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Thread: CRF250L initial review

  1. #1
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    22nd April 2009 - 20:02
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    CRF250L initial review

    Picked up a new 2013 CRF250L and I am really impressed. Absolutely loving it. I'm about 5'9" and the seat height is perfect, I can touch both feet down but it still has good ground clearance. I have since put some Zeta bars/barkbusters and will later install a radiator guard and bashplate- I did change the 14T front sprocket to a 13T front sprocket and this has made a big difference off road. The speedo now reads about 15kms too fast at 100km (GPS compared) but no big deal. I can still cruise at 100kph and pass cars at up to 120kph. Stock IRC tires are fine on the road- absolutely amazing on gravel and on dry hard packed clay and dry paddocks more than acceptable. Bike has just over 1000k and is breaking in nicely, 200kms on a 7.7ltr tank is the max range. Will throw a FMF slip on shortly (will save a fair bit of weight, give a little bit more power and of course sound redonkulous) and later in the year add the header, do airbox mods, and order a EJK tuner from the states. Great all around dual sport, not as powerful or as fun on really long trips (like my 2007 KLR) but an outstanding 250cc duallie at a great price. I'm going to hit the 42nd Traverse and Fishers track this weekend, with the dry conditions the stock tires will do fine. I have added HD tubes but have not put any rimlocks in as I will keep the PSI at around 20. The axles were bone dry when I changed out the tubes and I will lube the linkage as other forums report that these bikes leave the factory with minimal grease...that's about the only negative! :headbang::headbang:
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  2. #2
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    14th October 2003 - 11:53
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    Whats the difference between the CRF230 and CRF250 besides the number, is it a different/bigger motor?
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  3. #3
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    8th July 2004 - 14:56
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eddieb View Post
    Whats the difference between the CRF230 and CRF250 besides the number, is it a different/bigger motor?
    It's the new liquid cooled CBR250 mill IIRC. Word on the street is that it fills a nice niche between the cheap & cheerful XT250/SuperSherpa & the better suspended, more powerful but taller & more $$$$ WR-R.

    Cheers
    Clint

  4. #4
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    22nd April 2009 - 20:02
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    We use the CRF230's at work, asides from the air cooled/liquid cooled difference, the 250L has a higher and more comfortable seating position, better fuel distance, more power, digital dash and the aftermarket accessories are really starting to come on-board. I could not bear the thought of adventure riding on a crf230 due to the cramped seating and low power but the crf250L is no problem.

  5. #5
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    1st May 2011 - 12:35
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    Quote Originally Posted by clint640 View Post
    It's the new liquid cooled CBR250 mill IIRC. Word on the street is that it fills a nice niche between the cheap & cheerful XT250/SuperSherpa & the better suspended, more powerful but taller & more $$$$ WR-R.

    Cheers
    Clint
    My XR250 Tornado has the DOHC air cooled CBR250 motor... even thow the new one has only .5hp more
    I bet the injection makes it run alot sharper..
    theres already a wire in gizzmo out that gives another 5hp..
    Pete

    90% of all Harleys built are still on the road... The other 10% made it back home...
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  6. #6
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    22nd April 2009 - 20:02
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    Quote Originally Posted by pete-blen View Post
    My XR250 Tornado has the DOHC air cooled CBR250 motor... even thow the new one has only .5hp more
    I bet the injection makes it run alot sharper..
    theres already a wire in gizzmo out that gives another 5hp..

    There are a couple of fuel tuners (EJK and another) that are plug and play that help hugely, as long as there are some air box mods and aftermarket exhaust. Best Dual Sport Bikes report up to 6hp with their improvements but I have yet to see any independant analysis. One thing is fer sure- the tuner makes a massive difference. Can't wait!

  7. #7
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    20th January 2010 - 21:19
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    Quote Originally Posted by 888 View Post
    and later in the year add the header
    Congrats on the new bike

    Are you going to whack in a bigger header pipe ? If so are you aware that with a bigger header pipe you risk losing bottom end torque ?

  8. #8
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    30th July 2010 - 11:37
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    Quote Originally Posted by brp View Post
    Are you going to whack in a bigger header pipe ? If so are you aware that with a bigger header pipe you risk losing bottom end torque ?
    Are you referring to that bike/model specifically, or generally across all bikes? I am interested to hear the theory behind that if it is the latter. I used to work as a cylinder head specialist and modified heads for performance (over-sized valving, cam lift rates, porting, match porting, compression ratios, etc). Poorly matched (undersized or oversized) headers have a negative affect on performance, however I would be inclined to favour that it is bike/model specific rather than generically across the board for every bike.

    I'm not trying to be a smartarse in any way, I'm genuinely interested in the source/theory behind what you are saying

  9. #9
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    22nd April 2009 - 20:02
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    When I have more cash hidden away I will get the header....but I have never heard of losing anything (powerwise) by adding a complete aftermarkey exhaust? As long as you rejet/retune then there are only gains. Certainly none of the posts on overseas forums have mentioned losing power (with aftermarket header). Prolly the only thing I will "lose" will be fuel efficiency, Best Dual Sport Bikes report about 10% loss with full exhaust/airbox mods.

  10. #10
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    20th November 2005 - 22:24
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    I've heard a nasty rumour that some of the power upgrades that can be done to the WRR give to the top but take from the bottom.
    I definately don't want to loose any bottom end torque though a bit more up top would be nice on the highway when the head wind strikes... though it can still hold it's own if you just drop a gear.
    I've not investigated too much as it all costs more money.
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  11. #11
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    20th January 2010 - 21:19
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    There was a good discussion on here about torque, someone said thin header pipes good for low down torque - was told if ya want low down torque on a V8 ya make ya headers as long as you can get them, not try and expel emissions quickly, see there's a TL1000s on trademe with trick big pipes and the mechanic seller comment is it provides an endless rush of top end power.

    I don't know the theory behind it - maybe good to have bit back pressue, some of the emissons get another go togo bang with new fuel seems to be some truth behind it.

    Guess would apply to most basic motor configurations, my bike got two real small header pipes that look like they belong on a 250, Honda could of easily of whacked in big header pipes.

    Guess Trans if ya went for more top end you might struggle more pushing through decent wind with the lost of torque ?

    Think dude on here with the signature "Torque wins races , Horsepower for sales brochures" onto something ...

  12. #12
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    1st May 2011 - 12:35
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    Next a CBR300 top end....
    All the Honda componets may fit ...

    There are kits out for mine complete CBR300 Honda ..
    But the conrod has to be changed as the piston pin
    is 1mm bigger in dia...
    about $900NZ by the time it got here...

    Pete

    90% of all Harleys built are still on the road... The other 10% made it back home...
    Ducati... Makeing riders into mechaincs since 1964...

  13. #13
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    20th January 2010 - 21:19
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    Heresies: High-performance cams, ported heads, larger carburetors and wide-open exhaust systems add little useful power below 4,500 rpm. They can and often reduce power below 4,000 rpm. This may go against most of what you may have heard about cams, pipes, air cleaners and so on. But what I say has been verified many times on dynamometers and on the street: Displacement and compression are your best friends when it comes to getting more power between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm from your Big Twin Harley engine.

    From

    http://www.americanrider.com/output.cfm?id=1205749

    --------

    http://www.shop4exhaust.com/t-Long-a...e-Headers.aspx


    Nice one Pete

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by brp View Post

    Think dude on here with the signature "Torque wins races , Horsepower for sales brochures" onto something ...
    heard that a few times on TT and ADV, "Torque wins races , Horsepower sells bikes"
    which explains a bit of the XR Baja love affair
    'Good things come to those who wait'
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  15. #15
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    Another one which is true, Horsepower determins your top speed, Torque determins how quick you can get to that speed.
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