Honda CRF450 Rally

Back in July, Honda announced that in 2013 it would be entering a works team in the gruelling Dakar Rally for the first time since 1989.

Now, at the Intermot show in Cologne, the firm has unveiled the motorcycle that Team HRC will be competing with. Called the CRF450 Rally, it’s based on the existing CRF450X enduro racer.

Honda CRF450 Rally 2013 Front Side

Honda CRF450 Rally 2013 Instruments

As expected, there are extensive bodywork changes, but there are modifications beneath the skin, too. Perhaps the most significant of these is the use of an electronic fuel injection system for the single-cylinder engine, instead of the CRF450X’s Keihin carburettor.

Honda CRF450 Rally 2013 Rear Side

The CRF450 Rally is due to make its competition debut later this month in the Morocco Rally. Then it’s onto the Dakar Rally, which takes place in January and runs through Peru, Chile and Argentina. Johnny Campbell, Javier Pizzolito, Helder Rodriguez, Sam Sunderland and Felipe Zanol have been confirmed as the rider line-up for both events.

Related posts:
Honda to tackle 2013 Dakar
Honda XTREME editions
2013 Honda off-roaders

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