the highway run between them. Final drive is a #520 chain with 13-tooth front and 51-tooth rear sprockets. Honda publishes no horsepower figure for the CRF450RL, so this Honda CRF450RL review presents none as a factory claim. Contemporary Honda-derived material put the 2021 bike at 41.7 horsepower, and independent testing has put stock bikes in the 36.0 to 38.7 horsepower band at the rear wheel across test years — both well below the roughly 53 horsepower of the CRF450R motocross bike, which is a different machine with a different state of tune. The full power story, including why the European 24.6 horsepower figure does not apply to the American bike, is in our companion CRF450RL performance coverage.
Seat Height 37.2 Inches, 289 lb Curb Weight and Specification Details
The numbers that define daily life with this bike are the tall and light ones. Seat height is 37.2 inches, ground clearance is 12.6 inches, wheelbase is 58.9 inches, and curb weight is 289 pounds including all standard equipment, required fluids and a full tank — all from Honda’s own 2027 specification page. The fuel tank holds just 2.0 gallons, which is the bike’s most obvious practical limit and the reason range planning dominates every ownership discussion. Suspension travel is genuinely generous: a 49mm Showa inverted fork with 12.0 inches of travel up front and a Pro-Link Showa single shock with 11.8 inches at the rear, both adjustable. Brakes are a single 260mm front disc with a twin-piston caliper and a single 240mm rear disc. Tires are IRC GP21 80/100-21 front and GP22 120/80-18 rear. Rake is 28.5 degrees with 4.8 inches of trail. Lighting is all LED, including the headlight, and the cockpit carries a fuel gauge and a temperature warning light. Warranty is a transferable twelve-month, unlimited-mileage limited warranty. This Honda CRF450RL review notes the trade the numbers describe: motocross-grade running gear, bought with a seat most riders cannot flat-foot and a tank that needs frequent stops.
| Specification | 2027 Honda CRF450RL |
|---|---|
| Engine | 449.7cc liquid-cooled Unicam SOHC single, 4 valves |
| Bore x stroke / compression | 96.0 x 62.1mm / 12.0:1 |
| Fuel delivery | PGM-FI, 46mm throttle body |
| Gearbox / final drive | Wide-ratio 6-speed manual / #520 chain, 13T/51T |
| Seat height | 37.2 inches |
| Ground clearance | 12.6 inches |
| Curb weight | 289 lb (full tank) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.0 gallons |
| Suspension travel | 12.0 in front / 11.8 in rear |
| Brakes | 260mm front / 240mm rear discs, no ABS |
| MSRP + destination | $10,199 + $600 |
Those figures frame this Honda CRF450RL review’s value case: a race-derived motorcycle whose specification sheet has barely needed rewriting since 2019.
Honda CRF450RL Price and Market Availability
Price is where this Honda CRF450RL review has to be blunt: this is an expensive dual-sport, and its rivals are more expensive still.
Honda CRF450RL Price in the USA: $10,199 for 2027 Plus $600 Destination
Honda’s 2027 United States pricing, confirmed on the manufacturer’s own specification page for this Honda CRF450RL review, is $10,199 plus a $600 destination charge — $10,799 before tax, title and dealer fees. That price has climbed steadily from the bike’s early years: $9,999 for the renamed 2021 model, $10,099 for 2023, and now $10,199 for 2027. At $10,199 it remains far cheaper than its closest European rival, and that gap is the core of its value argument. Some dealer advertisements fold freight and setup into an “all-in” price, so read the destination line carefully. For the full performance picture behind that price, see our companion CRF450RL performance coverage.
Red Only for 2027 and Official US Dealer Availability
For 2027, Honda lists the CRF450RL in Red only, a single colour for a single trim — there are no trim levels to choose between. Availability is straightforward: it is a current, regular-production Honda sold through official United States dealers, and new 2027 stock was being advertised by dealers in November 2026 while this Honda CRF450RL review was researched. Because the bike has barely changed since 2021, a leftover new bike and a current-year bike are effectively the same purchase, which makes end-of-year discounts worth chasing. Our companion CRF450RL buying guide covers used prices and inspection in detail, including the 2019–20 CRF450L bikes that now trade well below new money.
Honda CRF450RL Design, Features and Technology
Design is where this Honda CRF450RL review finds the bike most honest about what it is: a race bike, civilised just enough for the road.
Aluminium Twin-Spar Frame and the Titanium vs Resin Tank Conflict
The CRF450RL’s chassis is an aluminium twin-spar frame, wider than the motocross frame to accommodate the six-speed transmission, chosen for rigidity and responsiveness. That frame, the long-travel suspension and the slim bodywork are why the bike feels like a race bike on the trail rather than a trail bike dressed as one. The fuel tank, however, carries a genuine conflict in Honda’s own materials, and this Honda CRF450RL review reports it rather than resolving it by guesswork. Honda’s 2021 materials described a “premium titanium tank” holding 2.0 gallons, while Honda’s current 2027 dealer and brochure materials describe a “premium resin tank” of the same 2.0-gallon capacity. The capacity never changed; the described material did. Judge the bike on the agreed capacity — 2.0 gallons — not on any single material claim. The exhaust carries a catalytic converter, there is a charcoal canister behind the cylinder and an air pump under the tank shroud, and all of that emissions equipment is part of why the stock bike is lean, quiet and down on power compared with its motocross brother — a trade this Honda CRF450RL review returns to in the riding section.
No ABS, No Engine Modes and No Traction Control Explained Plainly
There is no ABS, no engine mode switch, no traction control and no launch control on the CRF450RL, on any year. What you get is a single engine map, an electronic fuel-injection system that compensates for elevation and weather, and brakes that are entirely the rider’s responsibility. This Honda CRF450RL review regards that as a feature, not an omission, for this bike’s buyer: there is nothing to configure, nothing to fail in the electronics, and nothing standing between the throttle and the rear wheel. The cost is equally plain: wet-road braking, low-traction climbs and cold starts are all rider skill, and the low-speed fuelling — snatchy on the 2019–20 bikes, improved but not cured by the 2021 remap — is something every prospective buyer should feel on a test ride. Our companion CRF450RL reliability coverage explains the throttle issue and the service schedule in full.
Honda CRF450RL Riding Experience and Comfort
On the road and the trail, this Honda CRF450RL review finds a motorcycle that feels like a race bike first and a road bike second — which is exactly the point.
Riding Position, Trail Manners and Low-Speed Throttle Behaviour
The riding position is tall, slim and unmistakably from the motocross world: a narrow seat, a high perch, wide bars and footpegs placed for standing up. On the trail, this Honda CRF450RL review finds the bike’s virtues immediately: the engine pulls cleanly from low revs with strong torque, the long-travel suspension absorbs rocks and ruts that would punish a softer dual-sport, and the 289-pound weight makes it easy to change direction in tight woods. Dirt Bike Magazine’s testers called the suspension the best in the dual-sport world, and raced a previous test bike at the 24 Hours of Glen Helen on stock suspension. The vice shows at low speed: the throttle can feel snatchy just off idle, worst on the 2019–20 bikes, better after the 2021 remap but still present. It is manageable with clutch and gear choice, but it is the first thing a test ride should check, and it is why this Honda CRF450RL review does not recommend the bike to a brand-new rider.
70 MPH Cruising Ability, Narrow Seat and Everyday Practicality
Highway cruising in this Honda CRF450RL review starts with an honest limit: the bike will hold 70 mph, but it is not a comfortable place to spend hours. The wide-ratio sixth gear keeps revs sensible, yet there is no wind protection beyond a small headlight shroud, the seat is narrow and firm, and the 2.0-gallon tank means fuel stops come often — the planning range is below 100 miles, covered in detail in our companion CRF450RL performance coverage. The video below is Motorcyclist’s MC Commute review of the 2021 bike, covering exactly this mixed on- and off-road use, including night riding.
Everyday practicality is where the CRF450RL earns its keep in this Honda CRF450RL review: it is street-legal in all 50 states, narrow enough for traffic, simple enough in concept for a home mechanic, and cheap to run in fuel terms even if its service intervals are short. Commuting on it means accepting the tall seat at every stoplight and the small tank on every route, but it also means a motorcycle that starts with a button, shrugs off rough roads, and can turn off the pavement whenever the rider wants. For daily long-distance highway work, a bigger adventure bike is the honest recommendation; for mixed pavement-and-dirt use with real trail ambition, this Honda CRF450RL review finds the CRF450RL’s simplicity and lightness are genuine advantages.
Honda CRF450RL Review: Pros, Cons and Verdict
The verdict of this Honda CRF450RL review: buy the CRF450RL for trail capability and factory legality, not for comfort or value-for-money commuting.
Main Advantages and Limitations of the Honda CRF450RL
The advantages stack up quickly in this Honda CRF450RL review. A 2027 bike costs $10,199 plus $600 destination, the engine is proven across the CRF family with deep parts support, the suspension travel and ground clearance are genuinely enduro-grade, the bike is street-legal with a factory warranty, and there are no rider aids to fail or configure. The limitations are equally plain: the 37.2-inch seat excludes shorter riders, the 2.0-gallon tank limits range below 100 miles, there is no ABS or engine mode, the low-speed throttle needs care, and the race-derived service schedule — oil every 600 miles — is the shortest in its class. None of those disqualifies it for its intended buyer, but all argue against buying it as a first motorcycle, a commuter for a short rider, or a long-distance tourer. At 289 pounds it is far lighter than the big dual-sports, which helps everywhere from trail handling to loading into a truck.
Who Should Consider the CRF450RL Over a KTM 500 EXC-F?
Choose the CRF450RL over the KTM 500 EXC-F if you want the cheaper, simpler, Honda-supported bike of the two. The KTM 500 EXC-F, priced at $13,499 for 2026 plus freight per dealer listings checked for this Honda CRF450RL review, costs $3,300 more before destination charges, brings a bigger 510.9cc engine and premium suspension, and brings a shorter warranty and higher running costs with it. The KTM is the faster, more premium machine; the Honda is the easier bike to own, service and live with, with a longer production run behind it. Our companion CRF450RL performance coverage compares the two in detail. The verdict of this Honda CRF450RL review is simple: if a light, tall, fuel-injected street-legal enduro with Honda reliability and a $10,199 price appeals to you, and you understand that it is a race-derived motorcycle still sold with a 2.0-gallon tank, the CRF450RL is the right buy.
Honda CRF450RL Review FAQs
Direct answers in this Honda CRF450RL review, covering price, specs, history, and riding.
What is the Honda CRF450RL?
A factory street-legal dual-sport enduro with a 449.7cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, fuel injection, and a wide-ratio six-speed gearbox, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
How much does a 2027 Honda CRF450RL cost?
$10,199 plus a $600 destination charge, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
Is the CRF450RL the same as the CRF450R?
No. The CRF450R is a motocross race bike with roughly 53 horsepower; the CRF450RL is the street-legal dual-sport with far less power, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
What engine does the Honda CRF450RL have?
A 449.7cc liquid-cooled Unicam SOHC single with a 46mm fuel-injection throttle body and a 12.0:1 compression ratio, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
How much horsepower does the Honda CRF450RL make?
Honda publishes no figure. Independent tests put stock bikes in the 36.0 to 38.7 horsepower band at the rear wheel, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
What is the Honda CRF450RL seat height?
37.2 inches, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
How much does a Honda CRF450RL weigh?
289 pounds curb weight with a full tank, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
How big is the Honda CRF450RL fuel tank?
2.0 gallons, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
Does the Honda CRF450RL have ABS or ride modes?
No. It has neither, on any model year, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
Is the Honda CRF450RL street-legal in all 50 states?
Yes, it is fully street-legal as sold, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
What changed when the CRF450L became the CRF450RL?
The 2021 rename brought handguards, new plastics and graphics, and updated ECU and fuel-injection mapping, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
Is the Honda CRF450RL fuel tank titanium or resin?
Honda’s own materials conflict: 2021 materials said titanium, current 2027 materials say resin, and capacity is 2.0 gallons in both, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
What colours does the 2027 Honda CRF450RL come in?
Red only, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
Is the Honda CRF450RL good for beginners?
Not usually. The 37.2-inch seat, sharp low-speed throttle and race-derived service schedule make it a demanding first bike, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
Should I buy the CRF450RL or the KTM 500 EXC-F?
Buy the CRF450RL for lower price and easier ownership; buy the KTM 500 EXC-F for more power and premium suspension at $13,499, per this Honda CRF450RL review.
