2017 Honda CRF250L Rally and CRF250L First Look Review

Honda just announced today that its CRF250L will get updates for 2017, alongside the new CRF250L Rally. The Rally, based on the updated CRF250L, and inspired by the CRF450 Rally , gets a handful of features making it well suited for longer trips and adventures.

The CRF250L Rally will feature the same 250cc engine as the non-Rally model, with the same updated engine, with revised PGM-FI and throttle body. Honda claims it will offer “solid bottom-end torque and substantial top-end power.” Given the puppy-dog personality of the 2016 CRF250L, we’re looking forward to seeing just how much this new engine is improved.

Along with tweaks to the engine, the CRF250L Rally features longer travel suspension than the base 250, (11 inches compared to 9.8 up front, and 10.3 inches versus 9.4 in the back) urging you to tackle more gnarly trails on your adventure. With the longer suspension, the CRF250L Rally’s rake is increased half a degree over its non-Rally counterpart, also giving the bike a longer wheelbase at 57.3 inches. Ground clearance benefits by over half an inch, and the seat height raises to 35.2 inches (only half an inch taller than the 2016 model, but about ¾ inch taller than the new CRF250L.)

Brakes are improved for the Rally, with a 296mm disc up front, up 40mm from the base CRF250L, which will help bring the 346-pound bike (nearly 25 up from the base 250L) to a stop. That extra weight is partly due to the Rally’s larger fuel tank, at 2.7 gallons. If the Rally gets similar gas mileage as the previous gen CRF250L, that could mean an additional 50 miles on a tank. Less range anxiety, more play time!

The CRF250L Rally’s styling is new for 2017, with asymmetrical LED headlights and turn signals, rally-type “floating” windscreen, fairing and radiator shrouds. A new digital readout screen offers a fuel gauge and tachometer. The CRF250L Rally is available in Red/Black/White for $5,899, and will be available in March 2017.]

Click here for a comparo with the last gen CRF250L and its competition

The base CRF250L gets updates for 2017, including the updated engine with PGM-FI and a 38mm throttle body (up 2mm from 2016). The airbox was revised, along with a reshaped air boot and new exhaust with larger diameter head pipe to improve throttle response and low-end and midrange power. The engine also gets a new ECU.

Brakes and suspension on the 2017 CRF250L remain the same as the previous gen, and a minimal increase to the fuel tank. Ground clearance remains the same at 10”, but the seat gets shaved down 0.3 inches to 34.4 inches. A small victory for some vertically challenged riders! With bodywork and graphics “inspired” by the CRF450R, the new CRF250L comes in one color: Red. At $5,099, the new dual sport will be available in March 2017.