Hands-on advice on the MX2 Motocross bike Honda CRF250R

How the 250 rides on the motocross track

With 249 cc and 102 kg, the motocross bike Honda CRF250R is a pure competition motorcycle that wants to be ridden actively. According to Honda, the DOHC engine pulls especially hard in the mid-range, exactly where you need drive when accelerating out of corners.

The CRF250R lines up in the MX2 World Championship, where fast and controlled cornering is what counts. For your training, this means keeping the revs in the middle of the range and getting on the throttle early.

Which CRF250R technology helps in training

HSTC, Honda’s traction control, offers three levels and can be switched off. On wet clay or hard, slick ground it limits rear-wheel slip, while on grippy soil you can manage perfectly well without it.

The EMSB riding mode switch lets you choose between three levels of engine character, while HRC Launch Control, which likewise has three levels, helps you get away cleanly from the start gate. The fork is a 49 mm upside-down design by Showa, and 6.3 l of fuel go into the titanium tank.

250 or 450: which motocross bike is right for you?

If you are moving up from the CRF150R or taking up motocross seriously as an adult, a 250 is usually a sound choice. The CRF450R is aimed mainly at experienced riders.

What matters is your height, strength, fitness and how often you ride. On the 250 you learn line choice and cornering technique; moving up to the 450 remains an option for later.

Try it out before you commit

It pays to buy a motocross bike only after a day on a course: in every motocross course, the MX-Academy rents out the CRF50, CRF110, CRF125 and CRF250, the 250 included. This lets you ride the 250 on closed-off terrain and find out for yourself whether its size and power suit you.

New from stock, used or HRC Works Edition

Advice and sales are handled by Honda Motorrad Zürich, the official Honda Dream Dealer, which keeps every Honda motorcycle model in stock. Alongside new bikes, it also offers used motorcycles; the selection of pre-owned Honda motocross bikes changes all the time.

With a used motocross bike Honda CRF250R, it is worth checking the service records, suspension, chain and sprockets as well as any signs of crashes. If you race, take a look at the HRC Works Edition, which comes with a hydraulic clutch, among other things.

Service, tuning and experience from the racing team

For motocross service, the Honda Motoshop in Schlatt TG is the place to go: repair and servicing work as well as suspension and engine tuning are part of what it offers. The MX-Academy brings 30 years of off-road experience and supports, coaches and organises its racing team, the official Honda MX-Academy Motocross Team of Switzerland.