New Honda CRF 250L: Heavy Rider First Impressions of The Best Dual Sport Motorcycle

I'm so pleased to welcome the newest member of the Dork in the Road family: my 2016 CRF250L! Hear all about my first impressions of the bike, including thoughts on how it handles with a fat guy for a rider. Is a 250 powerful enough for a rider that weighs more than 250 pounds? Is the seat height a problem for my short inseam?
Other thoughts include two of the bike's worst features and the harrowing tale of bringing it home on a Harbor Freight hitch mount motorcycle carrier and how hard it was to get the bike out of it.
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Gear List: (affiliate links where possible)
Camera Gear:
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Sena GP10-02 Bluetooth Pack w/Waterproof Case: amzn.to/2p8FKB8
GoPro Extension Arms Kit: amzn.to/2rE6pUD
GoPro Mic: amzn.to/2qGO8Ig
GoPro Spare Batteries and Charger: amzn.to/2H66V4F
Comms:
Sena SMH10-11: amzn.to/2kXpb9R
Helmets:
HJC CL-17 Captain America Helmet: amzn.to/2liaqdo
HJC CL-17 Black Helmet w/Custom Reflective Imperial Decals: amzn.to/2koH1Ow
Bell MX-9 Adventure: bit.ly/2UGYN67
Jackets:
Tourmaster Transition 4: amzn.to/2lmaihg
Icon Tarmac: bit.ly/2UoAvbG
Pants:
Tourmaster Overpants: amzn.to/2lqbls9
Tourmaster Venture Air: amzn.to/2q5wdYw
Bull-It SR4 Stretch Jeans: bit.ly/2KN9OOE
Boots:
Oxford Cheyenne: amzn.to/2lsKaxT
Icon Super Duty 5: hbit.ly/2UnCddI
Gloves:
Sedici Modena
Bilt Alder: bit.ly/2UGZdcH
Versys Mods:
Givi D4114ST Windscreen: amzn.to/2uWcEsH
CRF250L Mods:
Acerbis Rally Pro X-Strong Handguards: amzn.to/2oL37B5
Pro Taper Pillow Top Grips: amzn.to/2pwwiqU
CRF250L Rear Rack: amzn.to/2rDWSgp
Coleman Mad Dog Seat Cover: amzn.to/2q59w6N
Tusk CRF250L Folding Shift Lever: amzn.to/2qDDtOh
Flatland Racing Skid Plate
Dunlop D606 Rear Tire: bit.ly/2KMnc5B
Pirelli MT-21 Front Tire: bit.ly/2KNldhs
2016 Kawasaki Versys LT
2016 Honda CRF250L

[@oldschooldirtbiker]

Nice Review Bud,, I am a fat guy with a CRF250L also..Got yourself a new sub--- us short fat guys have to stick together!!

[@DorkintheRoad]

oldschooldirtbiker for sure, man. This bike has taken me everywhere I've asked it to so far. Check out some of my trail riding videos if you want to see how it does in the woods!

[@oldschooldirtbiker]

Dork in the Road. Check out my tight woods trail riding video I think you might like it...👍👊

[@DorkintheRoad]

I'll do that!

[@jeremiakendrick9165]

@@DorkintheRoad I am 270 and 6'1" you guys know any good bikes under 3k USD

[@deedeestone3837]

I'm an 80 year old rider who has 10,000 miles on my 2014 CRF250L. Running Metzler Enduro tires, CRF's Only: Luggage rack and sport windscreen, Corbin seat, softer grips and a manual cam chain adjuster. No problems with bike and it performs better than when it was new. Now, if only I did.

[@slowitdownroc8946]

how tall are u bro

[@Rah1381]

Best Bike Ever, Most Underrated Dual Sport😃😄😅😆😀😀😀

[@wandersofp]

you still out there riding? this video helped sell me on the 250l, its been great

[@blockeduser5769]

The brake line has that nice big swooping curve to it by design. Notice the loop it fits thru. It supposed to travel up and down if you hit hard trails rather than crimping down below. If anything I would try to facilitate what the engineers were trying to achieve and occasional petroleum jelly on that loop so the cable doesn't chafe...

[@ATIL1304]

Hi from Türkiye.Enjoy you and your videos very much.Keep on rolling safe...

[@DorkintheRoad]

Thanks for watching!

[@aguywhodoesstuff]

Thanks for the review... Been toying with getting one of these for cheap commuting to work... I'm 6'4 and 240lbs.. great to hear... works only 15km (10mile)

[@wtfx5757]

"some shit I had on a Huffy when I was like 8" lmao....had me rollin

[@jackbrisk84]

gOoD vid my friend. I have the 2018 CRF 250L and I modded the hell out of it :) I MELTED My blinker off with the Muffler mod lol.. Check it out at my chan JACK BRISK! Dont a bunch of camping vids n stuff. Keep ut the great videos dorkintheroad.

[@jackbrisk84]

nice

[@TheTaoofEternalWar]

So four years down the road would you still recommend it to a six foot 240 pound 45 year old who isn't planning on doing any major off roading?

[@DorkintheRoad]

Yes absolutely

[@ryry46d9]

At 5'11" 270lb and haven't sat on a seat in 20 years I have been looking at the CRF250L, but I worry about the few hill climbs I may come across. Living in Washington we have a good little network of fire roads I want to adventure through and a bunch of orv parks and I love playing in the mud too. Do you feel I should get this bike and big bore kit it or just get the CRF450L and deal with the extra maintenance and lack of fuel.

[@DorkintheRoad]

I was over 300 pounds when I got the bike and it never let me down. No performance upgrades whatsoever. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised with the 250, especially if you do all the stage one mods. 450L is a sweet bike but it's really expensive.

[@Mr.T711]

I’m in Oregon also. Curious about how tall you are. I’m interested in this bike but haven’t had the opportunity to throw a leg over one. Just don’t want a bike that’s too tall. Thanks for sharing.

[@DorkintheRoad]

I'm about 5 foot 10

[@Mr.T711]

Thanks for replying! Enjoy the ride.

[@svendura1]

Did you also consider to buy the CRF250 Rally? I like the bigger tank and suspension. What I absolutely dislike is the missing luggage rack. Think that belongs to an adventure bike. Great video, though. Thanks for the good work. I enjoyed watching it.

[@DorkintheRoad]

I did consider the Rally but decided against it because of cost (if I were going to spend that much I would probably just get a WR250R) and honestly because of impatience because the Rally isn't easy to get here just yet and no dealers near me had any idea when they'd even be getting them in. Thanks for watching!

[@dhiatt333]

Thanks man, I've been looking for a smaller dualsport for quite sometime. I currently ride a '12 BMW F800S, and will definitely keep it long-term, but would like something to throw around off-road. I've had a couple of old Honda XR's and loved their reliability, but the late 70's versions just aren't for me any longer. I had an old thumper BMW F650 too, which I also absolutely loved, but think that something smaller and more off-road is going to fulfill my desires. I'm 6'0" around 260 and my size is always a consideration. I've not done much off-road, and really want to expand those horizons, but would definitely prefer to ride everywhere. On the road almost all of my bikes have been fairly larger...CBX, Bandit, Z1000, a couple different Speed Triples, V-Strom 1000, etc. The F800GS satisfies my Adventure needs, and I won't go Sport again, so now the barn needs something even more versatile. When I think of versatility, the F800GS fills most needs, but for me, clearly something lighter will certainly help take care of that void. Okay, thanks for your patience, while I went off on my dork tangent.

[@DorkintheRoad]

Dan Hiatt I think you'd be very happy with the CRF. I'm heavier than you and it's never let me down.

[@josephwinkler4863]

Very underrated motorcycle if you watch a lot of the reviews you would be scared out of buying one but once you ride it and realize it is silky smooth And you can take it anywhere

[@DorkintheRoad]

I completely agree

[@TwistedIntentions79]

I want a dual sport but I'm only 5.5 tall. I can ride a 230. How much taller is the 250

[@jpop999]

this bike is short. you'll be fine. that being said, i'm 6'2". i personally wish this bike was like 4" taller or more like a KTM. when i sit on this bike, my feet are not only flat on the ground but my legs are bent a bit. hope that helps.

[@Tyler_S86]

I have the 2015 model and I weight 250, just drop the front sprocket from 14 too 13 and you will notice such a huge difference in off road usability. You will loose a bit topend power and it throws the speedometer out of wack but it is totally worth it.

[@dereckrandell4816]

Hello from England, you may want to check out these skid plates www.axp-racing.com/en/ they are 40% lighter plus they do not vibrate, cost is $129 I believe. Also this suspension upgrade looks very good for the heavier person, www.propilotsuspension.com/ it's not cheap but that's the good thing about the Honda CRF 250L, they are cheap so you can upgrade things to make it your own.

[@jonerikgreene1175]

Educational, entertaining, and good editing. You got a new subscriber. Thanks for the video!

[@DorkintheRoad]

+Jon Erik Greene glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!

[@davidwima5965]

Not sure if you can do a after market speedometer wiring to the HONDA CRF 250L Video please if you can ? There is nothing out there for it in detail.

[@bullbars1822]

Going to something bigger will be a bit of a challenge. The only mid size bike that isn't an endure is the Suzuki DRZ400s which is a bit heavier. Another option could be a big-bore kit to bump up the cc's to 300'ish. If you know of other options, let me know please.

[@sandysam9025]

nice bike... did you consider the Yamaha WR250R

[@DorkintheRoad]

sandy sam I did. Ultimately seat height and price drove me back to the CRF. That WR is a sweet bike, though.

[@damienjinxmisa]

How do you find those tires on wet pavement? I'm thinking of getting that bike but i live in Vancouver BC which is known for its rain LOL

[@DorkintheRoad]

Not So Happy Camper I've had it out in the rain a few times now and it's been great. Most people do eventually complain about the stock tires, though. I haven't had them in any serious mud yet, but from what I read that's where they start to suck.

[@jimperry4420]

Dork in the Road p

[@rajkirannatarajan9276]

The stock iRC tires are not good for offroad. You will be slipping all over the place. They’re good for street and backroads but no more. Wet traction on street is fine.

[@xAbstrxt]

What’s the max weight bc I’m around 300-350

[@DorkintheRoad]

I believe technically the max weight is somewhere around 350, but I was 320 when I got it and had zero problems. It's a great bike.

[@outtashapeoutdoors8321]

@@DorkintheRoad This reply gave me a lot of relief, I pre-ordered the crf300l but still trying to figure out the whole weight thing....I am about 265-270 (my normal ideal weight is 230-240) I also don't plan on riding hard, I just want to putz around the woods so I think it'll be perfect.

[@channelname1818]

Huffy! Lol

[@rlo5547]

"First adventure... Fail!" That was too funny, thanks for the laugh and the good review. I am on the cusp of buying the same bike in the next six months and I've gone through gamut of price vs. quality vs. performance and there are many to choose from and so far the pricing of the Honda and the reputation for quality it has is beating its way to the top. Upgrades can always improve it and make it even more competitive. Thanks

[@starman2671]

Thanks for the video, it was insightful. I'm a new dual sporter too. I would guess that after you and your bike become accustomed to each other , you will not want to trade up, but buy another bike altogether. Even when you try harder off roading, you will want to know how this bike handles it, so, I hope you keep it for a long time. It seems to be a great bike.

[@GiuseppeSimonetti]

You're not fat brother, you're just a little round. Lol

[@HippoDrones]

Glad you enjoying it! :-)

[@DorkintheRoad]

+Hippo-Drones thanks!

[@justchillandenjoy]

Riding a 250L Rally. It's amazing!

[@27Zangle]

This gives me hope. I've been eyeing one of these among some other bikes for next summer, but my weight is like yours and was worried about being heavier than the bike could handle. My weight fluctuates a lot, with some years being around 215 and other above 260. My wife was in an auto accident which triggered MS and so years where she is having more trouble including many surgeries (like this year), I am home more often and less active. I have been eyeing the CRF250L Rally w/ ABS. Was thinking about having the suspension upgraded for heavier weight right away. With this said, I do not intend to ride it on the highways of Alaska very often since the big animals and large trucks with idiots worry me too much. However, around my small town during the summer and to the trails for exploration is the idea.

[@DorkintheRoad]

My weight has varied a ton as well, but this bike has never seemed sluggish or disappointing. I think you'll really enjoy it.

[@mcschneiveoutdoors3681]

Please tell me you work in radio.. you have a radio voice.

[@DorkintheRoad]

I don't work in radio, but I've been told I have the perfect face for it 😄

[@mcschneiveoutdoors3681]

@@DorkintheRoad don't believe you did "the big reveal" yet..but I'll take your word for it, lol. If you get tired of the education industry give it a shot. I can hear you DJ'ing on a rock station, my man!

[@DorkintheRoad]

That would be a fun gig for sure.

[@thetallesteverone6124]

how is it on the highway

[@DorkintheRoad]

It does fine. It's buzzy and 6th gear is pretty much useless, but it'll do 60-65 when it needs to.

[@jubbienews2265]

So do you think a 250 is big enough for highway riding without overseeing the engine for a guy that's 260- 285lbs?

[@atzepeng4110]

No 250cc will make you feel 'comfortable' on the highway, but thanks to the 6th gear the crf250l will not feel as much out of place as others.

[@flash1034]

Where do you live? It’s beautiful.

[@DorkintheRoad]

I live in the Willamette Valley in Oregon

[@Billy28376]

Dork in the Road me too. I’m also thinking about buying a crf

[@RidingNerdy]

you can fine tune your suspension to make it stiffer for your weight, which would help if you're bottoming out off road. Great video

[@DorkintheRoad]

Thanks for watching! I honestly thought I had read that the preload wasn't adjustable but I just looked it up and it totally is. I'm doing that tonight. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@ShowBoatRitz]

Dork in the Road I heard that you couldn't adjust it was well... I don't want to get this bike if I'm just gonna bottom out on every little jump...

[@DorkintheRoad]

I did a little research and you can adjust the preload on the rear shock. Riding Nerdy is correct. I don't believe the front is adjustable without an aftermarket upgrade, though.

[@ShowBoatRitz]

I've heard that Honda has made some upgrades to the suspension for the 2017 model along with a little bit more power too. Not sure how much a difference it is though.

[@bossruss]

How Tall Are You?

[@DorkintheRoad]

bossruss 5'10". My inseam is like 30 inches.

[@rainstorm1826]

Does the Harbor Freight hitch mount get your recommendation?

[@DorkintheRoad]

Honestly, it does the job, but if I had it to do over again I'd get something a little sturdier. My buddy got a similar hitch carrier at Cabela's for about the same amount and it was made mostly of steel and isn't as wobbly when he uses it. The Harbor Freight one is better than nothing but it's nerve wracking to watch it sway while you drive.

[@foloeel]

Have you been up a hill yet!

[@littlebigadventuring]

Do you still like it? I’m 220lb and I really wanted the WR but they are very rare here. In the end i realised that such a off road oriented bike would ve wasted where I live. So I bought a husky TR650. i see the crf pretty regulary for sale and I can’t help wanting it a little bit

[@DorkintheRoad]

Yeah, dude. I love it. I just did an updated 1 year review if you're interested in more in-depth thoughts.

[@littlebigadventuring]

Dork in the Road yeah I actually watched that right after I posted :D

[@scavenger-wj8bu]

How tall r u

[@DorkintheRoad]

5'10"

[@scavenger-wj8bu]

I'm about 5'6" just wonder if the bike is going to be to tall or if I have to lower it

[@DorkintheRoad]

Definitely see if you can ride one before you buy. It'll probably be manageable for you at stock height but the lowering link might give you a bit more confidence

[@johntheaccountant5594]

I did not hear how tall you are so how tall are you and what inside leg measurement do you have? If you weigh 250 pounds; when you sit on the bike, does the suspension lower; i.e. does the seat height drop for you?

[@joshhrman]

dank turn signal

[@larrykettermanjr8862]

great video ! im 6'2 290 lb how you think it would handle me ? wanting to pick one up in next weeks

[@DorkintheRoad]

I think you'll be fine, so long as you don't mind the squishy suspension. I'm about that and have no problems

[@larrykettermanjr8862]

thanks for quick reply? can you adjust rear suspension on these at all?? ive heard you cant

[@DorkintheRoad]

Preload only but it's kind of a pain in the ass so I haven't been able to do mine at all.

[@edwardlacika3022]

It's great to hear your passion for the bike, it is a fun machine. Lots of mods available. On mine I did a tail tidy, one less tooth on the front sprocket, rear preload to the max, FMF for weight loss but it didn't do anything for performance and made it louder, road legal knobbies, speedo correction, mirrors . .... tons of stuff available for this bike. I hear what you are saying about the front brake line. I solved that by disconnecting the line at the reservoir wrapped it around the handlebar and then reconnected it. Just make sure the bike is on the stand to make sure the forks are fully extended when wrapping the line around the handlebar. Worked well. Enjoy.

[@godgirlsguitars]

What is the slowest you can go in 6th gear without putting strain on the engine and transmission?

[@atzepeng4110]

Late reply for the random reader: mine pulls from 30 in 6th gear, but I also have the FMF mega bomb header, exhaust and powertronics ECU, as well as open air box ;) 6th gear is just overdrive in a stock configuration - 50mp/h upwards.

[@powertool4uau]

Bought a brand new 2018 CRF250L two days ago. What a gutless heavy box of shit, Cant wait to get rid of it. Too gutless to have any fun on too heavy for offroad. Mine has 48kms on it, would sell half price and cut my losses just to get rid of it. Very dissapointing bike to ride. Very bad investment.

[@MrHammGutsnGlory]

Have you made any mod's to suspension, exhaust and gearing?

[@DorkintheRoad]

I have not.