blog about Honda CRF450R Takes Top Spot in 2025 450cc Motocross Shootout

2025 450cc motocross models at a glance

The six contenders represent a wide spread of pricing and design philosophy, from machines that carry over proven platforms to models rebuilt from the frame up. Weight figures vary by only eight pounds across the group, with KTM holding the lightest claimed figure and Honda and Kawasaki the heaviest.

How the test was conducted

Evaluation drew on feedback from riders of varying ages, weights and skill levels, each logging laps on the same machines across both circuits. The panel was supplemented by Ty Davis, a former 125cc Supercross champion and a long-established figure in off-road racing.

Davis assessed handling, power delivery and suspension response from a racer's perspective, an input that carried particular weight when track conditions shifted between sessions. The aim was a comparative record grounded in repeatable conditions rather than a single afternoon of riding.

Testing alternated between the two venues so that no model benefited from a settled, rubbered-in surface alone. Hard-packed sections, choppy braking zones and long uphill drives were all factored into the scoring.

Results: Honda CRF450R takes the top spot

After multiple rounds of comparison, the 2025 Honda CRF450R finished first. Its 70 percent structural overhaul was credited with gains in handling stability, throttle response and overall chassis architecture, and the package proved the most complete across the test group.

The KTM 450 SX-F placed second, its emphasis on minimum weight giving it a clear advantage in direction changes and in the air. The Yamaha YZ450F took third on the strength of finely judged detail work, including its revised linkage ratio and engine mounts.

Kawasaki, Husqvarna and GasGas rounded out the order in fourth through sixth. All three remained competitive, though none matched the composite scoring of the leading trio across both tracks.

Where the ranking was decided

The margin between first and second came down to chassis composure under load rather than outright engine output. The Honda's stability in rough, braking-heavy terrain offset the KTM's weight advantage, which was most apparent in tight, transitional sections.

Mid-pack separation was narrower still. The Yamaha's suspension balance and the Husqvarna's revised frame and short-travel WP suspension drew similar comments from testers, with consistency over a full moto ultimately deciding the order.