When it comes to motocross bikes in recent history that really, really, really needed fuel injection the 2006 to 2009 Honda CRF250R is at the top of the list. The over-carbureted twin-piped CRF250Rs can be notoriously boggy and can be a bear to dial in with brass and screws.
It could be argued that the "need" for EFI could actually be more desirable in the 250F class than with the 450s. With their smaller motors, hesitations off idle and spotty power delivery affect the performance on a much more noticeable scale. Who needs ultra-precise fuel delivery on a 450? Top pros in a supercross rhythm section, and that's about it. But the working class of motocross (riders and bikes) that resides in the 250cc world can use as much power-and delivered as perfectly-as possible.The 2010 Honda CRF250R is the first production 250cc motocross bike to be delivered to us with fuel injection, and it's a wonderful, wonderful thing. The response is amazing. The bike barks, yips, growls and purrs at your command. Just wiggle your throttle hand a bit and listen. It's immediate, clean, predictable and fun. I'm guessing gas mileage on this bike measures poorly, because most people who've ridden our test bike blip the beans out of the throttle. It's like a video game. Brap-brap-brap-brap-brap...all day long with no bog.
Before you can play with the injector's crispness you have to start the CRF250R. Don't worry, though, because it's one of the easiest bikes to kickstart that we've tested. None of the CRF450R's quirky starting characteristics transferred over to the 250F. Once running, feel free to whack the throttle around in the pits for a while and enjoy the connectivity between wrist and motor.
On the track the directness of EFI takes center stage. The bike has zero hesitation out of turns. It doesn't stumble down straights, and it certainly doesn't hiccup on landings. You can ignore the part of the bike that introduces gas and air to fire and just enjoy the ride. Throttle response is off the charts with EFI, and the 2010 CRF250R is a perfect example of this.
Power is different than response. As such, the power coming out of this Honda's incredible response isn't guaranteed to be as impressive. But it generally is-just not where you think it should be.
Honda boasted at the press introduction that this motor would lead the class. And when ridden like 250Fs are usually ridden, it does produce some impressive results. Everywhere from smack-dab in the middle of the range on up to the 13,500-rpm rev-limiter, the new CRF250R makes serious power. And it delivers it quickly while staying usable. It doesn't rev out and beg for a shift like previous years' models have. For 2010, the bike happily stretches gears and tickles the rev-limiter for a good while. In comparison, 2006-2009 models generally charged through the mid with great performance and then buried their heads immediately into the rev-limiter. This quick revving was our only complaint with the second-generation CRF250Rs (if you don't count bogging).Everywhere you look the Honda...
Everywhere you look the Honda seems to impress, from the beautiful frame to the new, beefier fork.
In summary, the Honda CRF250R has a much-improved engine for 2010 with incredible response, and it's not scared to hang it out there. Let the revs do the talking. Oh yeah, the dual exhaust is gone, too. But the new single pipe sounds sweet. It's throaty and low with a nice note-sounds cool!
On to the handling and suspension. Well, for 2010 Honda shares a lot of parts between its motocross machines. In fact, almost everything you see on the bike is interchangeable between the CRF450R and the CRF250R. Ninety-five percent of the frame is identical with only the engine cradle and mounts being modified for the 250cc motor and chassis balance. In general, the 250F gives a very similar ride to the 450R. That is, the 250R is quick steering and ultra-light feeling. The bike goes into corners intuitively-almost on its own-and settles in nicely. It is a light and flickable affair in the air and is easily movable by the slightest rider input. It's nimbly-bimbly-like and is almost like riding a toy. Somewhat surprisingly, we've had great experience with this 250F being high-speed stable as well. And its manners have been well behaved everywhere in between.