2009 Honda CRF®450R

Additional Features

• Kickstarter arm reshaped to reduce weight.
• Narrower engine allows right-side engine guard to be eliminated, saving weight.
• Lightweight aluminum brake pedal and shift lever are designed to complement new ergonomics.
• Seat base redesigned to reduce overall height and width while maintaining foam thickness.
• Left side oil check dip-stick replaces sight glass.
• Rider ergonomics are optimized by adapting the handlebar, seat and footpeg height to place the rider's legs at the narrowest part of the frame for improved comfort and handling feel.
• Removable engine mounts allow easier engine removal.
• New grey color magnesium head cover, clutch cover and left side cover.
• Honda First: Engine stop switch features an integrated LED pre-ride check indicator with EFI diagnostic capability to ensure CRF450R is operating at maximum capacity.
• Stainless steel clutch cable for long life.
• Redesigned higher-capacity airbox improves filter access.
• Front and rear fenders redesigned with greater rigidity; rear fender design helps prevent mud and debris from gathering on muffler.
• Quick-adjust clutch perch for easy cable adjustment.
• New handgrips are 3 mm longer and feature a softer compound and wire grooves.
• Aluminum Renthal handlebar (971 bend) is rubber-mounted to help reduce rider fatigue and improve comfort.
• New sidecover shape is narrower and improves flow to airbox.
• Redesigned radiator shrouds are narrowed to aid rider movement.
• Wide, cleated stainless steel footpegs provide excellent grip and are self-cleaning and corrosion resistant.
• New fuel tank tether eliminates need to disconnect fuel line to work on top end.
• Comfortable, durable controls and high-quality fasteners.
• Brake pedal features optimized ratio to match integrated rear-brake master-cylinder design.
• Fuel cap height is shorter, allowing rider to move farther forward on the tank.
• Handlebar holders provide two different mounting positions to match rider preference.
• Washable, two-stage foam air filter for optimal engine protection and easy maintenance.
• Honda Racing™-inspired colors and graphics.
• Adjustable front brake lever for improved control.
• New handlebar grips add to rider comfort.
• Dunlop 742FA front and a new 120/80-19 D756 rear tires maximize traction.
• Repackable silencer for maximum performance and minimal noise.
• Clutch cover profile reshaped for improved foot placement.

Chassis / Suspension

• Frame, steering head and swingarm modifications permit a reduction in triple clamp offset (22 to 20 mm).
• Fifth-generation Twin-Spar Aluminum Frame with forged-aluminum steering head is now 14 ounces lighter than previous design. Spar height was reduced (70 to 66 mm) and width was narrowed (27 to 26 mm). Stronger downtubes improve front-end feel.
• Rear axle diameter of 25 mm and large-diameter bearings provide additional rigidity. Axle wall thickness reduced (2.5 to 2.2 mm) to save weight (38 grams) while axle collar is strengthened for better rigidity.
• Link-type front brake master cylinder and a lightweight brake rotor provide strong braking.
• Front wheel featuring new stiffer axle collar provides excellent rigidity.
• Pro-Link Rear Suspension features exclusive Kayaba integrated reservoir with all-new damping and spring settings.
• Steering response and overall handling were improved by moving steering head pipe back 10 mm (and closer to swingarm pivot).. Positioning the front wheel 15 mm farther back and closer to crankshaft.
• Re-shaped works style 240 mm front brake rotor is 1.3 ounces lighter. Front disc guard is smaller, lighter and vented.
• Large 50 mm rear shock damper piston diameter for consistent performance under demanding riding conditions.
• Front and rear wheels feature HRC works-type lightweight aluminum spoke nipples.
• 240 mm rear brake rotor features works style pattern and is 1 ounce lighter. New plastic disc guard saves 4 grams of weight.
• HRC works-style rear brake system integrates the rear master-cylinder and fluid reservoir, eliminating the separate reservoir and hose.
• Honda Progressive Steering Damper (HPSD) revalved for more linear damping. HPSD features a compact damper attached to the lower triple clamp and the steering head to allow more aggressive steering characteristics and assist straight-line handling. Damping action smoothly progresses as handlebar deflection increases, which produces very natural steering characteristics and feel.
• Swingarm cross-member wall thickness was reduced (3.75 to 3.0 mm) to save weight.
• Revised, sophisticated Inverted Air-Oil-Separated (AOS) fork features exclusive Honda 48 mm diameter fork made by Kayaba with all-new damping and spring settings.
• Lower engine frame rails are widened and beveled to provide added cornering clearance.
• Swingarm is 18 mm longer for improved traction.
• Removable rear subframe was redesigned to eliminate brackets and cross-members. Shape altered to improved air filter access and narrow the bike profile.
• Forged swingarm pivot plates increase rigidity for improved handling.

Engine / Drivetrain

• Lightweight Ni-SiC cylinder lining provides cooler and quieter operation for extended engine life.
• Eight clutch plates handle the engine's massive torque while the number of clutch springs is reduced from 6 to 4. This reduces centrifugal weight, allowing the engine rev quicker.
• Liquid-cooled four-valve Unicam® 449 cc engine produces more than 125.3 hp per liter and now utilizes a four-lobe camshaft and individual rocker arms for each exhaust valve to reduce weight and contribute to higher rpm ceiling.
• New forged slipper-piston material permits thinner crown, contributing to shorter cylinder height. Low-friction surface treatment assures high-rev potential.
• AC generator enlarged to service PGM-FI system. Two crankshaft position sensors quickly determine crank position to provide quick starts, hot or cold.
• Redesigned auto decompression and hot restart procedure is simplified and lighter with cam-integrated plunger and shaft-integrated decompression weight for easy starting in hot or cold conditions.
• Gear-driven balancer reduces vibration and drives the water pump.
• Cam sprocket now press-fitted to camshaft, reducing weight by 20 grams compared to previous bolted design.
• Lightweight titanium intake valves and redesigned valve springs reduce overall engine height and permit higher rpm. New intake valve stem diameters reduced (5.5 to 5.0 mm).
• New mechanical water pump seal improves durability.
• Kashima coating applied to the clutch basket, clutch center and pressure plate improve clutch life and clutch feel.
• Relocated crankshaft main journal cradles (inside of flywheels) allows reduction of connecting rod big-end diameter (34 to 33 mm), reducing weight while maintaining overall strength. Crankshaft cutaway eliminates piston skirt contact at BDC, also reducing weight.
• All-new Programmed Fuel Injection system (PGM-FI) utilizes a 50 mm throttle body design with 12-hole injection nozzle fed by lightweight 50-psi pump to ensure optimum fuel atomization and precisely targeted fuel charge. System also achieves an improvement in fuel consumption.
• All-new engine spins faster-11,450 rpm-and harder, churning out 56.3 bhp at 8,500 rpm and 37.5 lb./ft. of torque at 7,000 rpm.
• Coolant flow rerouted outside engine cases via bolt-on flange/jacket, allowing reduction of crankcase and cylinder width, and overall weight.
• Engine completely redesigned to lower the overall height and position it closer to front wheel, resulting in a lower overall Cg and better weight distribution for better handling.
• Cylinder attaches to engines cases with through-bolts instead of studs, allowing in frame cylinder removal.
• Redesigned exhaust system incorporates a left-side cylinder head exhaust port, increasing header length and allows muffler to be positioned closer to center of mass, contributing to significantly improved weight distribution and handling.
• Reshaped cylinder head combustion chamber is shorter yet has a larger volume squish area for better flame propagation.
• PGM-FI system monitors throttle position, intake air and coolant temperatures, air pressure and gear position to accurately map fuel charge and ignition spark, significantly improving partial-throttle response and helping assure excellent rideability.
• Lower camshaft mount built into the cylinder head to reduce weight and engine height.
• Twin-sump lubrication system separates the oil supply for the crankshaft, piston and valve train from the clutch and transmission. This ensures a cool supply of oil to the clutch, eliminates clutch and transmission material contamination of the engine oil and reduces the amount of circulating oil allowing the oil pump size to be reduced.
• Oil pump strainer now built into the engine case to reduce parts and weight.
• Numerous transmission modifications narrow transmission width and reduce weight without sacrificing durability.
• Engine height reduced by shortening length of connecting rod 3.5 mm (105.6 to 102.1 mm) to allow shorter cylinder.

New for 2009

• Innovative exhaust system improves mass centralization
• All new bodywork
• Redesigned higher-capacity airbox improves filter access
• Kayaba front and rear suspension
• Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)
• All new lighter engine
• All-new fifth generation aluminum frame features a longer swing arm, and a lower CG for improved acceleration and better front wheel traction