Honda CRF 250 Rally 2017 — Specifications

When Honda unveiled the CRF 250 Rally at the Osaka Motor Show in 2016, the Japanese manufacturer sent a clear signal: the pure, hardcore trail bike is not dead. At a time when big road-oriented adventure bikes like the BMW GS dominate dealership parking lots, the Honda CRF 250 Rally arrives as a welcome reminder of what a true adventurer should be. A steel twin-spar frame, a 43 mm inverted fork with 250 mm of travel, a rear mono-shock offering 265 mm of travel. We're a far cry from the decorative suspension found on some urban adventure bikes that will never leave the tarmac.

At the heart of the machine is a 250 cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine, four-valve, producing 25 horsepower at 8,500 rpm with 23.5 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm. On paper, it's modest. In practice, it's enough. The Honda CRF 250 Rally tops out at around 140 km/h, making it perfectly at ease on A-roads and B-roads. On dual carriageways, you have to accept riding at high revs. But let's be honest: this bike wasn't designed to eat up motorway miles. Its playground is the back roads, forest tracks, and cross-country trails. And there, at just 157 kg wet, it slips through anywhere. That's a featherweight compared to a Kawasaki Versys-X 300 or a BMW G 310 GS, its natural competitors in the accessible small adventure bike segment.

The Honda CRF 250 Rally test ride reveals a machine that shares its mechanical base with the CRF250L, the off-road version in the lineup. The chassis comes from off-road, the engine from the street. This blend of genes produces a surprisingly versatile machine. In the city, the tall 895 mm seat height may intimidate shorter riders, but the light weight more than makes up for it. Braking relies on a 296 mm front disc with a two-piston caliper and a single piston at the rear, all backed by ABS. It's reassuring, especially for beginners who will find here an A2 licence-compliant trail bike with no compromise on equipment. The 10-litre tank may seem tight, but with a claimed fuel consumption of around 3 litres per hundred kilometres, range remains adequate for day-long rides.

On the design front, the Dakar-inspired nose gives the whole package real character. You can't help but think of the great rally raids, even if the comparison stops at aesthetics. The side panels conceal a clever two-compartment storage space, perfect for slipping in a phone or a map. The full LED lighting adds polish to the presentation, and the plastic finish holds up well for a bike listed at 6,199 euros. That's a competitive price that places the CRF 250 Rally in an aggressive price bracket against the competition. On Honda CRF 250 Rally forums, owner feedback confirms typically Japanese reliability and low maintenance costs. The chain drive and six-speed gearbox hold no surprises — in the best sense of the term.

For those looking for a used Honda CRF 250 Rally, the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 model years are easy to find on the market. Changes between these years remain minor, meaning that even a first-generation 2017 model delivers the essentials. If you have a CRF 250 Rally to sell, resale values remain stable, proof that demand is there. Accessories, luggage racks, luggage rack: the aftermarket offering has grown over the years. This bike is aimed at anyone who wants an authentic, lightweight, economical Honda CRF 250 Rally trail bike, capable of riding anywhere without breaking the bank. It doesn't claim to rival the big-bore machines, and that's precisely what makes it strong.