LIGHTER. FASTER. AND RAZOR SHARP.
LIGHTER. FASTER. AND RAZOR SHARP.
How many corners are there on your favorite motocross or Supercross track? Because each one of those leads directly from the starting gate to the winner's circle--at least when you're riding a redesigned 2021 Honda CRF450R. New chassis. Major engine overhaul. New suspension. New bodywork. All with the goal of letting you rail through the corners with the most precision and power you've ever experienced. The engine's power delivery starts off deep down for corner drive, and just keeps building until it's at maximum roost. Forget about clutch fade, adjustment, or hand fatigue with the new hydraulic system. And lighter than ever, the CRF450R explode out of corners when it's time to increase your lead.
COMFORT
• SLIM BODYWORK: We've slimmed down the CRF450R's bodywork, and reduced the total number of pieces. It makes it a lot easier to move around on the bike, and that maximizes your riding freedom.
• FRESH NEW STYLING: A bike the works as well as the 2021 CRF450R should look just as good, right? That's why we freshened up the overall graphics package. Plus, our "in mold" graphics help keep your bike looking good. We think the only thing that could make it look better is a big ol' First Place trophy sitting on the seat. We did our part--the trophy is up to you.
• RENTHAL "FATBAR": The aluminum Renthal Fatbar features a bend that's even better than the legendary Honda "CR" bar. It's the standard of excellence--you're gonna love it!
CONVENIENCE
• AIRBOX AND FILTER: Along with the air filter, the airbox shape helps deliver more torque. You can access the airbox through the left number plate. And because the filter has no rubber gasket where it interfaces with the intake boot, cleaning and servicing the filter is faster and less messy than ever.
• ELECTRIC STARTER: Kickstarting? Maybe if you're riding in the vintage class, but not here. By ditching the kickstarter entirely, our engineers can make the CRF450R lighter. Electric starters and lithium-ion batteries are so light now and so good that putting them on a bike like this is a win/win combination. And winning is what a CRF450R is all about.
• SWITCH ASSEMBLY: Check out the controls on the 2021 CRF450R. We've made them lighter, and more intuitive. Controls used to be your bike's shifter, clutch, and brakes. Now you have things like launch assist, selectable power modes, and more. We believe they should be easy to use, and we've just made them easier.
ENGINEERING
• HYDRAULIC CLUTCH: This is huge news for the 2021 CRF450R. Out with the old cable-actuated clutch, and in with the first hydraulically actuated clutch we've offered outside of our works bikes. Made by Nissin, it's the same design as in our Grand Prix MX machines, and performs better than third-party conversions.
• CLUTCH ASSEMBLY: While the hydraulic clutch is getting all the attention, we've made even more improvement with the parts that do the work: the clutch assembly itself. Say good-bye to clutch fade--we've upped the number of clutch plates from seven to eight, to improve durability and hookup.
• HRC LAUNCH CONTROL: We're talking about a special ECU program here: push the button to select the mode, hold the throttle open, release the clutch, and the CRF450R will do the rest, launching you into the first turn with a big advantage.
HANDLING
• LIGHTER, NARROWER FRAME: Great handling starts with a superior frame, and we've made some big changes to our 2021 CRF450R's chassis. First, it's lighter--over a pound and a half lighter.
• NARROWER SWINGARM: Designed in conjunction with the frame, by using narrower main members (just like the frame uses narrower main spars), we've matched the swingarm's lateral rigidity to the rest of the chassis.
• LIGHTER SUBFRAME: We totally redesigned the rear subframe to make it nearly three-quarters of a pound lighter, and along the way simplified its construction too.
PERFORMANCE
• 449CC UNICAM ENGINE: Honda's Unicam cylinder heads combine the best of single- and double-overhead-cam designs. The configuration contributes to a compact engine that saves weight over a comparable dual-overhead-camshaft motor and also permits a narrow included valve angle.
• REVISED DECOMPRESSION SYSTEM: You can't see this unless you take the engine apart, but you'll notice it on the track.
• CYLINDER HEAD: The 2021 CRF450R gets a whole cylinder head this year. Its biggest feature: an oval-shaped centralized exhaust port.
All figures are preliminary and subject to change. Images, where available, are presented as reasonable facsimiles of the offered unit and/or manufacturer stock images. Non-standard options or features may be represented. No guarantee of availability or inclusion of displayed options should be inferred; contact dealer for more details. ©2020 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. -- Powersports Division
