– 2022 Honda CRF450RX Motorcycle Review / Specs | CRF 450 Dirt Bike Buyer’s Guide! –

Do you want the baddest Honda CRF 450 dirt bike you can buy for the trails or off-road competition like GNCC etc? If so, the newly changed-up 2022 CRF450RX has your name all over it! What is the CRF450RX? Take the absolutely insane CRF450R motocrosser and don’t dumb it down for the woods and trail riding, it’s for those that want ALL of the power – and not just a little bit of it! 

 

The 2022 CRF450RX isn’t cheap though as you’re paying a premium for this technology and horsepower crammed into your dirt bike. Needless to say, if you don’t need this type of dirt bike and you just want something to lightly hit the trails – I wouldn’t buy the CRF450RX! I would save about half the money and buy something like the CRF250F if you’re just wanting something tame, a dirt bike with low maintenance and relatively cheap – considering. But, if you want the best of the best in what Honda has to offer for 2022 CRF dirt bikes for the trails – this is it! Now, let’s go over all of the nitty-gritty details on the 2022 CRF450RX and see if it’s something you might be interested in buying.

Key 2022 CRF450RX Info (for those in a hurry):

• 2022 CRF450RX Price / MSRP: $9,899
  • 2022 CRF450RX VS 2021 CRF450RX Price / MSRP Increase: $0 (price stayed the same)
• 2022 CRF450RX Release Date: July 2021
• 2022 CRF450RX Colors: Red
• 2022 CRF450RX Horsepower: TBA
  
• 2022 CRF450RX Torque: TBA
• 2022 CRF450RX Seat Height: 38 inches
• 2022 CRF450RX Weight: 251 lbs (curb)
• 2022 CRF450RX Fuel Capacity: 2.1 gal
• 2022 CRF450RX VS 2021 CRF450RX Changes: Yes. For 2022, the CRF450RX gets an updated ECU for enhanced drivability, particularly in the lower rev ranges, while suspension valving is revised for improved drivability and overall performance.

• 2022 CRF450RX Review Contents:
  • Quick / Key 2022 CRF450RX Info
  • 2022 CRF450RX Introduction
  • 2022 CRF450RX Design
  • 2022 CRF450RX Chassis & Suspension
  • 2022 CRF450RX Engine & Drivetrain
  • 2022 CRF450RX Pictures / Photo Gallery
  • 2022 CRF450RX Specs

CRF450RX Introduction

The CRF450RX is well-suited for closed-course off-road competition such as GNCC, WORCS and NGPC, as proven at the national-championship level by SLR Honda and JCR Honda. Based on the motocross-focused CRF450R, it has off-road-specific features like dedicated ECU and suspension settings (both of which are updated for 2022, for improved drivability and balance), plus an 18-inch rear wheel, aluminum side stand, handguards and a 2.1 gallon fuel tank. The combination yields a race machine that’s ready to chase arrows and ribbon along trails from coast to coast.

CRF450RX Design

The CRF450RX has slim bodywork, with a smooth junction of the radiator shroud and side panel, facilitating rider movement and cornering. Each radiator shroud is produced in a single piece instead of two separate parts, and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were used to design air-outlet vents in the shrouds. The radiator grills optimize the number of fins and their angle, maximizing cooling performance.

The seat base has rearward-facing tongues and front-located mounting tabs, easing installation, and using acceleration forces to keep the seat securely in place. The polyethylene fuel tank holds 2.1 gallons.

Only 8 fasteners are used to secure all of the main bodywork components—both radiator shrouds, both side panels and the seat—and all of the bolts for the main bodywork parts have 8 mm heads, simplifying maintenance.

A single switch cluster addresses several functions: engine stop, ride-modes and Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC). The starter and HRC launch control are on the right side of the Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar. There are two locations for the handlebar clamp, and the clamp can be turned 180º; as a result, four different mounting positions are possible, through a range of 26 mm.

The updated ECU map is developed to aid traction in technical off-road conditions, and the revised suspension settings are more supple than the CRF450R, to minimize deflection off rocks and roots. A forged-aluminum side stand comes standard, as does an 18-inch rear wheel and 50-tooth rear sprocket compared to the R’s 49.

Plastic handguards protect knuckles and levers from impacts when riding through brush. The pair of handguards, which weigh only 222 grams, can be easily removed.

CRF450RX Chassis & Suspension

The motorcycle’s heavier components are positioned centrally and as low as possible for precise cornering without sacrificing high-speed tracking, in addition to minimal squat under acceleration and negligible pitching during hard braking.

Frame / Swingarm / Subframe: The frame uses narrow main spars and features optimized reinforcement ribbing on the backside of the pivot plate, contributing to the low frame weight of just 18.5 pounds. Lateral rigidity is optimized for a supple feel that contributes to good cornering, while vertical rigidity is relatively stiff. The subframe features a simple design and weighs just 2.0 pounds. The swingarm is narrow, providing good clearance in ruts, with rigidity tuned to maximize rear traction and cornering.

Suspension: Front suspension comprises a 49 mm inverted Showa® coil-spring fork with a gas-liquid separation structure. The upper and lower triple clamps are designed to offer a good rigidity balance for optimum handling and feel through corners. The Pro-Link® rear-suspension system uses a Showa shock absorber with adjusters on the right side and an ultra-light steel shock spring. The link ratio is designed to minimize acceleration-triggered rear-end squat.

Wheels: Black D.I.D. rims deliver durable performance and good looks. Petal-style brake rotors disperse heat, and a low-expansion front brake hose gives strong feel and consistent stopping power. The CRF450RX comes with Dunlop’s excellent Geomax AT81 tires, which offer all-around performance and high levels of ruggedness for off-road racing.

CRF450RX Engine & Drivetrain

The CRF450RX engine boasts exceptional bottom-end and midrange power, making for a linear delivery that is strong but manageable, even as the rider tires, while peak power is also very good.

• Cylinder Head
  • The design of the Unicam® cylinder head, with the decompressor system’s counterweight on the left end of the camshaft, contributes to combustion stability in the extremely low rpm range for a strong-but-manageable power delivery on corner exits, for example, as well as resistance to stalling. The cylinder-head cover is magnesium, with a thin wall design for weight savings. The engine’s exhaust port is centrally located, has an oval shape and is quite straight, optimizing exhaust efficiency and torque characteristics, for a linear delivery that continues into the high rpm range. A five-hole piston oil jet and dual 12mm drum scavenge pump manage lubrication.

• Intake
  • The CRF450RX features a downdraft intake design that delivers strong, efficient power, and a large air boot (4.1 liters on the clean side of the air filter) achieves strong torque at low rpm. The air box is accessed with the removal of a single side-panel bolt. The 60º fuel injector angle enables the spray to reach all the way to the back of the butterfly, thus cooling the upstream side of the intake path for maximum intake efficiency and torque feel.

• Exhaust
  • The entire exhaust system weighs 8.5 pounds, and with the engine’s centralized exhaust-port location, the exhaust header and muffler are positioned close to the vehicle’s centerline for a slim profile, contributing to freedom of movement for the rider. Two resonators (one after the front U-bend and another at the upstream end of the muffler) boost power and reduce noise.
• Clutch
  • The clutch is hydraulically actuated and has eight plates and a large volume for good durability with minimal slippage and light lever pull.

• Electronics
  • A gear-position sensor allows the use of three specific ignition maps for first and second; third and fourth; and fifth gears. There are also options for Standard, Smooth and Aggressive ignition maps, selectable via a separate handlebar-mounted switch, enabling simple tuning depending on rider preference or course conditions.

In addition, Honda Selectable Torque Control offers three levels of intervention. HSTC monitors rpm spikes and responds by temporarily reducing torque by retarding ignition timing and controlling PGM-FI to aid rear traction. The three different modes differ in drive-management level, for differing riding conditions or rider preferences:

• 2022 CRF450R HSTC modes
  • Mode 1: The system intervenes most lightly, and waits the longest to do so—useful for reducing wheel-spin and maintaining control in tight corners.
  • Mode 2: A midpoint between modes 1 and 3 in terms of how quickly and assertively the system intervenes.
  • Mode 3: The system intervenes most quickly and assertively, which helps in slippery or muddy off-road conditions.

A handlebar-mounted switch allows selection between three modes, depending on conditions and rider preference. The HSTC system can also be switched off completely.

HRC Launch Control provides the best option for a strong start and also has three modes to choose from:

• 2022 CRF450RX HRC launch control modes
  • Level 1: 9,500 rpm, for high-traction conditions and/or advanced riders
  • Level 2: 8,500 rpm, for high-traction conditions and/or average riders
  • Level 3: 8,250 rpm, for slippery conditions and/or novice riders

The Engine Mode Select Button (EMSB) alters the engine’s characteristics and three maps are available to suit riding conditions or rider preference:

• 2022 CRF450RX engine modes
  • Mode 1: Standard
  • Mode 2: Smooth
  • Mode 3: Aggressive

CRF450RX Pictures / Photo Gallery

CRF450RX Specs