Winter commuting on a Honda CRF250L - good idea or not
Discussion
Hi
I commute 15 miles each way on mostly nsl roads on a Honda Forza 300. I bought it because it's comfy, has luggage space and weather protection and no chain to look after.
It's a nice place to be but I tried a CRF the other day just for a laugh and I loved it. I don't have room in the garage (or permission...) for multiple toys and I've already got a Blade so if I want a CRF it has to replace the scoot.
What do you guys think of commuting on one, potentially in the rain, with the chunky tyres it comes with? Will it end in a hedge or do you think I'll be ok?
I commute 15 miles each way on mostly nsl roads on a Honda Forza 300. I bought it because it's comfy, has luggage space and weather protection and no chain to look after.
It's a nice place to be but I tried a CRF the other day just for a laugh and I loved it. I don't have room in the garage (or permission...) for multiple toys and I've already got a Blade so if I want a CRF it has to replace the scoot.
What do you guys think of commuting on one, potentially in the rain, with the chunky tyres it comes with? Will it end in a hedge or do you think I'll be ok?
In my experience, knobbly tyres in the wet are not fun. Together with a lack of ABS makes things interesting. You may be able to put some street tyres on to improve the on-road handling. Knobbies wear out easily, hum, and vibrate.
Depending on your commute, you may find it difficult to overtake safely with it's limited power.
On the other hand, I can shave 2 minutes (!) off my commute by taking a shortcut through some trees.
Depending on your commute, you may find it difficult to overtake safely with it's limited power.
On the other hand, I can shave 2 minutes (!) off my commute by taking a shortcut through some trees.
starf said:
In my experience, knobbly tyres in the wet are not fun. Together with a lack of ABS makes things interesting. You may be able to put some street tyres on to improve the on-road handling. Knobbies wear out easily, hum, and vibrate.
Depending on your commute, you may find it difficult to overtake safely with it's limited power.
On the other hand, I can shave 2 minutes (!) off my commute by taking a shortcut through some trees.
Thanks for the reply. I'll take a look at street tyres for it and may go down the supermoto route at some point. Re: overtaking, power is the same as the scoot but it's 20kg lighter - overtaking not much of an issue on the scooter so I'm hoping it'll be easier with gears.Depending on your commute, you may find it difficult to overtake safely with it's limited power.
On the other hand, I can shave 2 minutes (!) off my commute by taking a shortcut through some trees.
With knobblies where do you find the problem in the wet, is it front end on corner entry or rear on corner exit? It has abs so at least that base is covered
I've got a CRF 250 Rally at the moment.
Oh it's a blast off road and manageable on road. I usually ride an Africa Twin so plenty wind and weather protection.
I was commuting last week on the CRF, just to see what it was like, within about 10 minutes I was cold, very cold and rather frustrated. This was on a dual carriage way though. The Rally has a screen...the L doesn't.
I think in the cold and wet it would be rather miserable, plus as others have mentioned there isn't much of a contact patch for road use.
Keep the scoot for the commute and buy the L for off road fun?
Oh it's a blast off road and manageable on road. I usually ride an Africa Twin so plenty wind and weather protection.
I was commuting last week on the CRF, just to see what it was like, within about 10 minutes I was cold, very cold and rather frustrated. This was on a dual carriage way though. The Rally has a screen...the L doesn't.
I think in the cold and wet it would be rather miserable, plus as others have mentioned there isn't much of a contact patch for road use.
Keep the scoot for the commute and buy the L for off road fun?
A500leroy said:
...but your asking permission to go and buy the supermoto rent you?!
Er... maybe 
Bikesalot said:
...I was commuting last week on the CRF, just to see what it was like, within about 10 minutes I was cold, very cold and rather frustrated. This was on a dual carriage way though. The Rally has a screen...the L doesn't.
I think in the cold and wet it would be rather miserable, plus as others have mentioned there isn't much of a contact patch for road use.
Keep the scoot for the commute and buy the L for off road fun?
This is a good point, it's going to be pretty cold and wet soon. Unfortunately funds won't stretch to a third bike, the scoot would deffo have to go - we've just bought a house, we got engaged in Jan and our first baby arrives in March. I've timed this poorly!I think in the cold and wet it would be rather miserable, plus as others have mentioned there isn't much of a contact patch for road use.
Keep the scoot for the commute and buy the L for off road fun?
I think the CRF250 L or Rally would make a good winter hack. If I remember rightly they have IRC GP2 tyres fitted as standard which are a knobbly but not an overly aggressive knobbly, if that makes sense. As long as you're not leaning on the front end too hard in the wet corners you'll have plenty of grip for day to day riding. And on the weekend you can go green laning. Best of both worlds. Plus there's plenty of well priced second hand ones about.
jumpingloci said:
I think the CRF250 L or Rally would make a good winter hack. If I remember rightly they have IRC GP2 tyres fitted as standard which are a knobbly but not an overly aggressive knobbly, if that makes sense. As long as you're not leaning on the front end too hard in the wet corners you'll have plenty of grip for day to day riding. And on the weekend you can go green laning. Best of both worlds. Plus there's plenty of well priced second hand ones about.
Thanks, this is just the sort of advice I needed. I'll spend some time with one on Saturday and see how I feel about it. Usefully, the forecast is for rain which should make it a good testMy son has had the Rally version for a year and put 8k miles on it commuting. It's been totally reliable, is in good shape and feels like it will last well.
Original tyres were OK and have just been changed for Heidenau's K60s which are cheap and an improvement.
80mpg I think. The Rally has a bigger tank and better weather protection.
Winding the rear preload up helped a lot.
He did the Honda off road course on one and ran rings around most of us on Africa Twins.
Original tyres were OK and have just been changed for Heidenau's K60s which are cheap and an improvement.
80mpg I think. The Rally has a bigger tank and better weather protection.
Winding the rear preload up helped a lot.
He did the Honda off road course on one and ran rings around most of us on Africa Twins.
i had a 250M for about 18 months which is the road tyred SM version.. dinky wheels so no use off road but maybe better on road?
It was in its element zipping across the city imo. less so on NSL roads. i loved it, bulletproof, big mpg and comfy.. they look cool too
i swapped it for an XSR700.. even that, as a naked, is tiring on NSL in winter but i absolutely love it
i got a CRF450x as a project as the CRF450l was such a disappointment. its on good nobbly tyres, fine in the wet in my experience and goes up pavements like they arent there... when it f
king stalls or i need to switch to reserve (all the time).. it has a tiny tank, drinks like a fish and is hard work maint wise... but bloody quick and likes a wheelie..
lifes too short to not scratch itches
It was in its element zipping across the city imo. less so on NSL roads. i loved it, bulletproof, big mpg and comfy.. they look cool too
i swapped it for an XSR700.. even that, as a naked, is tiring on NSL in winter but i absolutely love it
i got a CRF450x as a project as the CRF450l was such a disappointment. its on good nobbly tyres, fine in the wet in my experience and goes up pavements like they arent there... when it f
king stalls or i need to switch to reserve (all the time).. it has a tiny tank, drinks like a fish and is hard work maint wise... but bloody quick and likes a wheelie..lifes too short to not scratch itches
s2racer said:
i had a 250M for about 18 months which is the road tyred SM version.. dinky wheels so no use off road but maybe better on road?
It was in its element zipping across the city imo. less so on NSL roads. i loved it, bulletproof, big mpg and comfy.. they look cool too
i swapped it for an XSR700.. even that, as a naked, is tiring on NSL in winter but i absolutely love it
i got a CRF450x as a project as the CRF450l was such a disappointment. its on good nobbly tyres, fine in the wet in my experience and goes up pavements like they arent there... when it fking stalls or i need to switch to reserve (all the time).. it has a tiny tank, drinks like a fish and is hard work maint wise... but bloody quick and likes a wheelie..
lifes too short to not scratch itches
Sold my xsr hated the thing, the weights all in the wrong place, swapped it for a super cub
It was in its element zipping across the city imo. less so on NSL roads. i loved it, bulletproof, big mpg and comfy.. they look cool too
i swapped it for an XSR700.. even that, as a naked, is tiring on NSL in winter but i absolutely love it
i got a CRF450x as a project as the CRF450l was such a disappointment. its on good nobbly tyres, fine in the wet in my experience and goes up pavements like they arent there... when it f
king stalls or i need to switch to reserve (all the time).. it has a tiny tank, drinks like a fish and is hard work maint wise... but bloody quick and likes a wheelie..lifes too short to not scratch itches
Sold my xsr hated the thing, the weights all in the wrong place, swapped it for a super cub
Kawasicki said:
I commuted on a KTM enduro bike for a few years. It was a right laugh. Go for it!
Me too - 690 Enduro R. I had to compromise on tyres in the end & got dual sport. OK on road, but crap in mud. It was all a good laugh, but a compromise too far. If only I could afford two bikes...I stand corrected!
Went to have my bike serviced at Honda this week and they had one in the show room, the size of it was intimidating but my god when i sat on it was so light, and the thing sinks down like its on air suspension so you can flat foot it, I need to ride one but its earmarked as a possible next bike now.
Went to have my bike serviced at Honda this week and they had one in the show room, the size of it was intimidating but my god when i sat on it was so light, and the thing sinks down like its on air suspension so you can flat foot it, I need to ride one but its earmarked as a possible next bike now.
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