If you're looking to get more out of your old-school workhorse, a honda foreman 450 lift kit is usually the first big modification that comes to mind. These machines are legendary for being absolutely bulletproof—the kind of quad you find sitting in a barn for five years that still fires up on the second crank. But as tough as the TRX450 is, it isn't exactly a high-clearance monster by modern standards. It sits a bit low to the ground, and if you're trying to follow your buddies through deep ruts or swampy creek bottoms, you're probably tired of getting hung up on the skid plates.
Installing a lift kit isn't just about looking "cool" at the trailhead, though it definitely helps with that. It's mostly about functionality. Whether you're hauling firewood across a muddy pasture or trying to navigate a rocky trail, those extra couple of inches can be the difference between a smooth ride and spending your afternoon winching yourself out of a sticky situation.
Why Boost Your Foreman's Ground Clearance?
The Honda Foreman 450 was built during an era when ATVs were strictly tools. They weren't necessarily designed for "mud park" antics, so the factory ground clearance is a bit modest. When you install a honda foreman 450 lift kit, you're primarily doing it to clear larger obstacles. Rocks that used to scrape your underbelly suddenly pass right underneath.
Beyond just the physical lift of the frame, a kit allows you to run much more aggressive tires. Most guys find that the stock tires on a Foreman 450 are a bit underwhelming for serious trail work. Once you lift the machine, you open up the possibility of running 26-inch or even 27-inch tires without worrying about them rubbing the fenders every time you hit a bump or turn the handlebars. That extra tire height gives you even more "true" ground clearance at the pumpkins (the differentials), which is where you usually get stuck.
Bracket Lifts vs. Spring Spacers
When you start shopping for a honda foreman 450 lift kit, you'll generally see two main types: bracket lifts and spring spacers. It's important to know the difference because they change how your quad handles.
Bracket lifts are the most common choice for the Foreman 450. These work by relocating the upper or lower shock mounting points. By moving where the shock attaches to the frame or the arms, you're essentially forcing the suspension to sit lower, which pushes the rest of the bike up. These are great because they're relatively inexpensive and don't usually stiffen the ride too much. They maintain the factory shock travel, though they do change the angle of your CV axles.
Spring spacers, on the other hand, sit on top of your coil springs and compress them. This "preloads" the suspension, which makes the bike sit higher. The downside? It makes the ride a lot stiffer. If you use your Foreman for heavy work—like carrying big sprayers or heavy front racks—this might actually be a benefit because it helps the suspension resist sagging. But if you're just trail riding, you might find that spacers make the front end feel a bit "bouncy" on the rocks.
What Tires Can You Run After Lifting?
This is the question everyone asks as soon as they get their honda foreman 450 lift kit in the mail. The Foreman 450 has a decent amount of room in the wheel wells, but the front fenders can be a bit tight when you're turning.
With a standard 2-inch lift kit, most riders find that 26-inch tires are the sweet spot. You get a significant boost in traction and clearance without putting an insane amount of stress on the drivetrain. If you want to push it, you can definitely fit 27-inch tires, but you might notice a slight loss in "grunt." The Foreman 450 is geared low, but it's not a high-horsepower machine. Moving those bigger, heavier tires takes effort. If you go with heavy 27s or 28s, you might eventually find yourself looking into a gear reduction kit to get that low-end snap back.
Also, keep an eye on the width. If you go with very wide front tires, they might rub the tie rods or the inner fenders. Most guys stick with a 9-inch wide tire in the front and maybe an 11 or 12 in the back to keep things balanced.
Installation Realities: DIY or Shop?
One of the best things about the Foreman 450 is how simple it is to work on. There aren't a bunch of fancy electronics or complicated sensors in the way. If you've got a basic set of sockets, a floor jack, and some jack stands, you can probably install a honda foreman 450 lift kit in your own garage on a Saturday morning.
The biggest hurdle you'll likely face isn't the kit itself—it's the age of the machine. Since these quads haven't been in production for a while, those factory bolts have had plenty of time to rust into place. If your Foreman has spent its life in the mud or snow, I highly recommend hitting every bolt with some PB Blaster or WD-40 a day before you plan to start.
Most bracket kits are "bolt-on," meaning you don't have to cut or weld anything. You just unbolt the shock, slide the bracket into place, and bolt the shock back into the new hole. It's a straightforward project that feels really rewarding once you drop the jack and see that new, aggressive stance.
Keeping Your CV Axles Alive
We can't talk about a honda foreman 450 lift kit without mentioning CV axles. When you lift an ATV, you're increasing the angle at which the axles have to operate. The Foreman 450 is pretty resilient, but if you go too high, you're going to start popping CV joints.
Most 2-inch kits are designed to stay within the "safe" operating limits of the factory axles. However, if you're riding hard, turning sharp, and pinned on the throttle at the same time, you're putting a lot of stress on those joints. It's a good idea to check your CV boots regularly after you install a lift. If a boot tears and lets dirt into the joint, that axle is toast. Some guys decide to upgrade to heavy-duty aftermarket axles at the same time they do the lift, just for peace of mind, but it's not strictly necessary if your factory ones are still in good shape.
Is a Lift Kit Actually Worth the Money?
At the end of the day, is a honda foreman 450 lift kit worth the investment? If you're a casual rider who stays on groomed flat trails, you might not see a huge benefit other than the look. But for the vast majority of Foreman owners, the answer is a resounding yes.
The Foreman was designed to be a tank, and a lift kit just helps it fulfill that destiny. It gives the bike a much more modern, aggressive feel and allows it to keep up with newer, more expensive machines on the trail. You'll find yourself getting stuck less often, which means more time riding and less time sweating over a winch cable.
Just remember that adding a lift changes the center of gravity. Your bike will feel a little bit "tippier" in high-speed corners. But let's be honest, nobody is out here trying to set land speed records on a Foreman 450. It's a tractor with handlebars, and a lift kit just makes it a slightly taller, more capable tractor. If you take it easy on the turns and keep an eye on your maintenance, a lift kit is one of the best "bang for your buck" upgrades you can do for this classic Honda.