http://www.crosstrainingenduro.com http://tractionerag.com Finally, our Honda CRF250RX review! I rode one of these beasts every day for five weeks so go to know it really well. And while I’m more of a slow technical rider, we had Megs Braap, a pro racer and opinions from various everyday riders as well. So lets look as the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s really important to note where it slots into the big scheme of things with this Honda CRF250RX review. And the narrow ratio gearbox makes it every easy to keep it on the boil. Our pro rider, Ben, punched out lap after lap on the Honda CRF250RX getting some ridiculously low lap times compared to us. Every time I asked him what he thought, he just grinned ear to ear… zero complaints. Ditto for Megs Braap. Me? I had a hoot pushing it on the test track. But as regular viewers will know, I’m really into the slow technical stuff. So the suspension started to feel harsh. First gear felt way too high, and it felt like I was changing gears way too often. What didn’t we like about the Honda CRF250RX? It’s what is commonly known as a cross country racer, or GNCC racer. Lets start with the Honda CRF250RX review positives. Like pretty much any Honda, it’s bulletproof. But if you focus more on everyday dirt riding, you start to hit problems. The suspension works great when riding aggressively. But just cruising around it starts to feel harsh. And that narrow range gearbox. In slow gnarly terrain first gear feels too high. And yet its revving its tits off on transport sections. I was stalling the bike all over the place in hard terrain, until I started to slip the clutch a lot and keep the revs up. The lack of bottom end and a tall first gear were not fun. And to make things worse, the cable clutch takes up quickly and works the hand more than the European hydraulic clutches I am used to. The Traction eRag had five of these bikes in a fleet of about 20 bikes that were hammered every day over six weeks. Not a single mechanical issue of any kind, except when someone crashed and broke something. Always a huge plus with Honda. The Honda CRF250RX light and flickable, at only 110kg fully fueled. (244lb). Coming off a two stroke I was expecting it to feel heavier, but it was easy to throw around but stable at speed too. The Honda CRF250RX engine? Very linear power, even on the aggressive mapping.Essentially it’s Honda’s motocross bike but with a larger fuel tank, softer suspension, 18 inch rear wheel, 0-ring chain, slightly detuned, three way mapping switch, and a kickstand. But these aren’t really complaints about the Honda CRF250RX. It’s more about realising the purpose of this bike. Lets go back to our diagram. Now Yamaha does make a proper enduro model, the WR250F. It’s not as fast, but makes a very sweet enduro bike. I think the only problems emerge if you expect the CRF250RX to behave like an enduro bike. Mind you, if you are a fast aggressive rider, you will probably find it still works well. But most of us everday dirt riders might find a true enduro bike better. Very keen to hear your opinions if you own a Honda CRF250RX or have ridden one. And a few years back I did review three of Yamaha’s 250 four strokes, it’s probably still quite relevant today. Honda claim 38hp at around 12000rpm, way more than I needed and I doubt I ever got close to the rev limiter. Compared to an enduro 250 the bottom end power is a bit weak, but then it’s tuned for racing so no complaints there. First I scoured online for long term complaints. All I could find was a few guys who said they fitted fans to avoid overheating. But most said it was never an issue. It certainly wasn’t for us over the Canadian summer. The only issues I could pick were if you bought a Honda CRF250RX for the wrong reason. The Honda is definitely set up well for the cross country racing.
an introduction on how to ride dirt bikes with our 70 free training vids. Tips from Graham Jarvis, Chris Birch and other top enduro riders on cross training – a blend of trials and enduro techniques. And Australian Tim Coleman loves to ride hard enduro events like the Red Bull Sea to Sky on his Beta RR300 dirt bike due to his trials background.
The rise of extreme enduro, endurocross and hard enduro events has led to cross training – trials skills applied to dirt riding on enduro bikes with techniques from Chris Birch, Ruben Chadwick and Tim Coleman.
Cross Training Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJAvmhgP0h1AEKY8vTEJPJg
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CHANGES OVER THE YEARS: Not has changed until 2022 with a new frame, subframe, swingarm, and bodywork for 7lb or 3kg less weight. Engine updates very lightly reduced maximum horsepower but significantly increased the midrange power. Dual exhausts changed to single exhaust for less weight. Suspension was revalved to be softer. The new frame slightly increased ground clearance.
LONG TERM COMMENTS: Our test bike was part of the Traction eRag fleet, we spoke to their mechanic who essentially said the bikes are rock solid and he has not noticed any particular known issues over the years.
Is the 250rx a good first bike? I’m 6 feet tall and have ridden other machines but have never used a clutch
Man solid video, thank you for the breakdown of where the different type of Hondas and Yamahas fit in to different areas of dirtbike riding. I had alot of difficulty trying to understand where each bike fits in. Unfortunately in South africa they don't sell the CRF 250 F which would be my choice being a nice mix of trail and maybe a bit of technical enduro, so unsure what I'll have to do. Maybe will have to look at al onder crf230 f. Just a question do you think by Detuning the RX with bigger fly wheel, maybe adjust sprockets etc it will work better for enduro/trail. Otherwise I will have to go with Yamahah
What was the power difference compared to a drz 400 like ? How many more ponies for the Honda?
138 hours on my '22 now and love it. It is a track bike with a bigger tank and an 18" rear wheel amongst other small changes. For years I rode single track on CRF's fitted with a bigger tank and an 18" hoop I laced to the stock hub and absolutely loved that set up for fast paced woods riding so the RX was a no-brainer Honda Please listen , CRF300 RX with the exact transmission ratios as the 250 but I beg of thee to add a 6th gear for the transition sections. KTM would be pissed.
Thanks mate!
The 2019 CRF250RX makes 43.5 HP bone stock.
You should do a video on the newer version
Hola From Mexico.
I loved the "numeros" in Spanish, I have been looking for the perfect light trail bike and i think this is it, great review without complications. This will be my new bike.
Why haven't I bought a new honda bike you ask? THERE ARE TOO MANY FUCKING OPTIONS!!! The R, the X, the RX, the F. On top of that, each have multiple map choices and each year have different tweaks and corrections to flaws. Man, WTF…
Does it have a key?
Wonder if they will make it a 6 SPEED Trans and add a FAN ?
12,000 revs ? Really ?
Great bike but I think the YZ250FX beats it with a suspension & 6 speed trans
Sounds like you would suit a CRF250F better. I purchased the 22' KX250X and also feel that after some good hard enduro days maybe I would have been better on a CRF250F with an EJK, pipe and filter.
Hello. How would you compare 250 x to SWM 300RS?
I noticed you mentioned canada in the video…where are you riding?
I work at a Honda dealership and I really upset everyone when I refused to buy any of the Honda bikes. Was even given a 250RX to try for a weekend. Still bought a pre TPI KTM 250 when getting my hands on a Sherco 250 proved to be futile.
With all the bikes being so close, why would I buy something where the manufacturer makes me buy two spark arrestors and increase the likelihood of damage since I can smash both sides now. So stupid. Honda if you think your engineers are smarter then everyone else, why did they come up with this turd? Enough already!!
Yeah I own one, I destroyed one lol after a year and a bit of riding the shit out of it I completely blue the engine, currently waiting on a new one to be built right now, brand new outter shels and inwards.. it did definitely have a over heating problem when going slower, all-round a great bike tho I've passed some sweet canam outlanders barried in a swamp 4ft of soup mud and I just cruised right bye them on my honda crf 250rx
I have a 2021 250 rx, got the suspension resprung for my weight, and lowered it an inch. (I am Meg's size). The amount of clutch work in the slow stuff is a hand work out. Put on a Magura Conversion kit, it helped.
It is a smooth bike, responds well, would like to see it thinner around the tank. Also agree that a wide ratio clutch system would be better. On the plus side if your a slower rider you can stay in first nearly all day. After 20 run hours on mine, picked up a G2 throttle tamer and moving the rear sproket up to a 50T. Over all it is a great cross country or some simpler trail riding. Pretty fun at the track too!
Notice Hondas empty spot in the Enduro section… What happened to CRF 250x??
Amazing riding, editing n film quality, i'm doni cilik from Indonesia
One of these up against a KTM 300 xc-w would be an awesome video!
What do you do if your battery dies?
The new redesigned 2022 Honda’s look killer
can you make these bikes street legal sorry for the quistion i just can’t find anything
Bought this bike a few months ago. It is more bike than I need but part of my decision was because it was on the truck and other bikes weren’t being delivered. I have found that if I just trust it, it will take me up and over things I wouldn’t have dreamed of on my old Klx 300r
Could you just gear it down a tooth or so to make up on the bottom end?
How was the maintenance on it? Do they still use separate chambers for engine and transmission oil? I recall they had valve issues when they first came out. Has that been rectified? I enjoyed the review, thanks for posting!
I own an 05 crf250x and my only complaint would be the suspension. As you said, it is too firm for enduro riding. On the other hand, from 2005 – 2012 they had wide range gearboxes and 1st gear is low enough. It would be better lower, but with some adjusting to your clutch technique it works just fine.
Solution to unsuitable gearing? Just add rekluse radius x. Best of everything. Can still use clutch to pop or modulate.
I’m 6ft, 300lbs and I ride one for single track. Has plenty of power to take me where ever I want to go. Suspension is obviously soft for my weight, but with some compression, rebound and sag settings changed, it has worked good so far. I did move the bars to the second setting forward on the triple tree for better stand up ergonomics. Definitely a bike I have to feather the clutch with at slower, technical areas.
Going to get a fork and rear spring upgrade soon for my weight.
Just picked my self a Honda cre 250 up, just wanted to know if you had ever rode one or even came across one as they were only produced in Italy 🇮🇹 and had it imported to England
Too many options on the market now! Too many good bikes! And this one included 👍