Honda CRF450R

The CRF450R is the competition motocross bike Honda has sold to the public since 2002, developed alongside its HRC factory team. For 2027 Honda calls it the most comprehensive overhaul in more than a decade: a new engine, a heavily redesigned frame, revised suspension and 4 kg less weight. Bear in mind this is a race bike: it is not road-legal and is ridden on approved tracks with a federation licence or pass.

What’s new on the 2027 CRF450R?

The engine is all-new. The 449.5 cc single keeps a Unicam (single overhead camshaft) valvetrain, but the bore grows to 97 mm (+1 mm) and the stroke shrinks to 60.83 mm. Compression rises to 13.75:1 and the titanium valves get bigger (40 mm intake, 32 mm exhaust). Honda claims 10.3% more power and 3.7% more torque, from an engine that is 2.7 kg lighter and 17 mm narrower.

Honda does not publish a power figure in its CRF450R spec sheets. US magazine Cycle News only reports that Honda says the bike makes “more than 60 horsepower”.

The smaller clutch, 400 g lighter, debuts what Honda calls a world first: a rubber-damper back-torque limiter (BTL). In plain terms, it lets the clutch slip slightly when engine braking gets too strong, like a slipper clutch, keeping the rear wheel calmer on corner entry. The gear ratios are taller and the rear sprocket now has 51 teeth. The longer exhaust meets the AMA/FIM 111 dB sound limit.

How does it ride?

The first tests describe a smoother, more linear engine. Cycle News found less vibration, a much quieter bike and power that builds without a hit: “sneaky fast”, not in-your-face. Thanks to the taller ratios, the tester could have ridden the whole Spring Creek track in second gear. 1000PS reached the same conclusion about the gearbox and noticed a slight loss of torque right at the bottom of the rev range, without the engine becoming any less easy to use.

On the chassis side, the wheelbase grows to 1,490 mm and the rake (fork angle) to 27.5°. The result, according to both tests: the bike is clearly more stable, but turns into tight corners a little less readily than the 2026. 1000PS welcomes the end of the old “Honda nervousness” and a bike that tracks “as if on rails”.

The Showa suspension follows a new philosophy: Honda deliberately adds some friction at the start of the stroke for more consistent damping. The 49 mm fork gets a new DBS piston and race-grade Kashima coating. Cycle News found it plush and effective, 1000PS rather firm out of the crate, which suits racing in its view.

How much does it weigh and what electronics does it have?

Honda quotes 108 kg ready to ride (full tank) and 102.7 kg without fuel, against 112 kg and 107.2 kg for the 2026. The titanium fuel tank now holds 7.1 litres.

The electronics stay simple, with handlebar buttons and no display:

• three engine maps: Standard, Smooth and Aggressive;
• three-level HSTC torque control, which limits rear-wheel spin by adjusting ignition and fuel injection;
• three-mode HRC Launch Control, which holds a suitable rpm while you wait for the gate to drop.

There is no smartphone app, something Cycle News regrets since most rivals offer one.

Where and how can you ride a CRF450R?

Honda’s owner’s manual is explicit: the CRF450R is designed for competition only, riding it on public roads is illegal and it cannot carry a passenger. In France that means approved tracks: according to the official service-public.fr site, the owner or operator of a circuit who wants to run motorised activities there applies to the local prefecture for approval (form Cerfa 15849*01). The French motorcycling federation (FFM) claims 1,215 clubs and 1,000 approved sites.

At FFM-affiliated venues you need a federation document, checked at the gate:

• the National Training licence (NET), from age 12, €225 in 2026;
• the National Competition licence (NCO), from age 15, €330;
• a single-event licence or the Pass Circuit for an occasional day.

An FFM licence includes third-party liability and personal accident insurance; the FFM points out that liability cover is a legal requirement. A competition licence requires a medical certificate less than a year old and, depending on your age, a ‘guidon’ (a riding level validated by a coach) or the CASM, a theory and practical test that is compulsory from age 12 for a first annual competition licence.

What does it cost and which versions are sold in France?

Honda France lists the 2027 CRF450R and the 2027 CRF450R HRC Works Edition on its website but does not show their prices yet. The 2025 CRF450R, still in the catalogue, is listed at €10,399 (€12,999 for the 2025 CRF450RWE). For reference, Honda Germany lists the 2027 at €10,270 and American Honda at $10,099. Honda France relies on its “Cadre Rouge” network of 39 specialist dealers (mainland France and Réunion), which offer special pricing to FFM and UFOLEP licence holders.

The limited-run Works Edition adds a titanium Yoshimura exhaust, a Twin Air filter, hand-finished cylinder-head ports and dedicated engine and suspension settings. The CRF450RX, the enduro version with an 18-inch rear wheel, is shown on the same page but does not appear in Honda France’s specifications and prices.

Who is it for?

Licensed motocross riders, from ambitious racers to experienced weekend riders: 1000PS says you feel at ease on it straight away, whatever your profile. It is not a bike to discover off-road riding on: the FFM considers it essential to take your first laps with a qualified coach, on a bike suited to your level.

The bottom line

Lighter, more powerful, more stable and easier to maintain, the 2027 CRF450R is a genuine new generation. What is still missing is a French price and independent power measurements. If you already race or ride motocross with a licence, it is well worth a test ride at a Cadre Rouge dealer.