How Reliable is the CRF250L? Review at 53,000 Km | Plus thoughts on mods
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- čas přidán 12. 08. 2018
- #CRF250LReview #ScootToots
How reliable is the Honda CRF250L over the long haul? I've put my Honda CRF250L to the time-test:
On over 5 years of riding, fast twisties, highways, around town, and rough off-road routes -- including daily winter riding -- I have come to a conclusion.
This review is for those riders who want to know if the CRF250L lives up to the hype of being Honda Bullet-Proof!
And... I talk a bit about the modifications I've made to improve the bike; its ride, and reliability. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Your relaxed style of presentation is great.
Thanks, Sebra. I appreciate the feedback :-)
The CRFL is one of the best values out there. With a true dual sport mind set this bike checks all the boxes. The term dual sport has been distorted (as much of the English language today). The "original" dual sports were exactly what the CRFL is, a road bike motor in mellow tune in a frame and wheel set that can ride well on pavement and dirt trails. Some how, today, we need a bike that can commute and win an MX race or it's junk.
That is so true. The CRF isn't going to win any races, but it's inexpensive, reliable, fun to ride, and fun to tweak. Exactly what it was mean't to be.
vs dr650? Or dr400?
Perfect ADD👍
@@MarcoAGonzalezS81 70 plus miles per gallon and fuel injection need I say more..
Actually Patrick Trahan raced his at the Hellas Rally in Greece and did very well,stock engine with usually mods and his own nav tower build
my 2014 crf250l just past over 250,000km last month.
blew front fork seals 6 times (both fronts 3 times).
rear caliper seized
rear rotor was shot
some bad corrosion on the rear rim/spokes
and thats it.
pretty good if you ask me for a quarter million km's.......
That is astounding! Thanks for chiming in and sharing that :-)
What kind of riding do you do to clock up such high mileage? Work? pleasure? Must be mind numbing on a 250 single cyl if thats mostly highway?
i swapped a 500 twin into it........ alot of highway to get to the dirt.
advrider.com/f/threads/crf500l-full-build-thread.1077236/
Mike Parry my Dmax (badged as a Holden rodeo) has done 365,000km and only had the regular things none till last month when the injectors were over halled. Is the crf250l the motorcycle version of a Isuzu? If so good stuff and back down all you BMW 650 owners with 160,000km on the clock there a new super reliable bike in town.
michaelxcx Ah yours is a twin. Great project
Great, love your review, especially the Angels gag. Thanks.
Haha, thanks James :-)
GREAT GREAT review.
Simple, Honest, to the point.
Thank you.
Thank you, Terry :-)
Great review, enjoyed it very much, so for I have totally enjoyed my 2014 CFR250L, I've done a few things as well, FMF muffler, Bars and protectors, small rack on the back, skid plate and I still have a few more mods to do before I'm done, and I'm gonna look into the TCT as you stated.
Thanks Heyoka. They are fun bikes for sure :-)
I bought a brand new 2018 CRF250L and I'm in love with my bike. I've put some extra on it and now she got style. Made a couple of vids on my channel. Good video thanks for sharing your thoughts✌🏽
Thanks. Enjoy that bike :-)
You sound just like Ray from " Love your RV". Thanks for sharing and Happy Trails
Haha, thanks :-)
Thanks for the miles..I have the same bike only 13,000 ish miles.
It's nice to know the reliability is there as I do a lot of middle of nowhere desert riding.
Thanks!!!!
Super cool. Carry on :-)
Hi from the BC coast, and a sincere thanks for your videos from a fellow mature rider. I hope I get that much trouble free mileage out of my XT250. It's been a dream so far (7000km in 2 years), and I'll be putting on the Shinko 700's that I bought on your advice (you have the only useful review video for the 700's BTW). I need to get them on before the rain hits this fall, down here on the BC coast, and my mostly worn DeathWings actually earn their nickname. It's going to be nice having tires that don't suck, vibrate and make me terrified to go around corners on wet roads, so thank you again for the detailed description of your experience. I won't go another winter on crappy tires.
After watching your videos, I think the comparison to make between the XT250 and the CRF250L is something like this: the XT is older technology in every way, not as good performance wise in almost every way, but all together that makes it a slightly better trail bike, while making it a fairly less capable highway bike. It also simplifies the maintenance, being air cooled, but who knows if the engine will last as well as your bike has. I will also say the XT is about right as a stock bike, for people like us who aren't trying to race, jump or do vertical trials riding. There's not much that can be done to juice it up, without spending a ton on a big bore kit, and it's still not really going to get you where you wanted to be (a new XT350 does not exist, and that WR250 is way too tall). I personally appreciate starting off 30 pounds lighter, and an inch shorter to the seat than the CRF250L. Losing the better highway performance is not a big penalty for me, because I'm stuck behind ferries in every direction, so longer road trips are the very infrequent exception to me, whereas your area is endless roads in every direction. I just stick to the secondary roads when I'm out of town, unless I have no choice but to blast the freeways and wind it out full throttle to keep up 120. The scenery sucks on freeways anyways, I'm happier going slow exploring any stupid little shitty trail, including lots of single track crap and bush bashing that the XT is ideal for. That's also a serious reason I wanted an air cooled bike, because a stick through a radiator or hose means you walk home, and coastal clear cuts have sticks that will kick up and almost break your leg, that I've put through truck rads more than once.
So, a question: how is the exposed chrome on the front fork lowers holding up? My last bike was a 1982 Yamaha SR250 (80's street style, did great for dual sport), cobbled together from 2 of them. Rust pits on the chrome were an issue that took out the forks on my first SR250, and before that also on my very first bike, an 1982 SR185. On my combined SR250 I added rubber accordion protectors, which should have been stock, in hopes not to lose a third bike to the problem. Part of my preference for the XT250 was the old-style upright forks with the rubber accordions stock, like a dirt bike should be. It seems like a serious concern, for four season riders like us, who intend to keep a bike for years. Maybe they've eliminated this issue on modern inverted forks, by making the chrome way thicker, so that regular fights with gravel just don't take any damage that actually gets through the chrome, preventing rust from ever starting. It may be that those 1980's bikes just had chrome that was too thin for the task. It's a question you may have an answer to, that would be nice to finally know.
Thanks again for all the great videos, and happy riding :)
Thanks. Your XT is a real nice bike, and it obviously suits your riding. Can't ask for more than that. Also, I agree, simpler is usually better. Air cooled is one less concern out on the trails. Less concerns equals more fun. The chrome on the forks is still flawless on my CRF. I can't see any imperfections. I know what you mean though. I have a set of forks for another bike (spare set) that are slightly pitted with rust. Take care and enjoy :-)
Thank's Scoot...another CRF250L lover here.
Cheers :-)
Canadians and Aussies do the best reviews
Thanks :-)
using metric system instead of medieval mesurement probably helps to :D
Im glad i found your video great stuff, just about to get a 2020 black 250L.
Not my first Honda but the 4th all of them where trouble free.
2003 CRF450 great - 2007 CRF450X great - 2012 VFR800 great - had enough of the speed now i want a nice smooth chilling ride and i think this will be perfect.
Good luck with it I will be checking back on your future videos.
From what you say, I think you will thoroughly enjoy the 250L. It's a great bike. I however have just sold mine. See my latest video regarding that. czcams.com/video/mc2MiQIz8OM/video.html Had to be done. My knees gave out; not the bike :-)
I have 70 miles on my 2018 Love the bike!! Great review!
Thanks. It's been a good bike for me for the last 5 years. Enjoy yours :-)
Nice. I was hoping you would do an update on the bike.
Glad to hear you are still enjoying the crf.
Cheers :-)
Thank you for the coolant information. Loved the video.
You're welcome, and thank you also :-)
So I own a WR and have done a lot of touring on it. At 6'2 its still too tall. I have it lowered to about 35in. To me the WR is a more "dirt" oriented bike than the CRF, as the WR is built on the YZ chasis and stock the WR is better offroad, but not enough to swing the vote. However the WR sets nicely on the highway as well. I've also ridden the CRF250L a good bit and I believe they are both wonderful bikes. A person should be happy with either. Great video, cheers
For sure, the WR is a real nice bike. Better on dirt straight out of the box. As you say, both are great choices depending on finances and preferences -- and height ;-)
Buying one of these tomorrow. I'm really excited about it.
Awesome. Enjoy the heck out of it :-)
@@Scoottoots I'm sure I will. Thanks
For the money great bike I have a 2013 agree on the bigger tank
Very good review. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers :-)
I like your vids man, keep them coming.
Thanks buddy :-)
The wr has the same issue with the cam chain tensioner from what I’ve read. Seems like a cool bike! I was looking at a ktm exc but I think this would be better. I don’t ride crazy. I mainly chill. Ride safe bro
It's a good bike to chill on, and it'll handle the rough stuff well enough for those who just want to poke around. It'll get you there; just not in race fashion.
Immediately liked and subbed when you mentioned about protecting animals from toxic coolant.
Ah thanks. It's a small thing we can do to save an animal a lot of pain and suffering.
Great video! I love yoshi exhausts, just put an r77 on my ktm 690 enduro r an now it sounds like a proper bike
Oh yeah the Yoshi sounds good for sure. I've tweaked it to sound just how I want. 690 Enduro; nice bike!
Scoot Toots Thanks! My next bike will be something exactly like yours, the 690 can be a beast sometimes and I would like to ride a bike harder and faster then my skill level often allows lol and that’s better suited to a 250 I think
I love your extra capacity tank.. cool how you can see the gas level.
Yup, it's pretty convenient to see the actual level rather than rely on a gauge.
Great video Thanks and carry on with your beautiful bike.
Thank you. Sadly, I have sold the CRF now. Bad knees prevented me from continuing to enjoy riding on dirt routes in the mountains.
@@Scoottoots Try to recover with bicycle exercise and physical therapist or you can also have surgery in South Korea where you can find a lot of hospitals with very advanced medicine that can help you with very reasonable prices. .
@@jb-lu4vo Thanks for your thoughts. I'm pretty good with exercise and self therapy. I've made some great progress over the last 6 months.
Awesome bikes, i would ride my 2017 cross country. At 240lbs i still have a 8 second 0 to 60 ( few mods, exhaust and air mod ). Holds up at high rpm's like a champ.
Ah yes... they are a good bike for sure. No worries at all; just ride!
Thanks for the review, my dad wants a scooter, I'm trying to get him on a motorcycle like this one. 1 he would be more visible 2 though we both haven't ridden for over 20yrs we do have dirt bike experience in our past and I plus ten years street riding experience and 3 more per to get out of situations (or my concern to get into). Sending the link to him for your video
Cheers, I hope your Dad settles on the right bike for him. Yes, more visible and more visibility due to the height. Handles very nice in the city.
I've had mine since Oct of 2012, 30,000 km now. Rock solid reliable with the exception of consistently leaking fork seals over the last couple years. Looks like I'll have to bring them in to get re-sealed this winter. Other than that, reliable and most importantly a fun bike to ride (in most situations).
Absolutely, like you say, reliable and fun.
Great vid, I have a crf250L 2014 and just a fantastic bike! real good review keep it up
Thanks 690. Enjoy your ride :-)
What a nice channel .... I am going to enjoy your vids ..... :) ROFL!
Hey thanks, Jim :-)
@@Scoottoots You might like my YT friend Mark .....
We Australians are DEFINITELY "different" ..... ROFL! :)
czcams.com/users/BikerBitsAUSvideos
My 2013 with 30 k miles . I let it sit for 3 years under a tarp . Last week I put a new battery in it . Dumped out the 3 year old gas put fresh in . It cranked on the first try and runs like new ! I was amazed . Now I’m putting new chain tubes tires and changing all the fluids renewing my tag and I’ll be back in business . I have been thru 2 cam chain tensioners other than that just normal ware
That's great. If you tired of the stock cam chain tensioner, try the Krieger manual CCT. No worries after that; just a slight adjustment every 6 to 8,000 miles.
I agree with everything u say I got mine and I don’t regret 👍🏻
That's great. Enjoy :-)
I bought a 2018 new recently.
Just about at the break in 600 miles.
Looking forward to riding this till i die.
Fantastic. It's a keeper for sure. Enjoy that bike.
I have 23000km on it and I hope it will hold for ever. Its sooooo much fun :) I also have a Honda NC750X but the crf is just pure fun
Pure fun... that it is :-)
You have not been broken because you drive with knowledge and common sense Also you are taking great care with your motorcycle. I think that perhaps the CRF 250 Rally model would be better for me because it is a little higher, it has a fairing, a fuel tank with 10.1 liters, etc. I am in doubt.
Yeah that Rally model is nice too. Get whatever best suits the riding you will mostly do.
Your bike looks so good 👍🏾
Thanks :-)
wow looking in to getting a cr250l and my surprise when you're driving 1 street over from me! I live on Richter!
It's a small world sometimes. Cool. Talk to Colin at Honda and arrange a test ride.
After I have seen a quiet few videos on CRF250L, I think that's going to be my next bike. I have a 2006 Shadow 750 Aero, nice! But I'm not getting that feeling, adventure kind of thing. I decided, my next bike, CRF250L.
Thank you guys, for the honest views on this one. At the beginning of my motorcycle quest, the dual sport was my goal. I don't know how I changed my mind.
Hey, but that's ok. Let's get back on riding!
It'll be a fun bike to add to your shadow. That way you'll have dedicated rides. Have a blast :-)
great video sir, I hit the like button and subscribed and what year model is the bike?
I just bought a new one 2020 model- always loved riding I'm in western Sydney Australia
Thanks Dr Chan. It's a 2013. I purchased it new. Still loving it. Enjoy your 2020 model :-)
So many great reviews on different bikes it's difficult to decide. Today I've decided on a CRF250L. Yesterday it was the DRZ400. Tomorrow it will be something else no doubt. All the Japanese dual sport bikes are pretty good I think. Can't really go wrong with any of them. I think I'll just base my decision on the best deal I can find.
You're right. They are all good choices. Just get the one that best suits your preferences and budget.
Same but i dont want a drz400 because they are still running carbs i will probably end up with a crf250l tbh but i would need to change the gearing
thank you !
nice review! did any one told you that you sound like clint eastwood ?!
heheh, why yes they have ;-). Thanks yfroy
Just found your channel, really enjoyed your experiences shared on the 250L. Noticed the bash plate on your bike, looks like the Moose plastic plate. Really would like to know what you think of the Moose vs one of the aluminum versions, would you go that route again? Am also very interested to know more about manual chain tensioner. Again, great video.
Thanks Papa. Yup, that's the Moose Racing skid plate, and I absolutely prefer plastic to the aluminum. They are much lighter, they do not cause resonant or vibration noise, and they slide over rocks better. I have an Acerbis plastic plate on my crf300l for those reasons. The Manual CCT is made by Krieger Cam Chain Tensioners. It was necessary for me to go that route as three OEM units failed completely , one after the other. I came to the conclusion there was some flaw in the engine casing causing the OEM units to be positioned incorrectly. The manual unit solved the issue. Most owners do not have that problem. Cheers :-)
Good, honest review. BR from Poland.
Thanks Eugenio :-)
Great bike, I'm loving it as a first bike. My only complaint is the skid plate clearance is not that high and I've scraped across rocks a few times with it following my brother on his DRZ400S who cleared them no problem. Other than that though, no complaints at all.
I like the Moose Racing plastic skid plate; no vibration rattle, half the weight of aluminum, and slides over rocks better than aluminum. Glad you're enjoying your 250L :-)
Scoot Toots Yeah, I got that Flatland aluminum skidplate. That sucker stick onto rocks like crazy! lol
Get a Rally...justify the purchase to yourself with the extra inch a ground clearance ;)
What's your opinion on protection from the plastic vs aluminum plate? @@Scoottoots
@@fredburris5428 I've had good success with the plastic Moose Racing plate. I've hit it pretty hard on embedded rock and stuff and no worries so far. I like that it is quiet; no resonance of engine sounds or rattles, and that it is much lighter than aluminum.
I’m looking at the 250 L rally I like the adventure set up
Yup, get the model that suits your intentions with the bike :-)
Bike looks great. I have a 2016 CRF 250l. I'm moving to the Okanagan in 2023 it would be great to be shown around.
Hey that's great. You'll enjoy the Okanagan.
Just picked up a 2018 CRF250L last week. I have a massive 26 miles on it. What seat do you have on yours. I just subscribed to your channel. I will try to look around this evening to see if you have a video on it.
Hey Brandon, congrats on the purchase. I have the Spiral Step Seat. After it was broken in, I find it very comfortable. Just my impression of course, but I like it a lot. No doubt there are other seats available that are better but this one feels just right for me. I did a final review on it after a somewhat negative first impression. here is the final review: czcams.com/video/98E-4pNBPk4/video.html
Moving to Kelowna next month and thinking of buying a 250L. Where I’m from there is riding but I assume it’s totally diffrent to Canada (Australia). Do you recommend any good local trails?
Ah, you'll love Kelowna area I think. Lots of great riding areas here. Once you're here you'll see the choices. Something to suit any riding style or skill level. If you're buying a new 250L, go see Collin at the Honda Powerhouse in Kelowna.
Great review! I have only one question how does the bike pull on a long incline with you and your gear? I ask because I'm 109kg and would like a light bike for riding to and from trails hear in Arizona USA but due to injuries I'm unable to lift a bike any heavier then the crf250l not if i fall but when lol... do you think it could Cruze about 65mph with my 109kg?
Thanks
Thanks. Re: your question, I'm thinking it would but depends on the incline and how much gear. Top end on mine the way I have it set up is around 80 mph. A friend of mine spends winters in Arizona and rides a CRF250L also. He is about your weight and doesn't seem to have issues with keeping up speed. That said, if I were you, before investing arrange for a test ride and take it up on a decent grade; see how it does.
@@Scoottoots thank you for the reply, I will test ride one soon.
Good review sir. If I may ask whats the top speed on this. can it keep up on the freeway. Im
looking at one of these as a cheep commuter bike. mostly on road back and forth to work in
the spring & summer months. maybe a little of road now an then on weekends.
Hey Gerald, top end on mine is around 130 kph or 80 mph (corrected) without revving the heck out of it through the gears to get there. Of course gearing and terrain will change that. 14/42 gearing would be a good choice for commuting and off road. As for mods, I'd say maybe just an EJK fuel controller at the Dobeck settings for a stock bike, plus opening the air box out and either clipping the backfire screen off, or installing a K & N filter. That way you get a little extra punch but keep the cost down to around $300 for the mods. Sounds like you might want to also look at the DR650. Way better commuter and still capable enough for moderate off road.
I HAVE 36,000 MILES ON MY CRF250L ...RIDE IT EVERYDAY AND IS RUNNING FINE!! OIL CHANGE EVERY 2000 (ROTILLA T6) THIRD SET OF TIRES, ADJUST THE VALVES, NEW SPARK PLUG, CLEAN AIR FILTER, AND 65 MILES TO THE GALLON!! ITS A HONDA!!
That's awesome! Exactly the way it should be. Ride instead of repair :-)
nice honest video
Thanks :-)
Good video thanks! Do you go straight coolant or do you mix it with water?
The Engine Ice is used straight up from the bottle. I'm going to be flushing it out and changing it, using Engine Ice again, when the weather warms up some.
@@walkerskii Yeah I should do that. Thanks for subscribing :-)
Hi Scoot, What were your oil change intervals and brand of engine oil you used on your CRRF250L? Also did you ever check and have to adjust your valves?
I changed the oil approximately every 6,000 km. I used Motul 7100 Ester based full synthetic. And yes, I had the valves checked twice. The first check they are still on spec (20,000 or so km). Second check at 40,000 or so, the exhaust valves needed one shim size adjustment. I also had a leak-down test done at around 35,000 km and it was still within new bike spec. Good oil regularly changed and not spending a lot time near the rev limiter is key to long life.
I need this seat!!! Could you please tell me where I could get one? I'm in the UK not sure if it's possible. Also I'm assuming your fuel gauge doesn't work with the acerbis tank fitted???
The distributor for the Spiral Step Seat in North America is Wheeling Cycle. As far as I know, they ship worldwide. Here is the page on their site for my crf250L They sell it for other bikes also. Maybe phone them to verify shipping costs. www.wheelingcyclesupply.com/shop/product/spiral-step-seatcrf250l/746
Are you related to Blast's from the saddle?😄 You sound exactly the same, the only reason I knew it was not him is cos his CRF has not got the white plastics and he has fmf pipe.
Nice vid and bike, are you happy with that stock rear light and those huge flashers?😎👍🏻
Hehehe, yes, he and I are intimately related. I AM Blasts from the Saddle. No wonder I sound the same! I changed the channel name to Scoot Toots as that's the name I originally wanted but couldn't get because of a glitch on CZcams. I altered the color scheme on the bike; painted the boomerang shaped side cover black and the fender white. Plus I installed the black Spiral Step Seat. BTW, I've always had the Yoshi, not FMF. I don't mind the tail light and the signals. I cut the tail assembly down quite a bit. A free mod that reduced the bulky stock setup. Works for me :-)
Scoot Toots Lol😎👍🏻
Hello mate.
Please tell me what kind of oil do you use?
10w50 or 10w 60?
Thanks.
I use Motul 7100 full synthetic ester based 10W 40
EPIC! awesome video.....
I like the step down seat who makes it what model is it? Also on that bike does the speedo and light move with the hamdbars?
It's the Spiral Step Seat available from Wheeling Cycle. And yes, the light and speedo moves with the bars :-)
I'm hoping to purchase a second-hand one this week. Not sure I'm going to do much to it. I'd be happy to just ride it pretty-much stock. Hopefully I can secure the purchase. Can't wait. It's been a while since I last owned a motorbike (about ten years). :P
Good luck on that then. It'll be good to get back to riding :-)
Very tidy. What seat brand are you using with the enlarged fuel tank. TX (2019 crf 250L)
Thanks Robby. It's the Spiral Step Seat purchased through Wheeling Cycle. Rather inexpensive compared to most.
So is it safe to say that you will notice when something is going wrong as in sounds or feels different when riding? Have about 2k miles on my 2016
Yup, you would notice something amiss. I assume you are referring to the cam chain tensioner issue I had. Most owners do not have that issue; only some do. The stock setup is somewhat noisy and that throws people off, thinking the CCT is failing, when it's just acceptable noise. If it fails the noise is quite different and you'd notice that.
Awesome! ✌🖖👍👍
32,932 miles . I may have missed it but how may mpg do you get with the modes you did ?
Depends on the season. In the summer months I get around 73 mpg imperial averaged out. The consumption goes way up in the winter.
What tires do you like for commuting? Also what rear tire size are you currently running?
I prefer Shinko 700 front and rear for a true dual sport tire. Performs really well on pavement and descent on dirt in my area. 3 x 21 up front and 4.60 x 18 in the rear.
Nice update, dont think ive seen any negatives from people that have used it for its purpose, which isnt really about racing full speed through off road terrain, even after lots of miles\km like you
Thanks, It's a great bike for everything it's built for :-)
@@Scoottoots Will hopefully be joining the club this year
Not surprised that red is reliable. Can you say 450 soon, I can. However, I disagree on the wrr comparison both are close but the weight advantage of the wrr once flowing air with same mods you mention makes the wrr the boss. Again I am talking a small differences. So who cares. The low maintenance sub 360 lbs fi dual sport gives only the two choices red or blue. Pick your color and cost near you and enjoy both are great bikes. No color loyalty here.
Yeah, you're right about the WR when it receives similar mods. I should have been clear I was referring to a modded crf compared to a stock WR. The WR is quite a bit more expensive which enters my thinking on that. WR is a great bike. If I could have afforded it I might have chosen it. For me, and a lot of others, it's easier to afford slowly modding a bike. Sometimes in the end you wind up with something you prefer even if you could have afforded the more expensive bike :-)
Thanks for your insight. Are the black fins attached the Acerbis tank part of the original bike, part of the new tank, or a separate mod?
If you are referring to the boomerang shaped black side cover, that's the stock bike cover that I painted black.
@@Scoottoots Sorry, I saw an earlier vlog you posted and it made sense. thanks
@@mart7404 Cool :-)
Great vid I most definitely will get a new pipe
It's always fun to get a new pipe :-)
@@Scoottoots when I get mine I will let u know how it goes
@@alblake7494 Cool :-)
I just bought a 2018 CRF250L I have a 144 miles on it, so I have a way to go to catch you.
That's true. Super cool though. Have fun doing it :-)
I have a 17 model, it doesn't break in until about 1400 miles. I could really feel a difference, not so tight. I would recommend some shenko big blocks to the factory irc's, they feel awesome on and off road.
CrackeR_TiM DNC what are “shenko big blocks”?
Tommy Ashworth I think he’s referring to the tires.
@@bushcracker8197 Yeah l have a 2018 with 8k and agree with you, At 2k the bike was as tight as the day that l bought it but over the next 1000k or so there was a noticeable difference. Changed front sprocket from 14 to 13 on day one but other than that bike is still stock.
Hello mate. Thanks for this review. Really good one. I'm thinking of buying this bike for long trips. Would you say, that apart from the cam chain tensioner, there are no other issues? So, do you think it is better to replace the cam chain tensioner right after the purchase of the bike for peace of mind? Also, what is the size of this tank and what is the name of the producer? Thanks, Bartek
Thanks. I'd say no worries for most owners in regards the CCT. Most people do not have the issue it seems. The tank is made by Acerbis and it is 3.1 US gallons, so about 50% more capacity than stock. It's also half the weight than stock, so that counters the weight of the additional gas. The tank would be a must for long trips IMO. Another thing you might consider: if you are going to pack a fair bit of luggage on the tail, I would reinforce the sub-frame. They are known to break with such use.
@@Scoottoots Thanks for you answer. All best!
Hi how many times have you done valve checks ?
Twice. Once at 26,000 km where the exhaust valves needed just one shim smaller, and then at 52,000 km where intake and exhaust were perfectly on spec.
What gear ratio have you gone with and been most satisfied with. I have a 13 tooth in the front, but I find second gear very tall in tight single track. Have you gone up on the back?
I've gone with 14/45. It's the same ratio as the popular 13/42. I like that as the best compromise for dirt and pavement riding. Prior to this I felt the best was 14/42, especially if I was riding on pavement primarily.
I've been running a lame 13/40 for awhile now. But I ride this little tank 10% hwy, 70% dirt road and 20% deep, difficult sand single track. I expect a lot from this bike, and so far, it keeps up with all my buds, whether it's the Tiger 800's and KLR 650s or the 250Rs...mostly ;) - it's by far the most versatile bike of the bunch (except maybe the DRZ400 guy). I thought maybe a 14/45, swapping back to the 13 tooth for a little extra for 2nd and 3rd gear if needed. Thanks Toots, I like your channel.
Any chance you could give us the name of the coolent you're using I'm having massive problems with my VFR800 overheating :(
It's called Engine Ice. Excellent stuff that works as they say it does.
Hello. Was wondering how many gallons your Acerbis tank holds ?Thanks... Paul
It's 11.7 liters which is 3.1 US Gallons.
How much petroil you need...how big is the tank...i didnt understand, what oil and cooling you use...thanks a lot for your nice video...
I love this bike...but i would love it more, if it would have 40PS...
The Acerbis tank is 13 litres. I use Motul 7100 10W 40 oil. I use Engine Ice coolant. Thanks :-)
Just subscribed to your channel, really appreciate your riding attitude. I'm just retired (61), want to get back into two wheels after almost 20 yrs away, and it seems our approach is similar, ie. fire roads, back roads, not real aggressive but adventurous, maybe some overlanding or Lk Sup circle tour?.... I'm just south of you, btw, in NE Minn. and you have really spectacular views where you are!
All that said, I'm on the fence with a '17 250L with about 2600 miles, adult mostly street ridden, or spending the extra $$ to a '23 300L and putting off so many of the great upgrades. I see you just transitioned to the 300L, so my question is: do you find enough improvement and differences on the 300L that, given the choice, is the 300L worth the reach and keeping it stock for a longer time? I appreciate the subjective nature of the question, but I'm really open to thoughts and opinions. And I welcome any and everyone's comments, too!
Again, really enjoying your videos, discoveries, adventures, etc. Keep up the great work!
Hey thanks Papa Grouch.
Great question. The 300L is a big improvement from the 250L with one downside, and that is the suspension. I personally feel the 300L suspension (primarily the shock) is much worse than the 250L. Unless you are light weight, it is a serous impediment to riding enjoyment if you enjoy pushing it now and then.
With spirited riding on twisty pavement for instance, there is a lot of wallowing and bounciness, which is a problem when transitioning from curve to curve. For trails and dirt roads it is not as big of an issue when just out exploring.
So I guess it depends on the type of riding you do, and your weight. If you can foresee upgrading the shock within a year or so, then I would say the 300L will be a more capable and enjoyable bike, and worth the money difference compared to the used 250L.
Of course the price of the 250L would be a big factor. Most of the used models I see for sale are prices fairly high. Thanks again, and good luck with your decision :-)
@@Scoottoots Gee, what took you so long to answer?? lol.. Thanks so much for getting right back to my question, yes, your reply helps a great deal in my decision making paradigm! I note your focus on the 300L is the shock vs the fork as with the 250L.. That is very interesting, but the bigger point is the bike. As for rider size, I'm a "svelt" 5'8" and about 190 lbs +/- 5, plus gear. Looking long term on down the road, as it were, I'll have to lean toward the 300L. "Buy once, cry once," as it were. Thanks again
@@papagrouch8416 Yeah I felt the forks were okay; similar to the 250L forks in feel. I upgraded both ends though. Once I got the shock, I could feel the front could be improved to get the most out of the bike long term. Many riders find the shock is acceptable, so there's variation bike to bike and varied expectations I guess. Yes, buy once cry once, then keep it forever 🙂
I'am buying this bike in may, and i wonder if you could put a list of all mods you did to yours. And got a question how did you ride the bike after you bought it?
My personal method of breaking the bike in was to ride it in stretches of fairly hard acceleration and deceleration for the first 20 miles or so; not revving it too high or anything; just putting good load on the engine, allowing it to heat cycle, and avoiding long steady stretches. After that I tried to keep it in the city ensuring lots of starts and stops, acceleration/deceleration, for the entire break in period. That ensures the rings seat and flare out nicely to provide best compression, etc. My method may not be recommended by some, so I'm not suggesting it, just saying that's what I think is best.
Mods: I should do a video on that, detailing everything I've done. I'll try and do that in the next short while. Thanks :-)
Nice review and bike. but that yoshi would drive me insane
Haha, it drove me a bit crazy at times; gotta admit.
I have a 2017 bought it new could not beat the price of 5k out the door. I plan to ride a good bit this year. I changed the rear sprocket to sunstar 42t. Any recommendations on a good tail bag that won't break the bank?? I do have a rear rack. Ty
Honestly, I tend to use very inexpensive tail bags. I either convert a small bag intended for other uses or I order a Chinese bag. The bag I currently use for the last couple years cost me $10 with free delivery. It's somewhat small but holds the necessary stuff in case I have problems on the ride. Very rugged with heavy YKK zippers. Before that I put some grommets and a stiffener in the base of a small travel bag (just big enough) and secured it to the tail with paracord. That cost me $5 at a second hand store. In the past I've used a fairly expensive bag and the zippers failed (the cloth deteriorated beside the zippers). They replaced it and the same happened to the second one. Maybe go to AliExpress (the Chinese version of amazon) and search for motorcycle bags. Amazon also has quite a selection from China. They are usually very rugged for the money.
Any plans to ever big bore the bike? Or u happy with where it's at now with the power mods?
I doubt it. For the use I put it to it has well enough power. I'm happy with it as is. Lots of options though for more power if I wanted. It's possible to get this bike to 29 to 30 HP without going big bore.
is this the same engine as the motocross one? if so i want that dual exhaust. and im here in northern usa and these winters suck
No, this is the same engine as they run in the CBR250R.
anyone?? engine heat problem?? I got crf250 rally 2017. if your town in almost 104℉ , it turn it off during middle of the road. not just onetime happen~ my dear said just let change several part. there's no information , so I planing auxility radiator on my bike .
Wow, I have never heard of that. Doesn't sound normal at all to me. I'd pressure the dealer to look further. The dealer can call the Honda head office techs. They will steer them in the right direction. Also I use Engine Ice coolant. It really does lower the temps by up to 10° in hot conditions. Good luck.
Is the cam chain tensioner a common issue with all years or just the earlier models?
It's not a common issue with any years. The word'common' as would be defined by Honda that is. Most owner have no issues with this. A few do. Don't be concerned about it unless you hear rattles and slaps that are clearly abnormal.
Was that a Poodle that walked across the street at the stoplight??
do you ride off road much? Looks so clean! I'm on a Africa Twin but would love to have one of these for some of the tougher off road stuff I enjoy, the AT is just way to heavy
Yeah I rode off road a fair bit. Maybe 50%. Hard to say. It's not dirt bike proficient, but it's adequate to take into really rough stuff. it'll get you through pretty much anything. You just won't be able blast through the technical stuff.
@@Scoottoots thanks for your reply and video!
I think your review along with some other eviews on this bike, I will go with the honda.
You won't go wrong with Honda :-)
If Honda would sell an OEM version of this bike with the modifications you made, they’d have one hell of a dual sport.
Thanks, I like how I've set it up, although the Full Yoshi system was a love/hate relationship. Sometimes the noise grated on me.
Great video man. I know its a bit late but how is it on the highway. Does it have enough power to pass?
It handles well on the highway, but not a lot of passing power. Depends on the speed and then you need to have enough time ;-)
@@Scoottoots thanks for the reply👍
What is that red plastic tube going into the gas tank ? And for what purpose ? Thanks.
That's a breather hose, otherwise the tank would develop a vacuum as it emptied. The stock tank breathes in a different manner.
What year is your CRF250L? How much HP do you think you are making, and also what is your average MPG? I have a 2017 CRF250L ABS with 7,700KM on it so I am just curious. Thanks!
It's a 2013. I figure maybe I'm getting about 22 HP to the wheel, though I haven't checked it on a dyno. MPG in Imperial measures range from 63 to 75 depending on how the Fuel controller is set and for highway riding, the gearing.
Scoot Toots Sounds right on point. Nice bike by the way!
How did you get this color scheme? Looks great
Hey Lee, thanks. I just experimented a bit. Probably helps that I'm an artist (painter). I like it also. To me it strengthens the looks and takes it away from the typical CRF 250 appearance. Keeps people guessing -- and that's always a good thing ;-)
Wow...Kelowna is growing...I was hoping you were going to do the Knox Hill corners. :)
Hehehe, they have Knox Mountain pretty much speed controlled now. No more adrenaline rush.
awww...lol...that was a fave spot of mine. They still do the hill climb, though, right ?
Oh yeah, the Hill Climb is still a big event. Just got back from a hike on Knox!
I just bought a crf250L a few days ago, flash flood on the day I got it delivered, and a sudden leg problem is keeping me from putting even a single mile on it
Oh, that sucks. Well I hope the water subsides and your leg gets better real soon!
Are you still riding the CRF 250 L in 2020. If so what kind of mileage do you have and is it still reliable. I was a trucker for about 18 years and used to go to Kelowna about 20 times a year from Calgary or Vancouver and always enjoyed the driving in the summer with nice sights to see. One thing I liked about Honda's was that they were under powered a little but over speced which for the most part gave you years of trouble free driving such as you have enjoyed.
Yup, still riding the CRF250L as well, this year. It has 61,000 kms on it now, and yes, it's still dead reliable. No troubles at all with it. Great little bike :-)
@@Scoottoots Thanks for the prompt response I haven't run bikes for awhile but I have had a few enduro and dirt bikes such as a Suzuki ts 250 and a Honda xl 250 back in the 80's and early 90's which were lots of fun. I have run a Gsxr 750 which was fun but to much temptation for speed and my brother in Toronto area has a CBR 929 Fireblade which is like a rocket sled to hell and back with a 100 000 kilometers and still runs with no issues but insurannce is crazy so he is running a BMW 800 GS. I love the Japenese bikes that allow for modern technology that is bulletproof that allow you to hit start or kickstart and enjoy adventures without worry. Stay safe and enjoy many more miles with this or another Honda that gives you many miles of adventure and fun.
Thanks Mack. I have the best combo with the crf250l and the cb650f. Allows me plenty of range to have some fun :-)
Hello Sir!
I was thinking of getting one here in Nepal and the bike we get here is "Made in Thailand" only. My concern is, is Thailand made Honda CRF as reliable as made in Japan? Where is you one made in, can you shed some light into it?
Thanks!
Hi Sachin, all Honda's crf250l are made in Thailand, along with some other models. The build quality out of Thailand is quite high. No worries there :-)
how many valve adjustments have you had to do over that 53000 km's?
Been checked twice. The last time was a few weeks ago and they were perfectly on spec. The first time the exhaust valves needed one shim smaller size and the intake was on spec.
I had a CRF250M for three years, rode 30,000 km, never a problem. Not that I expect any from a Honda! :)
Exactly. That's what I like :-)
Thanks for the great insight! Some questions I have.
Which Acerbis fuel tank is that? What's your range this way?
How tall are you? Can you comflrtably stand on the pegs? I'm 197 cm tall so it's an important thing to me.
Acerbis make only the one tank for this bike, depending on year; mine is 2013. The tank is almost 50% larger than stock, so almost 50% greater range. Yes I comfortably stand on the pegs. I'm 6' tall. I used to employ 2" ROX pivoting risers but removed them. Better to be lower and bent for standing. The risers may be appropriate at your height. I do not stand bolt upright on dirt as I see many riders do. One should always be bent legged and bent at the waist for body suspension and weight distribution control.
@@Scoottoots cheers! I think IMS has some tanks as well. Do you happen to know the volume? I have seen a 13.2 L (3.5 G) tank, but Acerbis only makes maximum 12,5 L tanks I think. I was thinking about adding the extra camel tank, which is 6 L (1.5 G) extra. In theory, you could have the large tank + camel tank, meaning it could fit 19 L of fuel.
@@RonaiHenrik The Acerbis tank I have is 3.1 US gallons or 11.7 litres. For me that is all I'd ever need. I've never encountered a situation where the distance between fuel stops was greater than the range. Personally I wouldn't want the extra weight of more fuel than that on this bike.
@@Scoottoots hmmm makes sense. I want to visit Georgia and Russia, some parts don't have fuel stations for 2-300 miles.
@@RonaiHenrik Ah, I see. I would avoid those areas, lol.