Our heaviest riders would have benefited from stiffer springs in front and rear, but it worked fine, and we didn't want to mess it up for lighter riders, including waiflike art director Joe McKimmy.
The rider accommodations are first-rate aside from the lack of hand guards. We installed Enduro Engineering aluminum units to protect the controls and the riders' digits. The end of the Honda grip is exceptionally thick, and we don't like simply cutting it off, so we used a spacer smaller than the inner diameter of the bar to eliminate interference between the throttle grip and the guard.
It's a good thing the bike is comfortable, too, since the sub-3-gallon tank is good for more than 80 miles on our trails! The radiators can be one sore thumb. The perimeter frame kind of hangs those thin-wall, lightweight coolers out in the breeze, and we have crash-damaged them and poked holes in them with trail spears. We've had excellent results with Devol and Rooster Performance guards, which protect the front and sides of the radiator, plus reinforce it from behind. We strongly recommend radiator protection.
The only other snivel was minor and due largely to rider abuse. One rider faded away the rear brake on a long, steep downhill switchback section. Braking was nearly constant with very little opportunity for the system to cool.
Later Days
Most times a new bike is like a new romance, and everything is wonderful for a time. Then you start to get used to each other, and you either bond or begin to get under each other's skin. After a year with the CRF250X, our romance is still in full swing. We can't say we weren't sorry to see the XR400R vanish from the Honda lineup, since it remained a staff favorite for when the going got long or tough. But so far, the X appears to be a fine extension of the pedigree, with a higher-horsepower version only months away in the CRF450X. And as with that new romance, it puts a smile on our faces every time-even when the riding is dry, dusty and slippery. If you are a fun fiend, the CRF250X could be your new addiction.
What's Hot!
* E-starting and kickstarting are effortless and reliable in all conditions.
* Power is very effective with the gearbox ratios.
* Performance is strong, especially for a quiet, smog-legal model.
* The X engines don't run well with a loud pipe installed.
* All of the off-road equipment-lights, odometer and sidestand-are very reliable and effective.
* Range is excellent with the stock tank. In the West, we can see more than 80 miles on a fill-up.
* The ergonomics are quite suitable for a wide variety of rider sizes.
* Suspension settings provide plush but controlled action for woods or desert and anything in between.
What's Not!
* Seat foam is a little thin, since the seat base is dished for the battery, and that bothered heavy riders.
* Piston and valve life ... it's no XR.
Opinions
He didn't hear it coming. I snuck up on Honda's PR guy, Ray Conway, and passed him in a corner during the SRA Grand Prix at Glen Helen. "I got passed by a sewing machine!" was his response during our post-event benchracing session. Since meeting the CRF250X, my riding ability has reached a new level. I'm confident with the bike and its performance. It feels light and easy to turn. With a lowered and revalved suspension, the 250X I raced in the 24 Hours of Glen Helen could take a hit better, and I could go through whoops without the rear end rebounding too quickly.