VOLUME 57 ISSUE 38 SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 P103
AROUND
THE CAMPFIRE
At the end of the day, there are no
definitive winners or losers here,
only preferences. None of these
bikes are designed to get you to
the finish line first but more im-
portantly, just get you to the finish
line (back home) with a smile on
your face. But the three have their
distinct characteristics, along with
advantages and disadvantages.
The Yamaha surprised us the
most. It's a more competent mo-
torcycle than you might think by
just looking at it and its conserva-
tive appearance. It's a very-good
performing motorcycle that does
a lot of things well. But it's the XT
smallish size that sets it apart from
the Honda and Kawasaki, mak-
ing it an excellent choice for
beginners, or for those
with shorter inseams, or for those,
as mentioned, who are a bit older
and perhaps not as limber as they
once were. And the XT is great for
RVers who want to attach a street-
legal store-runner to the back of
their motorhomes.
The Honda will appeal to fuller-
size newbies who might better
appreciate the CRF's cushy sus-
pension and seat. It's an easy and
unintimidating motorcycle to ride
both on- and off-road, and you
can get it with ABS. Plus, it looks
frickin' great in the garage. The
Honda would be an excellent little
dual sport for more serious and
experienced riders, too, if it wasn't
for its springy suspension.
The KLX rules the roost here.
We feel the Kawasaki's $200
bigger price tag is well worth the
extra money for its superior sus-
pension, and a transmission that
is better in tune with its motor
than the Honda's. The Kawi also
handles well, has good brakes
and is a good looker.
Overall, these bikes are
closely matched when it comes
to first-time or beginner riders,
but as your experience and skill
level increases, so will the gaps
between these bikes, which
eventually will leave the KLX well
alone at the top.
Despite relying on older
technology, the Yamaha XT250
is a surprisingly good performer.
For many, though, its number-one
advantage over the Kawasaki and
Honda is its smaller overall size,
which is great for newbies and
their confidence.
