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Nov 16, 2023

Yoshimura RS

The RS-12 Titanium full exhaust system is the latest offering from Yoshimura. It is the same exhaust that powered Tim Gajser and the Honda HRC Team to the 2020 MXGP World Championship and it also

The RS-12 Titanium full exhaust system is the latest offering from Yoshimura. It is the same exhaust that powered Tim Gajser and the Honda HRC Team to the 2020 MXGP World Championship and it also comes standard on the 2021 Honda CRF450R Works Edition. This system incorporates a resonance chamber for managing sound and increasing usable power. The RS-12 weighs 1.3 pounds lighter than the stock CRF exhaust and the asymmetrical muffler shape helps boost the peak horsepower 4.7% on the dyno.

By Ryan Nitzen

I’ve been living with the 2021 Honda CRF450R for the past few months and recently got to ride the 2021 Honda CRF450R WE, which comes standard with the full Yoshimura RS-12 exhaust system. While riding the Works Edition, I instantly felt an improvement in throttle response and overall pull of the engine through the midrange rpms. On the same day, the Honda crew took our standard CRF and flashed the ECU. This made a world of difference in cleaning up the “bog” we’ve all heard about and gave me the opportunity to really test the two bikes head-to-head. I felt right at home with the power on the Works Edition. We later swapped out the stock pipe with the RS-12 on our 2021 CRF450R test bike.

The overall craftsmanship of the RS-12 is one of the first things I noticed when unboxing. The brushed titanium and matte carbon end cap just ooze factory unobtanium. The Yoshimura system also includes new hardware that makes installation a breeze. Putting the dual-exhaust systems on the previous 2017-20 Hondas always seemed like a nightmare with the plethora of connectors, splitters, and canisters. The new 2021 model was refreshing for its bolt-on simplicity and was ready to ride in a matter of minutes.

Once installed, you quickly notice how much quieter it is from the cockpit. I’ve run the hour meter up to the 25-hour mark on our CRF and the difference between the stock muffler and the Yoshimura is quite an earful. The stock offering has become much louder and more “blown out” during this time, while the Yosh provided a smooth and snappy sound. But don’t mistake the lower octave for less bark, though. The RS-12 still gives off a healthy grunt that will have the rest of the pits perking their ears.

Out on track is where the Yosh is the most noticeable compared to the stocker. With the stock exhaust, I have been riding the CRF in the smoother Map Two option. With the RS-12 installed, I almost instantly switched over to the livelier Map One. The new exhaust system, paired with the updated ECU, create a much snappier throttle response that comes alive at first touch. The meat of the power has more to offer through the bottom to mid ranges and makes the bike easier to ride in every area of the track. Previously, I felt that Map One had too much of a hit but Map Two was almost too smooth. The Yosh took the best of both of those maps and blended it into one.

Overall, the bike is quieter, feels faster, and is just plain easier to ride. To top it off, the drool-worthy Yoshimura system goes hand in hand with the red machines and makes your new Honda look like you just rolled out of Ken Roczen’s pit. The only downside we could find is the $1259 price tag. However, there is a distinct difference between the stock system and the factory-esque Yoshimura RS-12. If you’re looking for every advantage on the track and aren’t afraid to spend some extra money to get there, this is the exhaust for you.CN

Standout Feature: Lightweight, and boosts power

MSRP: $1259

For more information, visit www.yoshimura-rd.com