Additional photos of this 2002 Honda CRF450R are available here for your perusal.
New for 2002, the CRF450R was Honda’s first production four-stroke MX bike and the lightest bike in class at the time. Dirt Bike magazine said “we loved the first CRF right out of the gate…it wasn’t the first, and it hasn’t always been the best or the fastest, but the Honda CRF450R is the poster child of American motocross. It has been almost from the day it was released in 2002.”
It took Honda five years to counter Yamaha’s four-stroke challenger (the YZ400F), but their CRF was lighter (15 pounds) and easier to ride than Yamaha effort, which was the YZ426F by that point. It was also much easier to start. The all-new motor weighed 65 pounds and featured Honda’s Unicam SOHC design.
PulpMX considers this one of the most important MX bikes of all time, profiling it in their “Classic Steel” series: “The new CRF turned four-stroke sceptics the world over into true believers overnight.”
We took this CRF (VIN: JH2PE05302M006984, Engine #: PE05E2010041) in on trade towards another motorcycle.
The original owner was the owner of R-One Suspension. It was then sold to the current owner, who rode it three to four times a year. He notes that the bodywork was replaced due to sun fade, not any crash damage.
It developed an issue where the transmission became stuck in first gear, so the seller had the motor and transmission rebuilt in August. There are currently three hours on the motor. Other work includes a new clutch, new throttle/clutch cables, new brake/clutch levers, and rebuilt brake calipers with new EBC brake pads front/rear.
The suspension was also rebuilt in August.
Modifications:
2008 Honda CRF450X fork springs in the front (stiffer).
FMF Powercore 4.0 pipe with Acerbis pipe guard.
JD jet kit.
DID chain and ProTaper rear sprocket.
ODI EMIG grips.
Dunlop Geomax tires with one ride on them.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California, this CRF is offered on a clean California Off-Highway title. 2002 was the only year where you could get a CRF with the aluminum frame with a green sticker for all year usage in CA.
Have any CRF stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the comments below!
