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.”
This example is VIN: JH2PE05302M006855. The seller is the original owner, he purchased it brand new from Thousand Oaks Honda (no longer in business).
There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown. The seller states that it has “8.5 hours since new top end/tune from Tokyomods. Around 8 hours prior to said service. (I have & can provide initial piston to show how little the bike was ever used prior to new top end service.)”
“I intended to ride it off road, couldn’t find anyone that I could ride with. The smart thing to do was sell it. Of course I took the ‘dumb way’ and spent a ton of money on it! And further tortured myself by California street-legalizing it. It truly & honestly sat around for many, many years without using it and for some reason couldn’t bring myself to let it go. Until now; it’s time…”
Maintenance:
“No documentation; serviced/maintained myself with oil changes (trans/motor), brake fluid flushes, filter element cleaning. Recent oil change (trans& motor) change & front/rear brake fluid flush as of 2 weeks ago. Oil changed after 60 miles or sooner.” The seller states that there are no known mechanical issues.
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection. Our tech notes the following in his condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: Ok
Engine Oil Level: Good
Engine Oil Quality: Ok
2T Oil Level: N/A
Coolant Level: Good
Coolant Quality: Ok <0.150mV
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: Good
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: Good <1.5% of moisture
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: Good
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: Good <1.5% of moisture
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Final Drive Condition: Dirty
Headlight High Beam: Ok
Headlight Low Beam: Ok
Passing Light: Ok
Parking Light: N/A
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light (Front Switch): Ok
Brake Light (Rear Switch): Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Horn: N/A
Kill Switch: Ok
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: 90%
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: 90%
Forks: Ok
Shock/s: Ok
Tire Date Code Front: 01/16
Tire Date Code Rear: 21/16
Tire % Remaining Front: 60%
Tire % Remaining Rear: 90%
Tire Press. Front: 27PSI
Tire Press. Rear: 24PSI
Battery Standing Voltage: 4.3V
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 6.7V
Running Condition: Running Well on Bench
Test Ride Completed: None Taken
Test Ride Distance: N/A
Notes:
-Front Master Cylinder leaking between brake fluid elbow and master cylinder body
-Tires are out of date spec
Recommendations:
-Repair Front Brake Fluid Leak
-Front and Rear Tire (Aged out)
Modifications:
Excel supermoto wheels (17×3.5 & 17×4.25), front fork valving for supermoto as well as rear spring (~190-200lb rider with gear), Beringer radial master cylinder/Beringer 6-pot Aerotec caliper with true floating disc.
Cycra handguards, Cycra supermoto front fender, aftermarket headlights.
Carburetor rebuild w/accessories.
Tokyo Mods chain tensioner, Tag Bar, axle sliders f/r, rear is also an axle carrier/adjuster block.
Acerbis plastics with Throttle Jockey graphics to emulate Ben Bostrom’s Team Honda Racing’s supermoto, shortened kickstand installed.
Not pictured is “a rewound stator with a larger flywheel installed in order to power the lighting.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires with date codes of 0116 and 2116.
The sale includes the original wheels, bodywork, headlight, fork springs, shock spring, triangle stand, and some spare parts.
The sale also includes new Cycra handguards and radiator guards, All Balls carb rebuild kit, and a TX RACE Restyle Kit Gen2 with red seat cover, which makes the bike look like a 2021+ model.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album in the “Photos” tab for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
The seller notes “a few scratches here and there from usage.”
Currently located in Laguna Niguel, California, this Honda is offered on a clean California title. Though the sticker on the tag shows 2022, the registration expired only this month.
Have any CRF450R stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
