I tested the little CRF250L when it was launched way back in the day and my original conclusion was, for me at least, that lightweight dual-sport bikes occupy a weird space in no-mans land. Not a proper road bike and not an epic off-road bike, come to think of it, some are not even a viable combination of both. So, what is the new 2019 Honda CRF250L all about?
Vastly improved I say. But has this 2019 Honda trail bike changed my perception of lightweight dual-sport bikes? No, not really. I stick to my original conclusion; this bike isn’t a proper street bike. So then, how can it be “vastly” improved you asked? Let me explain by firstly apologising to the CRF250L. I must have ridden around 90kilometeres on the road, throttle pinned to the stop, bored half to death, wondering how my life had come to this point…but then I noticed a single-track mountain bike trail next to the road I was yawning on. I instantly veered left and let’s just say all hell broke loose, sort of. Sorry little Honda… (Hangs head in shame.)
This bike is, quite simply, a blast off-road. How can this be? I haven’t had so much fun chasing spandex clad pedal pushers ever. This bike has a naughty streak, like a pimply teenager with sulphur bombs made during a double science period. I might actually buy one for this purpose alone. We can’t condone such behaviour – I can (Bill). So, what’s made the difference? It’s the suspension, it’s slightly stiffer, holding up better in the rough, where the previous version would wallow, pitch and flounder around like it weighed 20kg more than it should.
The styling is pure CRF though, which I adored. This little creature looks like a real pucker dirt bike, with a massive 21-inch front wheel, a monster front fender to match and a long seat that swoops from the petrol cap all the way back and over the rear tyre. Those vastly improved ‘bouncy bits’ consist of long suspension travel, with 222 mm travel front, 240 mm rear, ideal for dirt lane chasing.
The engine, although breathless on the highway (altitude), was actually quite feisty off-road. Riding off-road is where you’ll feel the improved spread of power from this ultra-reliable, fuel injected, 249cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke single, with a light and smooth six-speed transmission. All of this means the rear tyre hooked up well in loose conditions. And with a weight of only146 kg it feels even lighter on the trail, thanks to said suspension tweaks, and more importantly never feels intimidating.
Stopping power is pretty good too. The single disc up front and small disc, out back, took strain with my girth, but never really complained. But it does have some quirks, like the long front brake line looping right in front of the tiny, but effective, LCD display. That minor nuisance aside, the 2019 CRF250L, especially in the new stealthy black colour, looks great. The fit and finish is Honda’s typical excellence and for R74 999.00, you just can’t go wrong, not forgetting exceptional fuel consumption figures.
The true beauty of this 250 dual-purpose bike shone on the ride home from the trails, taking the long way and looking for dirt roads to explore. It wasn’t particularly fast, or super comfortable, but riding from the trail right up to your garage in suburbia has more entertainment value than any Tipping Goat videos on YewTewb, if you’ve seen one that is?
Go to www.honda.co.za to locate your local dealer and view the rest of their new models.
