I Survived My First Harescramble - My Thoughts on Racing the CRF250F

[@dougdunedainownerofthedoom2205]

For most riders, more power = slower offroad. The CRF-F's main disadvantage is that it's just so bizarrely heavy.

[@notsoupmoto]

that's true

[@mozambique32762]

i bought a klx140 as a pitter/ beater bike. sold it a month ago today and bought a 250f soon after. I could not tell a difference in the weight when riding but when i put it on a stand or need to pick it up thats when you feel the weight

[@notsoupmoto]

same here definitely heavy if you're tired and dropped it on the trail and have to pick it back up lol. but as far as actually riding goes the weight is not too bad

[@callmekham8458]

That's all I need to see. I'm getting a 250f. Thank you! Got yourself a new sub.

[@notsoupmoto]

Appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed haha Best of like with the bike

[@Wisconsindirtrider]

You need to swap the forks for xr400 forks and run a hagon shock in the back. Run a 48 tooth rear sprocket and a 4° advanced timing key. Then you will have a woods weapon!

[@jackson_608]

Been racing mine bone stock a while now and it still amazes me how much I have to learn but I can’t lie it would be nice to have a race bike just seems like it’s a smother ride all around

[@notsoupmoto]

Yeah chassis wise the race bikes are so so so much smoother

[@nickg2431]

Well done to you,good riding and passing much more powerful bikes! Interesting that the guy in front with the rucksack has a lot of body movement which looks really good but seems to actually slow him down.

[@notsoupmoto]

Thanks!

[@TRAIL_TIME841]

This was cool to watch. My buddy and my brother both have one of these bikes. The 250F works way better than people think. I like how you talk about technique being important. I too enjoy passing folks who have a much more expensive bike than me.

[@notsoupmoto]

Hell yeah! Glad you liked the video :)

[@normmackinnon5596]

nice vid thanks. biking now for 3 yrs and started with the same honda. great for learning but was not happy with the weight. went to ktm 150xcw at almost 45 lbs less and bigger wheels etc etc. what a rocket and great for single tracks that we run most of the time. cheers.

[@notsoupmoto]

Yup the 250f is a good bike for building the fundamentals but ultimately a stepping stone once your ability improves

[@GahBoe]

I’m glad you slightly walked back on the suspension. But you really don’t have to “spend thousands” to upgrade it. Have Bruce’s suspension for the front end (150 bucks), or spend a bit more for used xr400 forks; and swap out the rear for 500 and you’re set. World of a difference! Flying through whoops and large rocks in a straight line, it honestly increased my confidence which in turn helped with speed. Plenty of people drive thousands of miles on these bikes to share their opinion on achieving the best bang for your buck. Give it a go, you won’t be disappointed. Guaranteed.

[@notsoupmoto]

I totally agree and yeah the thousands of dollars thing was kind of hyperbolic haha But I guess my point was just that you don’t necessarily need the suspension upgrades to ride over rough terrain safely if you understand certain techniques for riding that terrain. Although, yes 100% upgrading the suspension will make for a much much smoother ride overall. But yeah you’re right, you could easily do a nice suspension upgrade on the crf250f for around 600-700 bucks

[@North_east_rides]

I've been riding my 250F for a few months now. Absolutely love it. I've heavily modified mine as far as suspension goes. Check out some of the Brazilian companies like Tuscany Racing. They put a lot of R&D into parts for these bikes and do some wild stuff with them. We have a few trails in NH with heavily rutted and sandy whoop sections. After modifying the suspension it can handle pretty much everything. Harescramble's look like a blast though I would definitely try this.

[@notsoupmoto]

I highly recommend trying a harescramble out for sure! Was a blast. I’m gonna be looking to upgrade the suspension on my 250f probably sometime next year and I’m excited to see what possibilities that opens up

[@Vanya-k9r]

Just ordered my CRF250F here in Australia. Looking forward to getting it, even though my main ride is a KTM300EXC. I’ve commented on one of your other clips & I’m sold on the fact that it’s just a fun bike to ride. You mention in one of your vids that you prefer to ride the Honda over some of your other bikes, what bikes do you currently ride other than the 250f? And as far as power is concerned, we had a rider here who won a round of a state championship on a XR200 putting out about 14 HP, sometimes less is more in the bush!

[@Vanya-k9r]

I’ve also subscribed, I enjoy your content 👍

[@notsoupmoto]

you're exactly right. that's the biggest thing ive noticed... it's just a fun bike to ride for whatever reason. I also have a yz125 and a yz250f. both mx setups which also explains why I've not gravitated towards them since I've been riding mainly woods this season. I'm planning on turning my 125 into a more woods focused bike soon though so that'll probably balance out what i'm riding a bit more. glad you enjoy the videos and thanks for subscribing and commenting!

[@scottrugenstein7034]

Welcome to the woods! XC racing is the best! You are definitely a legit B class rider by this video anyway. Your MX skills are serving you well especially the corner speeds. I believe the only thing holding the Honda and you back is the suspension. As some have commented there are fixes for that. As long as you remember what you are working with no problems there for now. Set up is critical and experiment with dropping those forks down a few Millimeters in the clamps if they aren’t already. A good stabilizer will help with deflection and head shake. It looks like you had fun and that’s all that matters

[@patrick2360]

Thank You Very Much For Sharing 👍

[@notsoupmoto]

No problem thanks for the comment!

[@dougschneider5948]

Great riding!

[@notsoupmoto]

Thanks!

[@Bigboialeks]

I just got my 2025 crf250f Monday and I’ve been riding it for a while and I really like it. Only problem is when i went down for the first time I snapped my ulna and radius in my wrist 😢

[@notsoupmoto]

Sorry to hear that:( hope you heal up quickly

[@Bigboialeks]

@@notsoupmotothank you!!!!!!

[@goldyg6511]

dude you ride awesome, I'd suggest IF going to continue to race offroad you should pick up 250RX or WR250F or better yet 2 smoke wide ratio, I dig my YZ250X all I've rode for decades all the best

[@notsoupmoto]

Thanks I appreciate that! I’d love to get a 250x! They’re so sick I’ve been thinking about redoing the suspension on my yz125 for woods and maybe putting a flywheel weight on it just because that’d be cheaper than buying a whole new bike. In the future tho for sure I wanna get a dedicated woods race bike

[@kawininji8874]

looks super fun. i have a 24 drz400, 07 kx250f, and 23 yz250 2 stroke and i for sure struggle to ride the yz250 in trails where i live but the kx250f isnt as bad. suspension between the 2 is so different, kx250f has a super stiff front end so it sucks going through smaller dips and bumps. my drz has a supper stiff front end too surprisingly but i havent taken it on trails yet just gravel roads

[@notsoupmoto]

The DRZ is prob gonna do nice on the trails! Only downside is it’s heavy. If I still had my DRZ I’d definitely get some knobbies on that thing. I bet it’d be super fun

[@DaniGerman1499]

There is these natural whoops out here WA and this bike does fine

[@notsoupmoto]

@@DaniGerman1499 nice!

[@urbexcross]

First off, XC Racing is so freaking fun! My homie Mac raced his CRF250F in an XC race here too, he did just fine! Super capable bike. Cheers! I'm over in Indiana, we should link! -Nick

[@notsoupmoto]

hell yeah man I'd be down to ride sometime for sure

[@urbexcross]

@notsoupmoto super down, you in Ohio?

[@notsoupmoto]

Western PA actually

[@urbexcross]

@@notsoupmoto Sick! Ever been to Wayne on Ohio?

[@notsoupmoto]

Nah never heard of that. Is it a riding venue or just for races?

[@RitterRundown]

Great job and video. The F bikes are pretty capable for sure. I took mine through some fairly gnarly stuff today and it held up. They're definitely not KTMs or YZ250 FX/X bikes but still can get it done. Are you considering buying a woods race bike? Thanks again for the video. Great stuff.

[@notsoupmoto]

At the moment I’m not planning on purchasing another bike for a while but I’m thinking about turning my yz125 into a woods race bike. So getting the suspension done for woods, mousse bibs, skid plate and pipe guard, and flywheel weight Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for the comment:)

[@EgoGhostX]

This track looks sick. North Florida has some mid tracks

[@notsoupmoto]

It was really fun! I go to north fl every once in a while and have been searching for good places to ride. Any you would recommend in and around Gainesville area?

[@Mac_Simiser]

All you have to do is look at the CRF/F scene in Brazil...all.kinds of cool parts and they run the daylights out of them. I will add, look at what someone like Carson Brown does with bikes like these and older bike too... good techniques make bikes that arent meant for some certain use quite useable. Kevin Gallas rides the hell out of an old bike at some hard enduros...cool vid BTW

[@notsoupmoto]

Glad you liked the video! And yeah you’re right some of those Brazilian crf builds are wild! Carson and Kevin do some really cool stuff on insta as well

[@adambaumeister2376]

More power isn’t always the answer my first harescramble was last year on my crf450 and let me tell ya once tired I wish I was on a 250

[@notsoupmoto]

Haha yeah those bigger bikes with snappier power really take the energy out of ya

[@charliedoesdirtbiking]

i greatly recommend moose balls for trails as its not the end of the world if you get a puncture and you can adjust the bouncyness of the tyres 🙂

[@notsoupmoto]

I’ll have to look into those!

[@warrenstemphly5756]

80% rider, 20% bike. Graham Jarvis would win a harescramble on a 250F

[@notsoupmoto]

exactly

[@infidelmat]

Not against other pros lol.

[@notsoupmoto]

@@infidelmat not necessarily. He’d probably still beat some of the other pros just might not finish where he usually does. I had a friend racing A class the same day who finished 4th in A on a CRF250F as well

[@warrenstemphly5756]

@@infidelmat no, probably not, but an average local Harescramble he would

[@johndougherty8296]

in the woods....less is more........😆......BUT i use 2020 XR650L for harescrambles...love my BRP

[@notsoupmoto]

@@johndougherty8296 an absolute beast! Haha I’d love to ride one of those things

[@BlackwaterAquatics]

You should really do a fork swap on your crf250f, i did one for my XT and its night and day you will track way better.

[@notsoupmoto]

prob gonna end up doing suspension upgrades sometime next season!

[@BlackwaterAquatics]

@notsoupmoto ya don't bother with the cartridge emulator, just do a swap from a crf or a yz with a complete front end I believe the steering stem is roughly the same length

[@notsoupmoto]

good to know! thanks

[@late828]

"90% rider 10% bike"... i think that saying is true. I have a 450 and by looking at the video, i think you would easily smoke me in that race. So having lots of power and good suspension helps (atleast the suspension), but it means nothing if the rider hasn`t got skills to match the bike. Actually i think i would be faster with less powered bike. But anyway, your riding looks good! Ps. I`ve had some comments that ONLY fast riders should post on youtube... Well, i`m not that fast, but i think some viewers like to watch my videos BECAUSE i`m not super fast. It`s more relatable to someone who also is just riding for fun.

[@notsoupmoto]

I totally agree! And yeah comments like that are BS. Keep on posting if you enjoy it. All perspectives are welcome here. That’s what makes KZbin awesome! I subscribed to you!

[@late828]

@notsoupmoto 😊👍🏻

[@projectash7710]

I actually just moved to Ohio and I wanna do a hair scramble on either my 150 xc-w or my 300 xc-w with my experience in trail riding in the PNW

[@mrlarrybobjr]

Welcome to OHIO ! PNC wow you had a lot of great riding terrain out there but a short riding season. Ohio has a lot to offer for off-road racing. I recommend join ama find your district harescrambles and start riding when it’s raining. Mud is fun. In Ohio we have 27 different muds. Befriend farmers. Their kids have the best bikes and their families have the land and untillable woods. So when the work is done it’s time to ride. Stay away from the cities though, we have those too.

[@notsoupmoto]

Nice!! You should definitely try one out I highly recommend

[@projectash7710]

@@mrlarrybobjr Thanks for the advice, I've tried some mud so far at bear creek and mines & meadows, it's definitely different than what I'm used to riding.

[@projectash7710]

@@notsoupmoto Sweet bro I will

[@TattedPappy143]

those races and single track rides are chess not checkers. motocross is like playing checkers its all about getting threw the race as fast and as clean as possible those races are more like playing a chess match with 40-65 diffrent smart people its not about speed but pace and correct movement. but from what i seen you did amazing my good sir

[@notsoupmoto]

Thanks!

[@TattedPappy143]

MY GOOD SIR... If you dial in that suspension and set the sag you will be surprised out in the woods and desert

[@notsoupmoto]

Yeah I’m already surprised just with it being stock! Heck of a bike

[@noahcatarina8618]

Besides a new skid plate what other upgrades would you make to the bike if you were going to race it again?

[@notsoupmoto]

If I had the money, I’d like to get the suspension done for sure and then definitely get some better tires and a set of bibs

[@johnmclaughlin4802]

👍

[@stoneycarter5546]

Its clear the crf250f is a trail bike. its not made for Racing or jumps its for easy riding lugging around Trails or for people like me older guys and for beginner riders or a first bike

[@notsoupmoto]

Yep exactly

[@Yungsmoka]

Why do they call it a harescramble?

[@notsoupmoto]

I’m not really sure. I’d have to research the history more

[@Yungsmoka]

@ oh ok it’s fine I can

[@notsoupmoto]

Would be interesting to learn more abt it tho

[@Yungsmoka]

@@notsoupmoto yeah

[@MegaThumpers]

i love u soup

[@notsoupmoto]

Haha thank you

[@noellumex7555]

I always wonder WTF are these guys wearing suitcases on their backs also you are passing guys on bikes that cost 4 and 5 k more : )

[@notsoupmoto]

@@noellumex7555 haha yeah this specific race was called the “pumpkin run” so you could carry a pumpkin around for a lap in a backpack and afterwards you’d get a prize

[@mrlarrybobjr]

I cannot be quiet. I know nothing about you. Some how KZbin thought I would like your video. I’m going to lay it out here for all peeps and try not to personally insult you. First it is never the bike it is the rider. The C class is where you belong for a whole year. All this talk sounds like you are a "noob". Your speed from the video, Shows you are a beginner. That is not an insult. Twice this year the overall was taken on a 250 in the GNCC series. Work on your skills. And twist the throttle more. you are slow because of fear. Stop wasting money on computers and cameras.

[@notsoupmoto]

Interesting take… I’m not really sure what you’re trying to say here? The video is literally titled “my first harescramble race” so yeah… I’m a noob. Not really trying to hide that fact at all? The only reason I’d consider racing B class next time is because I felt like I was carrying more speed than other people in my class. I finished 6th out of 45 in C class my first race and I don’t want to sandbag for an entire year like some people do. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mrlarrybobjr]

@@notsoupmoto still just words, go ahead and pass those five guys that were in front of you first. I still won’t say mean words noob just means noob. Go faster. The faster you go puts you into different lines on the same trail. It all comes together with time in the saddle. The easiest way to learn is to ride with guys that are faster than you. You will constantly see them hit stuff different than you were going to and they do it right in front of you. There is nothing wrong with being first in the C class. That’s why I said one full year. Go to sanctioned events only, every weekend there is a race somewhere close enough. It is an expensive hobby but you are nowhere near using the potential of the bike you already have. Don’t waste money you’re gonna need it for gear and parts.

[@notsoupmoto]

I appreciate your opinion but I can spend my money however I want. Also I know you've probably thought of this already but some people are just out there to have fun. It's not all about going fast. This channel is catered towards beginner riders and first time dirt bike owners not really people trying to race their way up through the ranks to become pros. The whole point of this video was to highlight what my "first time racing a harescramble" was like. You don't have to take everything so seriously man. It's just about having fun on dirtbikes. and if you want to go faster and get better, more power to you! that's awesome. just give people the courtesy of riding whatever way they wish to ride.

[@krismit2238]

@@mrlarrybobjr lol You told him to stay in class C for a whole year (even though only 5 guys beat him in his first race), then you told him the easiest way to learn is being with faster guys. Using your logic, he would be learning far more by surrounding himself with 45 faster guys in Class B than sitting around racing 5 guys in Class C for a whole year. His flow and speed would improve exponentially with a cheap front fork upgrade. From there, straight into class B for a steeper learning curve while still having some fun.