Reproductions of rally bikes have become a hit recently, as more and more manufacturers launch production models inspired by competition rally machines. KTM was undoubtedly one of the first to do so, with its 450 Rally, but other manufacturers have been quick to follow suit, launching their own versions of 450 rally bikes for the general public.
The latest comes from France and takes the form of a customized Honda CRF450RX. The CRF450RX is by no means a bike for novice riders and represents the top of Honda’s off-road range. The customized CRF450RX, inspired by rallying, named the CRF450RX Rally, comes from Euroboost France, a Honda motorcycle dealer and importer in the European country. Curiously, this bike was not manufactured by Honda, but by the Italian workshop and Honda dealer RS Moto. The company has been equipping CRF450RXs for the last two years and shows no signs of slowing down in 2024.
That said, it’s worth noting that the 2024 Honda CRF450RX Rally is based on the current 2023 CRF450RX and brings many, and I mean many updates to this model. So, what will its €25,990 get you?
For starters, the 2024 CRF450RX Rally gets two front-mounted 9.5-liter fuel tanks, as well as a 10-liter rear fuel tank. The resulting 29 liters of total capacity should be more than enough to cover long distances off-road. Naturally, to take this into account, the bike has two fuel pumps to transport fuel from the various tanks to the engine. At the front, the CRF450RX Rally has an instrumentation tower complete with a Road-Book F2R and a handlebar control.
In terms of ergonomics, the bike has been reinforced for rallies and has foam grips to relieve some of the vibrations from the rider’s hands. There are also reinforced, oversized footpegs, a steering damper to keep the front end stable and renewed suspension settings to cope with the rigors of a longer rally trip. For added protection, the bike has a carbon fiber underframe, as well as improved brakes with a larger 300 mm rotor at the front. STM fork crowns also ensure maximum front-end rigidity, while dual LED lights illuminate the night.
To top it all off, RS Moto has fitted the CRF450RX with a large engine oil cooler, an additional oil tank, a larger cooling fan and STM clutch housing covers to reduce weight. The wheels are from Haan Wheels and are designed for high-level off-road riding, offering maximum rigidity and low weight. Last but not least, the bike has a special exhaust system from Arrow, designed specifically for rally racing. In total, the bike weighs 139 kg without fuel. Assuming a fuel capacity of 29 liters, we’re looking at a ready-to-ride weight of around 168 kg.