All New Honda Models For 2025
Honda’s going all in for 2025 with completely revamped competition models across the board. That’s right — the CRF450R, CRF250R, CRF450RX, and CRF250RX are all heavily updated with a new chassis, updated suspension components and settings to match, and revised power delivery packages. Likewise, a CRF450R Works Editon comes back with all of the updates, as well as the usual “upgrades” from the standard edition model, and Honda has also released a NEW CRF250R Works Edition that is built up similar to its special edition big brother.
The big news is the updated chassis for 2025, especially for the CRF450R/RX. In our time with those bikes in the last generation, the chassis was our biggest complaint with the bike. The 450cc engine was never much of an issue, and we could get the Showa components working well with a little fine tuning to the rider/riding conditions. However, we always struggled to find consistency in the chassis. At times, we loved it. At other times, we didn’t care for it.
Honda’s new frame is actually stiffer than before, and while that sounds worse on paper, it could actually help the bike. Honda feels the current chassis is too soft and flexy, causing binding and and quicker reactions. In the suspension testing world, suspension that is too soft can often feel “too stiff” as it’s riding in the stiffer part of the valving and offers a harsh feeling. In theory, the same can be said about a frame and chassis so while some may believe this is the wrong direction to go with the chassis, we’ll reserve our judgement until we get to swing a leg over the new bikes.
The updated, stiffer chassis is claimed to be calmer and more stable, equating to a bike that is easier to ride than before and ideally be more versatile and not as sensitive to setup across different conditions and terrains. Absorbing the bumps is Showa’s 49mm coil-spring fork and coil-spring shock. The forks see quite the change for 2025, with more rigid outer fork tubes, an updated front axle and lugs, and triple clamps house updated settings in the fork. A new one piece link arm is now featured on the Honda with an updated linkage ratio to match the new chassis.
The engines are nearly identical on the inside, but updated intakes, exhausts, and mapping have changed the delivery on both the 450 and 250 machines. The airbox is completely redesigned to match what the HRC Factory team is currently running for optimized airflow. Likewise, the exhuast systems are changed accordingly and new ECU mapping ties it all together. The goal of the 450 was to smoothen the delivery, specifically in corners, which will only help the chassis. The power delivery has more of an effect on handling than most realize, and a smoother, easier to ride power typically equates to a smoother chassis. On the 250 side, big red’s goal was to maximize power output as is usually the case when it comes to the 250F class.
The bikes retail for an MSRP as follows:
CRF450R: $9,699
CRF450RWE: $12,599
CRF450RX: $9,999
CRF250R: $8,299
CRF250RWE: $10,599
CRF250RX: $8,699
