Forum Main Moto-Related 15’ CRF250R. What to look/listen/check for?

15’ CRF250R. What to look/listen/check for?

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Alec138

Vital MX member Alec138 61786 Alec138 https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/61786/avatar/c50_cursed_cat_1623771489.jpg?1623770648 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Alec138,61786/all 01/29/18 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Alec138,61786/setup 124 292 3

Posts: 416

Joined: 1/29/2018

Location: Bethania, NC USA

9/8/2018 11:06 AM

Wanting to go back to a 4t for woods and maybe even some harescrambles next season. I want a newer bike as my next bike to ride due to me being screwed over on so many older model bikes over the years. I an not brand loyal but I have found loads of 14-15’s CRF250s for around 4k or so that look to be in great shape.

I have not owned a Honda in years nor even ridden any new ones so it is basically all new to me.

I want to go check out some in my area and surrounding. I know to look for obvious things such as cracks in the motor, bent/cracked frames, bent wheels, bad bearings, etc.

What about these new hondas though? Any common major issues? Problems that might occur? I want to know it all...

If you guys think I need anymore info, comment below!

Thanks.

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craigathan404

Vital MX member craigathan404 57527 craigathan404 https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/57527/avatar/c50_IMG_7100_1494485803.jpg?1494485307 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/craigathan404,57527/all 05/02/17 45 645 33

Posts: 690

Joined: 5/2/2017

Location: Oregon City, OR USA

9/8/2018 11:13 AM

I have a 2016 with 90 hours and it’s great. I love riding it and it’s had pretty much zero issues.

The biggest downfall is the air forks. I don’t know how well they work in the woods. On tracks, it’s very “ehh”. It’s honestly different every time you ride it.

Overall, it’s been a great bike for me.

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FactoryFhil

Vital MX member FactoryFhil 63934 FactoryFhil https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/63934/avatar/c50_7A5BB82D_F4A9_442A_B5B4_933E04845ECB_1533273122.jpg?1533272352 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/FactoryFhil,63934/all 05/22/18 11 1

Posts: 11

Joined: 5/22/2018

Location: CA, USA

9/8/2018 11:53 AM

They have no bottom end, and thats what you need for woods riding. I had to build that engine with a stroker and a stage 1 cam to help the lack of bottom, and my rider who is a pro level test rider for Vital seems to be happy with it now, and said it was a night and day difference.
KTM 300 I feel would be the best choice

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Alec138

Vital MX member Alec138 61786 Alec138 https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/61786/avatar/c50_cursed_cat_1623771489.jpg?1623770648 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Alec138,61786/all 01/29/18 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Alec138,61786/setup 124 292 3

Posts: 416

Joined: 1/29/2018

Location: Bethania, NC USA

9/8/2018 12:00 PM

craigathan404 wrote:

I have a 2016 with 90 hours and it’s great. I love riding it and it’s had pretty much zero issues.

The biggest downfall is ...more

...more

Heard the Showa forks are not great. I am a pretty good solid rider but I doubt without being a pro I would notice them being too harsh. How are they if you get them set up for weights and such? I run about 220. 225 with all gear, hydropack.

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Alec138

Vital MX member Alec138 61786 Alec138 https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/61786/avatar/c50_cursed_cat_1623771489.jpg?1623770648 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Alec138,61786/all 01/29/18 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Alec138,61786/setup 124 292 3

Posts: 416

Joined: 1/29/2018

Location: Bethania, NC USA

9/8/2018 12:03 PM

FactoryFhil wrote:

They have no bottom end, and thats what you need for woods riding. I had to build that engine with a stroker and a stage 1 cam ...more

...more

We ride more flowy, tight trails. Nothing really technical as in rock gardens and such. I would love to get a KTM 350 but the way it is looking people want arm and leg for anything KTM thats even decently nice. I know there are deals out there but I cant wait months to ride...

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Thisusernameisavailable

Vital MX member Thisusernameisavailable 46803 Thisusernameisavailable /images/default/avatar/c50.png https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Thisusernameisavailable,46803/all 04/04/15 35 1587 5

Posts: 1622

Joined: 4/4/2015

Location: GBR

9/8/2018 3:05 PM

Listen for the 'tick tick tick tick BOOM'!

Used 250fs are a timebomb!
I'll never buy one. Never!

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The above may be fact or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting. I am not sure, you have no chance.

Naanak

Vital MX member Naanak 44360 Naanak https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/44360/avatar/c50_IMG_0499_1503109151.jpg?1503108336 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/Naanak,44360/all 09/09/14 1 31 563 6

Posts: 594

Joined: 9/9/2014

Location: NJ, USA

9/8/2018 5:20 PM

I would definitely get a 14 just for the forks if you could find a mint one. Mine had 140ish hours when I sold it and I only did a top end at 60 and rebuild at 120. Never had any issues. I also did a cam and ecu with fmf single and the motor was pretty good. Not a Yz250f but still great.

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MikeID

Vital MX member MikeID 51646 MikeID https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/users/51646/avatar/c50_405B5D52_8989_4927_9AAE_F6F3E3843D0F_1513873209.jpg?1513872822 https://www.vitalmx.com/community/MikeID,51646/all 03/29/16 2 139 2

Posts: 141

Joined: 3/29/2016

Location: Boise, ID USA

9/8/2018 6:05 PM
Edited Date/Time: 9/8/2018 7:39 PM

I had a 15 and loved it for off-road. When I first got it, I chased settings on the forks, then learned to just first set the air pressure as recommended by the manual, then turn clickers, and balance the front and rear. Once I got it set up, it was money.

Power was great—very controllable. I am a short-shifter and went up one on the c/s. I did use the soft mapping in the snow and mud, otherwise the standard mapping. Handling was awesome on the trails. Very controllable and nimble in the twisties.

I think the bike has great longevity, especially if you keep the oil fresh and the air filter clean.

Really the only thing I would have liked is a w/r or 6 speed gearbox for open two track, but for trails it was fine.

For offroad, be sure to get a skidplate and radiator guards/braces.

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