Honda Crf150f

HONDA CRF150F

Quick Ride

Positively charged playbike

WHAT’S THIS, A DIRTbike with a key?! And no kickstarter? Electric-start-only off-roaders are nothing new, yet some old-timers still grumble about the lack of a backup kicker. It could be my youthful pop-culture thinking but I say who cares, let’s just ride. After all, I’ve never had to adjust points and soon I will never have to fiddle with carburetion, thanks to EFI. Times are a changin’besides, when did youngsters ever listen to old folk?

Honda must be full of youthful thinking, coming up with an all-new e-startonly engine to put in the four-year-old CRF 150 chassis. That’s right, instead of slapping on a battery and starter motor to the existing kick-only 150, Honda went and built a whole new engine. The previous unit was a sleeved-down, 157cc CRF230F engine with all the slow-moving, heavyduty parts required of a 230cc machine. Now the CRF is a true 150, scaled perfectly at 149cc, with properly proportioned crank, five-speed transmission, etc.

When it comes to riding the sohc, two-valve Single, the electric start is nice,

when needed, but it need not overshadow the CRF’s core values. Clutch release is buttery smooth and easy to control-stalling by firsttime riders was almost nonexistent. Once the bike is moving, bottom-end power is extra soft, perfect for learners.

Midrange delivery continues to be mellow and consistent, very easy to manage. Hit the revs, though, and the CRF becomes a solid mount for the more experienced rider who prefers to get aggressive. In a nutshell, a great all-around powerplant fitting a wide range of riders.

Even with the newly compact engine, the battery/starter increased overall weight by 7 pounds, topping the CRF at 223 pounds, no gas. For small beginners the weight can be cumbersome; however, pushing that button with your thumb is the lightest 7 pounds you’ll ever feel, and for larger riders of any skill, the added weight is virtually unnoticeable.

If you ever do get off balance, a low seat height of 32.8 inches makes it easy even for shorter riders to get those feet down and avoid unwanted spills. Smaller wheel sizes-19inch front, 16 rear-help achieve that low seat height while still offering a stable ride in the rough stuff. Of course, the revised Showa suspension does its part in keeping the CRF on track and rubber side down.

As far as playbikes go, this “half-new” CRF is one of the best we’ve ridden-if not the best. Plus, the 150 rings-in at only $3099. Talk about family fun; with the 2.2-gallon fuel tank full, the CRF will run all day. So, old-timer, don’t sweat the lack of your trusty kickstarter, a dirtbike with a key is not so bad after all. Now, if I can just figure out how to hook up my iPod.

Ryan Dudek