UP CLOSE: ALL NEW 2021 HONDA CRF450RX
Along side the updated CRF450R (CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS), the CRF450RX Corss Counrty model also received the same updates across the board, which is great for Honda loving bush riders. Here is an up close look at the 2021 CRF450RX.
Gallery
The Honda CRF450RX has a special place in my heart. I managed to race the 2018 version of the bike to the 4-Stroke Open class, NZ Enduro title. It was a great bike with just the right amount of off-road tweaks to be competitive. I also use the same bike to win the 2018 River Race at the Woodville GP - so I know a lot about how the bike rides.
It’s only real issue in my eyes was that it did feel a little big, compared to the R version and the power was still very aggressive. It looks like Honda have tidied up both those aspects in 2021 so lets take a look at the most important updates.
the new body work of the 2021 CRF450RX is about as red as it gets.
CHASSIS
Honda have made some big changes to the 2021 CRF450RX’s chassis. First, it’s lighter—over half a KG lighter. By making the frame’s main spars narrower, they saved weight, but more important they made the chassis more responsive by reducing lateral rigidity 20 percent. The result is a bike that should get into, around, and out of corners faster.
By using narrower main members (just like the frame uses narrower main spars), Honda matched the swingarm’s lateral rigidity to the rest of the chassis. What you get is a balanced, fully integrated approach to frame stiffness, letting you get around corners faster and with better feel. Add to that a totally redesigns subframe which is around 400 grams lighter too.
Slimmer through the middle should allow the rider to grip the bike easier and move around in the cockpit
The battery box is lower, for an improved center of gravity and is also water tight - so there’s nothing to worry about when racing in wet conditions.
The front 49mm Showa suspension is spring, just how we like it. The stroke has been increased by 5mm for 2021, and the setting have been shanged up for a more compliant ride and better handling and rider comfort.
The forks are joined with new upper and lower triple clamps. Working in concert, they help improve and balance total rigidity, responsiveness and turning performance.
The 2021 CRF450RX’s new frame design gave meant Honda had to fit a new design rear shock with new settings to work with the new forks and chassis. The shocks valving resets faster for better response and in addition, they have fitted a new steel spring that’s way lighter.
The reduction in exhaust pipes contributes to an overall weight having of 2.5kg.
The bodywork has slimmed down and reduced in the total number of pieces. It makes it a lot easier to move around on the new bike, and that maximizes your riding freedom. While we were at it, Honda reduced the total number of fasteners needed to remove the body panels—maintenance off the bike just got easier too.
The seat is something new for sure as the attaching bolts have been moved from the rear to the front, and the tongue from the front to the rear. This should help keep the seat firmly in place with acceleration only helping lock the seat in place even more.
Unicam engine that Honda are known for.
ENGINE
Honda’s Unicam cylinder configuration contributes to a compact engine that saves weight over a comparable dual-overhead-camshaft motor and also permits a narrow included valve angle. This flattens the combustion chamber to facilitate ignition flame propagation, allowing a high compression ratio. Since less space is taken up in the cylinder head, the camshaft sits lower in the head for a more compact engine and a lower center of gravity. This has been Honda’s go-to since it began.
Redesign air-box with more volume on the clean side.
Along with the new air filter, the airbox shape helps deliver more torque. You can access the airbox through the left number plate. And because the new filter has no rubber gasket where it interfaces with the intake boot, cleaning and servicing the filter is faster and less messy than ever.
The 2021 CRF450RX gets a whole new cylinder head this year. Its biggest feature: an oval-shaped centralized exhaust port. Along with the single-muffler exhaust, the bike gets a new single-pipe header with completely changed routing, bringing it 74mm closer to the center of the bike. It’s lighter, and helps improve weight distribution. Changing the muffler’s construction to a pressed-alloy design allowed them shave well over a kilogram off the exhaust system. I’ll take single exhaust for weight saving any day.
New look routing of the single exhaust, compared to the dual in 2020.
Something huge for Honda is the hydraulic clutch. Out with the old cable-actuated clutch, and in with the first hydraulically actuated clutch offered outside of their works bikes. Made by Nissin, it’s the same design as in the Grand Prix MX machines, and performs better than third-party conversions. You get a clutch-lever pull that’s ten percent lighter at its peak, even though it’s paired with a stronger clutch. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about making a clutch-cable adjustment, even during the longest events.
The addition of the hydraulic clutch might sway some riders back to the big red sled.
AESTHETICS
The new 2021 CRF450RX comes with handguards installed right from the factory. They’re fully integrated, too, not like some aftermarket add-ons. They attach right to the control-lever pivots, are color-matched to your new bike, and are even vented. Would hate to know how much they would be to replace though!
The freshened up the overall graphics package is fire. Seeing red has never been easier. The aluminum Renthal Fatbar features a bend that Honda claim is even better than the ‘legendary’ Honda “CR” bar. Pretty keen to try it out. not many bikes out there i have kept standard bars on
New header pipe looks to incorporate a resonator-type design.
The radiator shrouds are redesigned to increase cooling and are now a one-piece design. But more important, better cooling equals more consistent power, longer into a race, especially when you’re really on the gas and working the engine hard.
On an enduro racer, less weight is always better. That’s why our engineers are such fanatics when it comes to trimming grams from the CRF450X. You’ll feel the benefits everywhere: in acceleration, in suspension action, and most of all at the end of the day.
A factory skid plate is light and offers the engine and lower-frame protection that a racer demands.
Nearly all of the major frame/chassis/bodywork updates mirror the 450R motocross model. It is not often that a brand changes both the MX and Off_road model in the same year. Usually the Motocross bike gets the first major upgrades, which trickle down to the off-road range the following years. Honda didn’t make us wait which we are pretty happy about.
No word yet on weather the 250 range also get the new updated styling and chassis. But if not, expect 2022 to be the year of the Lites class bike.
For more information: Powersports.honda.com
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE
Dry weight of 107.6kg, down 2.3kg from 2020 model
New hydraulic clutch with bigger capacity
Single header pipe and muffler saving about 1.2kg
Engine updates see a new fuel injector angle, revised throttle body and exhaust ports for increased bottom-end drive and top end power
Larger airbox
Revised decompressor system gives improved stall resistance
Re-valved front Showa forks have an extra 5mm stroke
8mm more ground clearance
Larger Showa rear piston valving has faster response and improved bump absorption and new “world’s lightest steel” spring
Chassis upgrades include 70mm slimmer overall, 20% less lateral rigidity in the frame, 320g lighter subframe
New handlebar switch block hat includes Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), HRC Launch Control and Engine Mode Select Button (EMSB)
Improved ergonomics from new smaller seat
Redesigned plastics with less removal bolts
New single-piece radiator shrouds improve air flow
2021 CRF450RX SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Type: 449.7cc Liquid-cooled 4-stroke single cylinder uni-cam
Bore x Stroke: 96.0mm x 62.1mm
Compression Ratio: 13.5: 1
Fuel System: Fuel injection
Starter: Electric Start
Clutch Type: Hydraulic - wet type multi-plate
CHASSIS
Frame: Aluminium twin tube
Front Suspension: Showa 49mm USD fork
Rear Suspension: Showa monoshock using Honda Pro-Link
Tyres Front: 90/90-21M Dunlop Geomax AT81F
Tyres Rear: 120/90-18M Dunlop Geomax AT81
Front Brakes: Single 260mm disk
Rear Brakes: Single 240mm disk
DIMENSIONS
Dimensions (LxWxH): 2,182 x 839 x 1,282mm
Wheelbase: 1,477mm
Trail: 115mm
Seat Height: 965mm
Ground Clearance: 336mm
Kerb Weight: 107.3kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 8 litres
Price and availability for New Zealand still to be released