RidersCorner

Agreed -The Kawasaki leg-humping is quite alarming even if you do only sell aftermarket Kawasaki parts! -- I think this Honda CRF 250 L will be a winner for sure. A friend has taken mine for a multi day test, hopefully will have some feed back in a couple of days.

A debate revolves around honest discussion. Your posts in this thread have been less than...correct not to mention your oh so cute reliance on emoticions that are intentionally put in to denigrate others. Hence, you crying about a 'nice civilised polite debate' when people call you on it is quite a red herring isn't it?

When we did the shoot out between the Honda CRF 250 L & the Kawasaki KLX 250 a few days back, both Alex & I agreed that Honda CRF 250 suspension tracked better than the Kaw KLX through the tree ruts and loose rocks, which is where you'll know. So the fact that the Honda CRF's suspension isn't adjustable, doesnt seem to be that much of an issue.

Have to agree this has been going on for at least a year and half with bigbkiebkk posting the same worn out comments and pictures to flame anyone or anything to do with Honda why he feels the need to do it I don't know

I have my views on the er6 and Pcx and I read the threads but do not make comments as I neither have the bike or Like it and am not in the habit of putting other riders and their bikes down it's a shame really because in other threads he obviously has some good knowledge and info.

Shame we can't have a nice civilized polite debate about two very similar bikes.

I don't know why you think I'm putting down the CRF250L. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

The CRF250L is a bit heavier, shorter and features more basic suspension than the KLX. These aren't put downs, they are facts. I suspect a stock CRF250L will be a lot more fuel efficient than a stock KLX250. If price and fuel efficiency are your primary concerns, then the Honda CRF250L is probably the better bike. If adjustable suspension, clearance, weight and available mods are more important, then the KLX250 is probably a better choice.

The CRF250L is a bit cheaper than the KLX250 for a reason.

Peace dudes!

Here Here

Have to agree this has been going on for at least a year and half with bigbkiebkk posting the same worn out comments and pictures to flame anyone or anything to do with Honda why he feels the need to do it I don't know

I have my views on the er6 and Pcx and I read the threads but do not make comments as I neither have the bike or Like it and am not in the habit of putting other riders and their bikes down it's a shame really because in other threads he obviously has some good knowledge and info.

Neoprene fork boots now available in Chiang Mai

Great way of lengthening the life of your fork seals in dusty Asia. neoprene is the perfect material for this job because of it's elasticity and durability.

Available in Chiang Mai, here shown on a Suzuki DRZ 400. Can be made in any length, depending on size 600-700 Bht & 1,000 -1,100 Bht including fitting.

PM me if interested and i'll supply the contact details or stop by Rider's Corner (www.RidersCorner.net) to check them out, they're nicely done.

How lucky are you that Colin & Luke arn't allowed to race in the ER6 class, will miss watching those guys clean up.

In two minds if i should change my rear tyre before this event.

It's good for another 1000-2000km in the center of the tread and will do me fine for the ride there and back.

However with 90% of the wear being in the middle of the tyre i'm concerned how it would handle at the track when leaning the bike over?

On the road i'm comfortable with the tyre in it's current conditions, however the last thing i want to take to the track would be a brand new tyre that has hardly been scrubbed in.

What are your thoughts??

New tyre but stay off the track?

Continue with the old tyre that's scrubbed in and have a half hearted blast around the track?

I say get new tires for the track day so you can actually get out and enjoy yourself. Riding on shagged tires is no fun.

Takes only a lap or two to scrub them in.

Pirelli Supercorsas are a fantastic road / track tire.

I'm thinking I might throw some on the Versys and ride that to the track this weekend since the ER6 is in no way road legal.

See you there!

Tony

order the swivel end foot levers while your at it too

Thanks great to see a fair unbiased comparison between the two

I was quite surprised about the plastic engine guard when I saw pictures thought it was metal then realised it was plastic when recieved Bike

They do have a metal guard on ap Honda website think I'll get that ordered

Honda CRF 250 L -- Kawasaki KLX 250 SHOOT OUT!

We just did the shoot out today between the 2 bikes (a gap in the rain in Chiang Mai at last!)

Before hitting the trails, we did a stationary push/ compression test on the suspension comparing the bikes.

The front suspension was noticeably harder on the Honda CRF 250 L than on the Kawasaki KLX 250.

The rebound on the rear shock absorber was faster on Honda CRF 250 L than that on the Kawasaki KLX 250 .

Off into the trails behind the 700 year stadium in Chiang Mai, a bit soggy everywhere but surprisingly puddle free considering all the constant rain.

One thing you immediately notice about the Honda CRF 250 L is how low it is compared to most enduro style bikes, it makes the bike very easy to handle through the tree roots and soft mud on gradients, where we were riding, it was not hindered in any way being slight lower.

We did a loop of the lower enduro trail area for Alex to get the feel of the KLX, then he took the Honda CRF 250 L for a test to compare.

There s more over on the Ride Asia website with the full results, I can't be bothered to copy it all over.... but the CRF worked out good with its low center of gravity

48-52 tooth on the rear seems to be where most gravitate to if your doing a lot of off -road, makes hill climbing a dream in 1st and 2nd gear not so much clutch control needed until you get to some serious gradients.

Down side is the bike will scream at 85km/h.

Riders corner I'm obviously new to off road riding I see people talking about putting a bigger rear sprocket on what does this achieve does it make 1st gear more useable off road I sort off feel as if first gear is to snatchy sometimes and the revs to low to go into 2nd sort of hard to explain anyway would the large sprocket help with this

Thanks

We're told motard wheels are available

Anyone know if a motard version is planned?

I like the look of the Honda, but not the colour scheme. Red, black and white......booooooorrrrrriiiiiiiiinnnngggggg.

Most educated "western" people would realize were discussing dampening when discussing a dual sport bike. Maybe in the Arab world things are different?

Nearly every shock in the world is adjustable for Pre-load, isn't it? They all have threads on them.

That's why I thought it odd that you said-

3. Rear shock not adjustable

Thanks for the clarification

I remain curious however about just HOW you can reach the pre-load rings on the CRF250L shock. Does Honda provide a special tool, or do you just have to hammer away at them with an extra long drift?

Nearly every shock in the world is adjustable for Pre-load, isn't it? They all have threads on them.

Got mine in Chiang Mai - we're going to do a shoot out against the KLX 250 today

Potential problems we can see so far

1. Foot gear lever end doesn't swivel in (does on the KLX) - aftermarket is available

2. Foot brake lever end doesn't swivel

3. Rear shock not adjustable

4. Rear shock travel less than the KLX, could be a problem with a big farrang on it bottoming out the suspension

5. Spokes are thinner than on the KLX, maybe ok though

6. Radiator only one side, both sides on the KLX, may cause overheating trail riding

7. Coolant expansion tank is on the rear RHS of the bike just under the plastic, looks very vulnerable in a fall

8.Plastic chain guard look like it will break trail riding

9. Kick stand spring look like it will get lost easily

10. No rpm counter

11. Rear foot pegs look like they may break off, they did on the XR 250's with the same design

My Honda CRF 250 L is paid for in Bangkok and should be in Chiang Mai by monday, We'll then do a test against a KLX 250 to see how is compares.

The dealer sent me a picture of the actual bike today.

all the details are on the RideAsia website

Got mine coming to Rider's Corner (www.riderscorner.net) in 2 days time .... dealer has the bike and the price is 138,000 bht .. no more hear-say

Congrats, Phil!

Which dealer did you get it from? I went to check today but of course it's a holiday, they're all closed.

PS: APHonda website slogan: STRIKE THE BARRIER! Quite brilliant...

Got mine coming to Rider's Corner (www.riderscorner.net) in 2 days time .... dealer has the bike and the price is 138,000 bht .. no more hear-say

Tashakkur Big Tony -- ride on!

Not quite sure what you mean old chap? Honda CRF 250 "L" im paying 138,000 bht?

Suggest you all check the web site : CRF250R = 310,000 Baht

Got mine coming to Rider's Corner (www.riderscorner.net) in 2 days time .... dealer has the bike and the price is 138,000 bht .. no more hear-say

Are there any other webcams in Chiang Mai?

We've got a live webcam outside Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant looking south down Moon Muang Road, it's top right in the link below:

http://www.riderscorner.net/

Are there any others in Chiang Mai?

You should strap a couple on and get a KTM http://www.riderscorner.net

^ Nice test. Strange that the Versys doesn't come with ABS in the states... never been available here without.

Some corrections for Thailand:

- Versys has ABS

- The other bikes cost more than 2x than the Versys.

Is the V-Strom officially imported into Thailand? Looks like a nice bike....

The V-strom is a fantastic bike and it beats the Versys by a hair in most reviews especially in the US where the Suzie has ABS and the Kawi doesn't. Unfortunately still not available in Thailand, and if Suzuki ever do decide to import it we can expect it to cost around double the price of the made-in-Thailand Versys...

My favorite V-strom review-

Honda has always been quality, makes the other mentioned bikes look like they were made in Afghanistan.

Not sure about the labor, but I guess you are right about the parts. Hopefully this will change when Honda starts selling locally made big bikes next year. By the way, how do prices for locally made parts compare price wise to imported ones? Thanks.

Brian

If you want to see how the prices compare, why don't you price a component on a locally made CB'r' 250 with an equivalent component on your new imported CBR1000RR. Pick something simple like a throttle grip or rear turn signal assembly. If Honda pricing is anything like that of Kawasaki you'll see that the domestically produced part will usually cost less than half the price of the imported part.

As far as labor, I believe Kawasaki, Thailand charges 180-200 baht/hour (seems to vary between dealers but 200 is the most I've ever been charged). Compare that to most of the import dealers that charge anywhere from 700-1000 baht/hour. Any idea what the labor rate will be at the new Honda Big Wing dealership?

Ride On!

Tony

The CBR 250 engine is very tunable, CBR over the Ninja 250 any day

great vid bkk - but at 50k more - my money is with the Honda..

The Kawa is lookng very old now too and is screaming for a model change. The honda still looks very fresh - imho

The CBR 250 engine is very tunable, CBR over the Ninja 250 any day

I'm looking old too But if I were in the market for a 250cc bike I'd still spend a bit more for the Ninjette- it's just such a fun little screamer of a bike

Any gradient and a stock 150cc would be hell, I don't think you know what you're talking about

A little off topic but I see on another forum the klx 150 is available for pre order 79.000 bht carbed version I can see this definitely having a impact on the 250l sales especially if the crf is priced 130-140 k

Just on the basis of all the Thais upgrading from the ksr this 150 should sell quite well

Wonder if Honda has been delaying setting crf price until they saw what this klx 150 sells for.

In the most polite way possible... The klx150 is a big wet fart, it really won't concern Honda

The KLX150 is roughly based on the KX140 which is a little ripper of a bike. It's just road legal. While I think riding a 150 on the road would be dreadful, once you get it offroad it will give bigger dirtbikes a serious run for the money!

Incorrect

only if you bring the bike via the airport do you need to be on a tourist visa

Info on bringing a foreign registered motorcycle into Thailand by air here

You'd have to be on a tourist visa, it would seem, since you're 'just passing thru LoS on your bike' So a land-based border run gets you 15 days visa. What am I missing?

Evey 6 months and maximum 2,000 Bht fine if they remember to collect it. Many times at the Huay Khon , Nan border they have not collected the fine.

Lots of info on foreign registered motorcycles in Thailand here:

My friend Phil is border running his bikes, I think it involves going to the Lao border every 3 months. Not bad at all. It's a day trip. Can't remember if it was every 3 months or every 6, but basically you stretch the bike visa to the max, then overstay some, go to the border, pay the penalties, ship the bike back and forth, and do it again.

In terms of money saved vs. buying the same bike here for 2x the price - if the bike is from a low price country - it makes perfect sense. You could do that for 10 years and would still come out in the plus. But aren't bikes in Singapore at least as expensive as in Thailand? In that case it might be better to sell the bike in Sg, then buy one in Thailand.

There was another thread here where someone said (or was it news?) that they're going to crack down on border running bikes. This being Thailand who knows if they're serious or not. For 5 years, might be worth doing.

All my foreign registered motorcycles in Thailand have Thai company, underwritten insurance. It is not possible to get 1st class (fully comprehensive) insurance for foreign registered motorcycles in Thailand.

Richard, what insurance companies, if any, sell first class insurance for foreign registered vehicles in Thailand on temporary import?