Looking back, 2018 was a monumental year for the Honda CRF250R. The 249cc motocrosser received a completely new engine and chassis, including a Showa 49mm coil-spring fork, Honda having abandoned the previous SFF Triple Air Chamber (TAC) fork. The 2018 model handled better than ever, benefiting from more suspension comfort and improved high-rpm power. Unfortunately, the DOHC engine lacked the low-end-to-midrange punch that the prior model’s SOHC package produced. Honda addressed this issue with revisions to the 2019 and ’20 models, both of which, in fact, have improved low-rpm grunt.
In spite of Honda’s efforts, however, the CRF250R still has the least bottom-end power in the class. As long as the rider fans the clutch and keeps revs up, the engine works just fine as it makes competitive peak power. The suspension strikes a good balance between performance and plushness, leaning slightly toward the former in overall feel. The CRF250R is also the sharpest-turning bike in the class, yet still has very good straight-line stability. Tester Allan Brown described the CRF250R as having, “a light-feeling chassis, excellent cornering ability, and smooth power. This adds up to very easy, low-energy-consumption riding.”
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