For decades, Japanese and European dual sport motorcycles differed dramatically with the Euro brands leaning heavily toward a dirt bias while the Japanese offerings were, frankly, overweight dirt imposters.
No more. The 2020 Honda CRF450L does more than look like a CRF450R or ’RX with turn signals; it borrows significantly from most of those models’ major components like the engine, frame, and suspension to create a Japanese dual-purpose bike that’s truly at home in the dirt while meeting increasingly strict government requirements in qualifying for street use.
A brand-new model for 2019, the CRF450L immediately sparked interest from all quarters and was the impetus for a comparison last year with the Beta 430 RR-S, Husqvarna FE 450, and KTM 500 EXC-F. Stacked up against those proven examples, it held its own in most categories, and despite being the heaviest, its CRF450R-derived suspension and aluminum frame enabled it to perform best in high-speed whoops. Not surprisingly, the Honda was also the most comfortable on the street and its $10,399 price tag made it the least expensive choice of the four. Interestingly, several individuals have stripped their CRF450Ls of extraneous street accoutrements, added some performance pieces, and raced them with good success in the desert.
The sole difference between the 2020 and 2019 CRF450L is the graphics package. Even the price is unchanged.
