Unicorn for sale | Ultra-trick Honda CRF450L lightweight adventure bike for sale from Adventure Spec

UK based off-road brand Adventure Spec are selling their one-of-one Honda CRF450L development bike, which could be the perfect machine for weekends away, covered in mud, miles from another soul. 

As it sits, the bike is dripping in over £2000 worth of extras, donning Adventure Spec’s entire uniform of hard parts – including their bash plate, side pannier racks, top-rack, tail tidy and their ‘Mini-fairing’.

On top of this, a US Spec ECU, induction tube and throttle body bumps power up to a claimed 45bhp and an IMS fuel tank extends theoretical range to 175 miles (from 110 as standard). 

Side and top racks transform the Honda into an ultra-light adventure rig, capable of carrying all the luggage you need to get out in the wilderness.

Meanwhile the mini fairing set up provides a neat solution to one of the major shortcomings of trail/enduro machines – namely a total lack of weather protection, as well as offering riders a place to mount navigation equipment. 

Short lived legacy 

Honda released the 450L back in 2018, selling it until 2020 when it was discontinued. In that time the little red machine gained something of a cult following within its niche, offering riders a modern take on the trail bike question.  

Top spec Showa suspension offered 300mm of travel and a kerb weight of just 131kg made it an excellent off tarmac contender. But what set the 450L aside from the competition was its ability to inject a degree of civility into proceedings.  

A lengthened wheelbase over the CRF450R, relaxed steering angle and a vibration-dampening swingarm provided an air of calm compared with flighty enduro weapons. 

Performance from its 449cc unicam motor was disappointing for some, with only 25bhp on tap in Euro specification (American market bikes came with a full-fat power figure over 40 horses). Price was a stinger too, with Honda asking for almost ten grand. You really had to want one. 

Untapped potential 

To some however, it was a long-awaited unicorn, and Adventure Spec were among the first in the country to purchase the machine. 

“Where an enduro bike is quite flighty on the road, the 450L is pretty stable because it’s longer and more relaxed,” said Greg Villalobos, brand director at Adventure Spec. 

“Compared with bikes like the CRF300L, it’s only similar in terms of the badge. It’s a totally different machine. The 450 is much more capable.” 

“It isn’t perfect,” Villalobos continued, “but no bike is. I think the 450L is a wonderful bike though, it’s lighter than a KTM 690 Enduro and easier to ride. It doesn’t have the same power, but you don’t need it for trail riding.” 

Keen to build on what they saw as a nugget of potential, Adventure Spec developed a suite of goodies for the 450L, transforming it from weekend traillie to fully fledged lightweight adventurer, and proving its worth by riding it all the way down the Moroccan Sahara – and back. 

If that all sounds like a bit of you, Adventure Spec are offering the bike for £6800 having covered just 4000 miles. Drop an email to support@adventurespec.com now, but don’t delay, it won’t be around for long.