Lighter. Faster. Stronger.
At some point, every great rider discovers that their biggest competition is themselves. And once they do, they do everything they can to make themselves better. It’s the same with our engineers, and our all-new 2027 CRF450R—we took a hard look at our championship-winning 2026 model and made it better in every way. New engine. New frame. Lightest in class with power and torque developed for real race pace, not just dyno sheets. New suspension, and of course a totally new look that you can spot from a hundred feet away. A major makeover that’s nothing less than amazing. And for a select few, check out our CRF450R HRC Works Edition, sharing all the improvements of the CRF450R and more.
Comfort & Convenience
- ELECTRIC STARTER: To keep the bike light, our engineers use an electric starter with a lithium-ion battery.
- SEALED AIRBOX AND FILTER: The airbox design has no separate lid—you can access the air cleaner just by removing the left sidecover.
- DETAILED BODYWORK MOUNTING: It may seem small, but every second counts when you’re servicing your bike between motos. Fewer mounting bolts mean enhanced serviceability at the track or in your garage.
- EASIER SERVICEABILITY: Things like changing the air filter, the rear wheel, and servicing the rear shock are easier than ever now. For example, all you need to do is remove the left sidecover for total airbox access. With the rear wheel, redesigned side collars mean easier, installation of the wheel into the swingarm.
Engineering
- HYDRAULIC CLUTCH: Inspired by our Grand Prix MX machines, the hydraulically actuated clutch offers a 10% lighter clutch lever pull compared to a cable equivalent. It also eliminates the need for adjustments, delivering optimal performance for even the longest motos.
- AIR FILTER: For 2027, we’ve changed both the air filter’s density and its shape to reduce airflow resistance by approximately 10 percent.
- HIGH-CAPACITY RADIATOR: A six-percent larger radiator compared to the previous generation provides the cooling capacity needed to sustain the engine’s high power output.
- LIGHTWEIGHT SPLIT-RESIN BEARING CAGES: Hondas are famous for their transmission quality and shift feel, and the 2027 CRF450R takes that to the next level. Split resin cage needle bearings work in conjunction with shorter transmission shafts to save weight too.
- SHORTER TWO-LEAD SHIFT DRUM: A small part but still significant. Reducing the shift-drum lead grooves from three to two and shortening the drum shaft make it more compact and lighter too.
- GEAR-POSITION ENGINE MAPPING: The smart ECU delivers tailored engine mapping for each gear, giving riders the edge with optimal power for every track, turn, jump, and rut.
- CLUTCH ASSEMBLY: Totally redesigned using HRC works feedback and developed on the MXGP circuit, the clutch-disc diameter is smaller this year, and the primary drive gear is redesigned for lightness. A back-torque-limiting system uses rubber dampers instead of springs and also provides a slipper-clutch function—the world’s first of its kind? Compared to cam-type slipper clutches it’s lighter and ideally suited to motocross use.
- HONDA SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL (HSTC): Easily control your bike’s traction with the left-side handlebar-mounted green button, activating our Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) system. It offers three customizable settings to optimize your ride based on conditions or preference.
- TITANIUM FUEL TANK: Every gram counts, so we gave the bike a titanium fuel tank. Light and strong, it’s also thinner than our previous plastic unit, freeing up more space and helping to centralize the fuel’s mass. You get more fuel capacity now too—a full 1.9 gallons.
- ONE-PIECE RADIATOR SHROUDS: Our engineers used Computational Fluid Dynamics to fine-tune the radiator shrouds for increased cooling efficiency. The one-piece design ensures consistent power output and prevents overheating.
Handling
- FRAME: The 2027 frame may look the same, but it’s really, with slightly more steering rake and a longer wheelbase. The major frame components have been fine-tuned for rigidity and weight loss. Meanwhile, the footpegs moved back 5mm, making it easier to shift your weight over the rear wheel to help it hook up.
- SHOWA® SPRING FORK: A 49mm Showa® fork features Kashima coating to the internal sliding components, enhancing stroke feel and improving smoothness. A DBS (Dynamic Blow System) main-piston valve increases compression damping in the extremely low-to-low speed range, improving stroke consistency.
- REAR SUSPENSION: A lighter shock body is surrounded by a red spring. The shock itself is more responsive, enhancing damping feel in the low-speed compression range and providing a more consistent feel throughout the suspension stroke.
- LIGHT NARROW FRAME: Experience faster cornering with the lightweight, superior chassis design, which maintains finely tuned lateral rigidity.
- UPDATED SWINGARM: Check out the CRF450R’s swingarm. Meticulously hand polished, its smooth step-free design and flawless welds elevate the bike’s appearance. The throat-welded construction also helps reduce weight by nearly a pound.
- REAR BRAKE PADS: Brakes do more than stop the bike. They help set up turns and jumps. Our brake pads last longer and provide more stopping power to help you win.
- 260MM FRONT BRAKE: The pedal-type front brake disc measures 260mm, providing excellent brake feel and weight reduction. We’ve also included a guard to protect against roost and rocks.
- DUNLOP MX34 TIRES: Dunlop’s MX34 tires feature an intermediate design that works well in a wide variety of conditions, providing superior rider feedback and improved cornering grip.
- RENTHAL FATBAR: Renthal’s aluminum Fatbar comes standard, featuring a bend superior to the Honda CR-bar, making it the benchmark in excellence. You’ll love it!
Performance
- 450CC UNICAM® ENGINE: A engine this year features a Unicam valve layout that aligns intake and exhaust rockers on a common axis to increase valvetrain rigidity while also resulting in a more compact package.
- SMALLER, LIGHTER ENGINE: The complete redesign results in an engine with 10.3 percent more horsepower at peak, 3.7 percent more peak torque, and one that’s 17mm narrower and almost six pounds lighter than our 2026 model.
- BROADER, MORE USABLE POWER: Cam profiles and a bore and stroke help give the engine increased midrange and high-rpm power.
- LARGER INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES: The titanium intake valves have increased in diameter from 38mm to 40mm, and the exhaust valves from 31mm to 32mm. The valve angle in the head also changed (included angle remains the same), to optimize intake efficiency. The intake port is shorter too, all contributing to the boost in power.
- HIGHER COMPRESSION RATIO: The bigger bore and shorter stroke (97.0mm x 60.8mm), larger piston, and piston-crown profile all result in a higher 13.8:1 compression ratio for better overall combustion efficiency and more power.
- ROUND-PROFILE CRANKSHAFT: Now with roller main bearings on both ends, the crankshaft profile has been radically reshaped from the traditional anchor/porkchop design. This works in conjunction with the clutch to reduce frictional losses, and more efficiently convert combustion into rotational energy while fine-tuning the engine’s overall flywheel effect. The result is smooth, predictable power that’s easy to modulate and that helps keep you hooked up.
- CENTRAL-PORT CYLINDER HEAD: The engine features an oval-shaped centralized exhaust port, which, along with the single-muffler exhaust, boosts power from 5000 rpm up and increases exhaust efficiency.
- DOUBLE-SPRAY INJECTOR SETTINGS: The system sprays fuel twice per intake cycle for better atomization and increased power in the midrange and on overrev. You’ll feel it during your first race.
- SINGLE-PIPE EXHAUST: The single-pipe header routes close to the center of the bike, and its light overall construction helps improve weight distribution. It also produces more controllable power in the low- and mid-rpm range than the previous generation.
Style
- HRC-INSPIRED GRAPHICS: The CRF450R HRC Works Edition gets an exclusive graphics package inspired by our HRC works bikes, while the durable “in mold” graphics ensure long-lasting visual appeal even after intense track sessions and repeated cleaning.
- BOLD HONDA GRAPHICS: There’s no way you can miss the Honda graphics on our 2027 CRF450R. Straight off our factory MXGP bikes, everyone will immediately know you’re on a 2027 model. The blue rear fender and side number plates are a nice nod to Honda’s dominant historic motocross bikes, too.
- BLACK RIMS: The DID DirtStar rims are lightweight and strong, while the black color looks good and is easy to clean.
Technology
- ENGINE MODE SELECTION BUTTON: Customize your engine’s power delivery on the fly with the convenient left-side handlebar-mounted blue button, allowing you to easily switch between Standard, Smooth, and Aggressive modes to suit varying track conditions or rider preference.
- HRC LAUNCH CONTROL: This special ECU program allows you to select a start mode, then simply hold the throttle open and release the clutch, letting the bike do the rest. Trust us when we say it turns it into a holeshot-seeking machine!







































