The 2012 CRF250L thread

[Ed@Ford]

Originally Posted by GotMojo?

Maybe this is 205, but I got an email from Honda today that the new bike is online... http://powersports.honda.com/2013/crf250l/offroad.aspx

Surprised its $500 cheaper than the CRF230L!

I suspected the seat height would be low thanks to shorter suspension travel, which I could sorta tell from all the photos that have been posted. This bike is not a WR250R competitor... its more of a slight step up from the previous CRF230L and aimed at the growing markets of Asia which gobble up 250's like we gobble up 650's.

Well, make sure you sell goodies for the Honda too...that way both sides of your bread will be buttered!

[Ed@Ford]

Originally Posted by strongbad

Honda noticed that the WRR is an extremely tall motorcycle and raised the bar by lowering the bar.

In CA we pay usurious yearly fees for registration based on that heavy hit at the dealer, so we never stop paying for that extra $2k in upfront costs. Not only does the CRF250L keep more money in our pockets--it keeps more money out of the enemy's pockets. Advantage Honda.

Nice pun....sorry about CA being in your wallet all the time!!

[scottmac]

Originally Posted by Ed@Ford

Nice pun....sorry about CA being in your wallet all the time!!

CA is going to require the charcoal cannister and special one off vented gas tank too if the WRR/X is
any indication. That's going to add an extra charge onto every one sold in CA because we're "special".

[Ed@Ford]

Originally Posted by scottmac

CA is going to require the charcoal cannister and special one off vented gas tank too if the WRR/X is
any indication. That's going to add an extra charge onto every one sold in CA because we're "special".

Better you than me...in MI....but then again, it could be a 50 state cal...and we ALL get that junk hung on there

[G19Tony]

Originally Posted by TNC

Now there you go...I think you will be very happy with the Honda. I'm thinking it will even be decently competent on some trails...just as long as they don't get too hairy. Man, this thread shows why manufacturers have such a hard time nailing down the DS trail bike category...and maybe why they don't want to get too heavily invested in it. I'm a dirt bike, off road guy who wants a bike that will do some pavement. Many others are pavement and dirt road guys/girls who want to occasionally do some medium dirt. And then there's the vast void between. Oh the humanity!

Medium dirt. You hit the nail on the head for me. There is plenty of that where I live. It can also get pretty technical quick. I wound up in those situations occasionally on my KLR250. I'm thinking this bike will handle the occasional hard stuff ok. I'm also sure there will be lot's of farkles on the way too.

I'm guessing Honda will sell all they can make. This bike would make a great supermoto too! Maybe with just a wheel change, I can do both.

[discoganya]

Originally Posted by rockinrog

Curb Weight 320 pounds
Curb weight (US English) or kerb weight (UK English) is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (e.g., motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.[1][2]

Thanks, 320lbs wet is still heavy. Another big red pig I guess.

[Ed@Ford]

Well, those who thing it's a BRP (Big Red Pig), consider this: I assume the CRF probably has the same battery as a WRR Yamaha...so if you get one of the new Shorai super light batteries, you can whack 4.07 pounds of ugly fat off it for $114.95...or for $159.95 you can put one in with about 40% more cold cranking amps to run all those accessories and only whack off 3.9#...Then, since you're gonna do it anyway, get an aftermarket exhaust that'll take off maybe 4 more pounds...you'll bring your BRP down to 312#.....then spend a few bucks at weight watchers....shazam...you're down to WRR weight....for a lot less than $2000.....and the puny CRF suspension will be happier too!

[Ham]

Man I get tired of people trashing suspensions as "cheap" etc. I have owned a pile of bikes and I am a fair rider and I have never reached the limit of any suspension on any bike. So I am forced to assume that either you are all hat or you are a rock hard fitness buff that is an awesome rider who simply cannot stomach a "average" suspension.

Most of the USA adventure guys don't meet those specs at all and don't want to.

If you are going third world so much changes its a different topic all together.

I have had the same discussion on my other thread "perfect adventure bike"

It isn't that it is so hard to please everybody...its that different bloggers can't stay on target regarding the subject and the goal. But then again it sounds pretty cool when you walk up to the microphone and beg for caviar when you ride like dog meat.

[TNC]

Originally Posted by Ed@Ford

Don't know about "hybrid"...I just know my buddy's WRR main frame is aluminum...and ya know...I think the subframe is STEEL...unlike the wimpy frikkin aluminum subframe on my DRZ400S.....but that's another story

By hybrid I just mean some of it is steel and some of it is aluminum. Yamaha says on their site that the mainframe is aluminum and the downtubes are steel. Doesn't mention the rear subframe, but it sounds logical for it to be steel. Downtubes usually refer to the one or two frame members in front of the engine that come down from the steering head and join up at the rear swingarm or thereabouts.

[scottmac]

Originally Posted by Ed@Ford

Well, those who thing it's a BRP (Big Red Pig), consider this: I assume the CRF probably has the same battery as a WRR Yamaha...so if you get one of the new Shorai super light batteries, you can whack 4.07 pounds of ugly fat off it for $114.95...or for $159.95 you can put one in with about 40% more cold cranking amps to run all those accessories and only whack off 3.9#...Then, since you're gonna do it anyway, get an aftermarket exhaust that'll take off maybe 4 more pounds...you'll bring your BRP down to 312#.....then spend a few bucks at weight watchers....shazam...you're down to WRR weight....for a lot less than $2000.....and the puny CRF suspension will be happier too!

Does the CRF have the EXUP exhaust system like the WRR? If so you can drop the EXUP motor and shave another pound and a half if you go with an aftermarket exhaust. Take off the passenger pegs and you shave close to a pound.

Then you can add it all back on with a skid plate, barkbusters, pannier racks and a bigger gas tank!

[Ed@Ford]

Originally Posted by scottmac

Does the CRF have the EXUP exhaust system like the WRR? If so you can drop the EXUP motor and shave another pound and a half if you go with an aftermarket exhaust. Take off the passenger pegs and you shave close to a pound.

Then you can add it all back on with a skid plate, barkbusters, pannier racks and a bigger gas tank!

EXUP is a Yamaha patented and trademarked device, so you'll not see it on a Honda. I'll defer to other folks, but nothing like that shows up in any of the tech literature on the Honda. It does have catalyst, and Honda is unique in putting the exhaust gas oxygen sensor right in the exhaust port in the cylinder head. This SEEMS to indicate the engine management system runs closed loop off that sensor. There's no guarantee of that, since there are EFI bikes that have exhaust gas sensors in some countries and NOT in the usa. I have not looked closely at the CBR250R, which shares this engine to see if it has this sensor....maybe a look at the parts lists of the 2012 CBR250R is in order.

YES,, the CBR250R does have an exhaust sensor in the exhaust port of the cylinder head.

[dmaxmike]

I love how people bitch and moan about the suspension when in reality it more than adequate for the task at hand. Think about it before USD forks and double adjustable shocks did bikes just ride on the road and around yards? I’m fairly sure they raced hare scrambles and motocross way back when bikes had 2 shocks in the back! They all must have been in first gear the whole time huh?

i still am a little mad its so heavy but hey look at it as motivation to not suck so much at riding so you don't have to pick it up as often.

[scottmac]

Originally Posted by Ed@Ford

EXUP is a Yamaha patented and trademarked device, so you'll not see it on a Honda. I'll defer to other folks, but nothing like that shows up in any of the tech literature on the Honda. It does have catalyst, and Honda is unique in putting the exhaust gas oxygen sensor right in the exhaust port in the cylinder head. This SEEMS to indicate the engine management system runs closed loop off that sensor. There's no guarantee of that, since there are EFI bikes that have exhaust gas sensors in some countries and NOT in the usa. I have not looked closely at the CBR250R, which shares this engine to see if it has this sensor....maybe a look at the parts lists of the 2012 CBR250R is in order.

YES,, the CBR250R does have an exhaust sensor in the exhaust port of the cylinder head.

I believe the WRR/X's sold in Europe also have an oxygen sensor mounted in the exhaust header.

[TNC]

Originally Posted by dmaxmike

I love how people bitch and moan about the suspension when in reality it more than adequate for the task at hand. Think about it before USD forks and double adjustable shocks did bikes just ride on the road and around yards? I’m fairly sure they raced hare scrambles and motocross way back when bikes had 2 shocks in the back! They all must have been in first gear the whole time huh?

i still am a little mad its so heavy but hey look at it as motivation to not suck so much at riding so you don't have to pick it up as often.

I hear what you're saying, but justifying mediocrity by looking back and saying, "at least it's better than what we used to have", may not be very encouraging. And no, this Honda isn't that low on the totem pole of DS bikes, but they already have/had the CRF230L for mediocrity, and many of us were hoping for the more performance oriented...especially in better off roadability...bike that we knew Honda could build.

Yes, I sound like a broken record by now, but maybe that's because I keep responding to praises for this bike that also sound like a broken record. For those who say this bike will fill a niche for those who don't need/want a 200-300cc DS bike for their needs that is a more serious off road offering, I'd say you've had those bikes for many years in one form or another. The air-cooled XT series, the CRF230L, and others are all anyone in the category I describe could want, and provide it in a simpler, less complex package. But as I said in another post just above, it's a big field of users in this venue, and it's clear when even we don't agree on what will sell and be manufactured, how can we expect the manufacturers themselves to hit the mark exactly?

[SBG]

My 650 gets 45-50 mpg. That's nothing to complain about considering all the extra power you get at a 20lbs gain and 250+ mile range. I don't mind small engine bikes, like my 1982 XT125, which weighed 215 lbs, or my 1986 XR200, which weighed about 224, or my WR250F, which weighs 263, ALL far lighter and with the exception of the little XT, more offroad worthy. That much weight on an engine that small is inexcusable in 2012.

Originally Posted by gloud

and 3x the MPG (CRFL). (don't forget that little factoid.) and if I wanted a 650 I would buy one. I like small engine bikes.