HONDA released its latest four-stroke technology to the world in 2004 with the CRF250R. Over the next five years Honda's engineers have made small, yet significant changes to the CRF to ensure it's found at the front of the pack. For 2010 it was time for a fresh set of plans, and Honda has released an all-new CRF250R priced at 10,990 plus dealer costs.

Engine Specs

In 2010 the CRF250 motor is all new! The basics of the engine are still the same as before, it’s a Uni-Cam, four valve, liquid cooled 250cc four stroke engine. However from front to back, bottom to top every single part got refined or changed in order to make the new donk one of the best Honda has ever produced. Starting from the top the first major item is the new piston. The piston is made from a new forged material which gives the surface less friction and ensures it lasts longer and revs higher.

The main water pump seal has been redesigned with a new mechanical seal which should iron out the water pump issues from the past. The clutch basket and centre hub have been also Kashima coated to help improve durability and feel.

The gearbox has also seen extensive updates to further improve the gear ratios. The twin-exhausts have been scrapped and replaced with the more conventional single pipe exhaust system.

The major item on the list however is the all new Electronic Fuel Injection system. Gone are the days of the horrible CRF250R carburettors, no more bogs, no more hiccups and no more misses. Welcome to Honda PGM-FI system. The EFI unit comes standard on your new Honda, pre-programmed straight from the factory.

The EFI system utilises a 50mm throttle body with 12-hole injector fed by lightweight 50-psi pump. PGM-FI system monitors throttle position, intake air and coolant temperatures and manifold pressure to accurately map fuel charge and ignition spark, improving throttle response and helping to ensure excellent rideability, all while improving fuel consumption.

Suspension & Chassis Specs

Honda has introduced an all new twin-spar alloy frame for its 2010 CRF 250. It is now lower and narrower than in 2009 and changes the bike geometry to help improve the bike's handling characteristics. The triple clamp offset has been reduced from 22mm to 20mm which allows the bike to respond better through turns. The rear subframe was redesigned to match the new frame and make the profile of the bike narrower.Suspension & Chassis Specs The rear shock is another item on the list that got the once over. The shock reservoir was copied from the 450F and it’s now a shorter but larger tank, unlike the longer narrower version we are more used to seeing. The rear linkage system has also been updated to suit the new shock. Suspension & Chassis Specs The front forks have seen some more updates for 2010. The internal valving has been updated to match the new frame and rear shock. The bodywork from 2009 is now in the rubbish pile, and the Honda has an all new sleek look for the New Year.

The Ride

Everything feels just right as you roll out onto the track on the new CRF. The boys in red always seem to be able to produce bikes which feel like you're right at home as soon as you hop on one of their rockets. After a few laps you begin to notice that the bike responds very well to your movements and actions, and it takes minimal effort to guide the new Honda CRF around the track. The EFI is very responsive and the engine picks up very well at the crack of the throttle.

Power-wise, the new Honda is competitive but certainly isn’t going to blow the rest of the Lites class away. After having ridden some of the other 250F machines in its class, the Honda doesn’t seem as fast and aggressive as some of its competitors, but it's by no means slow. The power comes on quite smooth off the bottom and creeps up on the rider as you build speed coming through the mid and getting towards the top-end power the Honda finds a few more ponies and its power is best once you get this baby revving a bit more.

The suspension and handling of the new Honda is where we feel this bike shines. The CRF reacts to your movements very well and the bike is easy to point and shoot through turns and navigate the bumps and jumps around the track.

The suspension is very close to perfect for standard production equipment and once we set the rear sag at 105mm the CRF was even better. The steering damper that comes standard with the Honda is an item which a lot of people like and think is a great addition to the CRF range, we chose not to run the damper and our test rider much prefers the bike without it.

The Honda comes standard with a few other odds and ends which complete an already outstanding package. Renthal handlebars headline the top of the cockpit and aside from being top quality they are a very nice bend and are easy for most riders to adapt to.

The rest of the levers and controls all have a great feel, and the Gripper seat cover helps to keep your bum stuck to the seat. The standard Dunlop tyres stick well and don’t wear out too quickly as all we come to expect from a standard tyre in today’s modern day motocross world.

The Verdict

The Honda CRF250R is an awesome new bike. The bike received major changes in 2010 and Honda did a bloody good job. In production form this bike is very capable of going out and winning races at a club level. The suspension is great, the motor is very competitive and the EFI system means this thing runs exceptionally well. Look out for a whole lot more new Hondas in 2010!