Scoop test: 2018 Honda CRF250R!
Honda's CRF250R has been around since 2004 and the four-stroke quarter-liter (250cc) is known as a motorcycle that both amateur motocross riders and fast professionals can get along with. Yet it took until 2015 before the CRF became world champion in the hands of Tim Gajser. And now there is a completely new version…
The fact that a major motorcycle brand renews its dirt bikes is actually nothing to be surprised about. Most updates to MX bikes are just that. And so dirt bikes get a little better every year. The new CRF is about more than that. Honda fans may even call it sacrilege, because Big Red is abandoning the Unicam system for the first time. The advantages of the single overhead camshaft lie mainly in limiting the dimensions of the cylinder head and the force at the bottom. Yet Honda is now abandoning it. Especially because the modern quarter liters go so fast that the engine has to be able to run more revolutions to keep up. And that was not possible with the Unicam construction. The limit had been reached. And Honda had to and wanted to continue. Enter the double overhead camshaft.
And the Honda has other unique features. There are two exhausts (not just two silencers, but really two exhausts). Other big news on the 2018 CRF is the arrival of the electric starter (and the absence of the kick) and the choice of three mappings. Soft, standard and aggressive. The new and high-quality Showa fork and fourth-generation aluminum frame complete the list of main novelties.
And yes, if you have a new block, different frame, suspension, electronics and an electric starter, you can call it a completely new engine. But has Honda also ensured that the typical CRF feeling was retained? We tested it near Rome on the unsurpassed Pontesfondato circuit. Old school motocross with steep slopes, mixed with table mountains and step ups. Good for both the average rider and the faster men. That one guy with number 243 really went fast...
So Pontesfondato. With a November sun and a 2018 CRF250R that was ready for us with an HRC tinkerer for each test bike. Not necessary, because the steering wheel and levers are exactly the way we want them from the factory and there is nothing else to tinker with. On the first ride we opted for the standard mapping. It turns out that even there the CRF comes out quite strong with enough torque at the bottom and a linear power progression. Striking: this thing really goes further than the previous models. Almost 1000 rpm. more thanks to that DOHC and so the rev limiter intervenes at 14.400 rpm. And also an extra 9 percent power on top. This is the strongest CRF250R we've ever ridden. No doubt. Even in the second session and with the Soft mapping, we feel the engine going fast. In this mode we can even go all out and this might be quite fun for an amateur motocross rider. Powerful and useful. In the most aggressive mode, the CRF250R is a real killer. Quick from the slightest movement of the gas and in one go to its top. This is the aggressiveness that the previous models lacked a bit to turn at the front.
Still, it is nice to note that Honda has been able to maintain the typical CRF feeling, despite the clearly increased potential. The bike is wonderfully agile, easy to steer and has the best fork we have ever felt on a CRF250R. By the way, it's the same as the CRF450R. Progressive from the start and with a lot of feedback. That gives confidence in the corners. When diving into an embankment and when sliding while steering in an off-camber. The front inspires instant confidence. Pontesfondato has two jumps where you plunge about 10 meters into the depth at high speed. Well, the fork never budged and at no point did the front end become insecure.
At the other end of the engine, Honda claims there is exceptionally good traction. After thirty meters, this guy has to offer about an engine length advantage over the 2017 model. A lot of traction thanks to a shorter swingarm and a changed frame geometry. And that's how it feels. To really test it out we would have to do a few starts against a 2017 model. Now we were allowed to start a few times against 2016 world champion Tim Gajser. We actually suspect the cheerful Slovenian of letting us win. If not, he will have a problem for the coming season.
In any case, we left Rome with a good feeling about the new CRF250R. As far as we are concerned, this is the – provisional – pinnacle of CRF. Without a doubt the best quarter liter that Honda ever built. Only time will tell whether he is ready to take on the challenge against the established names in the category.
At least we didn't catch him making any mistakes. And after a day of labor, the plastic with in-mould technology still looked like new. The mappings actually give you the choice between three different engines. That is precisely why the motorcycle is more suitable than ever for both absolute top riders and amateur motocross riders. Honda can pat itself on the back. The price and delivery time will be announced on Monday.
Text: Thierry Sarasyn
Photos: Honda Motor Europe
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