Riding Impression: Honda CRF250X

Off-road shootouts are always interesting due to the fact that there are so many different aspects of the bikes to compare. From the gearing to the brightness of the stock headlights, the bikes are vastly different. The genre of off-road 250cc four strokes seems to have surged within the past four years, which is great news if you are in the market for one of these fun off road machines. Among these machines, the Honda is the least changed of all, but the little CRF250X is still a fun, dependable bike with loads of potential. Here’s Michael Allen’s take on the Honda CRF250X after riding the “class veteran” for several days:

The heart of the Honda CRF250X is a bit outdated performance-wise, which could be partially attributed to it being the only carbureted bike in the shootout. Not having fuel injection isn’t all bad, though; when the throttle is rolled on from a stop the power is smooth, unlike most fuel-injected bikes which can feel touchy and jumpy. The Honda has good torque in the lower RPM range and pulls decently into the midrange, but the power really falls off from the midrange to the rev limiter. In a shootout against more technologically advanced bikes, the Honda’s engine definitely takes a back seat to the rest of the competition due to a lack of excitement.

For the beginner, or casual trail rider, the suspension on the Honda is ideal, with an overall soft feeling. Initially the fork is a little harsh, which can cause a slight push in corners, but once in mid stroke it’s very plush and compliant at mild trail speeds. The shock has a smooth action all the way through the stroke, but is a tad softer than the fork. When pushed to faster trail speeds or a mild race pace, both ends of the bike tend to blow through the travel and bottom with the fork having an audible metal-to-metal sound. Although this bike’s demographic is not the hardcore racer, I feel that the suspension is still a little soft.

In tighter terrain the Honda can feel a bit heavy, but when the speeds increase the Honda is very stable and tracks straight with minimal front end deflection. The rider compartment as with all Honda’s is familiar and comfortable right off the bat. From the levers and grips, to the distance between the foot pegs and the seat, the Honda feels like a handshake from an old friend. In my opinion the Honda is an Ideal bike for a new rider, or a great woman’s bike; in fact, my girlfriend bought one, had the seat shaved, got the suspension lowered, and loves it to death.