2023 Honda CRF250R: CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING PERFORMANCE.
Introducing the 2023 Honda CRF250R…
Long the standard by which quarter-liter motocrossers are measured, the CRF250R has accumulated an enviable list of championships over the years, and it’s consistently among the top sellers in its class. Noted for its exceptional handling (thanks in part to a narrow layout and low weight), excellent acceleration (achieved through notable torque and low- to midrange power) and endurance over race distance, the current platform was used by Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence to capture the 2022 AMA Supercross 250SX East Championship. Its performance and durability also make it a popular choice among privateers, as evidenced by the high ratio of Red Riders on start lists in 250SX Regional racing.
When Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence won the 250 East Supercross title on his CRF250R, he made it look easy. But then, when you put an awesome rider on a bike as good as this, it’s certainly not a surprise. We gave the CRF250R a major makeover last year, and now the world has seen the payoff. That’s because the CRF250R stacks the deck when it comes to torque and midrange power—where you really need it for critical track sections like whoops, managing jumps, or blasting out of deep loam and berms. Plus, we’ve gone to extra lengths to keep the bike light, narrow, and responsive. The result is probably the best machine we’ve ever built in this class—and remember, we introduced our world-changing CR250M Elsinore fifty years ago this season.
2023 Honda CRF250R Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features
Base Features
- 249cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine
- DOHC engine layout
- Showa® spring fork
- Fuel injection with double-spray injectors
- Electric starter
- Titanium fuel tank
- Twin-spar aluminum frame
- Engine mode select button
- HRC launch control
HISTORY
Just two years after the debut of the CRF450R – Honda’s first four-stroke motocrosser – the original CRF250R was introduced for the 2004 model year. Generation 2 followed in 2006, with a focus on achieving balance through careful vehicle packaging. That bike won the AMA Supercross 250SX East crown at the hands of Davi Millsaps, and two years later Trey Canard took that title aboard the same platform.
The 2010 iteration introduced fuel injection, which Canard employed to good effect in earning that year’s AMA 250 Motocross Championship. Justin Barcia won the following year’s 250SX East crown, and in 2012 Barcia and Eli Tomac dominated AMA Supercross, winning the East and West titles, respectively. In the generation’s final year, Tomac earned the AMA 250 Motocross Championship, with Wil Hahn taking the 250SX East crown.
The model’s 2014 iteration was noted for its suspension updates, and Justin Bogle rode it to that year’s East Region Championship. The 2018 model featured a new dual-overhead-cam engine, and Chase Sexton proved its effectiveness when he rode it to the 2019 and 2020 East Region titles, with Jett Lawrence taking the 2021 AMA Pro Motocross crown. The platform was also raced to AMA Arenacross Championships by Phoenix Racing Honda riders Jace Owen (2019) and Kyle Peters (2020 and ’21).
The 2022 model year saw a major overhaul of the CRF250R, with the ambitious design goal of improving engine performance and toughness, while reducing vehicle weight. The latest platform has been raced with success in ’22 AMA Supercross by Team Honda HRC Factory riders Hunter Lawrence and Jett Lawrence. Hunter won multiple rounds of the 250SX West division and his brother, Jett Lawrence, earned the 250SX East Championship. Peters also raced the bike to his third consecutive AMA Arenacross title.
2023 Honda CRF250R Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits
ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN
The CRF250R’s 249cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, double-overhead camshaft four-valve engine design achieves excellent performance and durability. Low rpm torque is maximized through the design of the air intake, valve timing and exhaust port, but strong top-end power is also on tap.
Intake
The shape of the airbox results in a large capacity, particularly on the clean side of the air filter. The fuel injector’s lean angle is 60 degrees, enabling the spray to reach all the way to the back of the butterfly, and the throttle bore is 44 mm. Together these features cool the intake charge, maximizing air-intake efficiency and torque at low revs. The air filter features a spring-loaded clip design for easy serviceability.
Head
The cylinder head features four titanium valves (33 mm intake and 26 mm exhaust), with the former using dual springs (one inside the other) to ensure precise movement at higher revs. The intake camshaft sprocket is press-fit, which enhances valve-timing accuracy while minimizing weight.
The camshaft holder has a rigid design that maintains camshaft-journal roundness, contributing to timing accuracy and minimizing friction at high rpm. Durability at high engine speeds is maximized by a high flow of lubrication to the oil-supply journal and the cylinder head. The bore and stroke are 79.0 mm and 50.9 mm, respectively, and the compression ratio is 13.9:1. The water-pump gear is thick to enhance strength.
Exhaust
The exhaust system utilizes a single straight exhaust port for good torque and low-rpm drivability. The single exhaust header is routed close to the engine on the right side for a narrow cross-section and good rider mobility, and the single muffler has internal baffling that is optimized for torque delivery.
Electronics
In order to fully realize the engine’s performance potential, the ECU mapping supplies the optimum air/fuel mixture and ignition timing at all throttle positions and engine speeds. HRC-inspired launch control facilitates holeshots.
Clutch
The clutch pack has nine discs to maximize the amount of disc friction material and minimize the load on the individual discs. The clutch basket is rigid for durability, a friction spring reduces spring load, and lubrication is optimized to reduce wear. The primary ratio is 3.047, and lubrication is optimized to enhance clutch endurance.
Transmission
When designing the five-speed gearbox, engineers made efforts to enhance feel when making up- and downshifts between second and third gears—a very common operation on a 250 motocrosser. Only one shift fork is operated to execute this gear-change, the countershaft has good rigidity, and the shift drum is light thanks to a large through hole and use of only two lead grooves.
The design results in excellent gear-shifting feel for the rider, and gear ratios are optimized to best utilize the engine power in the low and middle rpm ranges.
CHASSIS / SUSPENSION
The CRF250R is known for delivering reliable tracking, precise turning, exemplary straight-line stability and overall rideability, and it has a low overall vehicle weight to facilitate increased maneuverability.
Wheelbase is 58.1 inches, rake is 27.32º, trail is 115 mm, the seat height is 37.8 inches, and ground clearance is 13.1 inches.
Frame / Subframe
The lightweight aluminum frame has widely curved main spars with small cross-sections, plus optimized rib placement in the backs of the pivot plates. Longitudinal rigidity is optimized for straight-line stability, while lateral rigidity is optimized to enhance handling feel when cornering.
The subframe features a simple design that doesn’t require a separate seat support, to minimize weight.
Suspension
The coil-spring Showa fork is a 49 mm fully adjustable leading-axle, inverted telescopic design with 12.2 inches of stroke. The upper and lower triple clamps are designed with optimized reinforcement ribs, delivering flex for handling and feel through a corner. Traction and bump-impact performance are excellent as well, and the bike has an agile corner approach, with sharp handling characteristics.
The Pro-Link® rear-suspension system uses a Showa shock absorber with adjusters on the right side. Rear travel is 12.3 inches. An ultra-light steel shock spring is used, and the swingarm is narrow, providing clearance in ruts.
Wheels
The black D.I.D rims (21-inch front, 19-inch rear) deliver durable performance and good looks. Petal-style brake rotors (260 mm front, 240 mm rear) disperse heat.
The CRF250R comes with Pirelli Scorpion MX32 tires, which are ideal for soft and intermediate terrain, and which offer an appropriate amount of sidewall flex for a 250 motocrosser.
DESIGN
Rider-active design is a key feature of the CRF250R. The cross section is narrow in the middle and at the rear, the seat has a flat layout, and the radiator shroud-side panel junction is smooth. These user-friendly ergonomics permit the rider to easily adjust body position when cornering, accelerating, jumping and braking.
Cooling the CRF250R engine is crucial to maintaining performance and overall durability. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were used to design air-outlet vents in the shrouds, and the radiator grills optimize the number of fins, as well as their angle. Each radiator shroud is produced in a single piece instead of two separate parts.
The seat base has rearward-facing tongues and front-located mounting tabs, an arrangement that eases installation, and acceleration forces keep the seat securely in place. The 1.7-gallon fuel tank is made of lightweight titanium.
Only eight fasteners are used to secure all of the main bodywork components – both radiator shrouds, both side plates and the seat – and all of the bolts for the main bodywork parts have 8 mm heads, simplifying maintenance.
The Renthal® Fatbar® handlebar is held by a clamp that can be turned 180º; because the clamp itself has two mounting locations, there are four possible mounting positions for the handlebar, through a range of 26 mm.
2023 Honda CRF250R – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: from $8199 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $10099 CDN
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £ See Dealer GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat
ENGINE
Type 249.4 cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke; 9º inclined from vertical
Valve Train DOHC, four-valve; 33 mm intake, titanium; 26 mm exhaust, titanium
Bore x Stroke 79.0 mm x 50.9 mm
Compression Ratio 13.9:1
Induction Programmed fuel-injection system (PGM-FI); 44 mm throttle bore
Ignition DC-CDI
Starter Push-button electric starter
Transmission Constant-mesh 5-speed return; manual
Clutch Multiplate wet; 9 plates, 5 springs
Final Drive #520 chain; 13T/50T
SUSPENSION
Front 49 mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted telescopic Showa coil-spring fork; 12.2 in. stroke
Rear Pro-Link system; fully adjustable Showa single shock; 12.3 in. 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 w/ tube
Rear Pirelli Scorpion MX32 100/90-19 w/ 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
2023 Honda CRF250R – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details
Engine & Drivetrain
Engine type Liquid-cooled single-cylinder
Displacement 249 cc
Bore & stroke 79 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 bore
Transmission Five-speed
Final drive #520 chain; 13T/50T
Chassis & Suspension
Front suspension 49 mm fully adjustable leading-axle inverted telescopic Showa® SPG coil-spring fork; 273 mm (10.7 in) travel
Rear suspension Pro-Link® system; fully adjustable Showa single shock; 313 mm (12.3 in) travel
Dimensions & Additional Information
Tires Front: 80/100 – 21
Rear: 100/90 – 19
Brakes Front: 260 mm
Rear: 240 mm
Ground clearance 333 mm (13.1 in)
Seat height 961 mm (37.8 in)
Wheelbase 1,477 mm (58.1 in)
Curb weight 104 kg (229 lb.)
Fuel capacity 6.3 litres
Colour Extreme Red
Warranty No warranty
2023 Honda CRF250R – Totalmotorcycle.com European Specifications/Technical Details
NA
Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).
