First Ride: Fantic Casa 250 EFI

First Ride: Fantic Casa 250 EFI
This is a short video of my First Ride on Fantic's Casa 250 EFI Dual Sport. It's mostly on-road, so focussed on that. There's plenty of off-road videos elsewhere, but given that I'm after a green-laner that I can ride on road from home, it was still a useful test for me.
The bike has a few mods, decat, uprated suspension, tyres and guards, and a lithium battery. It was a lot of fun!
Massive thanks to the guys at Power Start Bikes in Bradford for letting me take out their demo bike.
The bike is so light compared to the other 250 dual sport offerings in this price bracket (40kg lighter than a CRF250L), and it doesn't have the same hourly service intervals of the full on enduro machines. Temptation levels are high!
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Thanks
Detailed information is available at:
www.powerstart...
www.fanticmoto...
and
www.offthekerb...

[@jonathanpower5901]

It's funny that I found this video. I was at power start just the other day looking at one of these. Chris is a loverly and very knowledgeable guy. I'm looking at getting one of these in a few weeks. Thanks for the video, very informative.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

It’s a great bike and Chris is so helpful. If Honda hadn’t released the CRF300 in the UK, I’d have had a Fantic by now for a year!

[@ka4172]

Damned this look so nice,i think its very competitive offroad too!I want to watch how it work on difficult trails!

[@PeakMotorcycles]

This isn’t the full on enduro bike, it’a probably closer to a CRF250L, except a bit more power and a lot less weight. I don’t think it’ll be charging up anything, but it feels like it’ll chug over anything. If you’re in the UK, Off The Kerb in Dorking run trail days on them if you fancy trying one off road. Good luck!

[@agustincuevae]

Im getting one tomorrow 💯🏁⚡

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Awesome! Is that a new one? (I guess things might have moved on a bit since I did that video)

[@BunnyKingHogs]

Never been off-roading. Think I need to try! Nice video, dropped you a sub

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Thanks! It was a great day out and Tom and team are very patient. Perhaps not the most straightforward of entry points; I’ve done a green laning day with Off The Kerb, which was an easier introduction, but I think a slightly different skill. I did a few days in Bolivia too, but that was more survival than training 😬

[@6Twisted]

What a coincidence. I have a Fantic 250 ad from Powerbikes in Bradford open in another tab.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Same bike?! (Not sure if they have a new demo bike by now?)

[@Banditmanuk]

Looks great value 👍 Certainly looks ideal for green lanes, guess it's always going to be compromised on the road and that seat looks narrow if you are riding a long way on the road between lanes.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Banditmanuk aye, it’s no GS replacement, but as something a bit more off road orientated than a CRF250L, without spending double the amount on a full on enduro machine (which I don’t really need), it seems ideal. Even small luxuries like an ignition key 🤣. Perhaps one will arrive in March...

[@birdzho]

Can u tell top speed and how much is cruising speed? And how much km oil must be changed?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I’m sorry but I can’t recall. It was a few years ago when I rode it. There’s probably a new model by now so the manufacturer should be able to confirm. Top speed and cruising speed is gearing dependent. If mostly road riding where those things matter, you could go down a tooth or two at the front.

[@reteptetep5078]

Was this a demo bike? Or was it a used one which they were selling? I'm thinking of picking one of these up from Powerstart, given that the CRF300L is pretty much impossible to get hold of (5 month waiting list).

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I think it was a demo bike, and was also for sale. It was great, and yes, so much more available. The other that I was going to look at is the SWM RS300R.

[@MrJohnandMargie]

Not much good if it can only go where cars go. Underpowered, clunky. I’d be buying a secondhand KTM, Yam, Hon, Kawa 400 upwards for less £ but far more fun.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Are you in the UK?

[@MrYogass]

Hey, What's your opinion about Fantic as you already tried 300L? Is it worth buying or 300L is a lot better than 250 and can compete with Fantic especially off-road? :)

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I think the Fantic will be better off road. Slightly down on power and torque but it weighs a third less (104kg vs 144kg for the L, more for the Rally). I think the Fantic is a detuned enduro with corresponding low maintenance needs. The 300L is a dual sport, and what it loses off road it makes up for on road. If you’re riding to the trails, comfort on paved roads is important and the 300L wins here. I guess it comes down to how you will use it. Both will sell but for different reasons. For me, I would have probably picked the Fantic over the 250L, but the 300L and the rally in particular had enough other capabilities to be my preference. I’ll be riding from home to any trails, so road manners and handling are important. For the CRF250L vs CRF300L, there’s several small improvements (gearing, slipper clutch, a bit lighter, a bit more power and torque) but the challenge may be finding a 300L. I know they are in short supply or delayed, and also some dealers are doing amazing clearance deals on the 250. If they are the same price and a 300L is available, I’d pick that. If you can’t get a 300 and/or the 250 is heavily discounted then that might be a better bet. I’m sure you will enjoy whatever you choose. See if you can ride them and pick the one that makes the most sense.

[@MrYogass]

@@PeakMotorcycles Thanks! I'll try to have a test ride on 300L next month if they will have bike for a test rides :P I tried Fantic last year off-road and it was good but I'm afraid if it will be a good choice when I have 25miles to the first green lanes :P I wont buy anything online so I hope they will open dealerships next month :P

[@simonbarraclough2007]

Did you end up buying it. Im actually picking one up tomorrow !

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I was close and then the CRF300’s were announced. Turns out I got lucky and got one of the first CRF300 Rally’s outside of Thailand (frame #99). Still considering getting a proper trail bike though. You know, N+1 🤣

[@jeremyvermule4959]

Hello in one of your videos you had a Machined piece of aluminum which was 24 mm for your wrench and 14mm for front axel I have been searching the internet everywhere but can’t find it. I don’t what the motion pro that adapts to a 3/8 socket I want the other one can you send me the link where you got it?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi Jeremy, it’s from a company called Dietec Precision. It’s this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIC6m2ydiaZ6r5Y And contact details for both the FB post about them and the company are in that description.

[@VictorBlades]

Hi, have you been able to figure out why the new fantic weighs 20 kg more? apparently it looks like the same chassis and engine, thanks

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I’m sorry but I haven’t. It’s sometimes emissions stuff. Maybe they put a vapour canister on the new one? Or perhaps a heavier exhaust? The only other thing might be fuel. Are both weights kerb weight?

[@VictorBlades]

@@PeakMotorcycles This week I get the new Fantic model, I'm going to look at the EVAP system, thanks for the response!

[@JB-tl9ep]

do you know much about or have ridden the new Fantic XEF 250? Thinking it maybe a better option for green lanes than the 300l. Cheers

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Hi, I think it's the new name for this bike. They've aligned the naming alongside their competition bikes. The off road bikes all start with an x, the next letter is MX, Enduro or Motard (X, E or M) and the F is (I think...) for 4 stroke. So an XX 250 is a two stroke MX bike. They also have Performance, Trail and Competition variants, but I'm not sure what those differences are. If the bike you mean is the £5k XEF250, then yes, that's the 2021 name for this Casa 250 EFI. It's a slightly different proposition to the 300L, same price (or near enough), but more enduro than dual sport. Much lighter (-40kg?), still has budget suspension, not as comfortable as the Honda and better off-road, but the 300L is a better road bike. I guess it depends what you'll be using it for. If you have a van or local trails so you're off road most of the time, the fantic is probably a better bet as a low maintenance enduro. If you need to do more road riding, either to get to the trails, or for commuting, then the honda might be a better option. See if you can ride both is probably best. I'm sure that whichever you pick would be a lot of fun, but they are slightly different bikes. Fantic test rides might be harder to come by, and 300L's might have a longer wait. Good luck!

[@JB-tl9ep]

@@PeakMotorcycles thanks for your detailed response. Very useful in deciding what to get.

[@roasthunter]

Intesting bike, just got back from another trip to maroc, had a crf250 OK off road but not great, could get it to about 100kph on some hard packed tracks.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

They are. If only the CRF’s could be 1/3 lighter! Lucky you getting to ride in Maroc. I think they just stopped flights from the UK due to Covid concerns…

[@roasthunter]

@@PeakMotorcycles Yes we flew back on Sunday and they stopped flights on the Wed. The CRF is ok, 30kg lighter would be better. What is parts availability like for the Fantic, that is one benefit of the Honda, easy to get parts for it

[@TUSCANIV6TURBO]

top speed? thansk

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I’m sorry but I didn’t get to test that out. I know it’ll do 60mph, so more than that, but I don’t know where it stops. My guess is around 80mph, but it’ll depend on gearing too.

[@fabiangandolfo8378]

0-100 kmh or 0/60 mph?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

0-60mph on the bikes over here, but yes I think it’s the same as 0-100km/h. Perhaps 0-62mph is the same but it’s near enough.

[@francescospagna5643]

Hi for the xef 250 Trail on fantic website Is written 122 kg and 15,8 kW. Is this casa lighter and more powerful?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I think the old one was lighter. Not sure where they make the saving. ABS on the new one (in the UK perhaps?) I’ll see if I can find out.

[@francescospagna5643]

Thank you!

[@florian0305]

How much hp?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Somewhere between 25 and 30, depending what you do to it. This one had the cat removed and a high performance air filter. Not a huge difference, but when you only have 25, you can feel the 2 or 3 extra.

[@МихаилК-з2ж]

Price?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

In the UK they are £4,899.

[@МихаилК-з2ж]

@@PeakMotorcycles tnx

[@Treadstone228]

At how many Kilometers do you need a Service?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

There’s not much to service, but I think the recommended oil change interval is 2000km. So weeks and months of riding not hours! If you are riding somewhere with a lot of dust, probably worth getting a washable air filter and washing it every few rides. I don’t think that’ll be a problem in the UK though!

[@dynamotightstar3472]

The recommended service intervals off road are the same as all "dirt bikes" frequent. Drop the oil and filter every 4 to 5 rides when it's dusty or wet. 6 to rides when the conditions are good. You also have no real warranty when riding off road.

[@davesmitte]

Been looking at one of these, but it sounds shit and looks like its got no power

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Probably not a bike for you then 🤣

[@davesmitte]

@@PeakMotorcycles i concur, hence im looking at the HondaCRF300L or the Honda CRF300L Rally.. I think i saw that you brought the rally, why did u chose the rally over the 300L, other than a longer range fuel tank, why did u chose the rally ?

[@PeakMotorcycles]

I live in the middle of the Peak District, and I ride year round. The three things for me on the Rally were the fuel tank (I don’t often fill it to the brim, but it’s useful to have it if I use the bike for longer journeys, and the L tank has gone smaller!), the LED headlamp is like night and day compared to the filament bulb on the L. Not a problem if you’ll only be day riding, and the screen, though not a big thing (particularly as it’s low!). I know people with the L who are already looking for bigger aftermarket tanks, who are looking to change the headlamp to an LED unit from Thailand, and will probably end up with a screen and a Nav bracket. I just thought I’d get the bits up front. A few things which I didn’t know were on the Rally, but are nice to haves are the LED indicators and the rubber inserts in the footpegs (for road use, not great off road, but they are removeable). I guess it’s what you’ll use it for. I’m mostly riding from home to the trails, so having a bike that’s comfortable on road, even at 60 or 70 is worth it for me. Each to their own though, and the L’s are selling fast so I’m sure there’s a market for both.

[@davesmitte]

​@@PeakMotorcycles Thanks for the reply, im deffinitely going for one of these bikes, i was just wondering if the extra £1k was worth it... Cheers for the info, safe riding.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

@@davesmitte I guess it’ll come down to what you’ll use it for. If day riding, on nearby trails or you have a van, the L is fine, and you could spend the £1k sorting out the suspension, bash plate, handguards, bars etc. I’m sure you’ll have fun on whichever you choose.

[@dk.650]

Fantic Trials bikes were always top class. Hopefully this lives up to the same standards.

[@PeakMotorcycles]

Absolutely. Though, this is a bit softer than both the trials bikes and their modern enduros. Definitely more of a CRF250L/KLX250/WR250R competitor than the full on enduro bikes. Service intervals are more like a road bike so I think it will appeal both as an off roader and road bike. Mind you, with the launch of the new KLX300 and CRF300L for 2021, this market segment is suddenly changing...

[@iangriffiths9930]

I was really tempted by the Fantic, I bought a 2020 CRF250l in the end as I thought I’d use the bike on the road a fair bit to get to my closest byways. I was talking to Kevin I think at the Fantic importers and was told you can by the bike and then buy a super moto setup for it, so 2 bikes in one really! I would have gone for the black colour myself 👍

[@PeakMotorcycles]

@@iangriffiths9930 aye, it’s an interesting choice. Though in the last few days, I might have almost followed your decision and ordered a new CRF300L... definitely a different proposition to the Fantic, and much heavier, but the extra power, Slipper clutch, revised gear ratios etc were the persuading factor. It arrives in January, but if Covid restrictions are in place I’ll register it from 1st March on a 21 plate.