Based on the same engine and chassis architecture as the CRF450R motocrosser and the CRF450RX and CRF450X off-road models, the CRF450L sports the requisite running gear—lights, turn signals, mirrors, and a license plate—to qualify for street use, making it Honda’s most performance-oriented dual-sport model. Much of the engine is shared with its CRF brethren; changes are focused on emissions and durability. The twin-spar aluminum frame is a bit wider to accommodate a six-speed transmission, and the settings for the 49mm Showa fork and Pro-Link-equipped shock lean toward off-road use. The full-length aluminum subframe, rubberized sprockets, and plastic skid plates are high quality but they increase overall weight, pushing the CRF450L to a claimed 289 pounds with a full 2-gallon load of fuel.
Off-road, the CRF450L performs well. The engine has a torquey engine character, though throttle response can be a little abrupt. Midrange power is worthy of spirited trail running, even if top-end performance is somewhat muted. Handling will feel familiar to anyone who has swung a leg over the latest-generation CRF450s—light, quick, yet stable. Suspension is firm with excellent bottoming resistance. Bottom line? The CRF450L lives up to its hype.
Likes: Quiet, willing engine with good off-road performance
Dislikes: Finicky clutch; Honda forgot the hand guards
Verdict: Top choice for dual-sport enthusiasts who prefer Japanese bikes
Cycle World was invited to the press launch for the 2019 Honda CRF450L, and Justin Dawes spent a day on the new dual-sport bike. “The Pacific Northwest is nirvana for dirt junkies, and the CRF450L was an excellent dance partner for all that the Gifford Pinchot National Forest had to offer.”
Where does the Honda CRF450L fit in among the big-bore dual-sport establishment? The KTM 500 EXC-F and 450 EXC-F Six Days, Beta 430 RR-S, and Husqvarna FE 450 and FE 501 are the Honda’s main competition and universally regarded as the front-runners in this dog-eat-dog on/off-road category.
The 2019 Honda CRF450L retails for $10,399. So what do you get for your hard-earned bucks? For starters, the list includes an LED headlight, taillight, and turn signals, an LCD digital gauge, a 2.01-gallon titanium fuel tank, electric-fan-equipped radiators, and a fully emissions-legal exhaust system.
Manufacturer Claimed Specifications
Cycle World Tested Specifications
