What do you think about exploring distance on a CRF250L? Is it up to the job? I know it worked for Itchy Boots, but, honestly, I'm packing a bit more weight before I add my luggage. Let me know in the comments if you think this bike is adequate for motocamping adventures.
That's the great thing about motorcycles; they're as individual as the individuals who ride them. Great personal assessment/review of the bike. For me, as you know, the 250L IS an adventure bike and and for me, an excellent one! It's taken me all over the place and has never complained. Road driving, dodging traffic, unmanaged FSR's, single track and even goat trails all while carrying me and my camping gear. Heavy crosswinds and extra steep hills on the highway are tough, yes....but who wants to ride a highway when your on an adventure - take the road less travelled is what I say. Yes, I've added the extra tank (I get close to 350km on a tank and I have a 1 gallon armadillo bag that takes me over 400kms of range) and suspension (an absolute must do for these bikes) but even with that I'm not out a ton of cash and I'm riding debt free. Cheap on fuel, cheap on insurance, cheap on maintenance. Is its fast? No. But going fast gets real boring after awhile anyway. Banging my way through the gears is fun, makes it feel like I'm actually riding the bike not just riding on the bike. Cheers!
Took my 1986 Honda XL250R out for a rip in the country today. It's still as fun as the day I got one way back in the 80s! 10.5 litre tank is a disadvantage, but 20.2 hp for a 38 year old bike of the same cc as yours, is sort of funny! Thanks for the fun videos!!
The CRF250L is a great little bike. Not the best at anything, but good all-around. I have done a few 600 mile days on mine and it isn't too bad -- but you have to keep off fast roads or you will be a nervous wreck. Hand vibration gets bad for me so I rubber-mounted the bars, added gel grips, huge bar end weights, and filled the bars with BBs. And I wear vibe-tool gloves -- all that finally tamed the humming little beast.
As much as I love my Honda CRF250L Rally I'm slowly tiring of the constant gear changing and wringing its neck off road. I'll keep if for my winter commuting and general riding. I'm going to get a Honda CRF450 RL for exploring and moto camping. It'll be nice to ride something that needs less gear shifting off road
As much as I love my Honda CRF250L Rally I'm slowly tiring of the constant gear changing and wringing its neck off road. I'll keep if for my winter commuting and general riding. I'm going to get a Honda CRF450 RL for exploring and moto camping. It'll be nice to ride something that needs less gear shifting off road
I hear you. With the Rally, you have better range than I do, but you have to work to get it to perform. My concern for the 450 is the maintenance schedule, which is only an issue if you are taking longer trips. Enjoy your rides!
So I've been doing a deep dive on the CRF450RL and people that use it as a lightweight adventure motorcycle. People have been sending their motor oil to Blackstone Laboratories to better understand why Honda says every 800km for an oil change. For riders that ride the 450RL as an adventure motorcycle, Blackstone Laboratories has been suggesting 4000km oil change intervals. If you are in a hot and sandy place that should be more frequent. I've been following an Around The World motorcyclist that has over 40 000 km on his 450RL and does 6000km oil change intervals. He hasn't had to shim his cams or do any other engine related repairs. The Honda manual was written from the standpoint of a road legal MX or Rally Race motorcycle. In reality, it is a really good dual sport motorcycle that has better pavement characteristics than the KTM/Husq equivalent because of less engine vibration
What do you think about exploring distance on a CRF250L? Is it up to the job? I know it worked for Itchy Boots, but, honestly, I'm packing a bit more weight before I add my luggage. Let me know in the comments if you think this bike is adequate for motocamping adventures.
That's the great thing about motorcycles; they're as individual as the individuals who ride them.
Great personal assessment/review of the bike.
For me, as you know, the 250L IS an adventure bike and and for me, an excellent one! It's taken me all over the place and has never complained. Road driving, dodging traffic, unmanaged FSR's, single track and even goat trails all while carrying me and my camping gear. Heavy crosswinds and extra steep hills on the highway are tough, yes....but who wants to ride a highway when your on an adventure - take the road less travelled is what I say. Yes, I've added the extra tank (I get close to 350km on a tank and I have a 1 gallon armadillo bag that takes me over 400kms of range) and suspension (an absolute must do for these bikes) but even with that I'm not out a ton of cash and I'm riding debt free. Cheap on fuel, cheap on insurance, cheap on maintenance. Is its fast? No. But going fast gets real boring after awhile anyway. Banging my way through the gears is fun, makes it feel like I'm actually riding the bike not just riding on the bike.
Cheers!
Took my 1986 Honda XL250R out for a rip in the country today. It's still as fun as the day I got one way back in the 80s! 10.5 litre tank is a disadvantage, but 20.2 hp for a 38 year old bike of the same cc as yours, is sort of funny! Thanks for the fun videos!!
The CRF250L is a great little bike. Not the best at anything, but good all-around. I have done a few 600 mile days on mine and it isn't too bad -- but you have to keep off fast roads or you will be a nervous wreck. Hand vibration gets bad for me so I rubber-mounted the bars, added gel grips, huge bar end weights, and filled the bars with BBs. And I wear vibe-tool gloves -- all that finally tamed the humming little beast.
I haven't found the vibrations too bad, even on long days. But I would like a little more power and range.
As much as I love my Honda CRF250L Rally I'm slowly tiring of the constant gear changing and wringing its neck off road.
I'll keep if for my winter commuting and general riding. I'm going to get a Honda CRF450 RL for exploring and moto camping. It'll be nice to ride something that needs less gear shifting off road
As much as I love my Honda CRF250L Rally I'm slowly tiring of the constant gear changing and wringing its neck off road.
I'll keep if for my winter commuting and general riding. I'm going to get a Honda CRF450 RL for exploring and moto camping. It'll be nice to ride something that needs less gear shifting off road
I hear you. With the Rally, you have better range than I do, but you have to work to get it to perform. My concern for the 450 is the maintenance schedule, which is only an issue if you are taking longer trips. Enjoy your rides!
So I've been doing a deep dive on the CRF450RL and people that use it as a lightweight adventure motorcycle.
People have been sending their motor oil to Blackstone Laboratories to better understand why Honda says every 800km for an oil change.
For riders that ride the 450RL as an adventure motorcycle, Blackstone Laboratories has been suggesting 4000km oil change intervals. If you are in a hot and sandy place that should be more frequent.
I've been following an Around The World motorcyclist that has over 40 000 km on his 450RL and does 6000km oil change intervals. He hasn't had to shim his cams or do any other engine related repairs.
The Honda manual was written from the standpoint of a road legal MX or Rally Race motorcycle.
In reality, it is a really good dual sport motorcycle that has better pavement characteristics than the KTM/Husq equivalent because of less engine vibration