Honda XR250Ls?

jaypro55 · Feb 10, 2002

If you've read my other thread on the General Board, you'll see that I'm interested in getting a larger bike, and hopefully be able to dual sport it. I like the idea of having an XR250, since the 250R I've ridden performs very well with me in the woods. But I'm on a budget and spending $2500 or more for the bike and then another $500 for the dual sport kit is a little much. So I wondered how the 250L is?

Can the 250L perform decently in the trails with a good set of tires? I don't like some of the stock stuff on them, mainly the mirrors. Obviously I will probably lay this bike out a few times in the trails, and I want something that can take a decent amount of punishment. I also want to know if the 250L will be good for some hill climbing, and maybe an occasional small jump here or there.

I just want to know if I'm better off getting the stock dual sporter, or converting a dirt model.

JUSTRIDE415 · Feb 10, 2002

Jaypro- i suggest getting a stock xr 250r and then converting it with a Baja Designs Kit. My dad and I did this it looks nice and is very durable.

jaypro55 · Feb 10, 2002

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

OnAnySunday · Feb 10, 2002

Basically a XR250L is a XR250R (slightly detuned) -w- dualsport equipment already installed.
The suspention may be a little less "offroady", but that can be corrected.
In other words, -w- a plastic tank and some minor suspention work your XRL is a XRR.
In fact, some XRL's come -w- stiffer springs already to compensate for the extra weight of the road legal equipment.
I think it all depends on how you are going to use the bike.
If you intend on racing (uhhh XR's are playbikes anyhows aint they?) it then the slight edge of the XRR's xtra suspention may become usefull.
But for general playriding and fun offroad heckraising the XRL wont let you down.
Ive had my XL500R for about 10 years now, and have seldom found it lacking when compared to XR's (even the 600's) in offroad capability.

Now if we start talking CR's that would change MIGHTY quick!:confused:

jaypro55 · Feb 11, 2002

Yeah, I never plan on racing, but I don't want to be afraid to take it off a small jump we've made. We have a little maybe 20 foot gap where you get off maybe 5 or so feet, and I want something that won't kill me, or the bike itself if I do that.

Also we have some pretty big hills, and I want a bike that can easily haul up them, but something I won't be afraid to drop, and something that I can pick back up and dust off.

But it's all up in the air right now, I'm just looking for suggestions

RyanS · Feb 11, 2002

Get a racer.......

dude, i really think ull like a racer better. even if its only a 125, it would be better, cuz they take jumps better, and are made for abuse. No, i am not biased. I have a cr125, a yz250, a cr450f, and an xr400. The cr450 f is great for a thumper, but it doesnt even compare to the cr125, much less my yz250. Just get a 2 smoker, not a thumper......... ull be happier. My first bike was an xr200, then i got an xr400, then i sold my xr200 and bought my cr125. the cr125 blows even the xr400 away. Then i envested in my yz250. I dont like it as much, i prefur 125 over 250's. I bought my cr450f 2 months ago, and i was very very dissapointed. Its not a bad bike, its just over-hyped.

anyway, get a 2 smoker.

jaypro55 · Feb 11, 2002

The only problem I have against a 125 is that I won't be able to get the most of it in my woods. It's phsyically impossible to get past 3rd gear in any of the trails without totally disregarding any value of your own life. And even then I would doubt anyone being able to do it. I don't want to have all that racing power with no need for it. I do like the KDXs though, and if the chance for me to get a nice 200 or 220 comes out, I'll jump on it.

RyanS · Feb 12, 2002

How about a........

then how about a yz250f or 426f?? they are 4 strokers that will still work for the woods and have nice handling, but will still be able to torque it out on the track. If i were you, i would take a pw50 over an xr400. I wouldnt get the cr450f, its a good bike but its handling suffers.

then get da 4 stroke motocrosser.

RyanS · Feb 12, 2002

oh yeah, on my cr125 i can get to 5th easy and sometimes 6 w/ out trying, just learn.

if u want then ride somebodys 125 in the woods and see 4 urself.

jaypro55 · Feb 12, 2002

I don't got the money for a 250F or 426F. And I've ridden a 125 in my woods, it gets around. But I gotta constantly feather to keep the revs up, even in first gear in somet sections and I never got out of 2nd for more than a few seconds either. So I don't think it's worth it. The runs for hills are so small that only a few can I hit in second.

James · Feb 13, 2002

Re: How about a........

Originally posted by RyanS
then how about a yz250f or 426f?? they are 4 strokers that will still work for the woods and have nice handling, but will still be able to torque it out on the track. If i were you, i would take a pw50 over an xr400. I wouldnt get the cr450f, its a good bike but its handling suffers.

then get da 4 stroke motocrosser.

This sounds like a bunch of mx magazine silliness. The CRF handles great, an XR400 will plain flatten a PW50, 125s suck in the woods and tight trails, and YZ426Fs are not likely to be better than an xr250 or 400 in the woods for most people.

Get an XR250, get the suspension set up right, possibly change the sprockets for your situation, and it will jump a 20ft gap no problem as long as the ramp (or whatever you are jumping from) is suitable.

By the way, I have a 650l, stock except for the plastic tank, that will jump 5' in the air and clear 20' no problem. I have a picture of me coming in for a landing here: http://www.geocities.com/jp2us/

OnAnySunday · Feb 13, 2002

Jaypro, i'm originally from Pa. also.
(Clearfield / Altoona area)
When i was young, i tried the 125 racer in the woods bit too.
(CR125 Elsinore)
Great bike! Lotsa guts for a 125, but in the woods?
It sucked. DT100's were blowing me away.
(until we hit an open area...;) )
unfortunatlly there were very few open areas where we rode.:(
I traded it about a month or so later for a XL125.
(great woods bike.)
Im not saying that 125's racers are bad, just that it takes a lot of work to ride them in tight woodsy terrain.
Some people can do it, some can't.
Best thing to do before you buy, is to test ride it.
(if you can)
Thats the only way to see what you really want.
Good luck.

RyanS · Feb 13, 2002

wtf?

no it doesn't. I have a crf450, and its handling sucks, and i mean absolutly sux when compared to a 426f. I am selling the bike in a year or so (jsut to make sure thati really wanna take the big loss of buying and selling right away) and getting myself another 2 stroke

OnAnySunday · Feb 13, 2002

See what happens when you dont try it out first???:eek:

Mondor · Feb 20, 2002

jaypro55 - I have a '94 xr250L which I have made trailworthy. I have DOT-legal pirelli tires, I think MT21's (it's the knobbiest tire you can get that's still DOT). I have Eibach front springs. The carb is rejetted, the airbox opened up, and some uh custom modifications to the stock pipe to open it up some - it's still not very loud, still has the spark arrestor, but does breathe better now. Also, I put a 250R rear sprocket on it (which then necessitated a modification to the chain guide).

It's a pretty good trailbike, especially for eastern US tight woods. In 2000 I took it to the Six Days of Michigan (of which I rode nearly 3 days :-) and it served me well.

Depending on where in PA you live I would consider selling it. I mainly ride my Suzuki DRZ400E now. I don't ride on the road at all anymore, so I have no use for a dual sport bike.

Honda XR250Ls?

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