You meet the nicest people on a Honda CB500X v CRF250 Rally
 

HI everyone ^_^ hope we are all keeping well in these weird times,

I just wanna thank everyone that's replied emailed etc with advice while I've been trying to sus out what bikes to get for dad an I on our dream trip to Iceland an Norway an eventually further afield.

Really feel like I've narrowed it down now to a 2019 Honda CB500X.

Today we went to a local Honda dealer to sit on the CB500X which I loved the seating position felt very similar to my 1200gsa an 800gs I had an while there I was truly taken with the look of the crf 250 rally.

Just curious anyone had both or either how are you getting on with them?

I was watching an old video of Steph Jeavons talking about her 250l an not racing around the world an enjoying the trip. Really hammered home my new mindset.

One thing that surprised me with the 250 rally was how much the suspension sagged under my weight I'm 32 inches inside leg, 6'2 an 14-15 stone ish. Was expecting to be on my tip toes an I was till I nocked it off the side stand.

Just wondering does anyone know what weight rider they are sprung for? The forks didn't seem overly bad but the rear did dive a fair bit.

Was a nice sensation being able to put my feet down on both of them although I'm guessing once I sort the sag's out on the rally that could be a different story.


Few mobile pics from today.

https://i.ibb.co/FntRxWV/20200819-151021-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/KD9bMHr/20200819-150828-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/09Gkyzz/20200819-152102-03.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/5L2PKxr/20200819-150835-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Qry0Q8X/20200819-151232-01.jpg

Thanks in advance,

Tom

First a disclaimer: I have ridden neither of these bikes. Nor even sat on them.

So, with that out of the way, what comes next is pure conjecture on my part.

We've already read a number of very positive reports about the 500X so we know you'll have enough power for highway use, and you've already said that it is a nice fit to sit on.

The CRF is not going to have the same power, but a lighter bike is less tiring to ride (unless its crosswinds). It's a full 40kg lighter than the CB. (The CB is the same weight as my Transalp 600, give or take a couple of kg, and only marginally less powerful.) It has almost exactly half the power.

The other big differences I believe are the tank size (smaller on the CRF) and the tyre sizes (more knobbly-type options for the CRF).

If you're serious about adding the CRF to the shortlist, then check out ride reports by two members on here: "The Feral Traveller" and "Leonie". TFT is solo on a CRF, presently somewhere in Europe, I believe and Leonie went on a RTW trip with her partner, both on CRFs. I have to find time to keep reading her blog: I've been busy and so I don't actually know in which part of the world they find themselves.

Her initial posts about why they chose the CRF (particluarly for her) and the mods they made straight out of the crate are very interesting.

Thanks mate really enjoying checking the recommendations out.


Got to sit on a couple today deffo going to need a new rear shock I think or a respring: Felt good though was interesting jumping between the two bikes Bill Smiths left me to it for a bit which was great so I could get my head round the seating position an feel of the bikes.

Just keep thinking a lightweight option could be really cool an a totally different approach to the parallel twins I've had in the past. I'll be totally honest although I tried a tiny bit of off road with the gsa it was such a lump an I always struggled supporting it on my iffy left leg, so was enjoyable being able to put both feet down on my other bikes after I got rid of it could see the crf being tall once I've got the shock fixed on one but light so don't think it would give me to much of an issue.

Got to sit on the 250l as well loved the seat height but felt like the 250 Rally gave more of an open adv style seating position. Loved both of them.

https://i.ibb.co/s1s0Mb1/20200820-125315-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/k4YHHzv/20200820-113602-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/kg0PhgV/20200820-113715-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/k92TYBs/20200820-113722-01.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/m57BxNg/20200820-125121-01.jpg

As you'll see from Leonie's walk-through of trip prepping a CRF, new shocks and a custom seat were done right off the bat.

But they were going RTW, so.....

Not to say the shocks on the CB have to be replaced but everyone I've spoken to about it recently seems to think it's about the best investment in your ride experience you can make, despite the eye-watering cost.

Based on what you've said, though, it doesn't sound like you're planning to go waaay off the beaten track. In other words, I get the sense that most miles will be on tarmac and the best bike for that is probably the wisest choice.

All the above, however, is just my opinion based on the little I know of your riding experience and ambitions in these few posts. You know you heart better than any of us on here so follow it.

Have a look at the ABR forum, quite a few guys on there have 250 Rally. They all put the same rear shock on £300, apparently the front is fine
They use them for green laning in the UK and France not overlanding.

My thoughts are that every bike has its pros and cons. Weigh them up and decide then DON’T LOOK BACK. Be happy with your compromise cos you’re going to have to compromise whatever.
bier

Thanks guys an yep that's a good point warthog an cheers Flipflop been diving on the abr forum as well :)

Was reading about the shocks seem a super fair price compared to stuff I've bought on superbikes in the past bier.

An indeed I've been bouncing off the walls today a bit as I'm pretty sure after seeing the bikes again today an spending more time I'm heavily leaning towards the Rally. Hoping to learn to do more off road and adventurous stuff especially for the future. Ideally I'd love a 701 husky with the Rally kit but alas that's well out of my price range. Quite a decent saving on the insurance running costs etc over the cb500x an the tax is a bit cheaper to.

Sort of ties in with all my own thought's on going lightweight, don't think I could get any further away from the Nortons an 1200 gsa in aproach if I tried with the crf. Thinking Kreiga or Mosko moto luggage some sort of Extended tank an a rear shock to get going with at first. Guessing the advantage is the lesser cost for spokes etc. Did see everyone mentioning about the seat to haha!

I own 2 Crfs, one L which I keep in Thailand and which I have ridden 40 k kms on and one Rally here in Norway which I bought just a couple of months ago and so far I have used it mostly for commuting and an additional 2-3 longer daytrips.
I have also rented a CB500X in Thailand for a few days and I rode it around 2500 kms. It was the earlier models though, not the 2019-> models.

I would say that both of these bikes are great bikes for what they are. They are reliable, good on fuel, and overall very solid bikes. Made in Thailand both of them.

If you plan and emphasizes mostly on riding paved roads and an occacional gravel stretch now and then, and also emphasizes comfort and being able to keep up with traffic even on motorways - the CB500X will be your best bet. Its comfortable, enough power to cruise at fast speeds way above 100 km/h. It has a 17-18 liter gas tank and it is very economical on fuel and you have easily a range of +500 kms.

On the other hand - if you plan and emphasize on riding gravel and dirtroads and dont bother that much about top speed on highways and general cruising comfort - the Crf L or Rally will be a great option. The tank and thus the range are not all that good, 10,1 liters on the Rally will get you around 300 kms if you ride it sensible. It will cruise at 90-100 km/h but it starts getting bussy around that speed and fuel milage will suffer if you ride much faster than that.

Both bikes as most other bikes will need some personalisation, as suspension, lights, luggage, etc etc. Yes the suspension is very soft on the Rally but both Öhlins, YSS, Hyperpro, Wilbers makes great aftermarket shocks and also upgrades for the front end is available.

Thanks mate really appreciate the reply very informative :)

We had been travelling around the world for 2 years, until Corona started. Our CRF250's have almost 90000km now. We used stock suspension with ~40kg luggage and had no trouble at all. The stock suspension isn't as bad as everybody tries to tell you.

We met a czech rider on a CB500X on the trip and he was also very satisfied with the bike.
For Europe only, I would probably go for the CB500X. Otherwise the CRF250L is one of the most reliable bikes these days.

Thanks for the reply really appreciate it hopefully my rd250c should be sold later this week got a few offers on the table so it'l soon be time to hunt for a rally or a cb500x bier

Generally most Japanese bikes are set up for a rider of around 85/90kg . Hope that helps :scooter:

I had a 500F until June 2020 and then swapped for a 500x.

https://i.postimg.cc/KcwykqnZ/20201025-081911-01.jpg

I did the necessary mods, bash plate, screen, engine bars, tyres, screen , luggage rack, spot lights, screen again.

The result I would describe as acceptable. As a touring bike the screen and fairing don't really work. In the summer the screen will be removed. It'll cruise at 75 mph but is happier at 60. Power is not the issue the limit is the shape and tyres. The F was 10- 20 mph faster and a laugh, the X does it.

Off road it is a lump but still does it, certainly goes places the F would not. You survive until you meet something you know it won't do. Certainly you'll get as far as the various other Behemoths with off road styling, but honestly 30 or 40 kg lighter isn't a huge difference.

I can't ride a CRF250 any distance, they are too tall for me and I eventually meet somewhere you can't plan in advance to shuffle across the seat. The road performance I found entirely acceptable because you feel like you are moving at 55. Off road, 60 kg less and a 21-inch front to me would take you further than an X or a GS. The small tank might annoy me.

If I had to pick one bike and ride it round the world I would choose the CB500X. I'm not sure the one bike solution is best though. I can't see me buying another "Adventure" shaped bike so maybe I'm not the right person to comment?

Where and how do you intend to ride would be my question.

Andy

Thanks Andy :) been a while since I've been on as it all ended up going a bit mad, ended up getting a Triumph T100 2010 Bonnie, my every day bike is a 1967 Norton 650ss so I decided my dad was struggling quite a bit with his GSXR but was refusing to let it go as he's had it since new. So I ended up spending my money on a modern Bonnie with him in mind suffice to say after a few goes he loves it I offered to give it him for free but he's having none of it so just rides it when he can't manage his gixer 750.

I know what you mean though about screens I ended up taking the accessory screen of the T100 as it was driving me round the bend

It's been a pretty nice bit of kit up to now there is a few things I dislike as with any bike I'd say my riding currently is 98% road just because of the tyres that are on currently. I've got a neck injury currently that I'm waiting to get better.

Then I'm going to do some trips up to Scotland etc

Hopefully a bit later in the year I might look at another GSA maybe an 1150 or a R80G/S. Miss the boxer engine I used to have and with having a fair few paralel twins elsies and Norton's it'd be nice to have something different. I keep looking at himmys to as I'd love to try a fair bit of light off road. Once things start opening back up again I'm hoping to do Norway.

A trip out on the T100 the other week.
https://youtu.be/A2W-6Ooep5I

Sensible choice.

I see an Enfield Interceptor or Triumph Street something (Triumphs marketing department needs their supply of Colombian marching powder cutting off, the names are incomprehensible, but anyway, the cheapest one) from next year. Choice will come down to the deal offered and if I have to fix Enfields 1890's tyre installation myself.

I want a totally reliable version of my 1973 CL350 that will do anything. No one makes a 150 kg, 36HP bike with a pillion seat usable by two people under 6 foot tall. Why they can only get 20HP from the 300's is beyond me but I'm blaming St. Greta and other tree hugging loons. I have looked at Ducati Scramblers, but then the coffee kicks in over the effects of the Château Aldi.

I have done everything the CB500X can legally do in the UK. Off road it is not fun it survives. On the motorway, to get to the nice roads, it can be unpleasant. In the city its a lump, too tall, too wide. This is not a complaint. Yesterday I did a 200 mile mission to help a relative in which I may have broken a few rules on the motorway, certainly went into full dispatcher mode through the Friday night traffic and enjoyed a couple of A road bits. The jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none tag I now feel is more about the master-of-none bit.

Andy

Thanks Andy it's always good to hear what people think rather than the reviews

On my 865 Bonnie they set the standard pipes far to quiet if you stand off from the bike and it's ridden past you get rhe glorious sound, but when you are riding it it whines like crazy and you hear that rather than the exhausts from a riding perspective which is a shame and they put the cats in the silencers on my generation so a legal replacment costs a fair bit on the later bikes they put it in the more traditional Place.

Overall though I can't fault the Bonnie's camelion nature from a touring perspective be interesting to see how it does on a longer trip.

Gearshift was the other negative took a switch to motul 7100 to get it better, having said that though it nocks spots of my 2014 1200gsa gearshift that i had.

I know what you mean about the older stuff it's a shame they can't do a bike like a tr6c any more.