The 2023 Honda CRF250R Dirt Motorcycle has been among the best-selling quarter-liter moto crossers year after year, and it has a lengthy history of titles to its name. The current platform is notable for its exceptional handling, excellent acceleration (achieved through extraordinary torque and low- to midrange power), and endurance over race distance, as demonstrated by Jett Lawrence of Team Honda HRC, who won the AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship in 2022 on said platform. Red Riders dominate the start lists in the 250SX Regional competition, demonstrating the bike’s popularity among pirates due to its performance and longevity.
Jett Lawrence of Team Honda HRC made his CRF250R victory in the 250 East Super Cross seem effortless. Of course, this is to be expected when a rider of this caliber is paired with a motorcycle. We completely redesigned the CRF250R last year, and the public is now seeing the results. For crucial parts of the track, such as whoops, negotiating jumps, or launching out of deep mud and berms, the CRF250R stacks the deck with torque and middle power. We also spared no effort in ensuring the bike was feathery, slim, and quick to react. And keep in mind that fifty years ago this season, we released our game-changing CR250M Elsinore, so this is perhaps the greatest machine we’ve ever developed in this class.
2023 Honda CRF250R Dirt Motorcycle – Features and Specs
Engine / Drivetrain
The CRF250R’s superior performance and long life result from its 249cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, double-overhead camshaft, and four-valve engine design. The air intake, valve timing, and exhaust port are all designed to enhance low-end torque, although robust top-end power is still available.
Intake
The air filter’s clean side has a lot of room because of the air box’s design. The throttle bore is 44 mm, and the lean angle of the fuel injector is 60 degrees so that the spray may reach the rear of the butterfly. These additions work together to reduce the temperature of the intake charge, improving air intake efficiency and performance at low engine speeds. The air filter is easily serviceable thanks to a spring-loaded clip construction.
Head
There are four titanium valves in the cylinder head, two each for the intake (33 mm) and exhaust (26 mm), with the intake valves having twin springs (one within the other) for smooth operation at high RPM. To improve valve timing precision while decreasing unsprung mass, a press-fit intake camshaft sprocket has been used.
Timing precision and low friction at high rpm are aided by the camshaft holder’s robust construction, which keeps camshaft journals round. High lubrication flow to the oil-supply journal and the cylinder head increases engine durability at high speeds. The compression ratio is 13.9:1, and the bore and stroke measure 79.0 mm and 50.9 mm, respectively. The thicker the water-pump gear, the more durable it will be.
Exhaust
The exhaust structure utilizes a single straight exhaust connection for good torque and low-rpm drivability. The single muffler is internally baffled to maximize torque delivery, and its right-side routing keeps it near the engine for a low cross-section and easy maneuverability.
Electronics
The optimal air/fuel mixture and ignition timing are supplied by the ECU mapping over the whole throttle range and engine speed range. Full shots are easier with launch control modeled like HRC.
To optimize the quantity of disc friction material and limit the pressure on the individual discs, the clutch pack consists of nine discs. Optimal lubrication and a sturdy clutch basket prolong the life of the clutch and cut down on wear. The main gear ratio is 3.047, and we’ve adjusted the lubricant to lengthen the life of the grip.
Transmission
Because shifting between second and third gear is often performed on a 250 motocrosser, the five-speed gearbox was designed with such action in mind. To accomplish this gear change, just one shift fork is used, the countershaft is rather sturdy, and the shift drum is quite feathery owing to its big through hole and only two lead grooves.
The design’s gear ratios maximize low- and medium-range engine power and the rider’s experience of changing gears is enhanced.
Chassis / Suspension
The CRF250R’s low total vehicle weight and renowned reliability in tracking, turning, straight-line stability, and readability make it a joy to ride.
The vehicle has a 13.1-inch ground clearance, a seat height of 37.8 inches, a rake angle of 27.32 degrees, a trail of 115 millimeters, and a wheelbase of 58.1 inches.
Frame / Subframe
The primary spars of the aluminum frame are curved and have tiny cross-sections, and the rib arrangement behind the pivot plates has been adjusted to save weight. Stability in a straight line is achieved by increasing longitudinal stiffness, while handling sensation in the corners is improved by increasing lateral rigidity.
The seat support is integrated into the subframe for a lightweight design.
Suspension
The spring’s coils The Showa fork has a 12.2-inch stroke and a 49 mm fully adjustable leading-axle telescopic construction. The top and lower triple clamps have reinforcing ribs optimized for design, allowing for flex that improves handling and feels around corners. The bike boasts a nimble cornering approach and precise handling qualities, and it has good traction and bump-impact performance as well.
The Pro-Link® rear suspension has a Showa shock absorber with right-side knobs for fine-tuning the ride height—12.3 inches of rear wheel travel. The swing arm is small for clearance in ruts and uses an ultralight steel shock spring.
The black D.I.D wheels (21 inches up front, 19 inches in the back) are functional and aesthetically pleasing. Brake rotors with a flower design distribute heat (260 mm up front, 240 mm in the back).
The CRF250R’s stock Pirelli Scorpion MX32 tires are intermediate-terrain specialists with just enough sidewall flex for a 250 motocross bike.
Design
The CRF250R is built with the rider in mind. The seat is designed with a level surface, and the transition from the radiator shroud to the side panels is sleek. Comfortable ergonomics make it simple for riders to find the optimal position for turning, speeding up, leaping, and stopping.
The CRF250R engine’s performance and longevity depend on how well it is cooled. Air-outlet vents in the shrouds and radiator grills with optimal numbers and fin orientations were designed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Instead of being made in two pieces, each radiator shroud is cast as an integral unit.
Acceleration forces hold the seat firmly in position while the base’s rearward-facing tongues and front-located mounting tabs make installation a breeze. The gasoline tank, which has 1.7 gallons, is built of titanium to save weight.
The seat, both radiator shrouds, both side plates, and all of the bolts required to hold these components all feature 8 mm heads, greatly reducing the time and effort needed for routine maintenance.
The clamp that holds the Rental® Fatbar® may be rotated through 180 degrees, allowing for four different mounting positions over a width of 26 mm.
2023 Honda CRF250R Dirt Motorcycle – Price
The new 2023 Honda CRF250R Dirt Motorcycle is available at $8,199 only.
2023 Honda CRF250R Dirt Motorcycle – Technical Specifications
Engine
Type | 249.4cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke; 9º inclined from vertical |
Valve Train | DOHC, 4-valve; 33mm intake, titanium; 26mm exhaust, titanium |
Bore x Stroke | 79.0 mm x 50.9 mm |
Compression Ratio | 13.9:1 |
Induction | Programmed fuel-injection system (PGM-FI); 44mm throttle bore |
Ignition | DC-CDI |
Starter | Push-button electric starter |
Transmission | Constant-mesh 5-speed return; manual |
Clutch | Multiplate wet; 9 plates, five springs |
Final Drive | #520 chain; 13T/50T |
Suspension
Front | 49mm of fully adjustable leading-axle inverted telescopic Showa coil-spring fork; 12.2 inches stroke |
Rear | Pro-Link system; fully adjustable Showa solo shock; 12.3 inches travel |
Brakes
Front | Single 2-piston hydraulic caliper (30 mm, 27 mm) w/ 260 mm petal-style disc |
Rear | Single 1-piston hydraulic caliper w/ 240 mm petal-style disc |
Tires
Front | Pirelli Scorpion MX32 80/100-21 with tube |
Rear | Pirelli Scorpion MX32 100/90-19 with tube |
Measurements
Rake (Caster Angle) | 27.19º |
Trail | 115 mm (4.5 in.) |
Length | 85.7 in. |
Width | 32.6 in. |
Height | 49.8 in. |
Ground Clearance | 13.1 in. |
Seat Height | 37.8 in. |
Wheelbase | 58.1 in. |
Fuel Capacity | 1.7 gal. |
Curb Weight | 229 lbs. |
Other
Color | Red |