CRF250 Rally/DS

[ZooDog]

Price

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

Hope the subframe is strong enough for the luggage.

[Welsh]

Ummm ABS needed on a 250? or am I missing something?  small agile interactive... ooh yes lets add weight and dumb it down???

[Hardy de Kock]

Ummm ABS needed on a 250? or am I missing something?  small agile interactive... ooh yes lets add weight and dumb it down???

Welsh - I suspect they had the commuter/ dual purpose market in mind when they designed it

[kalliedt]

Hardy Thank you for showing us (Charl & Vaatjie) the Honda CRF 250 Rally at Die Rooigranaat in Loxton on Saturday morning. The motorcycle is definitely suited for the younger and may be less experienced rider that want to get involved in the dual motorcycle experience. Showed the photo to my 18 year old son and he is so excited to go on the next trip with me. XR125 is old news. Vaatjie is still convinced that the Rally will get his wife to start riding with him. We will probably have company on our next trip. Good luck with your event next weekend. Will look out for the reviews.

[sidetrack]

Ummm ABS needed on a 250? or am I missing something?  small agile interactive... ooh yes lets add weight and dumb it down???

I think in Europe all bikes needs ABS to be sold there

[Kamanya]

Ummm ABS needed on a 250? or am I missing something?  small agile interactive... ooh yes lets add weight and dumb it down???

Wait till you try it!

I'm sold on it.

Today I did the exact same route on my 990 (Wuppertahl and postal route). I had a novice friend on his 990 along too. He grew up on bikes in Namibia and learnt to ride on sand. He had been off a bike for many years and about 2 years ago came back to it.

He kakked off and didn't enjoy the postal route much. I'm pretty certain he never saw 3rd gear on the whole Postal Route. He fell many times in the sandy bits and got stuck on the rocky climbs a few times. I had to ride his bike out on one of them. On the R355, a gravel highway, he cruised the 100k's at 120 as that was his comfort level.

2 of the Honda guys had never ridden sand, yet they each only fell once and never got stuck. They also cruised at 120 on that road. They had heaps of fun and were never more than 5 minutes behind us hooligans at the front.

If my buddy had been on the 250 he'd have had a great day out.

Later once back on the tar, we got home at 150kph whereas the Honda runs out of steam at 135.

MAny many guys are over biked.

But back to your brake comment, I think they are stupendous and absolutely mandatory on this bike. I loved them.

[katana]

Ummm ABS needed on a 250? or am I missing something?  small agile interactive... ooh yes lets add weight and dumb it down???

Wait till you try it!

I'm sold on it.

Today I did the exact same route on my 990 (Wuppertahl and postal route). I had a novice friend on his 990 along too. He grew up on bikes in Namibia and learnt to ride on sand. He had been off a bike for many years and about 2 years ago came back to it.

He kakked off and didn't enjoy the postal route much. I'm pretty certain he never saw 3rd gear on the whole Postal Route. He fell many times in the sandy bits and got stuck on the rocky climbs a few times. I had to ride his bike out on one of them. On the R355, a gravel highway, he cruised the 100k's at 120 as that was his comfort level.

2 of the Honda guys had never ridden sand, yet they each only fell once and never got stuck. They also cruised at 120 on that road. They had heaps of fun and were never more than 5 minutes behind us hooligans at the front.

If my buddy had been on the 250 he'd have had a great day out.

Later once back on the tar, we got home at 150kph whereas the Honda runs out of steam at 135.

MAny many guys are over biked.

But back to your brake comment, I think they are stupendous and absolutely mandatory on this bike. I loved them.

I had the privilege to ride the Rally on the BMX track at the Barrel pub yesterday.  Normally I go play there on my trials or the WR.  After 10 minutes of spirited playing I remembered it had ABS.  I never switched it off or even noticed it.  Lots of deep sand too.   

[Pistonpete]

At a quick glance through the mags this is what we have.

Honda CRF250Rally R84 999
on special Honda NC750 R89 999 from Cayenne (latest Ridefast mag)

What else can you get at that approx price point..

Royal Enfield R65 000
KTM Duke 390 R63 999
Kawasaki ER650N R88 995
Honda CRF250L R79 999
Ducati Sixty2 R98 900
Benelli Cafe 600 R75 990 (1130 Trek only R99 990)

It's a lot of money for a 250 but there's not much out there at the price point so they probably have a winner.

Second hand bikes at the price is another story

[MaxThePanda]

This is one argument for these bikes: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=209818.0;topicseen - there's something glorious about taking big bikes into terrain they aren't designed for, or which the bikes can only manage in the hands of very talented riders. But this isn't the first trip report I've read where there have been multiple large BMW's going home on a trailer after an offroad section on an otherwise routine trip.

I took a bunch of novices on a bucket list turning-50 birthday week trip a few years back. The locals I rented DR's for, the birthday boy came over from the UK and rented his own bike a BM 650 twin. He's extremely short, and that bike had been lowered. On the concrete tweespoor down to Wuppertal he had a spill, and that was R15k damage to the bike. All of them would have been better off on this bike, although the DR does make a great beginner bike and crashes extremely well.

But to get back to my original point, more than 50% of the BMW club would be a hell of a lot better off on the 250 Rally, and probably have a lot more fun in the process. Good luck to anyone trying to get that message across though...

[ROSSI]

At a quick glance through the mags this is what we have.

Honda CRF250Rally R84 999
on special Honda NC750 R89 999 from Cayenne (latest Ridefast mag)

What else can you get at that approx price point..

Royal Enfield R65 000
KTM Duke 390 R63 999
Kawasaki ER650N R88 995
Honda CRF250L R79 999
Ducati Sixty2 R98 900
Benelli Cafe 600 R75 990 (1130 Trek only R99 990)

It's a lot of money for a 250 but there's not much out there at the price point so they probably have a winner.

Second hand bikes at the price is another story

Think you forgot the new Kawasaki 300 Versys at R75000
Seems to tick many boxes

[Pistonpete]

At a quick glance through the mags this is what we have.

Honda CRF250Rally R84 999
on special Honda NC750 R89 999 from Cayenne (latest Ridefast mag)

What else can you get at that approx price point..

Royal Enfield R65 000
KTM Duke 390 R63 999
Kawasaki ER650N R88 995
Honda CRF250L R79 999
Ducati Sixty2 R98 900
Benelli Cafe 600 R75 990 (1130 Trek only R99 990)

It's a lot of money for a 250 but there's not much out there at the price point so they probably have a winner.

Second hand bikes at the price is another story

Think you forgot the new Kawasaki 300 Versys at R75000
Seems to tick many boxes

True..thanks for pointing that out...one of the better motors?

[Omninorm]

This is one argument for these bikes: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=209818.0;topicseen - there's something glorious about taking big bikes into terrain they aren't designed for, or which the bikes can only manage in the hands of very talented riders. But this isn't the first trip report I've read where there have been multiple large BMW's going home on a trailer after an offroad section on an otherwise routine trip.

I took a bunch of novices on a bucket list turning-50 birthday week trip a few years back. The locals I rented DR's for, the birthday boy came over from the UK and rented his own bike a BM 650 twin. He's extremely short, and that bike had been lowered. On the concrete tweespoor down to Wuppertal he had a spill, and that was R15k damage to the bike. All of them would have been better off on this bike, although the DR does make a great beginner bike and crashes extremely well.

But to get back to my original point, more than 50% of the BMW club would be a hell of a lot better off on the 250 Rally, and probably have a lot more fun in the process. Good luck to anyone trying to get that message across though...

Max i agree 100%. Even I know that and I ride a 1200GS. I also have a WR250F though and know what fun on a trail can be with a lighter bike.

Here is the issue though.

You and your mates and riding buddies now ALL need to go buy smaller displacement bikes. Becasue as  Kamanya observed, the big bikes will want to cruise home at 150 +

I had this issue when i was on my 650 single with okes on 1200GS/ 1190's / 800GS's
When it comes to going 5 day trips. I'm loaded and they only do gravel anyway since the other bikes all cruised 80kph - 120kph on those roads with me. They don't want to do rougher terrain...rightly so...but then you feel like holding them up. Thats on a 650 that can easily do 140kph.

Add a a 250-300 to the mix and you need to find different riding buddies.
Just a realworld observation.

I'd love it if everyone says right. 650 singles and under. Lets go.

[ROSSI]

This is one argument for these bikes: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=209818.0;topicseen - there's something glorious about taking big bikes into terrain they aren't designed for, or which the bikes can only manage in the hands of very talented riders. But this isn't the first trip report I've read where there have been multiple large BMW's going home on a trailer after an offroad section on an otherwise routine trip.

I took a bunch of novices on a bucket list turning-50 birthday week trip a few years back. The locals I rented DR's for, the birthday boy came over from the UK and rented his own bike a BM 650 twin. He's extremely short, and that bike had been lowered. On the concrete tweespoor down to Wuppertal he had a spill, and that was R15k damage to the bike. All of them would have been better off on this bike, although the DR does make a great beginner bike and crashes extremely well.

But to get back to my original point, more than 50% of the BMW club would be a hell of a lot better off on the 250 Rally, and probably have a lot more fun in the process. Good luck to anyone trying to get that message across though...

Max i agree 100%. Even I know that and I ride a 1200GS. I also have a WR250F though and know what fun on a trail can be with a lighter bike.

Here is the issue though.

You and your mates and riding buddies now ALL need to go buy smaller displacement bikes. Becasue as  Kamanya observed, the big bikes will want to cruise home at 150 +

I had this issue when i was on my 650 single with okes on 1200GS/ 1190's / 800GS's
When it comes to going 5 day trips. I'm loaded and they only do gravel anyway since the other bikes all cruised 80kph - 120kph on those roads with me. They don't want to do rougher terrain...rightly so...but then you feel like holding them up. Thats on a 650 that can easily do 140kph.

Add a a 250-300 to the mix and you need to find different riding buddies.
Just a realworld observation.

I'd love it if everyone says right. 650 singles and under. Lets go.

Very true ... All depends what your buds are riding

Donno if true but someone say this 300 kawa got approx same power as KLR650 ??

[Omninorm]

This is one argument for these bikes: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=209818.0;topicseen - there's something glorious about taking big bikes into terrain they aren't designed for, or which the bikes can only manage in the hands of very talented riders. But this isn't the first trip report I've read where there have been multiple large BMW's going home on a trailer after an offroad section on an otherwise routine trip.

I took a bunch of novices on a bucket list turning-50 birthday week trip a few years back. The locals I rented DR's for, the birthday boy came over from the UK and rented his own bike a BM 650 twin. He's extremely short, and that bike had been lowered. On the concrete tweespoor down to Wuppertal he had a spill, and that was R15k damage to the bike. All of them would have been better off on this bike, although the DR does make a great beginner bike and crashes extremely well.

But to get back to my original point, more than 50% of the BMW club would be a hell of a lot better off on the 250 Rally, and probably have a lot more fun in the process. Good luck to anyone trying to get that message across though...

Max i agree 100%. Even I know that and I ride a 1200GS. I also have a WR250F though and know what fun on a trail can be with a lighter bike.

Here is the issue though.

You and your mates and riding buddies now ALL need to go buy smaller displacement bikes. Becasue as  Kamanya observed, the big bikes will want to cruise home at 150 +

I had this issue when i was on my 650 single with okes on 1200GS/ 1190's / 800GS's
When it comes to going 5 day trips. I'm loaded and they only do gravel anyway since the other bikes all cruised 80kph - 120kph on those roads with me. They don't want to do rougher terrain...rightly so...but then you feel like holding them up. Thats on a 650 that can easily do 140kph.

Add a a 250-300 to the mix and you need to find different riding buddies.
Just a realworld observation.

I'd love it if everyone says right. 650 singles and under. Lets go.

Very true ... All depends what your buds are riding

Donno if true but someone say this 300 kawa got approx same power as KLR650 ??

48hp on KLR, 38hp on Versys.
Versys a bit lighter though but it's a twin so lots of revs but not as much torque.

[blauth]

Anyone on the forum buy one of these CRF250 Rally's yet?

[PRODEO]

Hi Dwerg, Is die Honda nog te koop en wat is prys?

Prodeo

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

Hi Dwerg, Is die Honda nog te koop en wat is prys?

Prodeo

Nie te koop deur Dwerg maar wel by die naaste Honda handelaar as jy een kan kry Prodeo.

[zacapa]

I feel "underbiked" most of the time. My NC700X is a slug when you want to go fast in a straight line on tar road Highways but a great commuter all the same. It gets better in the corners though because there it is 90% rider - 10% bike.
My XR650L remains my mainstay for when you just want to enjoy a bit of power and torque with good suspension. XR400R takes care of the rest. They are all different bikes and they are all great bikes. I bet that if I had a CRF 250 Rally I would probably arrive at the same conclusion. It's 90% rider and 10% the bike. What you gonna do with it? If this weekends ride was anything to remember it was that on a 150km loop we had good runnings through easy and fast gravel. some tweespoor and single trail, clipping tree branches and fording streams. On the 400R just when I thought the ride was mostly over I asked Mr.G to lead and he took us through a valley diversion which was plastics kind of terrain. XR's
are naturally good at this kind of riding. We survived and popped out on the easy cruise home. Trailing Stu and Mr.G I thought this was a fucking great ride for a Sunday afternoon. On the tar again past Nellies we went up the tar road pass up to Brackenhill and it was epic. Go as fast as you dare - hanging it in the corners - survive and remember it for always.

I think some people are a bit derisive about the 250 Rally. I don't care about that - Just go and ride your bike.

[WeeStrom]

I am a little surprised the crf250 was lumped together in a sub-forum with the likes of Africa Twins etc. Given its specs I actually went looking for it among the XR threads!

I am scouting around to find something much lighter than my Vstrom. I could not help but notice that this 250 weighs as much as a BMW X Challenge 650. Is there any particular feature or application that would make the 250 the preferred option?