CRF250L initial review

[brp]

it'll be better everywhere, just more pronounced up top.

Not always - as ya know honda purposely built the XR650R to win Baja - being the best engine builders in the world
they would have put on big header pipes if it was advantageous to do so.

Good article Josh - yeah yah want more bang just buy a bike with a bigger bore to provide so.

Want lightness and power buy a 2 stroke

[NordieBoy]

Not always - as ya know honda purposely built the XR650R to win Baja - being the best engine builders in the world
they would have put on big header pipes if it was advantageous to do so.

As they wanted a torquey motor with a bit more fuel efficiency, they went with smaller headers.

I would go even further that direction...
Velocity porting FTW.

I wanted to do that to my XR250 but the ports were too small to get a finger in to smooth out the epoxy...

[brp]

Exactly - opposite to what the guy I quoted said

Quite often the gains from a larger dia header are most noticeable on the top end but if you look at the dyno chart, it'll be better everywhere, just more pronounced up top.

Don't think they did well on the economy front with average of 10L for 150km

[NordieBoy]

Don't think they did well on the economy front with average of 10L for 150km

It could have been worse tho

[888]

I understand Josh's frustration with modding a 250cc- but he is missing the point. If you have a crf250l and you want to improve it- go for it! All reports show that with a EJK tuner and perhaps some cheap sprocket changes one has a vastly improved bike. I have cancelled the order for my FMF slip on and ordered a EJK tuner instead. I am entirely confident that this upgrade will make my Crf kick just enough ass to keep me happy. The overall cost for this is pretty low...

[Night Falcon]

I tried to find out about after market tanks but it seems they are not there just yet. A 300 klm plus range and you'd have a great little adventure bike.

[888]

Yeah, this bike is just pure fun- I am heading out tomoro to run the 42nd traverse- conditions are so dry that I am running the stock tires....!

[Night Falcon]

Yeah, this bike is just pure fun- I am heading out tomoro to run the 42nd traverse- conditions are so dry that I am running the stock tires....!

You'll have no worries, just watch the steep clay down hills, they have been known to catch the odd rider out Don't imagine the river crossing will be up to much either.

[thommo77]

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

Probably closer to the KLX than Super Sherpa in comparison. Price similar and only major diff being the EFI. All the comparo tests I've read place the two of them pretty much on a par. WR is altogether way different than the CR & KLX.

[brp]

It could have been worse tho

Yeah that economy is not the hanging about type - get 60 MPG plus with 38 rear motard set up


Prob good call 888 forgetting about the slip on - Harris pipes did a test (could be bias) and found most bikes perform
worse with after market slip on's - more noise confuses some brains that they have more power ...

He's not missing the point but speaking the common sense gospel - guess beg to differ on this one .....


Yeah those WR's shod with the R1 piston impressive for a 250 - was overtaking transalper going up the steep hill from Governors Bay and went
to hook another gear, for a moment was not exactly tearing pass him but I was already in top, cubic inch took over as it should but I was well impressed - hate to think what rev's that wee piston was doing - 11000 RPM at a guess - 2500 RPM up his sleeve - 13500 RPM same limit as me old KT100 2 stroke go-kart motor

[NordieBoy]

Yeah those WR's shod with the R1 piston impressive for a 250 - was overtaking transalper going up the steep hill from Governors Bay and went
to hook another gear, for a moment was not exactly tearing pass him but I was already in top, cubic inch took over as it should but I was well impressed - hate to think what rev's that wee piston was doing - 11000 RPM at a guess - 2500 RPM up his sleeve - 13500 RPM same limit as me old KT100 2 stroke go-kart motor

My 350 only goes to 8,300rpm.

A guy here in Nelson loves his WRR. Gets used for day to day, laid-backs, even clerk-of-the-course's x-countries and enduro's on it.
Best general purpose bike around for that sort of stuff.

[CrazyFrog]

My 350 only goes to 8,300rpm.

A guy here in Nelson loves his WRR. Gets used for day to day, laid-backs, even clerk-of-the-course's x-countries and enduro's on it.
Best general purpose bike around for that sort of stuff.

Wonder if he's the same bloke who lives up The Brook. A motard set up WR-R goes past my house twice daily.
Just between us, he rides "most enthusiastically" and makes me smile every time I see him ride. Hard on the gas, hard on the brakes

It's not my licence at stake, it's his, that behaviour is prolly best left at the track not in town, but still a joy to watch nonetheless.

[NordieBoy]

Wonder if he's the same bloke who lives up The Brook. A motard set up WR-R goes past my house twice daily.
Just between us, he rides "most enthusiastically" and makes me smile every time I see him ride. Hard on the gas, hard on the brakes

Nope, full dirt setup.

Hard on the gas and hard on the brakes and its probably still getting better mileage than our bikes

[pete-blen]

My 350 only goes to 8,300rpm

My XR250 put out its whole 23.5hp at 7,500.
sits on 5,600rpm @ 100kph...

[888]

Great ride on the 42nd Traverse today, figured it would be nice and dry so I didn't bother changing the stock IRC trail tires or change the pressure from the 22psi recommended. The CRF had no problems at all, I started from the Owhango side which worked out perfect as all the tourists come the other way (so you can see their horrified looks when you ride past ). There is a rock wall bit about half way through that had me a bit worried but the CRF just mountain goat-ed it with only the slightest of wheel spin. I tended to ride a bit cautious due to the mountain bikers and the ride took 1hr 50 minutes (stopped five times to take photos). The creek crossings were dead easy, I imagine that after a heavy rain I might walk the bike through the deepest but I doubt it. The track gets progressively worse as you go through (or more fun?) with loads of sections that would be pretty slippery after any sort of rain. Lots of blackberry hanging right around eye level so I highly recommend eye protection! Some branches are pretty low as well- took a couple of good hits on my helmet. I can't wait to put my MotoZ Tractionators on and try this ride again later into winter, should be way more fun when it's wet! Just as I got out on the Kapoors side I passed some dude on a Yamaha XTZ 660 going in; given the choice I would stick with my CRF on a tight track like this! Having said that, I do want to take my 2007 KLR650 through... I did not feel that I needed any more power at any given time, but I did have to clutch it a bit (in 2nd gear) on some of the inclines. The EJK fuel programmer should help in that area. After around 350k round trip I felt great. What an awesome bike!! (I should note that I strapped on a pack with about 25lbs worth of tools, tubes, first aid, food/water, boots, etc and I never even noticed the extra weight out back).