VOLUME ISSUE JANUARY , P79
was also left untouched for '23
(both bikes were totally redone
in 2022). This ride came at a
convenient time, as we'd recently
wrapped up our 250cc moto-
cross shootout. With a fresh
memory of Honda's CRF250R,
we jumped aboard the 250RX for
an almost direct comparison.
What's great about the 250RX
is it eliminates nearly everything
we complained about on the R.
The softer suspension is a main
focus. The R is noticeably stiff,
ultimately dropping it in our overall
motocross shootout rankings. The
RX, on the other hand, still uses
the likable and nimble chassis but
pairs it with a more user-friendly
suspension setting. Hopping over
bumps or setting up for a flat turn
felt noticeably easier on the RX
due to its softer nature.
Power on the 250RX is anoth
-
er plus. This motor was heavily
revised in 2022 and has been
well-received since its incep
-
tion. The improved bottom end
and midrange power allow the
small-bore output to be great
in the tight stuff, and we ended
up spending more time on the
250 than the 450 for that rea
-
son alone. In some cases, the
450 was just too much, and the
smaller of the two RXs is simply
more fun to ride in the technical
sections. The aggressive map
added a little extra punch for the
quick uphills and was well-liked
on the motocross portion. We
can only imagine how fun this
thing would be in the woods.
Both bikes come standard with
2.1-gallon fuel tanks. Yes, they
are a bit bigger and wider than
