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Attack the trails with the 2022 Honda CRF250RX

Traction control and selectable engine modes are standard equipment

The CRF250RX strikes the right balance between light weight and power, but it’ll cost you. PHOTO FROM HONDA

You haven’t truly lived until you’ve tried enduro riding. Technical trails, scenic routes, the camaraderie of your riding buddies, and the lingering taste of mud and cow dung in your mouth as you ponder how you’re going to get home all banged up and stuck in the middle of the boonies.

For this kind of balls-out, cowboy-style riding, Honda has just revealed the 2022 CRF250RX. A non-street-legal machine, the CRF250RX is designed for the sole purpose of gobbling up the gnarliest route you can find so you spend less time cussing and more time actually riding. At a mere 108 kilos (wet), the bike is a flyweight and should present no problem for even the most lightly built riders, although a 38-inch seat height might give some buyers pause.

Quality suspension with lots of travel lets you be as brave as you like. PHOTO FROM HONDA

The 249cc single-cylinder DOHC motor benefits from launch control and several engine modes. The former is called “HRC Launch Control,” and it manages tire slippage to help you avoid over-revving the engine and burning out your clutch. On the other hand, selectable engine modes let you alter the mapping to appropriately suit the road or trail conditions.

Superior suspension travel is one big reason why enduro bikes rule on the trail, and the CRF250RX has lots of it. There are 12.2 inches from the 49mm USD Showa fork, and 12.3 inches with the rear Pro-Link. The fork is preload- and rebound-adjustable. The tapered-aluminum twin-spare chassis takes much of the credit for the bike’s light weight, and its narrower main tubes also give it a slim waist to make it easier to handle.

It’s still the Indian and not the pana. But sometimes, a good pana really helps. PHOTO FROM HONDA

The 21-inch front and 18-inch rear DID wheels deliver bombproof reliability, while the 8L tank promises good endurance. Standard knuckle and engine guards save you an initial trip to an aftermarket shop, while a side stand is a welcome convenience.

Honda hopes you like the color red, because it’s the only one available. The CRF250RX is now available at all of its dealerships nationwide for P469,000.



Andy Leuterio

Andy is both an avid cyclist and a car enthusiast who has finally made the shift to motorcycles. You've probably seen him on his bicycle or motorbike overtaking your crawling car. He is our motorcycle editor and the author of the ‘Quickshift’ column.



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