Discussion
Who's got one - what do you think?
I've seen they can be had for the cost of a few rounds in the pub, per month.
I rode a CRF250 Rally a couple years back and it was just OK. Although I did a full day green laning on it and actually didn't have any complaints it was just a tad vanilla.
I've seen they can be had for the cost of a few rounds in the pub, per month.
I rode a CRF250 Rally a couple years back and it was just OK. Although I did a full day green laning on it and actually didn't have any complaints it was just a tad vanilla.
A few guys in my club have them
Plus - cheap and reliable
Minus - heavy and could do with suspension mods for serious green lane use
One chap has modified his, circa £1k and still isn't happy but has covered approx 10k without issue - approx half off road - you just can't have everything
Plus - cheap and reliable
Minus - heavy and could do with suspension mods for serious green lane use
One chap has modified his, circa £1k and still isn't happy but has covered approx 10k without issue - approx half off road - you just can't have everything
It's a great compromise bike, perfect for 50/50 use IMHO. A bit too light and uncomfortable for long road journeys, and too slow and heavy for tight single track. But very reliable.
You can get better road bikes, and better off-road bikes, and the KTM/Husky road legal four strokes are even better still, but significantly more expensive.
Personally I think it's a great bike, had a CRF250L for three years. Replaced it with a Tiger 900 & KTM 300 XC dedicated dirt bike as I was doing more trail riding.
You can get better road bikes, and better off-road bikes, and the KTM/Husky road legal four strokes are even better still, but significantly more expensive.
Personally I think it's a great bike, had a CRF250L for three years. Replaced it with a Tiger 900 & KTM 300 XC dedicated dirt bike as I was doing more trail riding.
These coming across as very capable bikes. Not sure if you seen Itchy Boots youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/ItchyBoots/videos. She's on CRF300 Rally tho
Have been thinking about buying one of these for a long time. I read there is very little between them on / off road, apart from more plastic to break on the Rally and an extra 11kg of weight. The Rally has a bigger tank, which some (like me) would consider to be useful.
And presumably that extra petrol contributes to some of that extra weight. For tinkering about on green lanes and having a more "useful" road bike, I am tending towards the Rally.
But I haven't bought one as I'm not convinced that after a few months I would find it a bit too slow / unexciting as a road bike, which in all probability is where it will spend most of its time (there is no bike that does everything I want!).
And presumably that extra petrol contributes to some of that extra weight. For tinkering about on green lanes and having a more "useful" road bike, I am tending towards the Rally.
But I haven't bought one as I'm not convinced that after a few months I would find it a bit too slow / unexciting as a road bike, which in all probability is where it will spend most of its time (there is no bike that does everything I want!).
I'd wondered if the L or Rally might be a good option for road riding on a mix of unclassified, B and A roads. However, I saw a video in which someone said he'd bought a couple of used ones from people who'd bought them for pootling around the lanes and who'd found them unsuitable. I'm not sure why - possibly power delivery, or handling, or ride height etc.
Are any tyres available for these which would be suitable for 100% road use? Would any other changes be necessary?
On the availability issue, I don't live near a Honda dealer, but visited one last week, and it seemed that nearly all of their new bikes had a 'Sold' sticker on them. I didn't count them, but out of maybe 70 new bikes, I think I saw 3 or 4 which hadn't been sold! At first I was impressed by what seemed like a bike sales boom, but then I wondered if they'd just marked them as sold to discourage people from sitting on them! The bikes were packed in like sardines, too. Later in the week I phoned around some Honda dealers and they said they're currently not allowed to order bikes for stock, and can only order a bike based on a sale, so perhaps the dealer was trying to work around that!
Are any tyres available for these which would be suitable for 100% road use? Would any other changes be necessary?
On the availability issue, I don't live near a Honda dealer, but visited one last week, and it seemed that nearly all of their new bikes had a 'Sold' sticker on them. I didn't count them, but out of maybe 70 new bikes, I think I saw 3 or 4 which hadn't been sold! At first I was impressed by what seemed like a bike sales boom, but then I wondered if they'd just marked them as sold to discourage people from sitting on them! The bikes were packed in like sardines, too. Later in the week I phoned around some Honda dealers and they said they're currently not allowed to order bikes for stock, and can only order a bike based on a sale, so perhaps the dealer was trying to work around that!
I bought a 300 Rally last year. I like it. Going to get better suspension fitted next week. All those that have done it say it transforms the bike. Quite a few people on the Facebook group changed the exhaust and re-flashed the ECU to match also livening it up, don't think I can be bothered with the extra cost of that.
If you start spending too much then better to buy a KTM 690 or Husky 701.
I wanted something cheap and fun and that's what the CRF is to me. But it depends on your definition of fun. It's a trail bike, not an enduro but then again it is much enjoyable on road than an enduro for me.
Basically it comes down to the old equation of cheap, fast, reliable - pick two.
As for supply issues - I just bought another one for my brother-in-law to do a big Africa trip on and two weeks ago it seemed to be the only one available from stock on Autotrader. I believe there will be another shipment coming into the country but at that time the dealer told me Honda wasn't giving dates so it could be tomorrow or April, who knows?
If you start spending too much then better to buy a KTM 690 or Husky 701.
I wanted something cheap and fun and that's what the CRF is to me. But it depends on your definition of fun. It's a trail bike, not an enduro but then again it is much enjoyable on road than an enduro for me.
Basically it comes down to the old equation of cheap, fast, reliable - pick two.
As for supply issues - I just bought another one for my brother-in-law to do a big Africa trip on and two weeks ago it seemed to be the only one available from stock on Autotrader. I believe there will be another shipment coming into the country but at that time the dealer told me Honda wasn't giving dates so it could be tomorrow or April, who knows?
tight fart said:
I have been trying to find a local ‘ish’ dealer with one in stock but no luck, they are all to busy to talk to me.
The Honda UK website still lists the 250.
People have had 300's on order for months and there are rumours of the next batch being available around March but they keep saying this.The Honda UK website still lists the 250.
I bought a 250L in June 2020 and basically learnt to off road on it over the last 18 months and 2,000 miles. I did most of the mods you can do tyres, suspension, gearing, bars etc. but in the end it was the weight that bothered me the most on the more challenging stuff.
I've just sold it for about £300 less than I paid which is a reflection of the scarcity of good ones. Out of interest I tried selling it all modified but got nowhere and stripped off most of the bits and just sold it with better tyres and a smaller front sprocket.
I absolutely loved my CRF but in the end I fancied something lighter and more capable to see how I go. I have to do 10 miles to get onto the trails and that part will be far more painful now as I could just bimble along at 65 on the CRF with no worries but once I get there the 45kg lighter weight is compelling!
Pazuzu said:
I absolutely loved my CRF but in the end I fancied something lighter and more capable to see how I go. I have to do 10 miles to get onto the trails and that part will be far more painful now as I could just bimble along at 65 on the CRF with no worries but once I get there the 45kg lighter weight is compelling!
What have you replaced the Crf with?Pazuzu said:
I bought a 250L in June 2020 and basically learnt to off road on it over the last 18 months and 2,000 miles. I did most of the mods you can do tyres, suspension, gearing, bars etc. but in the end it was the weight that bothered me the most on the more challenging stuff.
I've just sold it for about £300 less than I paid which is a reflection of the scarcity of good ones. Out of interest I tried selling it all modified but got nowhere and stripped off most of the bits and just sold it with better tyres and a smaller front sprocket.
I absolutely loved my CRF but in the end I fancied something lighter and more capable to see how I go. I have to do 10 miles to get onto the trails and that part will be far more painful now as I could just bimble along at 65 on the CRF with no worries but once I get there the 45kg lighter weight is compelling!
Same. Bought one, modded it slightly, learned to ride off-road on it. Sold it for what I paid. Replaced it with a dedicated dirt bike.I've just sold it for about £300 less than I paid which is a reflection of the scarcity of good ones. Out of interest I tried selling it all modified but got nowhere and stripped off most of the bits and just sold it with better tyres and a smaller front sprocket.
I absolutely loved my CRF but in the end I fancied something lighter and more capable to see how I go. I have to do 10 miles to get onto the trails and that part will be far more painful now as I could just bimble along at 65 on the CRF with no worries but once I get there the 45kg lighter weight is compelling!
I still think they are wonderful bikes though, really enjoyed owning one. And might buy another in future, or a CRF450L / KTM 350/500.
I just bought a 300l Rally with ABS a few weeks ago. I'm USA based and it's been really cold so I have barely had much time on it.
So far I can say it's a lightweight bike that gets great fuel economy. At below freezing and zero miles I was getting 88 UK mpg.
The suspension is very soft. I have maxed out the preload but I have not tested it yet. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
So far I can say it's a lightweight bike that gets great fuel economy. At below freezing and zero miles I was getting 88 UK mpg.
The suspension is very soft. I have maxed out the preload but I have not tested it yet. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
Itchy Boots is riding hers to Alaska.
Just in the process of a sea voyage in a speedboat with bike crossing from Columbia to Panama.
https://youtu.be/2wjLdLbpzxY
Just in the process of a sea voyage in a speedboat with bike crossing from Columbia to Panama.
https://youtu.be/2wjLdLbpzxY
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