FROM HOLESHOT TO PODIUM.

2020 Honda CRF250R:

There are two things you need to know about 250 motocrossers: First, the most direct path to the podium starts with snaring the holeshot. Second, Honda’s CRF250R is an absolute holeshot-seeking machine. And this year, your lock on the holeshot is looking better than ever. That’s because the 2020 CRF250R gets a new frame and swingarm, new intake and exhaust valves, a new intake cam, new head pipes, stronger clutch springs, and other improvements like the battery mounted lower for a better center of gravity. Air filter volume and surface area is up, and that means more power, all making an awesome bike even better.

The machine that took Chase Sexton to the 2019 AMA 250SX East Region Supercross Championship and Jace Owen to the 2019 Kicker Arenacross title gets a host of important updates for 2020, including engine enhancements aimed at bettering low-to-midrange power, and chassis revisions that improve handling. To increase torque and improve driveability, the cam profile is new, the combustion chamber is reshaped, and the exhaust resonator has been removed. At the same time, maneuverability has been improved through a lighter frame and swingarm with optimized flex characteristics, along with a lower battery position and internal front-and-rear suspension updates.

Standard Features

DOHC engine layout

Double-spray injectors

Showa spring fork

249cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine

Fuel injection

Electric starter

Titanium fuel tank

Twin-spar aluminum frame

Twin-muffler exhaust system

HRC Launch Control

Engine mode select button

2020 Honda CRF250R Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

2020 Updates

• New cam profile delays opening of exhaust valves and has reduced valve overlap, resulting in improved torque and power in the 6,000-10,000 rpm range.
• Optimized combustion-chamber shape.
• Ignition timing is optimized at 8,000 rpm for improved torque and power.
• Gear-position sensor added to allow dedicated ignition maps for each gear.
• Header-pipe resonator is removed for improved power character when shifting from second to third gear.
• Muffler is revised for improved low-to-midrange torque.
• New air-filter element is 10% larger for increased airflow.
• Enlarged left-side radiator for efficient cooling with higher engine-power output.
• Second gear has revised (higher) ratio for improved drive, while second and third gears have a new WPC surface treatment for improved durability and reduced friction.
• Clutch capacity is increased by 18%, and clutch spring has a higher rate.
• New lighter aluminum perimeter frame and aluminum swingarm are designed to achieve increased yaw-angle stiffness while retaining lateral and torsional stiffness, resulting in improved stability.
• Newly shaped footpegs are 20% lighter and shed mud more easily, giving the rider great feel and confidence in all riding conditions.
• Thanks in part to revised internal suspension settings (fork has increased low-speed damping, while shock has increased low-speed compression and reduced high-speed compression), handling has been improved in the following areas: stability, tracking, turning and traction.
• Battery repositioned 28mm lower to drop center of gravity for better handling.
• Rear brake has a shorter hose and longer, lighter pedal, as well as a new pad material with improved power and better durability in muddy conditions. Lower-rear brake guard removed for reduced unsprung weight and improved cooling.
• New graphics.

2020 Honda CRF250R Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

Engine/Drivetrain

• High-performance, DOHC, 249cc single-cylinder engine with dual-overhead-cam design and high rev limit, offering great performance.
• Finger rocker arms with Diamond Like Coating (DLC) maximize valve lift while retaining a low engine height.
• Downdraft intake layout produces strong power and enables great throttle response by reducing resistance, thereby improving air-charging efficiency.
• 44mm throttle body provides ideal low-rpm intake airflow for strong corner-exit performance.
• Piston oil jet uses five nozzle holes for efficient piston-cooling efficiency and minimized knocking, enabling a precise ignition-timing setting for optimum power delivery.
• Advanced AC generator reduces weight and friction losses.
• Electric-start standard for easy, fast engine startup.
• Easily selectable Standard, Smooth, and Aggressive riding modes enable simple tuning depending on rider preference or course conditions.
• Selectable HRC launch control provides a steady stream of torque for excellent performance on race starts.

Chassis/Suspension

• Low center of gravity reduces front-end lift for strong acceleration performance.
• Lightweight and compact 1.66 gallon titanium tank keeps weight to a minimum.
• Lightweight front-brake caliper uses pistons of different diameters (30mm and 27mm) for strong braking performance.
• Front brake hose resists expansion for precise braking.
• Renthal® Fatbar® reduces weight of the steering system, and flexes for optimal comfort.
• Top triple clamp features two handlebar-holder locations for moving the handlebar rearward and forward by 26mm, ensuring rider comfort. When holder is turned 180 degrees, the handlebar can be moved an additional 10mm from the base position, resulting in four total unique riding positions.
• Black rims deliver a strong presence on and off the track.
• Smooth bodywork layout eases rider movement.
• In-mold graphics are durable and resistant to peeling caused by washing or abrasion.
• Geomax MX3S tires, exclusively available through Honda, for superior bump absorption and grip in wide variety of conditions.

ENGINEERING
HRC LAUNCH CONTROL
We’re talking about a special ECU program here: push the button to select the mode, hold the throttle open, release the clutch, and the CRF250R will do the rest, launching you into the first turn with a big advantage. It turns your bike into a holeshot-seeking machine!

BIG BORE/SHORT STROKE
The CRF250R’s 79.0mm bore and short 50.9mm stroke let our engineers create a high-revving engine with plenty of room for large valves. The engine breathes and revs—the two keys to making power in the motocross world.

CLUTCH DESIGN AND MATERIALS
The CRF250R’s clutch uses two different types of friction material. Why? The clutch can handle the increased power of the engine without being any larger. The lighter rotating weight is directly related to how fast the engine revs. Stronger clutch springs for 2020 help cope with all that power.

DOHC ENGINE LAYOUT
The CRF250R uses a double-overhead-cam (DOHC) engine layout with a unique finger-follower rocker design. Together with the rest of the engine’s architecture (bore and stroke, intake tract, piston, and more), you get more power and a higher redline.

DOWNDRAFT INTAKE AND EXHAUST LAYOUT
The DOHC cylinder-head design let our engineers straighten out the CRF250R’s intake and exhaust tracts. The intake is short and just about arrow straight, and the exhaust flows more efficiently too. No athlete’s going to win a sprint if they try to run while holding their breath, and it’s no different with your bike’s engine. You’ll experience both more power and better throttle response.

REFINED DUAL-EXHAUST SYSTEM
The CRF250R’s dual-exhaust system is light, compact, and positioned close and low in the frame to take weight off the rear end and bring more mass to the bike’s center for improved handling. Fine-tuning the pipes’ length for 2020 helps give you more low- and midrange torque.

ENGINE MODE SELECT BUTTON
This simple handlebar-mounted button lets you dial in engine power delivery character with a push of your thumb. Choose between Standard, Smooth and Aggressive, depending on track conditions.

ENGINE OIL SCAVENGE PUMP
Deep in the engine, there’s a special oil scavenge pump. While you may never see it, it helps keep the CRF250R’s overall design compact.

GEAR-POSITION ENGINE MAPPING
Talk about smart: The CRF250R features an ECU with special engine mapping for each gear. You can’t give an inch in this class, so having your engine deliver optimal power for each gear choice is one of the features that separates CRF250R riders from the rest.

GRADUAL PIPE-BEND RADIUS
Notice how the CRF250R’s dual exhaust pipes make gradual, large-radius bends out of the head, then flow straight back to the mufflers with no abrupt angle changes. Getting the exhaust out of the engine—while still maintaining a tuned exhaust length, is the key to power, while the pipes’ low mass and twin-silencer design optimize the CRF250R’s center of mass for superior handling.

“H” SECTION CRANK
Look closely at the CRF250R’s crankshaft profile and you’ll see its “H” cross-section design. What’s up with that? Just like a structural “I” beam in an aircraft wing or a skyscraper, it boosts strength and cuts weight over a conventional crank’s shape—a big deal when you consider this part spins at over 14,000 rpm!

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY
Like the rest of the CRF250R, the bike’s Lithium-Ion battery is both super light and high performing. In fact, it weighs less than half the weight of a conventional lead-acid battery.

SHARED ENGINE/GEARBOX LUBRICATION
The 2020 CRF250R uses a shared engine/transmission oiling design. Why? Combining the two systems shaves weight and helps make the engine more compact, especially when it comes to placing the right-side cam drive and the clutch so close together.

TITANIUM FUEL TANK
Every gram counts on a bike in the 250 class, which is why the 2020 CRF250R has a titanium fuel tank. Light and strong, it’s also thinner than our previous plastic unit, freeing up more space and helping to centralize fuel mass.

TITANIUM INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES
Light is right when it comes to a high-revving engine’s reciprocating masses. That’s why the CRF250R uses titanium intake and exhaust valves. Plus, the valve angle is a super-narrow 20.5 degrees (included). Ovalized valve springs and long-wearing Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) treated finger rockers complete the package.

TOTAL AIR MANAGEMENT
Total air management means complete attention to how efficiently air gets through the intake, through the head, and out the exhaust. Eliminate losses here, and you make more power everywhere. And the best part? It’s free horsepower—you just need a bike with smart design.

CONVENIENCE
ELECTRIC START
The CRF250R is equipped with an effortless electric starter. Convenient and lightweight, it’s a huge deal if you need to restart a stalled bike in the heat of battle.

PERFORMANCE
DOUBLE-SPRAY INJECTOR SETTINGS
The CRF250R’s fuel-injection system sprays twice per intake cycle. That helps increase fuel atomization without adding the weight or complexity of a second injector. The better fuel atomization means more power in the midrange and on over rev—you’ll feel it the first time you race.

BIGGER RADIATOR
We’ve increased the radiator size this year for better cooling—and since the new bike makes more power, it needs more cooling!

HIGH REDLINE
With our better-breathing DOHC design and the big-bore/short-stroke engine, the CRF250R’s rev limit is way impressive. The same goes for peak power and peak torque.

MORE POWER
With the power updates for 2020, feel free to hold that throttle open and head for the first turn—the CRF250R is designed to win that critical holeshot drag race. You’ll also feel the increased low-end to mid-range torque.

NEW 2020 CAM PROFILES
With input directly from our HRC factory team, we’ve changed the intake cam profiles on our 2020 model to work with the new valves. You should feel better bottom end torque and power, while still retaining the CRF250R’s screaming peak.

NEW 2020 PISTON
Coordinated to work with the new cam profile and combustion-chamber shape, it’s the final piece to the CRF250R’s engine performance package. The bridged-box design features a reinforcing structure between the skirts and the wrist-pin bosses that helps enable the CRF250R’s high redline.

NEW, HIGH-VOLUME AIR CLEANER
The 2020 CRF250R features a new air-cleaner element with both more surface area and more volume. The result? More power!

THROTTLE BODY
With a 44mm venturi designed to speed up airflow, the CRF250R’s throttle body really reaps benefits at low engine operating speeds. You get power and snap, right now.

HANDLING
SHOWA® SPRING FORK
The 49mm Showa® fork features a conventional spring design that helps increase the CRF250R’s front-suspension precision, handling and feel. The 39mm piston diameter and 25mm rod diameter guarantee a plush feel and supple action.

260mm FRONT BRAKE
The CRF250R’s large front-brake disc measures a whopping 260mm. You get great brake feel and a pattern that cuts down on weight. Front and rear brake-disc guards are part of the package too.

DUNLOP MX3S TIRES
Developed using Dunlop’s latest “block-on-block” design technology, the CRF250R’s MX3S tires give excellent feedback and are a perfect complement to the CRF250R’s frame and suspension.

LOW REAR SHOCK MOUNT
With its low rear shock mount on the frame, the CRF250R benefits from both a lower center of gravity (cg) as well as chassis stability.

LOWER BATTERY MOUNTING
By relocating the battery 28.5mm lower for 2020, we’ve also lowered the CRF250R’s center of gravity—and that always helps overall handling.

NEW TWIN-SPAR ALUMINUM FRAME
The CRF250R’s latest twin-spar aluminum frame is identical to the CRF450R’s except for the lower engine cradle where the engine mounts. It’s the foundation for the 250’s superb handling.

NEW SHORT SWINGARM
The CRF250R’s short swingarm helps make it light, and also helps give the bike better rear-wheel traction, important considering how much power you have on tap. We shaved 160 grams off it this year too, so the design also reduces the bike’s unsprung mass.

COMFORT
BLACK RIMS
They may not help you go faster, but the sweet black DID DirtStar rims sure look good.

FLAT SEAT/TANK JUNCTION
The 2020 CRF250R features a flat seat/tank junction, including a titanium fuel tank. The superior ergonomics make it easier to move forward and back on the bike, increasing your control.

“IN MOLD” GRAPHICS
With the all the time you’ll be spending in victory circle, you need to look your best. The CRF250R has you covered. Our redesigned “in mold” graphics look great, and stay looking good.

REAR SUBFRAME
The 2020 CRF250R’s subframe uses extruded rear members that produce a 20-percent reduction in weight versus the previous generation. Since that weight comes off the top of the bike, it also contributes to the CRF250R’s low center of gravity.

SMOOTH STYLING
Blending the CRF250R’s body panels does more than just make the bike look smooth, fast, and stylish. It also helps you move around on the bike while riding. Nothing wrong with smooth, fast, and stylish, though.

2020 Honda CRF250R – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: starting from $7999 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $9699 CDN
Europe/UK MSRP Price:  £ GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)

*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride Specifications subject to change

2020 Honda CRF250R – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details

Engine & Drivetrain

Engine type

Liquid-cooled single-cylinder 4-stroke

Displacement

249 cc

Bore & stroke

79.0 mm x 50.9 mm

Compression ratio

13.9:1

Valve train

DOHC, 4-valves

Fuel delivery

PGM-FI electronic fuel injection with 44 mm throttle body

Transmission

Close-ratio five-speed

Final drive

#520 sealed chain; 13T/48T

Chassis & Suspension

Front suspension

49 mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted telescopic Showa coil-spring fork; 268 mm (10.55 in) travel

Rear suspension

Pro-Link^® Showa single shock with adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping adjustability; 317 mm (12.48 in) travel

Dimensions & Additional Information

Tires

Front: 80/100-21 Rear: 100/90-19

Brakes

Front: 260 mm disc with dual-piston caliper Rear: 240 mm disc with single-piston caliper

Ground clearance

327 mm (12.9 in.)

Seat height

957 mm (37.7 in.)

Wheelbase

1,486 mm (58.5 in.)

Curb weight

108 kg (238 lb.) including required fluids and full tank of gas—ready to ride

Fuel capacity

6.3 litres

Colour

Extreme Red

Warranty

No warranty

2020 Honda CRF250R – Totalmotorcycle.com European Specifications/Technical Details

Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).