2024 Honda CRF450RL review (& CRF450L)︱Cross Training Adventure

Our 2024 Honda CRF450RL review! Is this the 'unicorn' motorbike that straddles the enduro and dual sport categories? We think so. At least in most respects. Interested in the Suzuki DRZ400 but you want more power, lighter weight, better suspension without paying too much more? The CRF450RL fits the bill. Watch other Honda CRF450RL reviews and see if they agree. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Are you thinking of a road-legal enduro motorbike but you want it to be cheaper, lower seat height, softer suspension, more reliable and have better road manners? Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. In 2020 the name was changed to the CRF450RL. We suspect this was to indicate it shares a lot of characteristics with the motocross R model. If so, it was a good idea. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. In 2018 the road-legal version started with the CRF450L. A sixth gear was added. A stronger subframe. Lets start with road riding the 2024 Honda CRF450RL. It feels much more refined that your usual enduro motorbike. It's quiet. And it's more than just the exhaust. Honda have used specially lined plastic engine covers to reduce noise. And the swingarm is filled with polyurethane to dampen noise and vibration. And nose-diving under brakes. Compared to enduro motorbikes, the extra weight of the CRF450RL works well for road riding with a wet weight of 132 kg or 291lb. The LED headlight is actually quite bright and has a very precise beam, something we have never seen on motorbikes in this 2024 Honda CRF450RL class. What didn't work well for road riding? The seat. It's your standard plank of wood. Unlike the rest of Honda's 'L' models, this 450 has a lot in common with the motocross and cross-country racing 450s. The main changes for the RL? A set of handguards as standard and upgraded ECU and fuel-injection settings. The good news for Aussies? It has returned and at a much better price - currently AUD13700 'ride away'. The Honda CRF450X began in 2005 as a cheap reliable off-road motorbike. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. It was a detuned version of the CRF450R with an electric start, wide ratio gearbox, softer suspension and an 18 inch rear wheel. Within 30 minutes the 'monkey butt' will creep in. Like most fuel-injected off-road motorbikes, the throttle can be quite snatchy at lower revs. Some riders don't mind this. We do. Investing in a G2 Throttle Tamer is a great idea. I fitted this to an FE570 years ago and it transformed the throttle response. Off-road riding with the 2024 Honda CRF450RL? We initially found it a bit firm but we reduced the compression settings and it worked great. A lot quieter, especially the exhaust noise. Up to a certain point the engine feels very similar to its enduro cousins. Fast to rev. Plenty of grunt into the midrange. It's only when you get to the higher revs you really notice the engine has been detuned for more reliability and dual-sport characteristics. Even though it's clearly not an enduro motorbike we were keen to try the CRF450L on tighter single track. It was still surprisingly capable in wet muddy conditions, but you won't be throwing it around like its four-stroke enduro cousins. First gear did feel a bit too tall, but then the gear ratios are wide enough to gear it down for dirt riding and still avoid excessive revs for road riding. Fuel-injected enduro motorbikes often have a snappy throttle response. Some riders like it. We hate it. The CRF450RL has a strong on-off jerkiness with the throttle at low revs.A lot of CRF450L owners said the Vortex ECU transformed their Hondas. The owner of our CRF450RL is going to fit a Vortex so we'll report on this eventually in the pinned first comment. We also noticed the heavy clutch pull on slower tracks. Some owners have fitted the XPR clutch actuator arm to make the clutch much softer. Others use the do-it-yourself and do this modification. Adventure riding! Would the CRF450RL be a good lightweight adventure motorbike with suitable mods? There is a lot of potential for sure. The gearbox ratios, lack of vibration, and suspension are ideally suited. The power characteristics are great too, with the possible exception of snappy throttle response. It's quiet and behaves well on the road. The oil capacity is quite small too with 1.1 litre oil changes. Any favourite modifications? Let us know and we'll put them in the pinned first comment. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure.
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