Honda CRF250 Rally
The CRF250 Rally is finally here after being introduced at EICMA. The recipe for the CRF250 Rally is essentially: take
a CRF250L, clothe in bodywork inspired by Honda’s CRF450 Rally, and introduce a
few changes to make it adept at covering distance over tricky terrain.
There’s additional wind protection from
a screen and radiator shrouds and a new asymmetric LED headlight, with a shape
that reminds us of an old gas mask. It’s finished in red white and black and
Honda says the colours are inspired by its HRC rally machines.
The CRF250 Rally also gets a substantial looking
skid plate and a gear lever with folding tip, for when the front folds, or you
tip… over. Power comes from the CRF250L’s revised 250 cc
liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-valve DOHC engine, which makes 24.4 hp at
8,500 rpm and 16.66 lb-ft torque at 6,750 rpm thanks to a revised airbox, throttle
body and new, lighter exhaust system.
Chassis changes include a new 43 mm Showa USD fork.
It still gives the same 250 mm travel as the CRF250L’s but is 50 mm longer and
has altered spring and damping rates to suit the Rally’s off-road mile munching
ambition. The front wheel spindle is also 2 mm wider in diameter. At the rear of
the bike, there’s 25 mm additional travel.
The brake setup is the same as the CRF250L’s, with
the front end braking taken care of by a two-piston caliper and 256 mm floating
disc. ABS can be switched off at the rear wheel To provide a more comfortable
riding position with a better view of the land, the CRF250 Rally 895 mm seat
height is 20 mm higher than the CRF250L’s.
The all-round adventure loving CRF250L also gets
updated for 2017 with a restyle and revised Euro 4 compliant engine with more
bottom end power – the same as the Rally. Other changes include a new digital
dash that includes a fuel gauge. It’s also got a 2 mm larger diameter front
wheel spindle, ABS as standard and reworked rear lights which are tucked out of
harm’s way.
