CRF450RL

Honda introduced this street-legal dual-sport in North America for the 2021 model year under the CRF450RL name, after the same basic machine had been sold briefly as the CRF450L. The name change underscored its close relationship to Honda’s competition-focused CRF off-road family while keeping the model positioned as a license-plate-equipped machine for riders who want to link pavement and trail without trailering to the dirt. From its debut, the bike has been defined by Honda’s 450cc Unicam single, a wide-ratio six-speed transmission, and a chassis aimed at giving it legitimate off-road capability rather than the softer character of a typical dual-sport. In Honda’s lineup, it occupies a niche between pure dirt bikes and more road-oriented adventure motorcycles: light, purposeful, and built around the idea that a rider should be able to leave home, ride to the trailhead, and keep going. The CRF450RL has remained in production through the present model year, with Honda continuing to refine graphics, equipment, and emissions-related details over time rather than replacing the nameplate.