In its stock configuration the CRF450X is already an impressive off-road machine. Here’s what you’ll need to turn it into an even more potent trail monster!
List of Add-Ons and Accessories
Here’s a list of the add-ons and farkles on Trent’s CRF450X. Some of these links are affiliate links where at no extra cost to you, we get a small referral fee from the seller. These referral fees help us keep this website going and providing great content to you. If you would like to buy any of these items, please use these links! 🙂
Twin Air Powerflow Air Filter
The stock air filter is just fine, but it’s good to have an extra one because when you’re cleaning a filter it takes a while for it to dry out, re-oil it and be ride-ready again. If you have only one filter, you’ll have to wait until that’s finished before you can ride again. These twin air filters along with the kit below make it easy to swap filters quickly.
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/29PxXy1
Twin Air Power Flow Filter Kit (Filter Holder and Screw)
The stock filter setup is a bit of a pain for filter removal and replacement. And it’s easy to make a mistake when seating it, leaving an unfiltered gap on the edge. This unit makes that easier. Or, you can just be extra careful when inserting your stock air filter and save yourself some money and not bother with this.
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/29nS4o5
Ricky Stator 110 Watt Stator
The CRF450X already comes with a battery and a decent stator with enough juice to power the stock headlight. The small amount of extra draw that the dualsport kit adds does not really justify getting this higher output stator. But get one if you’re planning on connecting more to your electrical system such as accessory lights, USB charging outlets and so on.
Ricky Stator link
Sicass Racing Dual Sport Kit
Nicely made dual-sport lighting kit, but pricey. The wiring harness is a thing of beauty and the written instructions combined with the labels on the wires are top notch. However, the front signal lights are garbage and the under-fender tail light assembly is definitely not as “indestructible” as they claim. You can also get by with less expensive kits from Rocky Mountain ATV (Tusk brand) or from Baja Designs. In any case, I would recommend replacing the front signal lights with the Tusk brand from Rocky Mountain ATV.
Sicass Racing (2008-2013) link
Sicass Racing (2004-2007) link
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC (2004-2007) link
Moose Racing Extra Wide Footpegs
One of those nice-to-haves. If you’re wearing full-on motocross boots with stiff soles, these don’t really give you much. But if you’re wearing more “adventure” style boots with a sole that’s a little more designed for walking, these will help prevent that pressure in the arch of your foot that narrow footpegs will give you.
JD Jetting Carb Jetting Kit
Kind of expensive but worth it if you’ve done any airbox or exhaust mods. These guys know their jets and they just work as long as you follow the directions (and don’t worry, they’re pretty simple).
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/29jO3im
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC link
Ebay link
Motion Pro Front Fork Bleeder Valves
These came with my bike, and they’re good if you’re racing in hot weather and doing a lot of whoops and other terrain that’s continually compressing the front forks. They release the air pressure that builds up from this treatment. For the tighter technical trail riding I normally do, they’ve never been necessary.
Ebay.com link
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC link
Scotts Steering Stabilizer
Great for stopping head shake for high-speed desert and off-road riding. Also good for reducing fatigue and arm pump when riding technical, rooty, rocky terrain. It can also save you from a spill by dampening the jolt if you hit the side of a rock or root. If you’re a more leisurely rider, you may want to leave this purchase for later.
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC link
CRFs Only link
Moose Hand Guards (Bark Busters)
Hand guards are an absolute must. These should be one of your first purchases. I prefer the Moose brand because they are simple, robust and easy to bend back into shape when you inevitably bend them. Some brands, such as Acerbis, have holes drilled through them for bolting on plastic shields. This design weakens the aluminum bar and they tend to bend at the point of the bolt hole. If you want to have plastic shields, choose a brand such as Moose where the shield attaches without the use of bolt holes. I don’t use the plastic shields because they break very easily when you wipe out. And I wipe out a lot.
Ebay.com link
DennisKirk.com link
Flatland Racing Skid Plate
A skid plate should also be one of your first purchases. The stock protection is usually weak or non-existent. Make sure you get one that not only protects the bottom of the bike, but also some of the vulnerable parts on the sides such as the water pump and oil filter cover. The Flatland Racing skid plate is well made and easy to mount and remove.
Flatlandracing.com link
CRFsOnly.com link
mx1canada.com link
CFC Clutch Cover Case Guard
This is cheap insurance. It is a simple, stamped piece of stainless steel sheet that you glue on with silicone sealant or RTV. It solves a common problem of the brake pedal punching a hole in the side of the clutch cover when you drop the motorcycle on its side.
ebay.com link
MRD Racing Exhaust System
This is a high-performance hand-made racing exhaust built by master craftsman Dave Harryman. Excellent craftsmanship, easy maintenance and great performance. The only downside is that it is quite loud.
mrd-racing.com link
Flatland Racing Odometer Spacer
You’ll probably want to get rid of the stock odometer and the drive cable that goes from the speedometer drive up to the handlebars. This cable is a magnet for hooking branches when you’re in tight woods. When you remove the cable, you’re left with the odometer drive still on the hub. You can plug the hole that the cable went into (silicone will do this), but a better solution is to remove it and replace it with this spacer.
crfsonly.com link
flatlandracing.com link
IMS 3.2 Gallon Fuel Tank
The stock tank is too small to provide for a day of trail riding. This tank is the ideal size for day-rides on the trails. It provides enough fuel without being bulky. Fit is perfect. Finish is not quite as good as the Acerbis tanks.
amazon.com link
ebay.com link
imsproducts.com link
Acerbis 4.1 Gallon Fuel Tank
This is a perfect tank for overnight trips and longer day trips on the trails. It provides extra capacity with hardly any extra bulk or width added to the bike. It also looks good, staying true to the original lines of the bike. Like all Acerbis tanks, it is beautifully made and the finish is top notch. The fit is not 100% and it takes a bit of work to get it positioned right and put the mounting screws in place. It also takes a bit of extra effort to get the seat to slide up the tank so that it engages the front seat mounting point. To fit this tank on the ’08-current model years of the CRF450X, you will need the tank bracket from the ’05-07 model year.
ebay.com link
Acerbis 6.6 Gallon Fuel Tank
This monster tank is best for multi-day backcountry trail rides or extremely long day rides. It adds a fair bit of width to the bike and, when full, adds a lot of weight and affects the handling. However, for shorter trips, you can partially fill it and with the fuel weight so low down, much of the handling concern is eliminated. Like all Acerbis tanks, it is beautifully made and the finish is top notch. To fit this tank on the ’08-current model years of the CRF450X, you will need the tank bracket from the ’05-07 model year.
amazon.com http://amzn.to/2b1G4GU
ebay.com link
Moose Radiator Guards
Get radiator guards as soon as you can. Radiators are highly vulnerable to damage and these guards will save you an expensive repair.
ebay.com link
denniskirk.com link
ebay.ca link
Flex Jet Fuel Screw
If you’ve made performance mods to your exhaust or air filter, you’ll likely need to adjust the fuel screw. The Keihin carb on the North American version of the CRF450X has the fuel screw set at the factory and has an anti-tamper pin and an odd screw head that prevents you from adjusting it. This is done to conform to North American emissions standards. It is a bit of a job to remove it.
There are many aftermarket fuel screws available but the ones that simply screw in from the bottom of the carb have a tendency to go out of adjustment. The Flex Jet system does not shift and is easier to access for making an adjustment.
ebay.ca link
amazon.com http://amzn.to/29qJeoB
ebay.com link
TM Designworks Case Saver
If you’re planning to use a larger front sprocket than stock you’ll probably need a different case saver. Also, the aftermarket versions provide more protection for the transmission case in the event that you throw a chain.
rockymountainatvmc.com link
ebay.com link
amazon.com http://amzn.to/29BBuRo
Race Tech Black Plastic Kit
A great way to save your stock plastics from damage. I’ve seen these on ebay as high as $150, but they normally sell for around $80 for the whole set. Then if you ever want to sell your bike, you can put the original, pristine plastics back on.
Radiator Cooling Fan
If you’re doing much slow-speed singletrack riding, especially in hot weather, this is an important add-on. The CRF450X doesn’t overheat as quickly as some other bikes, but it’s still worthwhile to have this extra cooling capacity. The kit I bought was from an ebay seller that is not longer selling them. However, the Trailtech version listed below is also a great option.
amazon.com http://amzn.to/2bns678
ebay.com link
Trail Tech Endurance II Computer
Since the CRF450X does not come with a speedometer, I needed to add one. The Trail Tech Endurance is simple, robust and gives me the basics. I decided against the Vapor model because it is somewhat bigger and I did not need the tachometer or water temperature readings. I’m a strong advocate of minimalism and simplicity.
amazon.com http://amzn.to/2b1wMLb
ebay.com link
Emissions System Block Off Kit
In order to meet North American emission standards, the CRF450X comes with an emissions system that robs some of the power. This kit allows you to remove that system and gain some power.
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/29tWLxg
crfsonly.com link
Replacement Tail Brake Light
After I destroyed the “indestructible” tail light assembly from Sicass Racing’s dualsport kit, I created my own version and used one of these as the tail light. They’re pretty cheaply made so I recommend taking it apart and putting some hot glue or silicone sealant around where the wires attach to the circuit board. I’ve had them fail at that point because of the vibration. When you put it back together, seal both the rubber plug and the all around the backing plate with silicone sealant. Otherwise, muddy water will make its way in and coat the inside of the lens.
ebay.com link
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Guys, am an Old So Cal resident, 70’s-80’s racer, now living in Thailand. Have a tricked CRF L, but my project is an X for adventure/legal riding around here. Love ur advice on making this happen, for me power is ok, just want/need reliability.
Hope to hear back from you guys, happy holidays!
Rick
Hi Rick… A ride north of Chiang Mai on a rented XR250L was what got me back into motorcycling!
The bike is super reliable so far. Some of the older ones had transmission problems that were solved by keeping the transmission oil topped up higher than spec. The kick starter stop is also vulnerable. Folks who let their kick starter go at the bottom of the stroke and flip back up and slam against the stop have had the stop break inside the case and then get jammed and break the case. Other than that, just keep regular oil and filter changes and keep that air filter clean. On the first rebuild what some people do is replace the stock titanium valves with stainless steel and heavier valve springs. Another thing is to replace the stock piston with one from the TRX450 Quad motor. Basically the same motor, but the piston has a longer skirt and an extra ring. Makes for a longer life piston but you’ll need to be careful about hitting revs. CRFSONLY.COM has the TRX replacement piston.
Happy Riding!