2018 Honda CRF450R, CRF450RX Info Released

Honda electrifies the 2018 Honda CRF450R motocrosser by incorporating electric starting as a standard feature. CRF450RX and CRF150R return for ’18 as well.

American Honda has released information on the 2018 Honda CRF450R, CRF450RX and CRF150R. The 2018 Honda CRF450R now comes standard with electric start! The 2017 Honda CRF450R won DirtBikes.com’s 2017 450cc motocross shootout. The official press release is as follows:

TORRANCE, Calif.–Honda revealed today that the 2018 Honda CRF450R gets even better for the 2018 model year, with electric starting now standard. Designed following an “Absolute Holeshot” philosophy that resulted in a downdraft-intake layout achieving optimum power and centralized mass, the revolutionary motocross model is the industry’s top-selling 450cc motocrosser. The electric starter that was previously offered as an accessory is now standard, as is a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and the CRF450R also gets updated suspension settings aimed at improving chassis feel and overall action.

Today’s 2018 model-year announcement also included the updated 2018 Honda CRF450RX closed-course off-road bike and returning Honda CRF150R mini motocrosser.

“It’s been amazing to see the success of the CRF450R this year, and we’re even more excited about this model with the improvements we’ve made for 2018,” said Lee Edmunds, American Honda’s Manager of Motorcycle Marketing Communications. “In addition to the obvious convenience, electric starting can save valuable seconds following a mid-moto mistake, and with the use of a lithium-ion battery, we can still achieve an extremely light weight. These changes make the CRF450R more competitive than ever, and of course customers can continue to count on Honda durability, quality, and reliability.”

2018 Honda CRF450R

2018 Honda CRF450R

The CRF450R’s downdraft air-intake and fuel-injection layout achieves a potent, broad spread of torque, but it also allows for heavier components to be located as centrally and low as possible so that all that power can be effectively utilized. In addition, the vehicle packaging results in nimble cornering, while updated suspension settings to the Showa® shock and 49mm coil-spring fork improve handling. Corresponding with the addition of an electric starter (powered by a lightweight lithium-ion battery), the kick-start lever has been removed in order to shave precious weight. An updated ECU setting means power delivery is more useable than ever, and the big CRF still has great features like a titanium fuel tank, engine-mode select button, and wave-pattern 260mm front brake. Add it all together and you’ve got a bike that delivers even better on its promise of the “Absolute Holeshot.”

2018 Honda CRF450R Specifications
Engine Type: 449cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore And Stroke: 96mm x 62.1mm
Compression Ratio: 13.5:1
Valve Train: Unicam® four-valve; 38mm intake, titanium; 31mm exhaust, Steel
Induction: Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), 46mm downdraft throttle body
Ignition: Fully transistorized with electronic advance
Transmission: Close-ratio five-speed
Final Drive: #520 Chain; 13T/49T
Front Suspension: 49mm inverted Showa fork with rebound and compression damping adjustability; 12.0 inches of travel
Rear Suspension: Pro-Link® Showa single shock with adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability; 12.3 inches of travel
Front Brake: Single 260mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear Brake: Single 240mm disc
Front Tire: Dunlop MX3S 90/100-21
Rear Tire: Dunlop MX3S 120/80-19
Wheelbase: 58.3 inches
Rake: 27° 22′ (Caster Angle)
Trail: 116mm (4.6 inches)
Seat Height: 37.8 inches
Ground Clearance: 12.9 inches
Fuel Capacity: 1.7 gallons
Curb Weight: 248 lbs. (Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.)
Available Colors: Red
Price: $9,149
Availability: July 2017

2018 Honda CRF450RX

2018 Honda CRF450R

Currently being campaigned in the GNCC series by JCR Honda’s Trevor Bollinger, the CRF450RX already came with electric starting, but for 2018 the model gets a weight reduction with the removal of the kick-start lever and the switch to a lighter-weight lithium-ion battery. The model is based closely on the flagship CRF450R but with off-road-focused updates like a larger 2.2-gallon fuel tank, 18-inch rear wheel, side stand, optimized ECU and suspension settings, and more. When it comes to closed-course competition like GNCC, hare scrambles, and Grand Prix racing, the CRF450RX constitutes the ultimate off-road weapon.

2018 Honda CRF450RX Specifications
Engine Type: 449cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
Bore And Stroke: 96mm x 62.1mm
Compression Ratio: 13.5:1
Valve Train: Unicam® four-valve; 38mm intake, titanium; 31mm exhaust, Steel
Induction: Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI), 46mm downdraft throttle body
Ignition: Fully transistorized with electronic advance
Transmission: Close-ratio five-speed
Final Drive: #520 Chain; 13T/50T
Front Suspension: 49mm inverted Showa fork with rebound and compression damping adjustability; 12.0 inches of travel
Rear Suspension: ro-Link® Showa single shock with adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability; 12.28 inches of travel
Front Brake: Single 260mm disc with twin-piston caliper
Rear Brake: Single 240mm disc
Front Tire: Dunlop Geomax AT81 90/90-21
Rear Tire: Dunlop Geomax AT81 120/90-18
Wheelbase: 58.1 inches
Rake: 27° 22′ (Caster Angle)
Trail: 116mm (4.6 inches)
Seat Height: 37.8 inches
Ground Clearance: 12.9 inches
Fuel Capacity: 2.2 gallons
Curb Weight: 257 lbs. (Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride.)
Color: Red
Price: $9,249
Availability: August 2017

2018 Honda CRF150R/CRF150R Expert
As Amsoil Honda hotshot Carson Mumford demonstrates on the amateur national circuit, where he regularly posts moto wins and podium finishes, Honda’s smallest motocross machine is more than competitive against its competition, thanks to a Unicam® four-stroke engine (based on the power plants of the larger Honda motocrossers) that offers a spread of ample, useable power and torque across the rev range. Suspension duties are handled by Showa, with a 37mm inverted fork and Pro-Link® rear link system, and new graphics for 2018 align the model with the CRF450R. In addition to the standard version, Honda offers the CRF150R Expert, which features larger wheels, a taller seat and a longer swingarm.

2018 Honda CRF150R Specifications
Engine Type: 149cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder single cylinder four stroke
Bore And Stroke: 66mm x 43.7mm
Compression Ratio: 11.7:1
Valve Train: Unicam®, four-valve; 26mm intake, steel; 22.5mm exhaust, steel
Induction: Keihin® 32mm flat slide with Throttle Position Sensor (TPS)
Ignition: Solid-state CD with electronic advance
Transmission: Close-ratio five speed
Final Drive:#420 chain; 15T/50T
Front Suspension: 37mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted Showa® cartridge fork; 10.8 inches travel
Rear Suspension: Pro-Link® fully adjustable Showa single shock; 10.7 inches travel
Front Brake: Single 220mm disc
Rear Brake: Single 190mm disc
Front Tire: 70/100-17 Dunlop MX51
Rear Tire: 90/100-14
Rake: 27°2′ (Caster Angle)
Trail: 78mm (3.1 inches)
Wheelbase: 49.6 inches
Seat Height: 32.8 inches
Ground Clearance: 11.9 inches
Curb Weight: 185 pounds (Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel–ready to ride.)
Fuel Capacity: 1.11 gallons
Color: Red
Price
CRF150R: $5,099
CRF150R Expert: $5,299
Availability: July 2017

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