Tokyo: Honda CRF250L

CBR250R goes off-road

Posted: 10 November 2011
by Visordown News

HONDA'S main new production bike to debut at next month's Tokyo Show is this, the CRF250L.

Forget the old air-cooled 223cc single that used to carry that name, this is a road-going enduro-style bike that carries the same 22bhp engine as the new CBR250R. Wrapped in styling that predicts the look of the next-generation CRF motocrossers, the CRF250L uses a relatively straightforward steel chassis to keep costs down but looks as exotic as the full-on competition bikes that it's designed to mimic.

Honda has also released a drawing to show what a few bolt-on bits and a flash paint job could do to transform the new machine into something a bit more eye-catching.

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Discuss this story

beep1

Great this is what I've been waiting for - had a testride of the CBR250R, nice engine but the frame's too small for me. The same engine in a bigger frame would be ideal. I know Kawasaki and Yamaha already make similar bikes but one's a bit old in the tooth and the other wildly overpriced. This one should do the trick if it's priced sensibly (ie the same as the CBR250R). Hope it's coming to the UK.

Posted: 13/11/2011 at 19:38

David Stere

So??? What's wrong with re-introducing the 283lb, 26hp (29hp AX-1)70mm bore, x 64.8mm stroke NX250?

70mpg, semi-faired, 6 speed...

Hell Honda, you can even go all-out and things like EFI, LT suspension, a rear 17" rim and a disc brake... But I could understand why starting from scratch and using a new 22hp motor would make sense... To you...

You guys need to fire the guy that's responsible for "new product development"... And you need to learn how to properly market the bikes you do. Instead of pulling the plug on them after 3 years of production, because you tried selling it to the wrong demographic...

Posted: 13/11/2011 at 23:29

beep1

Nothing wrong with the NX250, but it's engine would never pass the current EU (or some other countries) emission regulations. This is probably why Honda has to start again from scratch. There are numerous bikes still being sold in the US, Latin America etc. which could only be imported into the EU privately or sold in very small numbers to get around the regulations. Shame really, from a customer point of view at least, but the manufacturers are just trying to keep up with the regs.

Posted: 14/11/2011 at 09:13

srad man sam

I'm sorry David stere, I wasn't aware you knew how to run multi billion pound corporations like Honda properly. They should stick you straight into the CEO's seat by the sounds of it. Get a fucking clue. 2 strokes are dead thanks to Euro 3 emissions regulations. The only 2 stroke machines left are little 50cc moped jobs because they have less stringent ruling.

This new bike is fabtastic! How much?

Posted: 24/03/2012 at 10:53

Abdullah Mubarak

I bought 1 peace but the speedometer giving me problem. any time I move through rain it goes off.but the strength of the bike is OK.Also I would like to order for 15 pieces how do we transact?

Posted: 20/05/2012 at 08:18

Diamond Dave Evans

I still love my 1996 XR250L, but this puppy is tempting. I wish that Honda would expand this whole single cylinder thing, and introduce a CBR450R street bike, along with a CRF450L and a super motard version too. Keep the quality up, the price down, and follow what works so well with the CBR250R.

Posted: 23/06/2012 at 13:49

Dave. G.

Srad man, the NX-250 was a 4-stroke, not a 2-stroke and I'm with David S. If the NX250 were still in production I would have picked it over any of the current 250cc dual sports on the market, including the XT250 I bought last month. I like the XT quite a bit, but I was sad to part with my 1989 NX250 that finallly wore out and needed to be replaced.

Posted: 07/08/2012 at 18:58

jdm

my crf 250 l , at 3 months old has corrosion everywhere , and brake light switch not working , and Honda uk , are not dealing with it , just passing emails around , it's a load of crap

Posted: 27/02/2013 at 23:08

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