Hi all
I am new to Horizonsunlimited. I ride a Honda CRF250X (Enduro) which I use both on road and off road. I was wondering if it would be a good enough bike to go on an adventure on, I am thinking of just going round Europe first or maybe down to Morocco. Or do you think i would be better off getting something like a G650GS or a XT660Z Tenere. If the 250X is good enough can you get a larger fuel tank for it??
Thanks in advance
Caps

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The Balkans
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I would say the fact it holds very little oil and that the crank life can be alarmingly short would put me off.....and I've ridden some completly unsuitable bikes over a reasonably long distance..
It could be done but its a bit of a headache if the big end craps itself half way to or from morocco...

The CRF250X is a great dirt bike ... and it's nice Honda made a street legal version. It's close in spec to the racing R model, but does have a few differences which no doubt help it's longevity. But in this case we are talking a difference in HOURS not thousands of miles.

Reports I've read indicate the X is much more reliable than earlier R model moto crossers, which early on had lots of problems. So the X is better but it's still not a street bike and never made to do super long distance at speed like the newer (and MUCH more mildly tuned) Thailand made CRF250L, which just came out a year or so ago. This new "L" model can do long road rides, stand in hot traffic for hours and run at high RPM all day. Different animal.

The R and X model Hondas won't do well in those environments. Also, I'm guessing the gearing on the X is quite low, so perhaps not ideal for faster roads. Reports I've read in the Dirt Bike press indicate the X is good for about 100 hours of use ... then needs a complete top end rebuild. The magazine thought 100 hours was GOOD! (different perspective from a dirt bike magazine)

For your ride I would definitely go for the XT660. BMW is overpriced, not as good, more expensive to maintain.

The Yam won't come close to matching your CRF- X off road, but can handle most dirt roads or Moroccan Piste with ease.

Single track? Deep Sand? Mud? not so much.

Save your X for dirt riding ... that's what's it for!

Thank you for your views so far, very interesting and I could tend to agree.
I like the look of the XT660, I am going to try and have a look at one when I am home in June. I have had the 1200GS Adv and the 800GS and I was just looking at something smaller and lighter for longer journeys

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Much as I've got yamatitus....think that roughly translates to having too many Yamahas I do sort of think the crf250l looks quite a versatile little thing...
Or alternatively the road going yamaha Wr model...Suzuki drz not a bad compromise either,bubble wrap the seat on the longer road bits though...

Good points ... the CRF-L, WR, DRZ ... all can be good travel bikes if set up correctly. But the narrow stock seats are bad and lack of strong sub frame is a minus for carrying gear.

The big advantages of 600cc class bikes are: COMFORT, Load carrying ability and good cruising speed.

Disadvantages: Poor MPG (range), Poor off road (technical), comfort on long days.

I rode my WR250F (dirt model) on a 1500 mile jaunt through Baja. About 60% off road, 40% ON. Great off road but torturous on long highway stretches. Packing gear was a joke. I only carried a back pack and a bag on front fender. We only did hotels, ate all meals OUT, so not too bad.

Before bying a new bike i would give the honda that you have a go.
Why buy a other bike without trying the bike that you have?
or go on a few weekend trips and see how that goes.
good luck with you choice.

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Sorry ,somehow i did not see the x behind the cfr250.
Maybe the cfr250x needs quicker service,not so good for longdistance?

Good luck!

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Yes, the X does need "quicker" service. On average, a new top end is needed at around 100 hours of use. Of course, that's racing they are talking about.

So touring, not racing, maybe you could go to 200 hours? Still ... that would be a month or two on the road, riding everyday ... and it could "Blow" at any time.

I think you mix up the 250 X with the CRF250-L we talked about earlier in this thread. Very different bike. The new L model is sort of like the CRF230 Honda used to make in Brazil.

The new CRF250L is now made in Thailand. It's basically a street bike, not serious off road bike ... but still ... very very good from reports. Totally different motor in every way from the 250X model.

On my ongoing DRZ build the instructions that come with the 440 Athena Big Bore Kit state that the piston should be changed at 15 hours.

Guys on the DRZ forum have 40,000+ miles and still running fine on the Athena kit.

That's great news about the Athena kit. I've seen that they are popular here for the WR Yams too. But more than pistons fail on CRF's. HISTORY.

As said earlier, CRF Honda series has a very mixed past. Early versions were terrible with LOTS of bearing failures and tightening up of valves at very low hours. Very very common.

Both the 250 and 450 R & X series were affected. Among guys I ride with we had several trail side mishaps with these bikes going back to around 2003 or so when they first were introduced.

One example is on this thread. Scroll up a few posts to my Baja pic. The guy pictured on the CRF450X did not finish the ride. Cam follower bearing failed. I was there assisting when he took it apart. Ride Finished. Luckily he made it to Hotel that day ... but the thing sounded like a box of bolts.

Another buddy went through 2 CRF250's and one CRF450 ... yet he stuck with Honda after most bailed out. He bought his last one (CRF450X) in around 2008 and it was pretty good. But I was with him on TWO occasions in Nevada when his 250X started getting really hard to start. (bike less than 3 months old) Valves had tightened up ... and NO adjustment left.

That one was covered by Honda (not required as there is NO warranty on "race" bikes) The 2nd bike ... same thing, Honda did NOT cover it. He rebuilt it and sold it off.

His 450 was better but in a year (probably 200 hours of trail riding) valves tightened up. My buddy Rod rebuilt the whole top end as preventive and used the Kibblewhite stainless valves ... which helped. Still, not ideal on a modern bike.

You'll note neither Yamaha nor Suzuki had these sorts of problems during these years. I stopped following the CRF years ago so not sure how today's bikes are doing.

Hopefully better without the customer having to rebuild a brand new motor with aftermarket parts right out of the dealership. Here in the USA Honda lost THOUSANDS of long time, loyal customers (mostly former XR riders). Most went to KTM and that's were they are today.

From 2005 ... Red now turned to Orange. The CRF made this ride ... but trouble was further down the trail.