[crfsonly]

RacerX - Honda revealed today that the CRF450R gets even better for the 2018 model year, with electric starting now standard. Designed following an "Absolute Holeshot" philosophy that resulted in a downdraft-intake layout achieving optimum power and centralized mass, the revolutionary motocross model is the industry's top-selling 450cc motocrosser. The electric starter that was previously offered as an accessory is now standard, as is a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and the CRF450R also gets updated suspension settings aimed at improving chassis feel and overall action.

Today's 2018 model-year announcement also included the updated CRF450RX closed-course off-road bike and returning CRF150R mini motocrosser.

"It's been amazing to see the success of the CRF450R this year, and we're even more excited about this model with the improvements we've made for 2018," said Lee Edmunds, American Honda's Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications. "In addition to the obvious convenience, electric starting can save valuable seconds following a mid-moto mistake, and with the use of a lithium-ion battery, we can still achieve an extremely light weight. These changes make the CRF450R more competitive than ever, and of course customers can continue to count on Honda durability, quality, and reliability."

Honda - The CRF450R's downdraft air-intake and fuel-injection layout achieves a potent, broad spread of torque, but it also allows for heavier components to be located as centrally and low as possible so that all that power can be effectively utilized. In addition, the vehicle packaging results in nimble cornering, while updated suspension settings to the Showa® shock and 49mm coil-spring fork improve handling. Corresponding with the addition of an electric starter (powered by a lightweight lithium-ion battery), the kick-start lever has been removed in order to shave precious weight. An updated ECU setting means power delivery is more useable than ever, and the big CRF still has great features like a titanium fuel tank, engine-mode select button, and wave-pattern 260mm front brake. Add it all together and you've got a bike that delivers even better on its promise of the "Absolute Holeshot."

Color: Red
Price: $9,149
Availability: July 2017

[JimDirt]

I sure do like the way Honda is finally listening to its customer base , although i have heard the R/X is still sensitive to throttle input and is hard to ride in real slow single track without flaming out , in more open riding it sounds like it works well , if i wasn't payment poor right now i would have one in my garage to replace my 02 , but i would still keep my 450X

The R , i am still up in the air over , the main Honda riders (Roczen and Seely) have both gone over the bars , as the bike seems to suffer from the same stinkbug effect its had since 09 and seems to kick a lot when you don't hit jump faces or landings perfect , i wish they would go back to the 08 chassis configuration , but with the new engine , to me that would be a better bike , or should i say a more stable and forgiving bike , and i doubt it would weigh any different than it does now with the older chassis , maybe slightly less

The price tag still scares me , its still more than i just paid for my 05 Chevy Colorado , its actually about what i paid for my Colorado and my 02 R , combined ...that's scary for a dirt bike to cost that much , when i bought my first YZ125C in 76 it was about $900.00 NEW ...not $9,000 like bikes are now ....but i regress... , but i am excited that Honda has put the button on both bikes as standard equipment , but they need to keep the kick start , to me it is not as critical to have that removed for the minimal weight loss it attains , unless your Roczen , you won't ever notice the weight difference with it still there , now they just need to make a CRF250R/X and/or 300 2 stroke with a button

[crfsonly]

I would have preferred the kickstart on both as well. However, what I really would have liked to see is a wide-ratio trans in the RX. Even if it was a factory option. With an e-start and a wide-ratio trans it would be the lightweight EFI X replacement many have been waiting for. However, Honda has got to get with it when it comes to 50-state plateable on their X models and hopefully even the RX model.

In my opinion, Roczen's over the bars season ending crash had nothing to do with this chassis design. That crash and the one like it in Vegas is more about the track and Ken's riding style and suspension preferences set up (shock rebound).

Sure looks sweet and as RaceX indicates still the top selling 450cc motocross bike. Now we have to get Honda to update the X models, get them 50 state plateable and fill the adventure bike gap between the CRF250L and the CRF1000L.
Ken

[JimDirt]

That and put the X on a 40 lbs Jenny Craig plan , heck i lost 30 lbs after the heart attack and i can absolutely feel the difference even 30 lbs makes

Yea i was kind of disappointed about the trans in the R/X , but as they claim , its more of a GNCC/Closed Course bike than a actual "trail" bike , which is why it does not have a Spark Arrestor the way i understand , and they "claim" that is what the X is for , but again , the X needs a serious diet to be truly "trail friendly" , i know mine with the 3.2 tank is pushing 290 , even with a Shorai and Tubliss , so when you do have to pick it up , its painfully obvious its a plump bike ... I leaned over a R/X on the showroom floor , and its like a 250F in weight compared to the 450X

[crfsonly]

If the wide-ratio trans was an option for the 450RX it would be the 450X replacement. You are correct about the mufflers but that is easily remedied with after market mufflers or replacment end caps. I would not be at all surprised to see a 450X announced that is essentially an RX with a wide-ratio trans and a trail friendly exhaust system. Here's hoping it will be soon!

[JimDirt]

Yea , before i hit 60 would be nice , so they have about 2 years , as i will be 58 in Aug , so times a tickin ....

On a related note , i got my wrist Brace direct from Allsport Dynamics today , unfortunately its supposed to rain Saturday , and Sunday is Moms-day (she is 93), so no riding then , but basically after 9 months of being miserable , i will finally be able to hopefully possibly maybe ride soon , i still need 1 or 2 more surgeries on my wrist to get my hand working better , and i still have the CT Scan of my lung at the end of the month , but hopefully that turns out to be nothing , and nothing has grown or changed since the last scan 3 months ago , i am just relieved that i am close to riding in some capacity again , not sure how well i will be able to hold on , but the first test ride is going to be the local MX track .... either this or next weekend .........yay !! ... and so far the heart is holding up as well !!

[crfsonly]

Wow! That's a lot going on there Jim! Hopefully all good news once you get the CT scan and brace. You might want your first ride to be a nice and lazy fire or logging road someplace. MX tracks have a way of tempting us to do things we should not do. Good luck!

Ken

[JimDirt]

No big jumps at the track i am going to , so it should be "fairly safe" (its that track i was at in that video last summer) , i just want to see where i am at , so i know what needs work and to find where my expectations mesh with actual reality , as i mentally feel i can do what i did before (like riding a bicycle scenario so to speak) , but i need to try it to see if i actually can do what i expect to be able to do , then base my riding from that , or at least know what areas i need to focus on to get back near where i was or as close as physically possible , so i am going to "try" to start where i left off , and see how i do.... hopefully i will just need to regain my stamina and work on improving my grip as i ride and the muscles in my hand/wrist get used to doing things again

At least i got the brace before trying to ride , so that means i must not be a total moron ........................... but.......... I've been wrong before