2015 Honda Crf250r

2015 HONDA CRF250R

IGNITION

FIRST RIDE

Ready to roost with new power button and air fork

Michael Allen

Major changes have been made to the 2015 Honda CRF250R. Most significant: It now has a 49mm Showa Separate Function Fork, which features a Triple Air Chamber (SFF-Air) air spring in the left fork tube and damping in the right. Besides this highly tunable fork, which weighs 2.8 pounds less than a conventional unit, the Honda MXer also has a front brake rotor that has been enlarged to 260mm (from 240) to provide a stronger yet more progressive feel.

To improve power, Honda fits the bike with a larger-diameter exhaust and an Engine Mode Select Button that provides

access to three EFI/ignition map settings. The throttle is quite responsive, and the exhaust is a bit louder than before but still quieter than most other 250s. Before a session, check what mode the bike is in using the Engine Mode Select Button. Press the button quickly and see if you get one, two, or three blue LED flashes. The number of consecutive flashes indicates which mode the bike’s in.

Mode 1, stock mapping, provides a linear yet powerful pull throughout the entire rpm range. Mode 2, the softest map, makes the power very broad and mellow. Mode 3, the most

aggressive, provides increased pull in the lower rpm range, but the power does flatten out on top.

With the front of the bike now held up by air, correct fork pressure is crucial. Honda says 174 psi is good for a 175-pound rider. In the first few laps, the fork felt a little harsh, causing the front to push. Two clicks less compression fixed that problem right away.

Verdict? The 2015 CRF250R is a significant update, a bike that instills confidence in rutted turns by falling into any line and staying planted all the way through. The 250 class just keeps getting more interesting.

SPECS

2015 HONDACRF250R PRICE: $7599 ENGINE: liquid-cooled sohc single, four valves DISPLACEMENT: 249cc SEAT HEIGHT: 37.4 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 1.7 gal. CLAIMED WET WEIGHT: 231 lb.