2021 Honda CRF450RL

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.

Features may include:

• 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.

• 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.

• 449cc UNICAM® ENGINE

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.

• 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.