Devon TRF Group Forum

RichT4 · Champion

The new CRF450L is coming... but why?

Tribey · Expert

I'll be very surprised if that is the engine power outout.

I don't think Honda have released the power figure yet, but the internet has set it as 25bhp, and now that figure is being

quoted and has become fact.

It has the same bore and stroke, although lower compression ratio as the 450R, which was 53bhp, so for longevity and long service

intervals I would expect 43-45bhp when Honda release more details. Although in this sector, many manufacturers never quote power

output anyway.

Aimed at the US and Australian dual sports markets in my opinion. CRF450L Rally to come?

RichT4 · Champion

I agree it seems strange for a 450cc to make such low power, unless they changed to output to focus more on mid range.

If the publicised power output is a mistake it's one that Honda has made it seems.

http://www.hondaprokevin.com/2019-honda-crf450l-review-specs-motorcycle-dual-sport

See the note on the page..

Edit / Update: Quite a few people have expressed concern on multiple forums, comment section below and on social media etc that the CRF450Ls horsepower rating on this page is a typo or incorrect. The horsepower rating below is not a typo on my end. The 2019 CRF450L horsepower and torque numbers are directly from Honda. Thanks as always for the feedback though guys, you keep me on my toes when it comes to information like this and at times I do make mistakes so having thousands of extra eyes on the information can be helpful.

Key 2019 CRF450L Info (for those in a hurry):

2019 CRF450L Price / MSRP: $10,399 (targeted)
2019 CRF450L Release Date: September 2018
2019 CRF450L Colors: Red
2019 CRF450L Horsepower: 25 HP
2019 CRF450L Torque: 23.6 ft/lb TQ
2019 CRF450L Miles Per Gallon: TBA
2019 CRF450L Seat Height: 37.1 inches
2019 CRF450L Weight: 289 lbs (curb)

John Harvey · Clubman A

That can't be right? My 1971 BSA 250 makes 24 British Horse Powers smile smile smile

RichT4 · Champion

Yeh, hopefully Honda made a mistake on their launch info.

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

John Harvey wrote:
That can't be right? My 1971 BSA 250 makes 24 British Horse Powers

Is that with the rider on board wink

Nige · Expert

Don't forget Hondas reputation is reliability. This might be the state of tune that they are happy to warranty, major service at 20,000 miles? If that's valve clearances then it's impressive.
Euro 4 emissions won't help the power of a single. To be honest the crf250x with it's us spec EPA jetting is pretty horrible to ride.
I'm sure there will be loads of scope for owners to turn the crf450l into what ever they want it to be.
With Pipes, Cams ,Pistons and remaps 60hp will be possible if that what the owner wants.

John Harvey · Clubman A

wackyracer wrote:
John Harvey wrote:
That can't be right? My 1971 BSA 250 makes 24 British Horse Powers
Is that with the rider on board

It drops down by at least 1 donkey power when the rider's on it biggrin

SimonP · Sportsman

T.E.T

Tribey · Expert

http://advrider.com/index.php?attachments/461d9d10-444c-4fda-9efa-e516e5f5f871-jpeg.1219079/

I see the CRF450 Rally is showing 45kW which is roughly 60bhp.

RichT4 · Champion

Sorry Tribey, I can't access that file.

Are you talking about the special addition desert race bikes?

RichT4 · Champion

It's official... Honda press release.

hondanews.eu/eu/en/motorcycles/media/pressreleases/131076/2019-crf450l10

Peak power is 18.4kW, with peak torque of 32Nm.

NickJ · Clubman A

Honda US now saying the 25hp version is for Europe. US version has 'mid 40's HP'.

SimonP · Sportsman

WRichT4 wrote:
Just reading up on it's specs, looks a nice bike... seems to be a lot buzz about it on Youtube, many claiming their prays have been answered...
I was interested too.. that was until I got to the specs... power output - 25hp.
The 2017 250L puts out a claimed 24.8 hp now and weighs 146 kgs wet
The 450L is 131 Kgs wet.
Seems that in making the 450 engine have a longer service life, and conforming to new Euro regs, has beaten the piss out of it..
So Honda, why even bother if it's barely better than your existing 250?

SimonP · Sportsman

The trains I work on are only 280 bhp and weigh 43 tons !

My new bike is only 7.5 hp but I expect I can keep up as we only go 15 MPH its not what you ride but how you ride it

Simon p

Jerry atterick · Expert

I couldnt possibly comment, oh well.
I want a pro-link xr200, best trail bike ever!!
No one enjoys the rip more than I do, but it rather nullifies the ideal notion of trail riding.
I think my 1980 trail riding days were the best, xr 200, xl250, dt 175 etc, basically anything that had lumps on the tyres (always s/h) and a bike that stood a chance of doing a day with nothing too serious falling off and never cost me more than £75.
Trail riding - rambling on a motorbike.
Thats my take on it, but sometimes - - -.
Im not a hypocrite, just weak minded ;)

Jerry atterick · Expert

Oh yes, the new Honda.
Loads of horsepower and torque.
If you must, declog, should release another 15hp.
Most dont look at the spec of the bike very closely, most just follow the sales pitch, cos they want to be sold whichever bike is their fancy.
Most riders cant race their bikes to the bikes full potential, its the riders potential that is lacking. (All of us!)
I remember Ady Smith turning up on a bog standard 200exc, lapped the late Mr Deacon at Maiden Newton on his works 4T Husky which those of you that can recall is a massive really open flat out circuit. Mr Deacon most certainly was not slow.
On paper the Honda looks the definitive modern generation trail bike.
Down form the enduro / mx basis, not a fundamental basic 250 trail bike.
Absolutely nothing wrong with the 250, just that the new 450 is, potentially, very mush more refined.
Any true trail bike should have a sensible piston - this does, 99% of everything else we ride does not.
I think this would last for years with old school servicing, sensible oil etc
A plus for me, there are loads of adventure type trails, TET, all over Europe etc, that this would be perfect for.
Most of the bikes that I see being used are, in my opinion, inappropriate.
KTM 690s seem to be suspiciously troubled, the big BMWs are great road touring bikes but are diabolical on anything demanding, all the new ones are easily written off parking against a wall, let alone letting them fall over. Everything revolves around bikes that are virtually unmmendable etc etc.
Most people dont work back from what they require from a bike, taking into account the bike function, riders ability and strength.
No good riding it, if you are either scared of it or cant pick it up!
On that note, Ive nearly finished my version of what I think is appropriate, will post at some point for you lot to rip the **** out of.

Harry365 · Sportsman

One thing is for sure .. honda has got a lot of people talking about there new bike.

BTY I do take my BMW 1200 GS off road and have dropped it many times without breaking it, bit it is quite heavy to pick up.

RichT4 · Champion

It had/has plenty of potential but has come just a little too late to avoid being euro trashed.

It could have been the ideal trail / touring bike, or at least taken a good stab at the title.
If you look at the wish list of most forums it goes something like this..

450cc (and the power that should go with that)
Fuel injection
Alloy frame & good suspension
Long service interval, long life engine
6 speed box (not close ratio)

It might be all of these apart from making the power required.

If you buy one now you will likely have to de-euro it, and void your warranty.
So probably best to wait a few years and buy it used & save some money... but wait.. there won't be any as no-one will have bought it new as the 250 is a better buy.

Best thing Honda could do it to sell it as is, but not to de-warranty it if modified.

RichT4 · Champion

SimonP wrote:
The trains I work on are only 280 bhp and weigh 43 tons !
and? Trains aren't very good trail bikes are they
My new bike is only 7.5 hp but I expect I can keep up as we only go 15 MPH its not what you ride but how you ride it
It all depends where you're riding, 15 mph might be a real achievement on some lanes but just plain dawdling on others.
Simon p

I would say 20 to 45 hp is about the normal range of power for a trail bike.

Yes you can use bikes that are outside this range but they probably aren't ideal, in fact 20 to 30 hp is probably about right for the average sized bloke.

If however I was buying a 450 I would expect 40+ hp.

Tribey · Expert

Tested here by RUST issue40 https://www.rustsports.com/issues/ (formerly TBM) it seems to get a positive review.

But for me, needs to be >40hp, and that price

RichT4 · Champion

£9469 for a 450 that barely has more power than it's little brother, or spend £9599 and get a 2019 KTM 690 Enduro R.
I know where my money would go...

Nowhere as the DRZ400 is still the undefeated king of the trail bikes. biggrin

I wonder if there is any scope to remove the EU junk and remap the 40hp back into the bike...

NickJ · Clubman A

Bridge have a 450 in the showroom, but not allowing test rides (at least not to a 65 year old!).

Tribey · Expert

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2020-honda-crf450l/

''a power up kit is now available, which consists of a new ECU and intake manifold, which together boost power into the mid-40s (theres no official figure from Honda yet). Better still, fitment of the kit doesnt affect the warranty nor affect the service intervals as Honda originally set them in accord with the higher output motor.

There is, however, one downside it costs £772, which on top of the cost of the bike comes to a daunting £10,241 by the time you get on the road''

That's more like it with regards the engine power. But that price!

Harry365 · Sportsman

Ive got a 450 l

and the ECU upgrade from Honda does give you more power but doesnt sort out the fuelling where as the Vortex ECU from the USA does sort the fuelling but unfortunately it would not be covered under the warranty.

Ive got 4000 miles on mine and all is good. The valve clearances needed adjusting at 1800 miles but not at 3600.

Its done two trips along the TET in Spain and Portugal first being 10 days 1200miles and the second 15 days 2100miles with no oil changes, when it was serviced at home the oil was still ok.

I got mine from Bransons in Yeovil for less than £8000 brand new.

RichT4 · Champion

Did you also get the new intake manifold too?

Which might have a larger injector in it too (I'd hazard a guess).

Harry365 · Sportsman

Yes I did get the bigger intake manifold. But not a bigger injector

Johnnyboxer · Clubman B

Harry365 wrote:
Ive got a 450 l
and the ECU upgrade from Honda does give you more power but doesnt sort out the fuelling where as the Vortex ECU from the USA does sort the fuelling but unfortunately it would not be covered under the warranty.
Ive got 4000 miles on mine and all is good. The valve clearances needed adjusting at 1800 miles but not at 3600.
Its done two trips along the TET in Spain and Portugal first being 10 days 1200miles and the second 15 days 2100miles with no oil changes, when it was serviced at home the oil was still ok.
I got mine from Bransons in Yeovil for less than £8000 brand new.

Did that include the full power ecu and intake, for £8000

Harry365 · Sportsman

No the vortex ECU was from the USA £600 plus import duty and the air intake tube was £30.00 also from the USA.

Saying that Ive seen on the Facebook forum that you may get a deal from some dealers of £8000 to include the Honda ECU and intake manifold.

NickJ · Clubman A

Have just watched the Champion Adventures video on how to take all the tanks and pipes off a 450L.
Interesting and it goes some way to explaining why it costs so much!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-vlooIiq3Q

(The above is not a link - you need to copy and paste it into your browser!)

-- Edited by NickJ on Saturday 28th of December 2019 04:02:26 PM

steve xr33 · Clubman B