2023 Honda CRF250 TESTED - Motocross Action Magazine

#motorcycle #adventure #outdoors #sports
Motocross Action tests the 2023 Honda CRF250R at Glen Helen Raceway. In 2021 the CRF450R was all new and in 2022 the CRF250R received those same updates. Honda went for an engine with more bottom end power similar to the Yamaha YZ250F that is very popular. We loved the engine on the 2022 model but the suspension was an issue. The suspension was the strong point for the Honda in 2021 but the new forks are way too stiff. We walk you through all the details on the 2023 Honda CRF250R in this video and compare it to some of the other models in the class.
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[@robkeller8008]

Being 175 lbs doesnt make a differance, hate how these magazines make a big deal about being heavy rider on 250. Im 205lbs, A- level Vet rider, have a 2022 Honda 250f and the thing pulls me fine, wheelies out of turns and the stock suspension doesnt bottom even on bigger jumps.. Buy this bike, its fast enough, corners amazing, great shock and not the best but good enough forks once you set them up

[@yuriabmxr]

It's "pro-guy perspective". 250s pull us big guys around fine. I am way faster on a 250 than a 450. So is virtually everyone else not lining up in a pro National gate.

[@ThatOneCanadianKid]

Ngl after owning a 150f when I was younger it's been a tough toss up for look to get something to rip on the trails and had the 250rx on my mind until the other day I thought of how awesome that bike treated me. a 250f might just be the best thing to buy ngl, how's the upgrade from carb to fi?

[@Davido50]

Goin new KTM ..Can't beat em. -Ohio

[@Davido50]

@ThatOneCanadianKid Or KTM 250SXF. Go Austrian you won't ever go bk!

[@dereckrodriguez9688]

You tho suspension would be good out the box for a 200+ lb noobie? New to mx(been twice) and currently using my 350excf until I can get an mx bike.

[@greccoctsv]

Had 23 tc 250.. got rid of it after fouled 3 plugs in 3 hours.. bought 23 crf250r and its amazing bike.. suspension feels great to me..

[@FeelTheFlaw]

The main problem is in the fork’s basevalve that uses .3 mm thick shims which is unheard of, it’s basically a Supercross/FMX setup. Midvalve isn’t that stiff. Once revalved those forks are just as good as the previous years Showas.

[@Tennessee_db]

Finally Stiff Suspension & Now you're crying about it. Smh..

[@levihenderson6937]

I got one today, first rip on a race bike and I love it, I know I'm gonna get hurt eventually tho lol

[@dylanp9211]

I went to the dealership the other day im really digging the crf and yz 450's the Suzuki really felt good too.

[@Davido50]

If I could find a new RMZ250 near me I would grab it in heartbeat. Suspension is 100% better then RMZ450 & it's very competitive.

[@caydenthompson126]

Wait for the 23 YZ

[@MichaelAMyers1957]

​@@Davido50 I bought a 2023 rm-z250 in December. Only Got 20 hours on it, but I like it a lot. It's better than what the internet snobs claim it is.

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Sadly in 1986 i had the famous 1986 CR250R..what a way to start a race career...with the best bike an a 40 year down hill slide...the 86 had the best forks an motor a works balanced crank shaft...the motor was owned by a pro unadilla vet champ his dad just polished the cylynder saying it looked good from honda like some one had already done the cylynder..i had a bunch of kawis an hondas..after starting on the 86 even rick johnson told his team no no no ur not taking the forks i love them...after 87 bikes production bikes got more an more stock turning into junk...tje motors were good an the suspension was dangerous to try an race...making the factory teams look like super good riders while few teams could get a bike close...i worked for a guy who was one who got close....a stock bike suspension has to accomodate a 130 pound rider an a 230 pound rider that set upisnt good for either guy...but thats why u need ur suspension done...when i had my pro bikes the suspension was what i missed most...a holeshot motor is nice but the great suspension is da bomb...

[@LukeDupin]

Awesome write up. Sad to hear about the handling; that's more important than motor for me. I might have to check out KTM for the first time in my life.

[@dereckrodriguez9688]

What about for a heavier 205 lb novice rider. Would the stock suspension feel better?

[@kelliebrooks9094]

One thing about my 1986 was it was very similar power curve to a 4 stroke 450(i havent ridden a 250 R bike yet)the 86 woke up quick of the bottom smoke got grip nit over powering the tire an then snapped to life still smooth it was like a factory bike...no warning an warp 10...low end power is nice u have to rake a gear box..an thats better then waiting for high rpm to peak..

[@Davido50]

Not a Honda guy but looks sweet. Want new 250F in '23. *Lookin at GasGas , Kawie mainly but open to all* . Thanks MXA 👍🏻 you guys are best of best! - Ohio

[@Wild1KY]

Honda will last the rest of your life

[@Davido50]

@wildoneky3752 not sure bout all that..comes dwn to good basic maintenance on any machine. Dirtbikes, cars, trucks etc.

[@thatguyrides7072]

@@Davido50 no please, buy a honda you won't regret it. I got to try a 23 Honda ​crf 250r and fell in love with it. And im a die hard Yamaha fan/rider

[@64maxpower]

I didn't know that Jett Lawrence raced a stock CRF250. I would think he had a factory Works bike

[@mrfaceforest]

Wow, 219 lbs for a 250F, that's amazing! Was that the wet weight that you guys recorded? I really wanna lighten up my '22 KX250F. Any suggestions besides a pipe?

[@sevay696]

It's probably dry weight with maybe oil

[@tylerbair6032]

The suspension is amazing you can’t change my mind.

[@probegt75]

I need one just for the motor...putting in a trx450r frame

[@EzraLewis]

I'm excited for this one

[@Davido50]

Looks good an I'm not a Honda guy at all.

[@updababydrac]

@@Davido50 why

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Thanks it looks fun...i like the weight cut...one thing im gonna do is a pro circuit carbon kevlar silencer i love the exhaust note difference....thats another 5 pounds..guess

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Thank nice video....i wanna ride so bad now watching

[@z28fun]

Great honest review!

[@64maxpower]

But MXA didn't recommend to go one tooth larger on the rear sprocket like every single bike mxa has tested since 1977

[@Rusvedi]

I prefer studing language during watching your videos. Awesome!

[@tf181-u7z]

Hi guys,can i know what are the differences in riding between 23.5mm offset triple clamps insthead of 22? Thanks

[@baileyhaworth3252]

Makes the forks stand more upright making it turn sharper

[@amikhael5135]

The very strange thing is that all french reviews praised this bike for confort and plush suspension...Is there a different setting for the US market ?

[@aivorebane3050]

may be track difference. Euro tracks are more rough and tougher.

[@herbrachel3663]

I think those guys get different packages over there

[@herbrachel3663]

8lbs. lighter and a 4.2 springs up front? Sounds real stiff

[@callmeopzz4775]

When y’all gonna have a 2023 yz250f video out?

[@JKrause616]

Just watch the '22 video. The 250 won't get the 450 upgrades until 2024 if that's what you're hoping for.

[@herbcanter2114]

@@JKrause616 Yup , got to wait until 2024 but it will be well worth the wait .

[@dylanp9211]

Wonder why they went dual over head a few years back on the 250 but still run a uni cam on the 450

[@bloomerb4162]

Probably bc the 250fvrevs higher, just a guess.

[@busby905]

But looking at the 2021 specs that also had a 100 rear tire !!

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Motocross racers are notoirous for not shifting enuf..i like a low end motor because it will grip an i can shift like an air shifter...i figured out a long time ago in 1978 on my 1975 honda XL 125 i could make it go real fast by shifting the 5 speed trans as fast as i could it had great low end that most 2 strokes did not....u would have to get some euro bikes maico an others that had more sensible powerbands than most japanese 4 brands mxers...thank fully engine modes are change able...that helps dial but if the motor doesnt have good power somewhere it takes work to fix...heavier fly wheel lighter fly wheel etc...thanks it looks good...im gonna play in my front yard SX track so it mite work probably would built whoops just rytyyhm section jump to jump stuff FMX too

[@barnescycle]

If the suspension was sent off and was the best it had potential to be would this have been a huge difference in last year's shoot-out? Or not so much I have the 22 40+Vet and love everything other than turns and suspension. Shock feels great but I've never had forks sent off , is it worth 900?

[@elcucuygarage]

I guess it comes down to the level of disposable income, or your patience learning and setting up your stock equipment. The bike does track great, but it handles like a scalpel, as it does in the desert. If you can slow it down and not ride too high in the stroke all the time, you may find you really love it. Otherwise, having a springset, valving/shims set up for your riding style and weight... You will definitely love it.

[@Davido50]

I'm Vet 250F guy too. Lookin at new GasGas or Kawie bikes for '23. Maybe RMZ250 if can find one! -Ohio

[@Davido50]

@@elcucuygarage truth! Ride for life.

[@barnescycle]

@@Davido50 I also own a 2017 KTM 450 XC woods bike, it does woods very well and does motocross well also. The Honda does good on the motocross track but is a nightmare in the woods. Also as a vet guy the E start is a game changer, I'd lean hard to the Gas Gas if i was you 👍

[@64maxpower]

I'm going to get A kit forks . Super Vet C class at my track and I want to finish top ten this season

[@MichaelAMyers1957]

Lmao

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Hopefully racetech gold valve will fix the forks...i like what u said about the motor im factory so i want a great motor every rpm range what ???

[@Makta972]

Yamaha is the way to go

[@tomnekuda3818]

No doubt about it, it does act a biit like the Yam. Why does Honda always follow a good suspension year with a poor suspension year?

[@herbcanter2114]

Yamaha's are the benchmark.

[@Tukball]

I rode one of these and a 23 yz250f back to back set up for the same weight. Gold valves front and rear on both valved for Mx C setup by the same guy on both bikes. The Hondas chassis is way too stiff and doesn’t track half as well as the Yamaha did on the same track back to back. The suspension and engine felt much better on the Yz than the Honda. I unlike the reviewer and others felt like the power on the honda wasnt close to the same as the yz. It felt like it had less power and less drive than the Yz. All that being said i have no manufacturer bias as i ride a 22 Ktm 250sx 🤷🏼‍♂️ dont buy Ktm btw lol not worth it

[@crk916]

Over/under on how many times they mention KTM? 🤦‍♂️

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Give ur MX CREW a honda riding tip...45 years of honda riding ..make the honda turn where u want ...i know other brands give u a turn an the bike says this is where im going...dont on a crf make it go where u want be precise it will turn where ever u ask it to...dont wait lead the bike by turning it where u want it to thats its best charecteristic...if u dont then u git a box of chocolate...u get what git

[@kelliebrooks9094]

The front forks are the most important component on the bike...

[@aungkokozin4610]

Great 😊

[@Duppavich]

This is the first modern Honda MX bike review I've looked up in many years. It's exactly the same story as the CR's in the 90's Great engine, terrible forks 😢 WTF Honda engineers??

[@quadcityracing]

Stock rim is too narrow for a 110 rear tire, balloons too high.

[@jonathanschultz3629]

Have you tried it? Was wanting to put a 110 on mine but I’m not going to if I need a wider rim

[@quadcityracing]

@@jonathanschultz3629 tried it on an ‘2020, made the bike nervous by making the front more sketchy at speed. I have a ‘22 now but I won’t do it again. Just by the wider rim for $100 and then you can run a 110

[@clydejupiter2458]

Say what you want, but man I still miss the dual pipe setup ☹️

[@Davido50]

They were cool but made it chunky in rear. Lookin at new GasGas or Kawie 250F right now by me. -Ohio

[@caydenthompson126]

You miss the extra weight and parts to fix if they break? Lol

[@exploringlifefam3274]

Double the prize also?🤔

[@CockaNDball-so9vg]

I loved the dual pipes

[@michael_fyh5583]

🤘🏼

[@Sender76]

I think it's the worst bike I've had in terms of frame (too stiff) and suspension (unbalanced) -- although I did the revalving making them softer, I still have confidence, stability and suspension issues: - at the slightest change in track condition, you need to change the settings. - if you touch the front even a little the bike, loses its balance. it is impossible to find the square or a standard position for this bike, you practically don't have fun on the track, you go in and out continuously to change the setup. Indeed the new crf works well if you always go to the same track in the same conditions, but if you go from sand to hard, to damp or wet, it's a catastrophe.

[@ChrisB-je5om]

Ride red :)

[@CosmicAliveness]

Release the nitrogen

[@kelliebrooks9094]

Another thing honda CRs are very sensitive to outside foot peg pressure plant ur weight on that out side peg an it will settled down an obey u more...my trade secret...why i turn better then most...i drive all my weight into the out peg an make the bike stick any where no need for a looking for a berm...

[@lujarockstarrk4387]

P R I C E ????

[@MichaelWoljevach]

👀

[@rogermelling8941]

Add a tooth

[@kelliebrooks9094]

I know the new bikes the suspension...isnt improved...in the 90s u couldnt race a stock bike...oh yeah unless u weighed 130 pounds...otherwise u end up in the hospital..im a honda rider...but i know stock hondas lost the good forks to yamaha...years ago....im not an air fork fan as a 25 plus vet rider to me i think cheap when i hear air forks a lot ofcthe factory team guys havent been happy either..truthfully the big giant span of travel is vague because it gobbles up so much...the feedback u get mite be from the stroke before because..the middle is so much i think top guys have to work to know what its doing going in or out is hard to tell with so much....i had some great 125cc pro bikes an one in particular that made me know how good factory HRC guys had their bikes....so i know what that feels like but now im just gonna play FMX an a small half SX track in the frint yaad...some step up an fun stuff maybe a bmx back to back quarter pipe...some rythtym stuff is fun....suspension mite be ok its outdoors where u really need it right...

[@ZingAkel-dq9cd]

Buka kek si.....

[@Turtlefarm]

Went with the rx because of the suspension