Honda CRF450L (2018+) Maintenance Schedule

This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Honda CRF450L.

Honda took the dual-sport world by storm in 2018 with the road-legal CRF450L. The Honda CRF450L is based on the off-road CRF450R, but gives you the option of getting to the best riding trails by riding on asphalt roads, rather than carting your bike there in a truck.

The CRF450L is a lot more off-road-focused than the mild-mannered and easy-to-service CRF250L. This is reflected in its maintenance schedule which is quite intense. You basically have to service it every 1000 km or 600 miles, including changing the oil. Not for the faint of heart!

Already armed with features like a titanium fuel tank, six-speed transmission and LED lighting, the CRF450L got updated graphics for 2020.

This site has links to Amazon for things like oil and spark plugs from which we earn a commission (which unfortunately nobody can save, not even us). If you appreciate this work, then please use those links to buy your oil, spark plugs, etc.

What you need to service the Honda CRF450L

To service the Honda CRF450L, you need the following general consumables.

Item	Honda CRF450L Spec
Fuel filter	Honda’s part number for the fuel filter is 06160-MKE-A00.
Air cleaner	The air filter in the Honda CRF450L is cleanable!
Coolant	The engine is liquid cooled. Use Honda Coolant.
Engine oil	Honda recommends SAE 10W-30 oil with “SG or higher, except oils labeled as energy conserving or resource conserving”, recommending Pro Honda GN4 oil or equivalent.
Oil filter	Hiflofiltro HF116 filter is a great replacement oil filter (better than K&N).
Brake fluid	The Honda requires DOT 4 brake fluid (as do most motorcycles). You may as well use Honda DOT 4.
Grease	A generic grease is invaluable for all external moving parts, like Valvoline moly-fortified grease.
Chain	You need to grease the chain often, especially when it gets dirty. Motul chain paste is quite well-liked.
Spark plug	Replace the spark plug with either SILMAR9A-9S or SILMAR10A-9S. The spark plug needs to be gapped to 0.8-0.9mm — use a gapping tool.
Brake pads	Front brake pads: EBC FA185R, rear brake pads; FA346R.

Honda CRF450L parts

Honda CRF450L Maintenance Schedule (on-road use)

Below is the maintenance schedule for the Honda CRF450L

Difficult levels (per Honda… but people tend to do their own maintenance):

* Should be serviced by your Honda dealer, unless you have the proper tools and service data and are mechanically qualified. Refer to the official Honda Service Manual.
** In the interest of safety, we recommend these items be serviced only by your Honda dealer.

Maintenance Procedures legend:

I: inspect and clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace, if necessary
C: clean
A: adjust
L: lubricate
R: replace

Notes:

At higher odometer readings, repeat at the frequency interval established here
Service more frequently if the motorcycle is ridden in unusually wet or dusty areas
Service more frequently when riding OFF-ROAD (see off-road maintenance table below)
Replace every 2 years, or at indicated odometer interval, whichever comes first. Replacement requires mechanical skill. Refer to the official Honda service manual.
California type only

–	mi x 1000	0.1	0.6	1.2	1.8	24	3	3.6	20	–
–	km x 1000	0.15	1	2	3	4	5	6	30	–
Dif	Months	1	4	8	12	16	20	24	–	Every
*	FUEL LINE				I			I
**	FUEL FILTER				R			R
*	THROTTLE OPERATION				I			I
*	AIR CLEANER (Note 2)		C	C	C	C	C	C		3 years, R
	CRANKCASE BREATHER (Note 3)		I	I	I	I	I	I
	SPARK PLUG (SILMAR9A-9S)				I			I
*	VALVE CLEARANCE				I			I
	ENGINE OIL (Pro Honda GN4)		R	R	R	R	R	R
	ENGINE OIL FILTER (HF116)		R	R	R	R	R	R
*	DECOMPRESSOR SYSTEM				I			I
**	ENGINE IDLE SPEED	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
**	INTAKE/EXHAUST VALVE								R
**	PISTON AND PISTON RINGS								R
**	PISTON PIN								R
**	CRANKSHAFT								R
**	CRANKSHAFT BEARING								R
**	TRANSMISSION								I
**	CAM CHAIN TENSIONER LIFTER								R
	COOLANT (Note 6)				I			I		3 years
*	COOLING SYSTEM	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
*	SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM				I			I
*	EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM (Note 3)							I
	DRIVE CHAIN (Motul chain care kit) (Note 4)	I,L	I,L	I,L	I,L	I,L	I,L	I,L		300 mi (500 km)/ 3 mon): I, L
	DRIVE CHAIN SLIDER	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
	BRAKE FLUID (Honda DOT 4) (Note 6)	I	I	I	I	I	I	R		2 years: R
	BRAKE PADS WEAR	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
	BRAKE SYSTEM	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
	BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
*	HEADLIGHT AIM				I			I
	CLUTCH SYSTEM				I			I
	SIDE STAND				I			I
*	SUSPENSION				I			I
*	SPARK ARRESTER (Note 5)									1K mi (1.6K km)/ 100 hours: C
*	NUTS, BOLTS, FASTENERS (Note 4)	I			I			I
**	WHEELS/TIRES (Note 4)	I	I	I	I	I	I	I
**	STEERING HEAD BEARINGS	I			I			I

Honda CRF450L Maintenance Schedule

Maintenance Schedule — Off-road Use

All items should be checked before each off-road event. See your dealer unless you are mechanically qualified and have the proper tools.

This maintenance schedule is based upon average riding condition. Machine subjected to severe use require more frequent servicing.

Notes in this maintenance schedule:

Clean after every use in dusty conditions.
Replace every 2 years. Replacement requires mechanical skill.
Replace after the first break-in ride.
Inspect after the first break-in ride.
Replace the engine oil, if the clutch discs and plates are replaced.
Replace every year

Honda recommends servicing these items using an official Honda service manual for the CRF450L.

Every # Races	1	4	8
Every # Hours	3.5	15	30
FUEL LINE (Note 6)	I		R
FUEL PUMP FILTER (Note 6)			R
THROTTLE OPERATION	I
AIR FILTER (Note 1)	C
CRANKCASE BREATHER (Note 4)	I
SPARK PLUG (NGK SILMAR9A-9S) (Notes 3, 5)	I
VALVE CLEARANCE/ DECOMPRESSOR SYSTEM (Note 3)			I
ENGINE OIL (Pro Honda GN4)	I		R
ENGINE OIL FILTER (HF116)			R
ENGINE IDLE SPEED	I
PISTON AND PISTON RINGS			R
PISTON PIN			R
RADIATOR COOLANT (Honda Coolant) (Note 2)	I
COOLING SYSTEM	I
DRIVE CHAIN (Motul chain care kit)	I, L	R
DRIVE CHAIN SLIDER	I
DRIVE CHAIN ROLLER	I
DRIVE SPROCKET	I
DRIVEN SPROCKET	I
BRAKE FLUID (Honda DOT 4) (Note 2)	I
BRAKE PADS WEAR	I
BRAKE SYSTEM	I
CLUTCH SYSTEM (Note 5)	I
CONTROL CABLES	I, L
EXHAUST PIPE/MUFFLER	I
SUSPENSION	I
SWINGARM/SHOCK LINKAGE		L
FORK OIL (Note 3)			R
NUTS, BOLTS, FASTENERS	I
WHEELS/TIRES	I
STEERING HEAD BEARINGS			I
SIDE STAND	I

Honda CRF450L — Maintenance schedule for off-road use

Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Honda CRF450L

Honda’s manual for the CRF450L recommends the following tyre sizes, types, and pressures.

Tyre	Size	Brand(s)	Tyre pressure (cold)
Front	80/100-21 M/C 51P	IRC GP-21F	22 psi (150 kPa , 1.50 kgf/cm2 )
Rear	120/80-18 M/C 62P	IRC GP-22R	22 psi (150 kPa , 1.50 kgf/cm2 )

Tyres and tyre pressures

About the Honda CRF450L

The CRF450L is a road-legal dirt bike, just like the XR650R (where it’s road legal, anyway).

The dirtbike DNA is strong with the CRF450L. It leads off with a large, triple tree-mounted front fender that moves its weight from un-sprung to sprung in a bid to maximize the front suspension’s sensitivity.

The cyclops headlight buried a fly screen with race-style graphics and LED turn signals complete the forward lighting.

Honda tuned the CRF450L’s engine specifically for trail riding by increasing crankshaft inertia by 12 percent to maximize torque generation. As it stands, the engine cranks out 32 kW (42 hp) with 24 pound-feet of torque — plenty to make our European brothers and sisters jealous as their model is restricted to just over half this amount..

Engine power is coupled to the six-speed transmission by a special, light-pull clutch meant to increase fine power control and feathering with the extra benefit of reducing left-hand fatigue.

Since there’s a push-button starter, you won’t wear yourself out kicking it.