This marks the 27th year of the Honda XR650L, and the roots of this venerable dual sport motorcycle go all the way back to the 1985 Honda XR600R off-road motorcycle.
It’s a testament to a great basic design that keeps the XR650L relevant. The 2020 Honda XR650L lacks many of the bells and whistles—fuel injection, liquid cooling, DOHC—that traditionalists don’t want.
Honda® CRF450R, Honda® CRF450R HOLESHOT HUNGRY. PODIUM READY
Honda’s CFR450R is the nuclear option in the motocross wars. Light, powerful, nimble, responsive, it offers the most performance and refinement of any bike in its class. We’ve made some fine-tuning changes that make it a little better, but the big features that separate it from the pack remain.
For example, there’s the CRF450R’s Engine Mode Select button that lets you choose between three settings (Standard, Smooth and Aggressive), just by pushing a handlebar-mounted button. Use that in conjunction with our available HRC Fuel Injection Setting Tool, and it’s easier than ever to adjust your engine’s output for specific track conditions.
Next, the CRF450R's revolutionary KYB Air Fork features both high- and low-speed compression and rebound damping, letting you dial in the CRF450R's suspension in much quicker.
Details like a fork that’s five millimeters longer this year and a new shock link help make the CRF450R even more stable. There’s even a new chain roller to help. All in all, you have everything you need to put you up front, from the second the start gate drops to when the checkered flag falls.
Honda’s incredible CRF450R just keeps getting better and better. And if you’re looking to dominate the 450 class, this is the bike you want. A whole selection of updates this year make the bike look and handle even better.
Then there’s the limited-production CRF450R Works Edition. The RWE gets all the improvements of the CRF450R plus a special hand-ported cylinder head, black DID DirtStar LT-X rims, a new, exclusive Yoshimura exhaust system with titanium header, titanium nitride-coated lower fork legs and shock shaft, an RK gold chain, special ECU settings, a factory-spec gripper seat, and more.
Features may include:
HANDLING
NEXT-GENERATION ALUMINUM FRAME
The CRF450R’s Next-Gen twin spar aluminum frame positions the rear shock’s mounting point lower, opening up the airbox area and contributing to a lower center of gravity for more holeshots. The frame geometry also helps improve traction, feeling and steering precision.
ENGINEERING
HRC LAUNCH CONTROL
We’re talking about a special ECU program here: push the button to select the mode, hold the throttle open, release the clutch, and the CRF450R will do the rest, launching you into the first turn with a big advantage. It turns your bike into a holeshot-seeking machine!
CONVENIENCE
ELECTRIC STARTER
Kickstarting? Maybe if you’re riding in the vintage class, but not here. By ditching the kickstarter entirely, our engineers can make the CRF450R lighter. Electric starters and lithium-ion batteries are so light now and so good that putting them on a bike like this is a win/win combination. And winning is what a CRF450R is all about.
PERFORMANCE
EXCLUSIVE WORKS EDITION
Homologated for racing and available in limited numbers, the CRF450RWE Works Edition includes all the improvements of this year’s CRF450R plus a special hand-ported cylinder head, black DID DirtStar LT-X rims, an exclusive Yoshimura exhaust system including a titanium header, titanium nitride-coated lower fork legs and shock shaft, an RK gold chain, special ECU settings, black triple clamps, revalved suspension, a factory-spec gripper seat, and an HRC decal package.
we see a consolidation of the chassis of the Kawasaki KX450 and KX250 motocross motorcycles. While the two motors are distinctive, the rest of the KX racers are more alike than dissimilar this year.
With that in mind, let’s talk about what is new for the KX450 (and the KX250), as well as the differences between the KX450 and KX250.
1. The KX line gets an all-new clutch design. Kawasaki completely rethinks its clutch by ditching the traditional five-spring design and going with a coned disk, which acts as a spring. Additionally, the clutch now has hydraulic actuation. Expect an increase in feel and a decrease in effort, especially in the second half of the lever sweep. Also, the clutch plates on the KX450 are a larger diameter with new friction material.
2. Renthal Fatbars come to the Kawasaki KX motocrossers. This is an upgrade over the old continuous-diameter aluminum bars of old, and the ergonomic of the KXes have changed. The grip position is now lower and closer to the rider. Of course, Kawasaki’s Ergo-Fit feature allows for extensive personalization. There are two mounting holes for the handlebar clamp, for 35mm of adjustability, and the clamps can be spun 180 degrees for two more position possibilities. Kawasaki also provides two footpeg mounts, 5mm apart.
3. Inside the motor, the piston skirt gets a dry film lubricant. This allows the engine to rev quicker, with less power loss thanks to reduced friction.
4. The 2021 Kawasaki KX250 gets serious motor mods, along with the move to the KX450 chassis. The top-end gets new ports, new cam timing for the exhaust (retarded three degrees), stiffer valve springs, plus a revised combustion chamber design with a flatter piston crown. In the bottom end, we see a 3mm-longer connecting rod, lighter crankshaft, improved pressure balance in the cases, plus the same all-new clutch used in the KX450. In addition to more power, the 2021 KX250 revs 300 rpm higher than last year.
5. We are all happy to see the 2021 KX250 get e-start. Yes, you can start the KX250 with the push of a button, thanks to a new starter (with an automatic compression release) and a lithium-ion battery. There is no kickstart backup.
6. The KX250 continues to have its own KYB suspension setup. Rather than mimicking the heavy and more-powerful KX450, the KX250 has its own suspension units. To keep the KX250’s cost down, the KX gets a standard KYB fork rather than the Showa A-Kit works-style technology used by the KX450.
7. Kawasaki put a 10mm smaller Braking rear disc on the KX250 than the KX450. The 240mm disc cuts a bit of weight and helps prevent rear-wheel lockup due to less engine compression braking.
8. To reduce interference with the rider’s boot, there are new engine covers. Kawasaki smoothed the covers down, and put a gold finish on the oil cap and generator cover plugs.
9. You can run down to your Kawasaki dealer right now and have a good chance of checking out the 2021 Kawasaki KX450 and KX250. The KX450 hits the showroom floor with an MSRP of $8999, while the KX250 has a tag of $6999.
2021 Kawasaki KX450 (and KX250) Specs
ENGINE
Type: Single-cylinder four-stroke
Displacement: 449cc (KX250: 249cc)
Bore x stroke: 96.0 x 62.1mm (KX250: 78.0 x 52.2mm)
Compression ratio: 12.5:1 (KX250: 14.1:1)
Starting: Electric
Fueling: EFI w/ 44mm Keihin throttle body (KX250: dual injectors)
Transmission: 5-speed
Clutch: Hydraulically actuated w/ coned-disc spring
Final drive: Chain
CHASSIS
Frame: Aluminum perimeter
Handlebar: Renthal Fatbar
Front suspension; travel: Compression- and rebound-damping adjustable Showa 49mm inverted fork; 12.0 inches (KX250: Compression- and rebound-damping adjustable KYB 48mm inverted fork; 12.4 inches)
Potent 65cc Motocrosser
Built to win, the YZ65™ is ready to tackle the track with winning performance right out of the gate. And, of course, this compact machine features Yamaha's renowned off-road competition quality and durability just like the bigger YZs.
YPVS™ Powerplant
The 65cc two-stroke engine features the legendary Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS), a mechanical power valve system that delivers a broad spread of power and torque across the entire RPM range.
Adjustable Chassis
With a strong steel frame and adjustable front and rear suspension, the YZ65 offers riders the traction, confidence and tunability of full-size motocross machines in a compact package.
ENGINE
Engine Type 65cc liquid-cooled 2-stroke; reed-valve inducted
YZ85 GALLERY 360° VIEW SPECIFICATIONS Available from December 2021 ENGINE Engine Type 85cc liquid-cooled 2-stroke; reed-valve inducted Bore x Stroke 47.5mm x 47.8mm Compression Ratio...