Actually, a few things have
changed since that first RX.
For one, this bike has seen
updates alongside it's advanced
CRF450R brother for 2021. It
has the gamut of chassis new-
ness and model-specific up-
dated engine and suspension
settings as well as the ample
suite of dirt bike electronics now
common on the CRF-R's. You
can adjust three levels of three
systems here; Honda Selectable
Torque Control (traction control,
basically), HRC Launch Mode
for starts (if this doesn't say "I'm
not a trail bike." I don't know
what will), and Engine Modes.
All of these are selectable in
three levels, jockeying the bike's
behavior accordingly.
All of this aligns with their flag-
ship MX machine. But where the
RX differs is with a bit of closed-
course off-road goodies. Name-
ly, this comes down to a mel-
lower tune to the ECU map and
suspension settings to provide a
bit of compliance at high speeds
off-road and in technical race
terrain. It also gets one tooth
more on the rear sprocket than
the R and the standard 18-inch
rear wheel and kickstand. Since
off-road races are longer than
MX, the fuel capacity is boosted
up to 2.1 gallons from the R's 1.7
gallons. Oh, and finally, Honda
has decent race-style hand
guards on an off-road bike again.
These little beauties really do the
trick and were blatantly missing
from the previous RX, as well as
Honda's CRF450X off-roader
and CRF450L dual-sport ma-
chines. We dig 'em!
So, it's a mellow CRF450R
with a big tank, softer suspen-
P66
RIDE REVIEW I 2021 HONDA CRF450RX
A little more knobby and a
little more fuel and the RX
is ready for the track.
