This Honda Is The Perfect Blend Of On-Road And Off-Road Riding

Many riders assume that adventure motorcycles provide the best combination of street and trail capability. This overlooks dual-sport bikes, which often receive less attention despite their versatility. Some adventure models, such as the Yamaha Tenere 700 and BMW F 800 GS, deliver strong off-road performance. However, these bikes tend to be heavy, feature-rich, and carry higher price tags.

Dual-sport motorcycles address these concerns differently. Japanese manufacturers offer numerous options in this category, though many fall short when compared to models from KTM, Husqvarna, and Beta. Honda Motorcycles stands out with one dual-sport that appears to strike an ideal balance between pavement and dirt performance. The manufacturer describes it as a motorcycle built for riders who want smooth transitions between challenging terrain and comfortable highway travel.

The Honda CRF450RL Is The Perfect Blend Of On And Off-Road Riding

A Hardcore Off-Roader With Road-Legal Parts

This Honda dual-sport motorcycle is truly one of a kind. It shares many of its components with the hardcore off-road-only models, such as the CRF450X, the CRF450RX, and the CRF450R. The RL is the most toned-down version of the lot, and that is also why it strikes a balance between on-road and off-road riding. It is technically an off-roader but with lights and a license plate to make it “road-legal”.

The 450RL uses an aluminum twin-spar frame derived from Honda’s off-road-focused 450 models. While the frame remains light and sturdy, engineers widened the chassis geometry to accommodate a transmission better suited for street use. A reinforced subframe increases carrying capacity, allowing riders to attach a backpack or even saddlebags for longer trips.

Suspension travel measures 12 inches at the front and 11.8 inches at the rear, providing the clearance needed to handle rough terrain. The braking system consists of a 260 mm front disc and a 240 mm rear disc. Honda sourced the calipers from the CRF450R but upgraded the master cylinder and rotors for improved longevity. At the rear, an integrated master cylinder and fluid reservoir enhance durability.

Several protective features come standard. A skid plate shields the engine and lower frame during demanding off-road riding, and its design integrates naturally with the motorcycle’s appearance. Factory-installed handguards offer both protection and a finished look that complements the overall styling.

Ample Comfort For All Kinds Of Riding

Comfort and off-roading don’t typically go hand in hand. However, the CRF450RL must add comfort to its equation due to its dual-sport nature. Honda has made some clever additions to this go-anywhere motorcycle. Keeping NVH levels in control is a damped aluminum swingarm that is injected with urethane. The final chain drive also gets a damper system (for the front sprocket) for quieter running.

We previously mentioned the healthy travel that enables the CRF450RL to tackle challenging terrains without hesitation. However, this setup has its limitations when it comes to extreme off-roading, as Honda has also stiffened things up to help the CRF450RL tackle tarmac. In simpler words, you won’t be swaying and juggling around with the simplest of undulations on the road. For those who feel that this is a deal-breaker, the fully adjustable nature of the suspension can be loosened up for those spirited trail runs.

Honda offers an 18-inch rear wheel for the CRF450RL, as this is a more universal size that accommodates a wide range of tire options, both off-road and on-road. This provides more flexibility for the rider to adjust the 450RL to lean either more towards the tarmac or the trail. From the factory, this dual-sport Honda is equipped with IRC GP tires that are claimed to offer a balance of on-road and off-road grip levels.

Convenience Features And Technology

Apart from the lightweight aluminum underpinnings, this dual-sport motorcycle has a titanium fuel tank that is both lightweight and durable. An electric starter, a factory-fitted side stand, and a fuel mileage meter are all standard. The latter is positioned where the instrument cluster would typically be located. It is a compact LCD that displays the current and average fuel mileage and consumption.

The 450RL also flaunts a complete LED lighting setup. A compact housing surrounds the headlight to help keep the weight in check. The lighting pattern is also designed for both on- and off-road situations, as per Honda. This dual-sport also gets a Li-Ion battery, which is light, compact, and efficient. It also helps save a few pounds when compared to lead-acid batteries.

The CRF450RL Features A Celebrated Single-Cylinder Engine

A single-cylinder liquid-cooled mill powers the 2025 Honda CRF450RL. The dimensions of this engine have been unchanged for over 23 years, including its bore and stroke dimensions. However, this mill was continually updated and refined over the years. Currently, this 450 cc single-cylinder engine is in its most refined format, featuring fuel injection, strategically designed downdraft throttle bodies, and an oval exhaust system.

To help this engine be more road-friendly and reliable, the compression ratio is relatively conservative at 12.0:1 (compared to 13.5:1 on the 450 off-roaders). It features a three-ring piston that keeps the gas and oil separate, even under the most aggressive riding conditions. This, in turn, increases crank inertia, which aids in efficient power delivery.

The transmission on this dual-sport Honda impresses by catering well to both on- and off-road scenarios. Derived from the Honda 450X off-roader, the RL packs a six-speed wide-ratio gearbox. Its low gears help it excel in slow and congested city traffic situations. In short, you don’t have to shift often. The higher gears are also tall enough for relatively smooth highway riding.

Engine Specs

Honda CRF450RL Challenges Its Competition Well

With Its Balanced Nature And Affordability

There are a bunch of worthy CRF450RL rivals out there, but this Honda is truly one-of-a-kind. In fact, there is no other Japanese dual-sport that balances on- and off-road credentials as well as this CRF. Sure, you can opt for the much more affordable $7,199 Suzuki DR-Z400S, but it pales in both off-roading ruggedness and on-road finesse. So the closest rival to this Honda is the lesser-known Beta motorcycles.

This is an Italian motorcycle maker that specializes in making trail and dual-sport bikes. There are actually two bikes from this brand that lock horns with the CRF—the Beta 430 RS and the 500 RS. Both share underpinnings and, for some reason, even weigh the same. But the 500 RS packs more muscle, courtesy of its bigger engine, which is actually a bored-out version of the 430 RS. These are designed for hardcore off-roading, but that’s also where they trail behind the Honda. The CRF, on paper, appears to be much more balanced and notably cheaper.

Next up are the corporate twins from KTM and Husqvarna. These two automakers are highly revered in the off-roading space, and the 500 EXC-F and the FE501s are embodiments of their race-spec dirt bikes. These two dual-sport bikes pack bigger 511 cc engines. Notably, this duo is lighter than the CRF, despite featuring a larger engine and increased fuel capacity. But the Honda edges these two mighty dual-sports with a lower seat height and more suspension travel in the front. The cherry on top is Honda’s way cheaper price tag. The KTM and Husqy are $3,000 more expensive.

Honda CRF450RL Vs Dual-Sport Rivals