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RIDE REVIEW I 2025 HONDA CRF450R
changes. The team's gone
through and welded on metal
reinforcements to the head-
tube and downtube areas to
stiffen up the frame to Jett's
liking, and since AMA rules
allow teams to add material,
not take away, these addi
-
tions were legal for racing.
So why stiffer? Despite our
complaints of a harsh ride in
the past, Honda says the previ
-
ous frame was actually one
of the "softest" in the class.
stiffer. We'll explain in a bit.
The engine wasn't com-
pletely ignored, either. It got a
new airbox and air filter, a new
longer header pipe, and a new
ECU with the goal of smooth-
ing out the overall power
output.
Most of these changes
have trickled down from the
HRC race team's findings.
Looking closely at Jett Law
-
rence's ride over the past two
years, you'll see some of these
All-New?
As a result, and by how it now
looks, you might understand-
ably assume that the 2025
Honda CRF450R is "all new."
It is, but not quite. Accord-
ing to Honda, it is 70 percent
new, with most changes to the
frame and chassis. The frame
has been reinforced in key ar
-
eas like the head tube, down-
tube, and rear shock tower
to make the bike stiffer—yes,
The new Honda has a touch
of that old-school look. Still, the
Honda is an eye-catcher.
