First Look: 2021 Honda CRF450R

Honda has released the visuals for their 2021 CRF450R (actually what they designate as the 2021 CRF450RW) and we're going to break down the changes.

Throw your thoughts in the comment section below!

[seanaguinaga]

Michael you’re the smartest dirt bike reviewer ever

[pags]

Honda stepped up big time, looks amazing

[robertbelknap]

Finally Raised headtube to cradle, centerport exhaust, I'm shoving a 2t 500 in there. Are you listening Honda?

[jedielder]

That is one of the sexiest MX bikes I have ever seen... just wow. Kudos for getting rid of the dual exhaust.

[cwtoyota]

Michael, your mystery box must be the battery and starter solenoid.

That moves a heavy item down and closer to the center of mass of the machine.
It also shortens the length of the large copper wiring between the battery and starter.
Conductors are sized based on total circuit length and the current flowing. A shorter wire can be smaller in diameter. Copper is heavy.

[holeshotinspectionllc]

Making my decision for 2021 so hard, my hope is the chassis is more stable, and less finicky on set thanks 🙏 so much for the

[josephdowney]

I also like that they removed the plastic that was covering the top of the titanium tank. Keep the videos coming Michael your channel rocks. Oh and good luck at Arizona this weekend!

[ggsss]

i ride honda’s but how many times are we gonna switch back and forth between dual and single pipes. why are we getting a 2021 in jan of 2020😂

[maverick]

What they have done away with what we were told was the best system for four strokes haha finally finished with that bs, next they will make 2 strokes again. Anyways good info ML. It’s a good looking bike, maybe the best since the 07 CR250R, not as good, but best 4t Honda, interested in what the black box is as well if a factory only proto or testing or something that may be on the production bike. Hope they follow a similar lead on the 250f and drop dual pipe infatuation. 🤙

[bryanrails]

Thanks Lindsay, pretty cool hopefully you can test it in about 6 months and give us some real feedback.

[evo]

Now get the production the same with a single silencer and THE Weight down to 3 pounds off the KTM as Honda will run coil forks and that's the difference between the two air and coil.

[otisjordan]

Very very interesting bike, definitely looking forward to how it compare to the other.
Honda is not exactly known for producing perfect all new bikes in the first year, I'll maybe consider it, if it is a good bike.

And that weight loss claim is ridiculous, I won't believe that until it's proven

[tomnekuda]

I'm sure that the 450 Honda is going to feel right for just about everyone who throws a leg over it. The welds on this thing drive me nuts...looks like they were made in 2nd grade shop class. Good to see them lose the dual mufflers. I'm waiting for you to hammer one of these babes and tell us your take. That, I TRUST! Good eval as usual.

[snowgo]

I’m liking what I see. There’s definitely a bunch of architecture and refinement to this bike bringing a ton of contrast as well.

Pretty sweet

[RickyHardman]

looks so sick. Can’t wait for more information on this thing

[CRIFLIFE]

I’ve always rode japanese bikes. Talked a lot of smack about ktm until I bought one last fall. After owning one i can see why people buy em and stick to them. Cool to see/hear honda took some pages from ktm’s book. Should be an awesome machine.

[vexedcrazyness]

Gonna miss the dual exhausts but at least a new pipe will be cheaper

[fosterkatchen]

Really like the looks besides how low the header pipe is. One of my favourite things about 4 strokes is how ticked away the header pipes are, and this bike isn’t like that 😬

[mmntitv]

So about the black plastic box behind the throttle body, any chance its a smaller battery for lower mass centralization? Im unable to see how deep it goes in the pics. Lithium ion battery tech is improving fast and maybe just to start the bike they can now have a much smaller battery. Itll be cool if that is what it is. That was my first guess, what do you think?

[nickchristofora]

Def looks cool but Im still happy with my 2020 250r