B
ig Red was firing on all cylin-
ders in 2018, rolling out an all-
new model and finishing third in
last year's shootout. The CRF250R
comes into '19 with appreciated
improvements aimed at finally over-
throwing the Austrians in victory lane.
This high-revving racer gets
bumped down one spot from last
year, but not from a lack of trying.
New gear-specific engine mapping,
double-spray injectors, and an updat-
ed throttle body all add to the bike's
ability to make some serious mid-to-
top horsepower. Honda continues to
use their dual overhead cam (DOHC)
engine, and the unique double
exhaust system is another distinct
features that set this bike apart from
the rest of the 250 competition.
On track, its powerband behaves
differently than the others, too. Initial
power delivery hits hard, but is fol-
lowed by a lackluster midrange pull.
What's strange is the power kicks
back in near redline, offering a strong
top-end pull before running into the
next gear. That said; testers found
that revving the Honda and feather-
ing the clutch were the quickest ways
around the track, but not necessarily
the most efficient. Get it right and the
CRF is a rocketship, but if you're not
in the optimum rpm range you'll find
yourself struggling to keep up.
Thankfully, keeping corner speed
up on the Honda is easier than most—
and in typical Honda fashion, the bike
seemed to read our riders' minds, go-
ing simply wherever our eyes pointed.
2 0 19 C Y C L E N E W S 2 5 0 c c F O U R - S T R O K E M O T O C R O S S S H O O T O U T
SHOOTOUT
P84
4
th
Place
CRF250R
H O N D A
