Comments on: 2013 Honda CRF250L: MD First Ride (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Wed, 22 May 2013 16:44:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: joe http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-71082 joe Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:03:30 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-71082 The bike is made CHEAP!!! I dropped it on the side at 10 mph and the frame on the footpeg dimpled... the handlebars also bent I have mountain bikes that have a stronger frame.... very sad for a honda name. think twice!!! The bike is made CHEAP!!! I dropped it on the side at 10 mph and the frame on the footpeg dimpled… the handlebars also bent

I have mountain bikes that have a stronger frame…. very sad for a honda name. think twice!!!

]]> By: Jake http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-66467 Jake Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:19:54 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-66467 Kind'a, maybe? The old NX250 had a bore&stroke ratio that dates back to Honda's (un-loved) CB500T of the mid-'70s (70.0 X 64.8). The new CRF250L has much more modern numbers: (76 X 55). CRF only makes 17 HP (CBR250R makes 26 HP) -- NX250 makes 26 HP. Keep your NX... :o) Kind’a, maybe? The old NX250 had a bore&stroke ratio that dates back to Honda’s (un-loved) CB500T of the mid-’70s (70.0 X 64.8). The new CRF250L has much more modern numbers: (76 X 55).
CRF only makes 17 HP (CBR250R makes 26 HP) — NX250 makes 26 HP.
Keep your NX… :o )

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]]> By: ziggy http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-66412 ziggy Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:19:39 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-66412 Dave, your facts are right but logic is specious. Honda could charge $6,000 and build a bike every bit as good as the DRZ, and likley far better, and completely take over the marketplace. Again, I say this bike will be more than adequate for the dirt. This issue is it doesn't have enough power for the highway miles, steep inclines, and mountain passes. Dave, your facts are right but logic is specious. Honda could charge $6,000 and build a bike every bit as good as the DRZ, and likley far better, and completely take over the marketplace. Again, I say this bike will be more than adequate for the dirt. This issue is it doesn’t have enough power for the highway miles, steep inclines, and mountain passes.

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]]> By: ziggy http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-66398 ziggy Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:03:05 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-66398 ...can't believe I missed this but the point is that this 250 has enough power for off road but NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FOR ROAD RIDING. Just try to to ride this thing for "hundreds of miles" on pavement up steep nountain passes, loaded with gear. You'll either need to attach a tow rope to a semi-trailer or the engine will explode. No offense mate, but i suggest you're not too experienced in these matters. …can’t believe I missed this but the point is that this 250 has enough power for off road but NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH FOR ROAD RIDING. Just try to to ride this thing for “hundreds of miles” on pavement up steep nountain passes, loaded with gear. You’ll either need to attach a tow rope to a semi-trailer or the engine will explode. No offense mate, but i suggest you’re not too experienced in these matters.

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]]> By: ziggy http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-66397 ziggy Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:59:33 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-66397 that isn't real dual sport riding. You haven't made any mention of riding off road. What you reference is at best super-slab sport touring. Next! that isn’t real dual sport riding. You haven’t made any mention of riding off road. What you reference is at best super-slab sport touring. Next!

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]]> By: Dave http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-65690 Dave Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:45:00 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-65690 "How is it possible that with the latest technology, Honda can put out a 250 that has the same curb weight as the decade+ old DRZ 400Z, which is in a whole order higher of displacement?" DRZ400 = $6,100 CRF250L = $4,500 This is not an all-day, hardcore DS bike and was never intended to be. It is a light-duty, off road capable commuter. KTM own's the market you wish to shop in and they charge accordingly. “How is it possible that with the latest technology, Honda can put out a 250 that has the same curb weight as the decade+ old DRZ 400Z, which is in a whole order higher of displacement?”

DRZ400 = $6,100
CRF250L = $4,500

This is not an all-day, hardcore DS bike and was never intended to be. It is a light-duty, off road capable commuter. KTM own’s the market you wish to shop in and they charge accordingly.

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]]> By: RS http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-65563 RS Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:21:36 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-65563 For all the people talking about a lighter bike. Light bikes are not fun on the highway when the wind is blowing. To me a dual-sport needs to be heavier (at least 300 lbs), so it stays fairly planted in a crosswind at 65mph. Real dual sport riding often requires hundreds of miles on pavement. Believe me from experience, I'll take a 400lb KLR over ANY lightweight dual sport for that purpose. I don't like riding my 650 XRR on the street for any length of time. Too jumpy and too much vibration. Its always a trade off, but I think Honda has really built a nice dirt oriented dual sport that can still do some serious pavement miles, especially for city and backroads. Freeway and Interstate, not so much. And the price is right. For all the people talking about a lighter bike. Light bikes are not fun on the highway when the wind is blowing. To me a dual-sport needs to be heavier (at least 300 lbs), so it stays fairly planted in a crosswind at 65mph. Real dual sport riding often requires hundreds of miles on pavement. Believe me from experience, I’ll take a 400lb KLR over ANY lightweight dual sport for that purpose. I don’t like riding my 650 XRR on the street for any length of time. Too jumpy and too much vibration. Its always a trade off, but I think Honda has really built a nice dirt oriented dual sport that can still do some serious pavement miles, especially for city and backroads. Freeway and Interstate, not so much. And the price is right.

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]]> By: bigjoe1 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-64590 bigjoe1 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:25:40 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-64590 Hey Ziggy, couldn't have said it any better. At 6' 6" tall, I'd look like a gorilla on a BMX bike if I were to ride the 250L. Sure is a sweet little dual-sport though... Hey Ziggy, couldn’t have said it any better. At 6′ 6″ tall, I’d look like a gorilla on a BMX bike if I were to ride the 250L. Sure is a sweet little dual-sport though…

]]> By: Superchicken http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-62951 Superchicken Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:31:13 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-62951 That weight kind of struck me at first, but then I remembered my '92 XR250L was 280 dry, IIRC. I figure they're doing pretty good adding liquid cooling, electric start, all while keeping it relatively lightweight for a inexpensive street legal bike. Personally, I'd take the MX bike and engine with its much more capable and tunable suspension. I'd even take the height as my long legs get cramped all folded up on shorter bikes. That is, in an ideal world. I'm not quite in the market for a dirtbike just yet though. That weight kind of struck me at first, but then I remembered my ’92 XR250L was 280 dry, IIRC. I figure they’re doing pretty good adding liquid cooling, electric start, all while keeping it relatively lightweight for a inexpensive street legal bike. Personally, I’d take the MX bike and engine with its much more capable and tunable suspension. I’d even take the height as my long legs get cramped all folded up on shorter bikes. That is, in an ideal world. I’m not quite in the market for a dirtbike just yet though.

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]]> By: zuki http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/09/2013-honda-crf250l-md-first-ride/comment-page-1/#comment-62809 zuki Tue, 11 Sep 2012 18:17:08 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=23832#comment-62809 I don't think that formula works so well... at least not for me although I am long-legged. The MX bike's seats are way too tall, skinny and brick-like, and MX racers don't spend a lot of time planted down on their bikes. Trail machines need to have lower, comfy seats. The MX bike engine rebuilds are with the thought that they are getting raced extremely hard - normal everyday riding and the engines should last quite a long time, IMO. I don’t think that formula works so well… at least not for me although I am long-legged. The MX bike’s seats are way too tall, skinny and brick-like, and MX racers don’t spend a lot of time planted down on their bikes. Trail machines need to have lower, comfy seats. The MX bike engine rebuilds are with the thought that they are getting raced extremely hard – normal everyday riding and the engines should last quite a long time, IMO.

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