The Honda CRF450RL weighs 131kg wet, has a seat height of 940mm and 320mm of ground clearance, and makes 41hp. Expect about 55 mpg, for a range of around 90 miles from its 7.6-litre tank.
10/10
Holloway Green Lane Score
A road-legal competition enduro, not a mild dual-sport, exceptionally light and capable, but demanding to own with short service intervals and a tiny tank. Rider ability, terrain, weather and tyre choice still move the real answer more than the bike alone does.
Four separate scores, not one blended number, so you can see what's actually driving it.
Beginner friendliness
4/5
Road usability
1/5
Technical off-road capability
5/5
Green-lane suitability
5/5
Full specs
Price (new, OTR)£9,499
Engine450cc
Power41hp
Torque38Nm
Weight (wet)131kg
Seat height940mm
Fuel tank7.6L
Real-world range~90 mi
Economy~55 mpg
Wheels (f/r)21" / 18"
Ground clearance320mm
Suspension travel (f/r)305mm / 300mm
ABSNo
Traction controlNo
Ride modesNo
Service interval1,800 miles
Licence requiredA
Stock tyre sizes (f/r)80/100-21 / 120/80-18
Stock tyresIRC GP21 / GP22
Where the Honda CRF450RL sits
Wet weight against ground clearance for every bike in the finder that publishes both. Light and tall, top left, is where the easiest green lane bikes sit. Tap a dot to open that bike.
Figures are manufacturer claims. Clearance is measured differently by different makers, so treat small gaps as a draw.
Will your feet reach?
The Honda CRF450RL has a 940mm seat. Enter your inside leg for a rough idea of how much foot you'll get down when stopped.
A rough guide only. A wide seat needs more leg than a narrow one, the suspension settles 20 to 40mm under you, and boots add a little. Many bikes offer a low seat or lowering link. Sit on one before you buy.
Range against similar bikes
Real-world range from tank size and typical economy, against the bikes closest to it in weight and type. Out on the lanes, fuel stops are often further apart than on a road ride.
Range only. Hard off-road riding and headwinds use more fuel, so plan fuel stops with margin.
Tyres that fit the Honda CRF450RL
It runs a 80/100-21 front and a 120/80-18 rear, on IRC GP21 / GP22 from the factory. 15 tyres in our Tyre Finder are made in at least one of those sizes, ranked by green lane score.
Sizes are for the standard UK model and can change between model years. Check the size on your own tyre sidewall, and ask your dealer before fitting a different size. Our size lists come from maker and retailer listings and can miss sizes, so a tyre shown for one end may still be made in your other size. Check the maker's size chart.
The CRF450RL is not a mild dual-sport, it's a road-legal competition enduro engineered with Japanese precision. The aluminium twin-spar chassis and Showa coil-spring forks provide pinpoint steering accuracy and near-bottomless impact absorption that makes ordinary trail bikes feel sluggish and soft. At just 131kg wet, you can lift it out of waist-deep bogs single-handedly. It requires an owner who understands its racing DNA though: service intervals are short, road range is tiny, and the snatchy off-idle throttle mapping requires clutch discipline on technical walking-pace crawls.
Pros for green laning
Featherweight 131kg wet weight: a full competition-derived aluminium beam frame light enough to manhandle out of the deepest bogs effortlessly.
Top-tier Showa suspension: 49mm fully adjustable coil-spring forks offer 305mm front / 300mm rear travel and 320mm ground clearance.
Potent 450 Unicam engine: delivers explosive, instant low-to-mid torque for lofting over logs, steps, and ditches.
Full 21"/18" competition geometry: uncompromising dirt-bike handling and grip on technical UK single-track and steep hill climbs.
Cons and limitations
Small 7.6-litre fuel tank: yields only ~80-95 real-world miles, requiring strict fuel planning or an aftermarket oversized tank.
Short service intervals: requires oil and filter changes every 1,800 miles and frequent valve clearance inspections.
Very tall 940mm seat: a pure enduro seat height makes touching down in off-camber ruts impossible for shorter riders.
Snatchy off-idle throttle: an aggressive fuel injection map can feel jerky at walking-pace technical crawls without clutch slip.
Based on manufacturer specifications and independent motorcycle press reviews.
Remember: a rank here assumes reasonable stock tyres and a competent rider in decent conditions. The right tyres, or the wrong weather, can move a lane from easy to genuinely hard regardless of what bike you're on. Check a lane's own difficulty and hazards on the map before you go, don't rely on a bike score alone.
Find where to actually ride it
Browse legal green lanes and byways across England and Wales, filtered by difficulty, on Holloway's map.
