For once, the motorcycle industry comes to us, as Asphalt & Rubber is up the road from our usual haunts, setting up camp in Washington state near Mt. Rainer, about we are about to ride the 2019 Honda CRF450L.
Sibling to the Honda CRF450X enduro, and cousin to the class-leading Honda CRF450R motocross bike, the Honda CRF450L is Big Red’s answer for those looking for a street legal 450cc dirt bike.
It has been a long time since we have seen a proper 450cc dual-sport from a Japanese brand, and Honda is finally taking up the charge to take on the competition from KTM and Husqvarna. As such, the Honda CRF450L provides a crucial stepping stone for riders looking to upgrade from a CRF250L (the top-selling dual-sport in the market), and it provides an option to those who want to ride from trail-to-trail with a plated dirt bike.
Per our new review format, I would be giving you a live assessment of the2019 Honda CRF450L right here in this article (down in the comments section), but American Honda has imposed an embargo until next week for ride reviews and critiques. So while we won’t be able to talk immediately about our riding impressions of the new CRF450L until Monday (not cool), we will still be able to field questions from our eager readers, which Honda can try and answer. Show them no mercy!
You can follow our thoughts on the bike live via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and you can see what our colleagues are posting on social media by looking for the hashtags #CRF450L #RideRed #DualSport.
Spec-Sheet Comparison of Relevant Models to the Honda CRF450L:
| Honda CRF450L | KTM 450 EXC-F | Alta Redshift EXR | |
| Horsepower | ~40hp | 62 hp | 50 hp |
| Torque | – | – | 42 lbs•ft |
| Weight | 289 lbs (curb) | 255 lbs (curb) | 273 lbs |
| Fuel Tank | 2 gallons | 2.3 gallons | 5.8 kWh |
| Price | $10,400 | $11,700 | $12,500 |
Photos of the 2019 Honda CRF450L:
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