The 2027 Honda CRF450R review verdict from the first tests is unusually consistent. Four outlets rode it at Honda’s August press launch, and all of them found the same thing: it’s lighter and stronger, but the bigger change is that it’s calmer. The handling that riders called “busy” on the last generation has been settled down, and the extra power arrives smoothly rather than as a hit. Here is what changed, what the testers liked, and what they didn’t.
What is actually new #
Honda calls this an all-new bike, and the testers back that up. Cycle News reports that nothing inside the engine carries over from the previous design, which had been essentially the same base since 2017. It keeps the four-valve Unicam layout, but with larger intake valves, a bigger bore, higher compression and taller gearing.
Honda’s headline claims, as reported by Cycle News:
- Weight: 9.9 pounds (about 4.5 kg) lighter than the 2026, with a claimed curb weight of 238.1 pounds (about 108 kg). Six of those pounds come from an engine that is half an inch narrower.
- Clutch: smaller and lighter, with rubber dampers acting as a back-torque limiter for a slipper-style action. Cycle News notes the same system is already used on HRC’s factory bikes in MXGP.
- Suspension: a redesigned 49 mm Showa coil fork using a new Dynamic Blow System valve structure, with fork springs up from 5.0 to 5.2 N/mm.
- Chassis and ergonomics: new frame and subframe, footpegs moved 5 mm rearward, slightly slacker steering geometry, and a longer wheelbase, now 58.7 inches. Bodywork is wider at the shrouds and the seat so it’s easier to grip with your legs.
- Fuel: the titanium tank grows from 1.7 to 1.9 US gallons (about 6.4 to 7.2 litres).
- Noise: longer header and muffler, designed to meet the AMA’s new 109 dB pro racing limit.
Two quieter changes matter for owners. Cycle News reports that the secondary filter cover inside the airbox and the external skid plate are both gone, leaving only the plastic water-pump cover as protection. If you run it in rocky terrain, budget for a skid plate. With a redesigned airbox, it’s also worth reading our air filter maintenance guide before your first service.
How much more power? The sources disagree #
The outlets don’t agree on one number. Cycle News reports a 10 percent power increase and says Honda puts the output above 60 horsepower. MotoOnline’s test describes it as almost 10 pounds lighter “with around 12 percent more power.” Treat the gain as “roughly ten percent, depending on who you ask” until independent dyno figures appear.
Cycle News also published slightly different exhaust lengths and head-angle figures in its spec article and its riding review. Those details are left out here rather than guessed.
On the track: calmer, not wilder #
This is where the testers line up most closely.
The engine. Cycle News’ tester had ridden the 2026 model all year and called the 2027 night-and-day different. It has less vibration, it’s much quieter, and the power comes more linearly, so smoothly that “the meat of the powerband sneaks up on you.” Dirt Bike Test found no single standout zone in the powerband, just usable power at any throttle position, and said hitting the rev limiter is actually hard to do. MXP Magazine said the old engine signed off early and forced quick shifts; the new one pulls longer. MotoOnline found it could often ride one gear higher than on the 2026.
The handling. MXP reports that Honda test rider Trey Canard used the word “busy” for the 2025–26 bike, and that Honda’s goal was to make it “calm.” MXP’s verdict from the sand whoops at Spring Creek was that the new bike fixes the old pitching problem and still “corners like it’s on rails.” Dirt Bike Test found the twitchy, front-end-chasing feel of earlier CRFs significantly reduced. Turn-in feels slightly heavier, which they called a welcome trade. MotoOnline singled out rear-wheel traction as the biggest highlight: the rear stays connected through rough sections instead of kicking.
The clutch. Dirt Bike Test called it the best hydraulic clutch feel they have ever had on a Honda. The slipper action gives a freer feel into corners without anything odd through the lever.
Launch control. MotoOnline says it is much improved over the previous system, which could feel inconsistent. They add that Canard said he would use the production launch control if he were racing the bike.
Suspension. Cycle News found it plush, needing only minor fine-tuning. Dirt Bike Test called it one of the plushest-feeling Hondas they have ridden. They started at a ride height of roughly 102 mm and found more comfort and steering precision with small adjustments. If you have never measured your own setup, our sag calculator gives you the baseline to work from.
What the testers didn’t like #
The criticism is short, and two outlets made the same complaint:
- Seat cover grip. Cycle News says it has little traction, and Dirt Bike Test called the seat comfortable but “not overly grippy.”
- Grips. Cycle News found them harsh.
- No smartphone connectivity. Per Cycle News, the CRF450R and the Suzuki RM-Z450 are the only bikes in the class without it.
- Map switching. Dirt Bike Test says changing maps is fiddly and impossible on the fly, unlike some rivals.
The caveat on all of this #
Every one of these impressions comes from a single press launch: one track, Spring Creek, in early August. Dirt Bike Test say plainly that their track was loamy and soft, and that they want time on dry, hard-packed dirt before giving a final verdict. MotoOnline note the surface started slick and sticky. Treat these as strong first impressions on forgiving dirt, not a full comparison against the KTM, Yamaha and Kawasaki in every condition.
No EU price appears in any of these sources, so none is given here. US pricing doesn’t carry over, so check your national importer.
Where it fits #
Cycle News notes the 2027 production bike is styled after the HRC bikes Jeffrey Herlings and Tom Vialle race in MXGP, and that the HRC Works Edition adds factory-style parts on top. We covered how Honda’s 2026 MXGP season ended in 2026 MXGP champions. For the wider picture, our 2027 motocross bikes roundup covers the rest of the model year, and 2026 motocross bikes compared is the baseline it’s improving on.
Sources #
