Honda Turns CRF Dirt Bikes Into Slightly New Monsters for the 2025 Model Year

5 months, 3 weeks ago - 28 May 2024, autoevolution
Honda Turns CRF Dirt Bikes Into Slightly New Monsters for the 2025 Model Year
We're almost halfway through 2025 and that means most of the bike makers of the world are done with presenting us the upgrades to their model range for the 2025 model year. Yet there are a few strays left, and the novelties they have prepared are more than enough to keep us on our toes about what's next.

One of these strays is Japanese bike maker Honda, which this month already presented us with the revised versions of the NX500, CBR500R, and CB500F. May will end with the release of the 2025 model year versions of the CRF dirt bike range, which were revealed at the end of last week.

Honda's dirt bikes are no laughing matter. Already in 2024 the range has landed the Japanese company the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship in the 450SX class at the hands of Jett Lawrence, and has ruled the charts in the AMA Pro Motocross series. And further exciting achievements seem to be on the horizon - at least that's the impression one gets when looking at what the bike maker has up its sleeve.

We'll discuss each of the models separately in the lines below, but before we get into it, a few general considerations about what changed for 2025. Although we're not exactly talking about brand-new models joining the range (there is just one), the existing ones promise to bring more capabilities than ever thanks to upgrades to the bikes's chassis, engines, and pretty much everything else.

Honda CRF450R

If there ever was a motorcycle built with racing rider input then the Honda CRF450R is it. The bike in its 2025 model year incarnation is the result of work conducted together with Jett and Hunter Lawrence, as well as five-time MXGP world champion Tim Gajser.

The bike's DNA traces its roots in competitive riding, but, at least according to Honda, that doesn't mean customer input wasn't taken into consideration.

The bike maker doesn't not go into all the specifics of the changes made, but does says when and for how much it will sell it for: starting August, with a MSRP of $9,699 and a single color scheme, red.

Honda CRF450RWE

The purpose-built race version of the bike above is being offered for 2025 as well. The WE acronym is there to signify Works Edition, and that translates into "a long list of component upgrades that are championship-proven in the AMA Supercross, AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross series."

Other than that, the bike uses the same chassis, suspension, and engine as the CRF450R. It also shares its color, red, and it will be available starting in November at $12,599.

Honda CRF450RX

The CRF450RX is one of the Japanese bike maker's closed-course off-road racing tools. Because it's meant to be used in hardcore settings, it comes with top-notch components: motocross-grade engine and chassis, dedicated ECU and suspension system, and a rather massive, 18-inch wheel at the back.

It too uses the shares components with the CRF450R, and it's a bike some of you might know for being raced by teams like SLR Honda, Phoenix Racing Honda and JCR Honda. The red CRF450RXwill sell from August for prices starting at $9,999.

Honda CRF250R

This is the bike that Jett and Hunter Lawrence used to chase after and win the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross 250 Championship and the AMA Supercross 250 Championship. As such, it mostly remains the same capable beast it ever was, but it adds undisclosed upgrades to the chassis, suspension, and engine to make it even more unstoppable.

A perfect fit for young riders who don't necessarily have a lot of experience, the motorcycle in its 2025 incarnation will be offered in July in the same shade of red as the bikes above, but for prices that start at $8,299.

Honda CRF250RWE

The Works Edition of the bike described above adds to the already impressive package parts ususally deployed on the rides used by the Team Honda HRC (riders Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas.) in the quarter-liter category.

It's the first time this has happened for this model, and as such people will be able to get their hands in the bike starting September for a significantly higher price than that of the bike it us based on: $10,599. The only color offered is red.

Honda CRF250RX

Meant for closed-course off-road races, the CRF250RX is a sort of cousin of the CRF250R, only boasting off-road specific features and gear. In this incarnation, the bike uses the same chassis, suspension and engine as it motocross sibling.

The model is the one ridden by the Phoenix Racing Honda and SLR Honda teams in various competitions, and is the holder of the 2023 NGPC Pro II title in the hands of rider Kade Tinkler-Walker.

Th revised, 2025 version of the Honda CRF250RXcomes in red and will be available from August starting at $8,699.

Honda CRF450X

The bulletproof bike, as Honda describes it, is the work of the company together with Johnny Campbell, the rider who won the most Baja 1000 races ever: 16 of them. For the 2025 model year the ride is offered with a sine stand, an 18-inch rear wheel, headlight, and sealed chain.

Honda plans to sell this bike from June, with the only version, red, going for $8,699.

Honda CRF450RL
The CRF450RLis a dual-sport bike designed to tackle both even and less even roads with the same prowess. The bike is built on the CRF450 Performance and features a 449cc Unicam engine sitting in a twin-spar aluminum frame.

The thing rocks off-road tweaked bits of hardware like say long-travel suspension and a wide-ratio six-speed transmission, but it also includes road legal elements like say the muffler.

The 2025 version of the bike comes in red and will get on dealers' lots in August, with a price tag reading $10,099.

Honda CRF150R

This one is the smallest bike in the bike maker's CRF Performance lineup, but that doesn't make it any less important or capable. That's because even if it's small, it packs hardware one usually gets in full-size rides: Showa suspension, a Unicam four-stroke engine in the frame, and either standard or big wheels.

The bike is intended first and foremost for young riders trying to enter the fascinating realm of motorcycling, and that means it's also rather cheap: $5,399 ($5,599 for the big wheel version). It should be available in August.

Honda CRF250F

Slightly bigger than the previous bike, the CRF250Fis off-road legal in all 50 American states and is meant for both experienced and beginner riders. To make sure everything is covered, the bike packs things like electronically controlled fuel injection and Showa suspension system.

The Honda CRF250F will be out and about wearing red in August, selling from even lower than the 150, $4,999.

Honda CRF125F

Located about halfway in Honda's CRF Trail family, the CRF125F is meant to take even the less initiated off the beaten path, in either standard or big wheel versions. It too can be ridden off the road in all of America's states, and people will be able to get their 2025 version from July starting at $3,499 ($500 more on top of that for the big wheel).

Honda CRF110F

The CRF110F is a bike for newbies (and very young riders) as well, and as such, it is offered with things like an automatic clutch, a low seat height, and a push-button electric start. These features soldier on in the 2025 model year, selling as a solid package for $2,699.

Honda CRF50F

And here we are, finally, face to face with the cheapest Honda trail bike in existence, the CRF50F. Meant to be the first bike for youngsters; it packs pretty much the same features as the CRF110F. That, combined with its very low price, has made the ride the most successful 50-class trail bike in the world.

Honda plans to capitalize on that status in 2025 as well, and will sell the slightly revised version of the bike from June for $1,799. 

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