A very sexy 450 Honda
The Monster Energy Honda Team is hoping to retain the title claimed by American Ricky Brabec last year, with Brabec, José Ignacio Cornejo, Kevin Benavides and Joan Barreda the four official Monster Energy Honda Team riders to take part in 2021.
Now Team HRC returns to the Dakar Rally with the latest version of the stage-winning Rally bike. In 2013, the participation of Team HRC with the prototype based on commercial competition enduro model, generated valuable information on key areas such as engine power, aerodynamic performance, durability and maintenance requirements, which was used as a basis for the design of new CRF450 Rally.
For 2015, the Rally bike was updated with some new technologic additions, maintaining the fuel injection system PGM-FI which has proven effective even under severe environmental conditions and highly variable as exist in Dakar. 2018 saw the bike further updated and proudly wearing the Monster claw and in 2020 the bike won Dakar.
Here’s a look at Ricky Brabec’s 2021 Dakar Monster Energy Honda CRF450 Rally machine:
2021 Monster Energy Honda CRF450 Rally
| SPECIFICATIONS |
|
| BIKE | Honda |
| MODEL | CRF450 RALLY |
| ENGINE | |
| Type | Liquid cooled single cylinder DOHC |
| Capacity | 449.4 cc |
| Bore x stroke | 97.0 x 60.8 mm |
| Starter | Electric starter |
| Carburation | Fuel Injection |
| Lubricant | Motul 300V |
| Transmission | 6 speed |
| Output | Over 45 kW |
| FRAME | |
| Type | Aluminium twin tube |
| Sub-frame | Carbon fibre |
| Fuel tank | Front + rear (plastic) |
| Total fuel capacity | 34,7 litres |
| Front fork | Showa. Type invert, travel 310 mm |
| Rear suspension | Showa. Single tube, travel 305 mm |
| BRAKES | |
| Front | ø300 two-piston |
| Rear | ø240 single-piston |
Source: MCNews.com.au