To avoid any confusion, the CRF250 Rally concept bike in the original post is built around the CRF250L dual-sport, not the enduro model CRF250X.

It therefore ought to make an excellent rally-styled adventure bike, albeit rather low powered compared to a genuine competition 250 or 450cc machine, but with sweet low maintenance engine and great economy.

The detailing on the show bike (in the video) looks essentially production ready, and I wouldn't be surprised if we see this on sale soon - I imagine Honda are banking on finally winning the Dakar on their factory 450s this coming January, which would be the perfect opportunity to launch this more cooking model in celebration.

Jx

Yes, clearly the L model. I hope they continue on with these replica Dakar bikes win or no. It's a great little bike.

Honda is up against it in the Dakar, so much serious competition. Not just usual KTM & Yamaha power houses ... now we see privateers on Kawasaki and Suzuki bikes. Add in Husqvarna (KTM), Sherco and Beta too!

I've never seen so many truly odd ball antics as in recent Dakar events. Some very poor sportsmanship, cheating (questionable) and God know what other weirdness has gone down.

Happy to see many NEW, young and very fast riders coming up to displace the old guard. Mostly S. Americans. Only 5 Americans, and just a few Brits. Whas' up?

I believe Honda have a lot on their plate ATM, so perhaps this is why no special edition CRF250L Rally bike release? A 450 is the obvious next step.

Question is, why hasn't Yamaha done this when they've done so well selling the WR250R? Isn't a 450 version the obvious next move? :innocent: Tough times for Yamaha me thinks.

If their not careful, Suzuki could trump them both: "all new" DR Big special DRZ450 (based on RMZ450). Stranger things have happened. A project leader from Suzuki Japan promised a "new" DRZ400 back in 2007! :rolleyes2:
Suzuki are broke now, not doing well. (Moto GP costs big money)

Honda are making money in Business Jets. KHI has more money than Honda, Suz and Yam put together ... but won't spend a dime on bikes. (relatively speaking based on their massive holdings) :rofl:

Every thing y ou might need to turn a CRF to a rally bike..

Well except for the $$$$$$$$$$$$doh
[url=http://www.crf.boano.com/index.asp]CRF Boano Parts For Race - serbatoi, paramotori, grafiche, accessori, special parts, rally parts, supermoto parts, CRF Honda

Just saw it at my local Honda dealer. It looks great ! But...


1 - It is stupidly tall (89.5cm seat!)
2 - It is stupidly heavy: almost 150kg wet! For a 250?!
3 -Over £5,300 pounds! Argh!




I guess I will keep with my old, Japanese import, small, light (108kg according to the V5!) and unbreakable XT250.


The only bike that has suffered no damage at all in my "delicate" hands over 3 months travel across Russia and the "Stans"! That says something :D

ehm, that's actually not very high at all.

Ok I will come clean... I am a hobbit!

wonder who is honda marketing this "rally" bike to...

Honda's new Rally version of the CRF250L will do well IMO, will be marketed to the ever expanding Dual Sport segment.

Lots of older former Sport bike or big adventure bike riders may pick up on this new Honda.

It's linked aesthetically and design wise to the all new Honda Africa Twin and Honda's "real" Dakar race CRF450RR.
The little 250 is just a Dakar "look a like" replica so to speak, but will fill a gap for some riders and certainly looks the part.

IMO, it's a GREAT looking bike ... but the excess weight of this new bike knocks if off the radar for me, but will suit many others. Perfect for commuters, students, weekend warriors and more.

Honda will continue to produce the CRF250's in Thailand and profits should be high based on lower production costs in Thailand vs. Japan.

Interestingly, so far I have seen NO ad campaigns here in USA for this new CRF Rally version. This bike will have to be aggressively marketed to be a success IMO.

So far, no ads in magazines that I've seen. Mistake.
But then, NONE of the Japanese companies are doing much advertising in the Dual sport segment save for the new Honda Africa Twin.
Perhaps we'll see a similar campaign for this new Rally version of the CRF.

Meanwhile both KTM and BMW continue to push hard with great ad campaigns.

The Yamaha WR250R continues to pull away from Honda's CRF in popularity with more and more riders switching over and more and more riders dropping down from big GS's, KTM's and such to ride a smaller, more fun ... and cheaper bike.

Call it a poser bike or whatever but fact is ... it will sell well if Honda make the effort and get behind it. bier

that's very true, Dakar is no longer what it used to be. Only money and sponsorship count theses days, no honor no sportsmanship. Sad. :(

Crf500l
 

What I find fascinating is reading back threads like this which is well over two years old now and peoples comments and views on what they want and desire from a manufacturer and as the paying customer the companies should listen and act. BUT they never do, do they..!! I may be pointing out the stupidly obvious here but really..!!


I have found so many Honda related threads in this last week purely because of the intended project I'm about to undertake. For quite a number of years now folk have been pondering why not only Honda but the others as well have not bought out a mid sized dual sport machine. If there ears were real instead of painted on then they could of coined in huge sums of revenue from this massive gap in the buyers market, afterall surely that's why they make machines in the first place, to make money..??!!!!


Anyway, sod them all, i'm building my own mid ranger and fun will be had when its finished...!!

IMO, outside our adv echo chamber I think Honda know exactly what they're doing with the 250L Rally bike: flash for the kids but not especially all-road functional as built to a price.
The largely converse alternative: CCM GP450 - has been discontinued.

Just as with SUVs, actual use of these types of bikes for overland travel is minimal.
But luckily for us, the trend's popularity has given us masses of online know-how and gear, etc to convert whatever you got into a useful travel bike.
Everything except, perhaps, a light, modern Jap single between 4-500cc which isn't a dirt racer.
Maybe the Chinese may get there first.

You mean something like this? Thread on ABR. Looks great.

Crf500l
 

That's Scutty's one there, yes indeed not exactly like that but almost. I want twin cans on mine though....

Wow - wow thats something I have had wet dreams about....:thumbup1:

Wish Honda could make something like that...

I've never ridden a CB500X, so no idea what bikes like nor the character of engine. Jenny says it's silky smooth with enough power. OK. But it's no feather weight engine I'd guess.

Fantastic build by Skutty though ... inspiring. Serious innovation and skills. Hope he is able to make good use of it ... and get out of the UK for some exploring.

Agree regards Honda. The 250L Rally should do well world wide, helps that it's linked to Dakar Racer. Honda could easily do a 450 version of the CRF250L but like with the Yamaha, 450's would not sell well in Asia and other world markets Honda is targeting: Too expensive, taxed heavily and for USA ? Our market is too small to justify the investment. It's a no go AFAIK.

And YES, the Chinese may get there first (if paying attention) and bring in some great bikes within the magic 300cc - 450cc range.

In that range, I'm very impressed by the new BMW G310 GS. I may have to blag a test ride on one soon. If they can keep costs reasonable ... it should do well ... at least here in pricey San Francisco Bay area.

Let me come back to this conversation after a few years, as it is about the Suzuki DR BIG 800. I think this bike has aged well since its inception, still responsive, rideable, and pretty good looking. I don't know if it's a bike you can use for a winter trip. For example, I regularly go to cool places in Europe. I went to the Alps, and I wonder if this kind of bike could be really safe (I would like to have it for nostalgia, my father had one in the past) What do you think about it? I was looking for 2000's clothes last time, and I came across this y2k shop when I wanted to get a biker jacket. Otherwise, I found some nice accessories to complete my bike, I find that the y2k decoration gives a little extra :scooter: