ALL NEW: 2013 Honda CRF450R

New Chassis and Air Fork up front!!!

2013 Honda CRF450R

All new chassis and air fork!
Quick Ride:

This is it, the real deal, the NEW 2013 Honda CRF450R. At first there were spy images of Works Hondas being raced in Europe with an exhaust outlet on the right side with a pipe that ran behind and through the frame. That bike also had two inlet boots, center mounted shock, and hydraulic clutch. Then the spy images from Japan popped up with a more realistic, yet still very trick-looking possible pre-production 2013 CRF.

With regard to looks, the 2013 CRF450R makes the 2012 already look dated.

In the end, the shots from the Japanese Motocross National were very close to what we are seeing now. The chassis is the most changed on the 2013 and the fork is the all-new air, or what they call KYB PSF® (Pneumatic Spring Fork). No, this is not the same fork that came on the 1976 YZ125. The concept is nothing new, yet it has taken years for the idea to be refined enough to go into a production motocrosser.

The new keyword for this ride is mass centralization. And you can see they have tried to achieve it in the frame and on other parts of the bike like a slightly shorter subframe and twin mufflers that tuck in and don’t stick out.

The engine is very similar to the 2012 but it has gone through another major phase of improvements including the cam, piston, larger exhaust valves, new 6-spring clutch, better lubrication on the cylinder, and a stronger new transmission to cover the big daddy changes.


Mass centralization is the keyword for this new ride as we are now in the “Scrub Generation” according to Honda.

Honda not only showed us the new bike, they let us ride the bike for a quick impression. There were only few that have landed thus far, but Adam Booth from our sister pub, Dirt Rider, was the lucky chump of the group to toss a leg over the new steed. Look for a complete test on the bike when they become more available.

The engine is not all-new but a host of internals are new or updated including the piston, larger exhaust valves, clutch, and transmission to name a few.

Quick Shot Opinion:

It isn’t any secret that the 2009-2012 Honda CRF450R was met with mixed reviews. Some riders love the handling while others despise it. I myself am more of a 250F rider, 450s don’t excite me. In fact, most of the time I ride them like they could spit me off and kill me at any time. So if I’m not comfortable on a 450, life is slow and miserable. I live near Zaca Station MX and love the place. So when Honda invited us up to Zaca and I saw the all-new 2013 CRF450R, I couldn’t wait to get out on the track.

Das Booth aboard the rider-friendly 2013 CRF450R.

So much is new on the 2013 there was a lot to take in, but the smooth power delivery made riding the slim and light-feeling CRF a lot of fun. After about a half hour I rolled in and added a couple pounds of pressure to the KYB air forks and instantly felt an improvement in the balance of the bike (yes it is that easy). Tracking through corners it felt like the bike and I were working as one and negotiating rutted corners was easy and smooth, and it didn’t want to dive or crawl out of the line. The front feels planted and solid. I think the ultra-smooth power delivery also helps the bike perform nicely and keeps everything under control, especially when the track starts to dry out and conditions get slick. I’m not a 450 guy but after a couple hours on the new 2013 Honda CRF450R, I’m beginning to think this 450 and I could get along very well together. The bottom line is Honda improved on the 2012 CRF450R.
-Adam Booth

They only had limited time on the new bike but Booth said he was impressed wit the chassis and the power, which is smooth down low but comes on strong from the mid on up. And he was amazed how easy it is to tune the fork with a simple air pump. Ya gotta love new technology taken from an old idea.

Write up and specs from Honda

With the 2013 CRF450R, Honda elevates the level of performance for 450-class motocross machines. This brand-new machine features a rolling chassis fully focused on meeting the needs of today’s “scrub generation” of riders by integrating an all-new aluminum frame along with an innovative suspension package plus a strategically engineered dual-muffler exhaust system that tucks in closely to the center of mass. Designed from the get-go as a total package that would be eminently flickable, responsive and lightweight, every element in the 2013 CRF450R chassis has been focused on attaining a low center of gravity along with class-leading mass centralization. The new-concept KYB PSF® (Pneumatic Spring Fork) is significantly lighter and it allows incorporation of a larger, more sophisticated 32mm cartridge damper piston that resets traditional thinking for front suspension performance. That’s matched with a new single-shock Pro-Link® rear suspension, plus a revised engine that churns out an awe-inspiring hit in the low-end and midrange along with massive top-end power. There’s also a new six-spring clutch, a stouter transmission and much, much more. Bottom line: The 450 motocross machine that has become the ride of choice for many top-level AMA Pro riders now grows even stronger for 2013.

Dual Exhaust is back to help keep the weight toward the center of the chassis, and to keep the sound down while creating maximum performance..

New for 2013
- All-new aluminum frame and swingarm.
- All-new lighter subframe and airbox.
- All-new air fork – KYB PSF® (Pneumatic Spring Fork).
- All-new rear shock with updated settings.
- All-new short and compact dual-muffler exhaust system.
- Bold new styling features an aggressive look.
- Improved footpeg mount features a patented debris-shielding design.
- All-new front and rear disc rotor covers.
- All-new MX51FA 80/100-21 front tire.
- Increased fuel capacity from 1.50 gallons to 1.66 gallons.
- Updated Unicam® engine.
- All-new piston with increased compression ratio (from 12.0:1 to 12.5:1).
- New two-hole oil jet adds extra cooling to the piston’s underside.
- Cylinder head with revised porting and larger exhaust valves (from 30mm to 31mm).
- Revised cam timing.
- All-new six-spring clutch design.
- Updated transmission.
- All-new radiators are mounted lower in the chassis.
- Revised fuel injection and ignition settings.

Look Ma, NO SPRINGS. This is the latest from Kayaba, a springless air fork that is said to have amazing tuning capabilities.

2013 SPECIFICATIONS
Model: CRF450R
-Engine Type: 449cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
-Bore and Stroke: 96mm x 62.1mm
-Compression ratio: 12.5:1
-Valve Train: Unicam, four-valve; 36mm intake, titanium; 31mm exhaust, steel
-Induction: PGM-FI, 46mm throttle body
-Ignition: Full transistor with electronic advance
-Transmission: Close-ratio five-speed
-Final Drive: #520 chain; 13T/48T

Suspension
Front: 48mm inverted KYB PSF® (Pneumatic Spring Fork) with rebound and compression-damping adjustability. 12.2 inches travel.
Rear: Pro-Link KYB single shock with spring preload, rebound damping adjustability, and compression damping adjustment separated into low-speed and high-speed; 12.5 inches travel.

Brakes
Front: Single 240mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear: Single 240mm disc

Tires
Front: Dunlop MX51FA 80/100-21
Rear: Dunlop MX51 120/80-19

-Wheelbase: 58.7 inches
-Rake (Caster Angle): 27° 04’
-Trail: 116mm (4.57 inches)
-Seat Height: 37.5 inches
-Ground Clearance: 13.0 inches
-Fuel Capacity: 1.66 gallons
-Color: Red
-Curb Weight*: 242.7 pounds
-*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.
-Consult owner’s manual for optional parts.

©2012 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. • All Rights Reserved
Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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