2019 Honda CRF450L First Ride Review | Ultimate Motorcycling

The wait is over – Honda has finally released a 450cc dual-sport motorcycle. For years, dual-sport enthusiasts have been practically clamoring at the gates of Japanese manufacturers, begging for a dual-sport variant to the popular and highly competitive motocross machines that have been churned out for decades. With only a handful of European brands offering street-legal dual-sport models, the 2019 Honda CRF450L aims to quell that long-standing drought. Based on the venerable CRF450R motocross racer, Honda did a bit more than slap a license plate and lights to meet DOT regulations – the 450L has a few tweaks to make it a user-friendly, road-worthy, and exciting offering within the dual-sport market. The clutch basket is more substantial, and 12% more crank inertia is at play on the 450L, which has tamed the personality of the motor a bit in comparison to the R model, but we&now met with smooth, linear power delivery. Sure, it still has plenty of snap to pop the front end up over obstacles, but the focus was to make the 450L’s powerplant approachable for a wide variety of riders. Fully adjustable Showa suspension is found on the 450L and makes use of the same hardware as the 450R racer – with spring rates and valving designed explicitly for this dual-sport application. Handling in the trails and on the street was equally commendable, and the chassis is derived from, you guessed it, the full-blown 450R. Comfort was also prioritized in some ingenious ways. Honda...