Dirt Bikes

2026 Honda CRF450RL First Look

This 450cc dual sport motorcycle from Japan remains completely identical from 2025 to 2026.

Updated: June 2, 2025

High-performance street-legal dirt bikes don’t just come from Europe. Since 2019, there’s been one from Japan in the form of Honda’s CRF450RL. This dual sport shares much in common with the CRF450X trail bike including the same fuel-injected liquid-cooled SOHC four-stroke 450cc single-cylinder engine, Showa 49mm coil-spring fork, Showa shock, Nissin brakes, and similar aluminum twin-spar frame.

Related: 2023 Honda CRF450RL Review

First introduced as the CRF450L in 2019 and having “R” added to its name in 2021, the Honda CRF450RL remains the only high-performance street-legal dirt bike from Japan in 2026.Honda

The main aspect in which the CRF450RL differs from the CRF450X is being road-legal, so the former wears mirrors, turns signals, and a license plate. Big Red’s choice for stock tires on its CRF450RL are IRC’s Foot Loose Trails GP-21 front and GP-22 rear, which are what the CRF300L, CRF300LS, and CRF300L Rally come with.

The 2026 Honda CRF450RL is identical to the 2025 model.Honda

Honda says its 450cc dual sport hits the scales at 289 pounds with its 2-gallon fuel tank topped off, and that its seat height is 37.2 inches. At $10,099, the CRF450RL hasn’t seen a suggested retail price increase since MY24. The 2026 model lands on dealership floors in August 2025.

2026 Honda CRF450RL Specs

MSRP:	$10,099
Engine:	SOHC, liquid-cooled single-cylinder; 4 valves/cyl.
Displacement:	450cc
Bore x Stroke:	96.0 x 62.1mm
Compression Ratio:	12.0:1
Transmission/Final Drive:	6-speed/chain
Fuel System:	EFI w/ 46mm throttle body
Clutch:	Wet, multiplate; cable actuation
Frame:	Aluminum twin-spar
Front Suspension:	Showa 49mm coil-spring fork, compression damping and rebound damping adjustable; 12.0 in. travel
Rear Suspension:	Showa shock, spring preload, high/low-speed compression damping, and rebound damping adjustable; 11.8 in. travel
Front Brake:	Nissin 2-piston caliper, 260mm disc
Rear Brake:	Nissin 1-piston caliper, 240mm disc
Tires, Front/Rear:	IRC Foot Loose Trails GP-21 and GP-22; 80/100-21 / 120/80-18
Rake/Trail:	28.5°/4.8 in.
Wheelbase:	58.9 in.
Ground Clearance:	12.6 in.
Claimed Seat Height:	37.2 in.
Fuel Capacity:	2.0 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight:	289 lb.
Availability:	August 2025
Contact:	powersports.honda.com