VOLUME ISSUE DECEMBER , P133
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The top four bikes in this
test could be interchanged
with one more or one less rider's
opinion. The Honda CRF250R is
a much better bike for 2025, but
it narrowly misses the podium in
fourth place. Still, the fact that it
could now be vying for a podium
spot is a huge improvement over
its last-place result just a year
prior.
The CRF moves up in the
ranks largely thanks to its new,
stiffer frame and shock mount.
The previous-gen CRF felt too
stiff, but Honda says that was
because the frame was flexing
too much. Now, the bike comes
standard with reinforcements
to the head tube and rear shock
mount. This makes a big differ-
ence in damping vibrations and
keeping the bike planted on the
ground in a straight line. The
frame keeps the bike aligned on
the track and allows the sus-
pension to perform its job effec-
tively. There's better feedback,
and the frame and suspension
no longer seem to fight each
other for balance. Riders can
now trust that the bike will stay
underneath them.
The engine is another one
of the CRF's strong suits. The
previous Honda 250 had a high-
strung personality and only
delivered power in the far upper
ranges of the rpm curve. While
the new engine is predomi-
nantly the same, a new airbox,
exhaust and gear ratios provide
noticeably more torque from the
bottom while still retaining the
benefits of that high-revving
character. The added grunt
now allows you to navigate the
inside ruts with less effort, and
the bike no longer begs to be
shifted as often as before. Map
HONDA CRF250R
M
