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.







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.

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

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.

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.

__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

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.

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 .

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!