DING! Why does every thread have to turn EVERY bike into a full-bore ADV machine? Can a 17hp motor tote all the shit you need? "Well I want lightweight" "the sub-frame will be weak and make panners a PITA to mount" "I want simplicity" "Well I'd like to be able to go faster than the mailman..." "I want 900hp" "It'll get piss poor range" "I want it cheap" "Great, another fat bloated air cooled idea of what Honda THINKS we want" PS, I'm SO fkn glad I had enough sense the RESEARCH <s>my bike</s> what I wanted in a bike before I ever bought it... Now I don't have a dog in a damn one of these fights.
Yesterday I opened up a letter addressed "Attn: Motorcycle Owner" and inside was a six-page opinion survey, prepaid return envelope and a crisp new dollar bill. The survey, being conducted by the Mackenzie Corp. or Irvine CA, is specifically about dual sport motorcycles and asked many knowledgeable and detailed questions about riding preferences and habits, dual sport bikes, accessories, component quality, form vs. function preferences, etc., etc. It took me nearly a half hour to complete. Anyway, I see this as a hopeful sign that at least someone is asking about dual sport bikes. There was no indication in the survey form who had commissioned the research, but there were specific questions about most major brands of dual sport bikes - including Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, KTM, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha - and provisions for those being surveyed to write in other brands. Did anyone else get this survey form?
I definitely agree with your last comment. Unfortunately (for me) Suzuki built my perfect idea of a D.S. Bike (minus a large enough tank from the factory) With the DRZ250 but, it never became an "S" model here in the States so, I couldn't buy one and have it titled for legal road use here in Pa. (Wow, I might have had to add slightly stiffer springs and a larger tank = that really would have broken the bank) I'm curious. Just how much $ would you guys pay for the perfect D.S. Bike?
Yep, I got the same survey. However. My dollar bill was torn n tattered. I completed the survey online. Now the question is, just where do I spend my dollar bill?
agreed. they have a sweet little FI engine there! no complaints there as Honda does small engines very well. that is their forte. probably tuned for more trackable off-road torque than the CBR version. guess we'll see how the rest of the package pans out for components used and final weight.
that's a great sign to see. says it's on the radar of the mfg. (they pay for this stuff) and as they're trying to figure out what to build next. i wonder if they have an online version? http://www.mackenziecorp.com/ can someone contact them? i'd fill it out as would many others here.
"...Ride 75 miles and have a boil over" As it stands, I'm currently on-road only... And due to an old accident and NO plastics availability, I'm running without side panels. Messing around the other day and wanting to run on a patch of grass adjacent to the road, I snapped it at the wrong time and ran right into a rut. I held my line and almost saved it but the slicks gave way... Laid it right over on the radiator side and wedged it case-first into a tree... Picked it up, bowed to the audience... And rode off. All bikes don't have to be dual radiator. My guess is my 11:1 compression is enough for the one rad + fan . But 12 and higher, and yes I can see increased chances of a boil over or rad puncture especially if there's two... Don't CRFr's have NO fan? They can make the bike we want, it just doesn't show in the sales figures... And it'd be a damn site easier and cheaper to build yerself.
you just stated one of the reasons i sold my NX250. that and after 60mph the bike had no balls, and personally i thought it was a terrible bike to be using in this day and age for what i needed it for. I wanted something that was fast, had lots of suspension, and had tons of cheap replacement parts avail. so i bought an XR650. Though i will give credit that the NX gave me 21,000 trouble free miles as far as reliability.
I used to have an XL250 (and then an XL600). I think the CRF250L is following in the footsteps of the XL250 which was more on the street end of the dirt/street sprectum. I consider this more of a commuter bike that can tackle some unsealed roads and single track. Hopefully it has at least a 10 litre tank and weighs no more than 130kg. At least Honda is back in the game and one would have to consider this against the KLX250S and WR250R. (It's a pity we don't get the fuel injected version of the KLX250S here in New Zealand.)
My cam comes on at 5,500-6000... So maybe it was something else? That or the TWO FIFTY part... More to the point, my discussion is not that of the bike, but of the motor... I'd have no qualms about a CRF230 if it had 10-13 more hrsepower Or a 29hp CRF250r with 3,000 mile oil changes and 26,000 mile valves...
Hopefully the CRF250L is on a lighter weight program than the street CBR version, which is 357 lbs claimed w/full tank. So maybe it weighs 325 lbs+- dry? (figuring in its 3.4 gal tank) Too much for a street going thumper. My prerequisite of a light bike seems to be lost in the modern era. You do get more in a modern bike, including more weight.
I can't imagine it not coming to the states. What i wonder is if it will make it to Mexico. We have the older Tornado, not even the newer XR300E from Brazil. The Tornado is more off road, the XR300E is more on road. But maybe that's the reason we didn't get the 300E. I would very much consider it. From the picture and dimensions, it looks to have a 33"-34" seat height, the same or slightly less than the KLX250S. After all, it's just a trail bike, it's not intended to be an Adv Tourer, nor an Enduro. I rather like that, for my purposes. I would also rather have a Freeride, but I imagine it will be somewhere between double the price and unobtanium.
I own a CBR250R and I love it! If Honda brings the CRF250L to the States, I'll buy one. It looks like a great little bike.
I have always loved single cyclinder bikes. What I like about the CBR is the torque and the fact you can squeeze every once of power without ever feeling you are going beyond your limits. Mine has a two brothers exhaust and while I think it's a little loud, I think it really brings out the engine personality. The bike is light and maneuverable. It can do highways without being scary and can make its way through traffic very rapidly. There is a 50 mile loop route I ride every weekend. Lots of turns and elevation changes. The CBR is a blast on it! I've owned several versions of the BMW F650 and I think the CBR is more fun. The CBR is also a "simple" bike by today's standards. I just wish the original tires were better. They could use more grip especially in the rain.