Honda CRF450R

Honda dirt bikes are epitomized these days by the 2009 Honda CRF450R motocross racer. The flagship 4-stroke MX bike from Big Red has been at the forefront of competitive off-road racing since it was introduced in 2001. The Honda CRF450 has found success in multiple disciplines including motocross, supercross, flat track, hillclimbing and supermoto.

With its powerful 449cc Unicam racing engine, Honda’s fuel-injected CRF450R is known as one of the best all-around track machines. Honda pioneered the twin-spar aluminum chassis for dirt bikes in the late 1990s with the 2-stroke CR125R and CR250R bikes. When the motorcycle industry turned to Thumper technology, Honda was ready to make the switch and it keeps pushing the envelope with things like the Honda Progressive Steering Damper (HPSD).

Honda Racing has always been considered a top tier factory ride for AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross Championships. Riders like Jeff Stanton, Johnny O’Mara, Ron Lechien, David Bailey, Jeremy McGrath, Ricky Carmichael and Ashley Fiolek have all used Honda motocross dirt bikes to win titles. Honda R&D has always taken what works on the professional equipment and worked it into production motorcycles for racing and OHV enthusiasts.

American Honda sells a huge volume of motorcycles and the CRF450R is the biggest and baddest in a long line of dirt bike siblings. All the way down to the best-selling CRF50 for kids, Hondas are known for reliability, build quality and long-lasting re-sale value. These are some of the reasons why Honda motorcycles are always a top pick for privateer racers, not to mention the bikes always hold true to Honda’s company slogan – “Performance First.”