Honda CRF250L Common Problems & buyers guide

[@afenijmeijer9027]

Itchy Boots has just done some 40000km on one of these around Southern Africa. Incredible bike. She eventually did a 1000km Rally/race on it and the sub frame broke. This, as a result of carrying lots of luggage and spare fuel bladders on her travels. She bought it with some 25000km on it if I recall. Incredible bike, like all Hondas.

[@BigPezza]

Don't forget the forks seals also went on that trip

[@teamtempest844]

Bought a new one back in 2013 (3.6k delivered!), unmodified other than acerbis handguards, forks and battery I agree with, quite poor. Still got it to this day, great addition to the collection.

[@Ken0la]

Excellent video. Everyone hates the stock irc tires but I can’t fault them. I do loose gravel, sand, fire roads, asphalt etc and like the bike they always get me to my destination. There is no such thing as a perfect tire but the stock tires were a excellent choice by Honda IMHO.

[@angryviking4496]

Plan on keeping things mostly stock on my 300L. Maybe a bong holder.

[@yamkaw346]

Can’t do without that

[@Rosbif06600]

I'd recommend a radiator guard as a good add on.

[@josephpotterf9459]

Thanks I just bought a 2016 crf250l and previous owner did a bunch of mods so I’m taking them off. Luckily he had the original exhaust. So while installing that I found he unplugged the emission stuff and had a fuel controller. I’m in the leave it alone camp when it comes to engine mods. If it’s not powerful enough get a GS.

[@BigPezza]

if you are putting back the original exhaust you will also have to remove the fuel controller but thats not bad you can sell that :)

[@josephpotterf9459]

@@BigPezza yep i did remove it and have also found a 13 t on counter sprocket so ordered a stock set to see how that is. enjoying the bike i am

[@oldmanevasion]

Great info! Thanks a lot, I feel a lot more confident looking at the used bike tomorrow

[@johndaroza2987]

Well I have a 2013 runs fine with that EKG fuel controller I put in aftermarket pipe on it I put a air filter in it a 52 we're tooth sprocket. You do know that there is a replacement that you have to do for the piston ? That being said EKG air filter better exhaust 52 tooth sprocket are going to do a huge change. My personal opinion for me it was well worth it. But improvement in power and response from the throttle is impressive! Riding hard I get 90 miles to the tank. I bought the bike used. The piston was to be replaced long ago it is 2013. It has a very durable engine.

[@user-xb4nn6ql5l]

Really valuable advice-thanks! Also watched your top 5 don’ts, which I found both logical and very entertaining (and v amusing, having just watched the missenden flyer’s top 5 dos)

[@gremlin2288]

I heard that about the 13 tooth front sprocket that's why I went with the larger rear sprocketyboo 😉nice vid & some sound advice ...............👍

[@BigPezza]

13-40 bad 13-42 good as long as the chain dont get loose its ok

[@darren5647]

Solid advice mate. Had my CRF250L from new 2013, fork seals went after ~2000 miles. Definitely a weakness somehow.

[@TheUncommonKIBBLES]

mine went at 2000 miles and 5 years.

[@furiousgriz]

Awesome advice ! Thanks for this! Itll come in handy when i start looking for bigger better bikes...

[@BigPezza]

Na on newer bikes you will have to plug in a laptop in the bike

[@rickybailey7123]

I just got 1 has 1300 hundred miles on it 2015 it's been setting the gas was bad battery but everything is stock feel good about the life of this bike ! Man had heart trouble and stopped riding it !! But he wonted new price for it ! I got it for 4 !! He wonted 5 !

[@finnmauriks4540]

250L is a heavy chunk of steel. Fork seals blown twice, fan melted twice, radiator completely bent, drilled holes in exaust for noise, huge scratch in clutch cover, new gear shaft after stripping and bending the last one and finally 2 sets of clutch plates replaced. Ive got a new bike now

[@Deertracks123]

Have had mine since 2018 never one problem

[@HORNET6]

It's E-Jay-K not E-Gee-K......and according to you a tail light is a headlight.....why does it indicate that it's been redlined all the time?? Fork seals don't need changing routinely and would be clearly evident if they needed to be changed. Even Honda dealers skimp on head and swingarm bearings. What's wrong with a full system? They're lighter and the finish is way better than the terrible matt black which goes brown. Is that your bike on the video? If so would you buy it as it looks like the type of bike you’re telling people to stay away from!

[@hblake86]

Very tempted to get one of these for green lanes (tiger is a bit big and heavy) some great advice on the second hand buying 👍

[@user-yo1pk4ky4k]

Amen. Don't buy a used Honda that has been modded. It is really arrogant to think that some backyard Jethro is going to improve a product designed by Japanese automotive engineers. Drilling out the air box, removing the snorkel, adding a fuel programer, etc. are all signs of ignorance in action. On popular bikes like this the aftermarket pimps all kinds of poorly engineered, useless junk. People piss away a fortune on junk to destroy world class engineering. Adding fuel programers and expensive exhaust systems is not going to release the "beast within" these bikes. There is no beast, they are just really cool, reliable bikes you can ride for many years -- especially if left stock!

[@1964mjc]

Great vid pezza... yes everything as MR Honda intended!! I even like the stock hand and feet levers - they bend back unlike the anodized aluminium from China !! especially don’t bother with the Ejk stuff that has proven only 1-2hp over stock (for a significant investment) - for that money you can get a cbr300r engine and swap and have “as MR Honda intended.. other things I would accept are unifilter washable filter and lithium battery - I would also consider an aftermarket exhaust - agreed on fork seals both my 250l and 300 rally (cbr engine swap) have blown a set of seals (80% off road riding lots of dust in SE QLD!!) Please buy the new 300L to replace the trusty 250 :D

[@NooBiker]

Thanks for this, very useful 👍

[@thehillbillyhoarder4996]

Good video. Thank you for sharing

[@DStabs720]

My 2020 CRF250L is stock besides skid plate, radiator guard and magnetic oil drain plug. Would never touch the motor. The Japanese know best!

[@DStabs720]

Oh and rear rack with a nice tail bag.

[@neilrobertson1345]

Not Japanese made in Thialand sorry to say

[@DStabs720]

@@neilrobertson1345 yeah I know but it’s a Japanese design

[@RideOnTwo]

Pezza that was a brilliant video. I would like to add that my 2020 tool kit has a lot less tools. Not sure when they changed that. Ask the owner to leave the bike cold and feel the engine as soon as you get there. If it feels warm the seller may not be completely honest about his other answers.

[@BigPezza]

oh really i would like to see all the tools you get in a 2020 one.

[@RideOnTwo]

@@BigPezza I will take a picture and send it to you when I get the chance

[@glennmcguire5571]

@@BigPezza My 2018 had a couple of allen wrenches and that's it.

[@jonnydelacruz8553]

Oh yes you must see the bike started when cold. We got that. Thats a great tip. Thanks for the heads up 😂

[@cajetan88]

Helpful! Thanks

[@paulbudford]

Good advice. I guess there are a few reasons people buy these. As a cool commuter bike. To dip their toe in and try some gentle off road riding. And the more serious trial rider like yourself. The one to buy is the cool commuter bike. Still no guarantee it's been serviced properly.

[@samsara3694]

Solid video,but where I think I might disagree or question, regards tail tidy, is which one you buy and additional precautions taken. There's a particular plug and play version available in the UK that's enclosed underneath, has no gaps around the light, and where there are a few machined holes in the design (e.g., for the brake light wire) these can easily and unobtrusively covered with tape.

[@user-oe8ii3dn8t]

Thanks! It really helped :)

[@zeez9053]

Great advice especially about oil filter gasket if only if it was so easy as to live in Asia where more people ride bikes and parts are more generally available at better prices

[@zeez9053]

Probably a different story for you in the South you’ll be better catered for here it can be grim in the North

[@jimbob128]

Just thinking about getting one instead of a ktm exf. Teally helpful. Ta

[@opeboi1539]

good luck finding any dual sport without a tail tidy

[@jonandrews4493]

Front Fork Oil Seals, mine leaked badly on left side after 2000km from New!..

[@HippoDrones]

We gonna have to start calling you Pezza-Die-Pie? :D Ace vid dude, be proper helpful to folk looking to buy.

[@BigPezza]

the only thing you do is do i want a new bike? if yes then you get a new bike

[@HippoDrones]

@@BigPezza :D only coz it is so easy to buy a dog second hand

[@markmower]

Hmm I like what you saying but everything you talk about is no different to any other bike you would buy So I give you ana example would you buy 2016 crf250l 1200 miles completely stock tyres still good Never been off road clean as F. Only first service by Honda typical value £3.6-3.8k Needs full service now, fair weather only ice ridden in rain would you think that a bad buy? Context between good and bad, never been ragged So my point is good and maybe not as good Your thoughts please be interested in your thinking

[@waynemartin2544]

What are your typical noises when on the pavement. I think I have tire noise almost a cyclic rhythm at about 5k rpm in gears 4 up and around 45 to 55 mph. No tapping noises or anything I would consider cam chain problems. Hard to tell with wind noise but seemed less with tire pressure up to 25psi

[@riffafrank]

Hi man. Thank you for the good video. I wonder how you like the Suzuki mirrors on your crf? Are they better than the crf stock one's? I was thinking to do the same... Did you needed some adapters fittings or did you changed the entire mount of the crf mirrors or do they fit directly into the crf?... I don't want to pay for the double take mirrors so I find your idea really good. I wonder where you found your Suzuki mirrors? I looked online, there's lots cheap one's probably from china... 😕 Thanks for your time bro. Be safe, have fun.

[@BigPezza]

My bike OEM mirrors where stolen 😞 so that's why I found some cheap 2nd hand drz wing mirrors and stuck them on. The cheap china knock off drz mirrors not worth the plastic they are made of. I think they just screwed right in can't remember tho

[@riffafrank]

@@BigPezza thanks for your time bro. Have a good day sir.

[@GavCritchley]

Did you talk about clutch replacement? Have you changed yours Pezza? My CRF cost £3,100 in May last year. Its a 2017 and had I think 30k miles on it. Bought off the ADV forum from a guy who was an engineer. Most of the miles were touring miles, and not the sort it has subsequently had. I agree solidly about the 'no tweaks or mods' idea. After that I'd be looking for receipts for service kits, brakes and tyres.

[@BigPezza]

still on the OEM clutch & i shift up and down without pulling the leaver in. yes allways good to see the recepts for everything

[@alexhearn8943]

They have gone up lol

[@johnwaxler2747]

Man clean your bike

[@BigPezza]

i will leave it out over night in the rain that should do it

[@benjaminminty9602]

It’s a dirt bike

[@Deertracks123]

Clean mine only once twice A year maybe if I've been on mud.

[@joecamel6835]

pff, it's never a common problem it seems.

[@savage22bolt32]

Seems like valuable information, but know fn way I can put up with the repetitious, annoying background music. Why oh why did you ruin this vid with crappy noise?

[@BigPezza]

just trying to give my videos a bit more production value. you are the first persion in over 17k views to hate the music, so you loose i am gonna stick with the majority on this one and continue to make videos adding music in the background

[@savage22bolt32]

@@BigPezza That makes perfect sense. You can't please everybody, so do what is best for you and the majority of your viewers. I turned the volume off and closed captions on, but it harder for me to watch that way.