New Honda 250 Dual Sport

Even while Kawasaki’s KLX250S has enjoyed run-away success in the light Dual-Sport class the Honda XR250R and XR250L is not forgotten in the mind – and memories – of experienced adventure riders. Second-hand XR250Rs and XR250Ls remained sought-after long after production ceased. These tough little machines introduced many riders into the world of adventure bike riding.

So it is with great anticipation that the world awaits the introduction of a new Honda 250 dual-sport bike.

Honda is said to contemplate bringing a dual-sport version of their popular CRF250 model into the adventure market. The new bike will resemble the CRF and probably share the frame and some other bits but will use the compact single cylinder engine used in the road-going CBR250R.

Import of the XR250L – the street version of the famous XR250R – to the United States and many other parts of the world was discontinued in 2004, the same year in which Honda announced the CRF250X as replacement for the XR250R. It is not that the Honda 250 dual-sport bike actually has disappeared; they lived on elsewhere in the world as the XR250 Tornado. But they never captured the same excitement as the popular XR250R had.

Honda XR250R - the little legend was produced until 2004

As is tradition with Honda, the street legal 250 will carry the “L” mark and will mostly likely be called the Honda CRF250L.

Honda CRF250L - new small bore adventure bike

The CRF250L is rumored to be introduced in 2012, possibly as an upgrade to the CRF230L which has been around since 2008.

06/12/2011. Category: Wheels. Topic: Honda, motorcycles.