By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Enduro vs Adventure
Honda CRF250 Rally (Gen1) vs BMW G 310 GS (0G12)
Honda CRF250 Rally vs BMW G 310 GS: different classes, one choice. Here's how to make it.
Tip the Honda CRF250 Rally into a tight turn and the bars swing through a lock that's huge, the front folding in on a tiny circle. The BMW G 310 GS steers in off a wide bar. It's nimble at a crawl and doesn't fight you.
So which one do you buy?
The CRF250 Rally has the edge if…
Real off-road capability
Inches ahead: CRF250 Rally
The CRF250 Rally nudges ahead where the road turns to gravel. Close enough that a test ride on dirt is worth it.
The G 310 GS has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
A touch ahead: G 310 GS
The G 310 GS should be a little cheaper to keep on the road. It's a small gap.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Small edge: G 310 GS
For your first season, the G 310 GS makes slightly more sense. Put it down to more comfort. Fit and confidence at a standstill still come first.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Slight edge: G 310 GS
In the twisties, the G 310 GS asks a bit less of you to go quickly. Call it a modest edge.
Which one's the smarter buy
Two different jobs
They sit in different classes, so the money question is a trade-off. Neither is the obvious better buy for the money.
What makes each one tick
CRF250 Rally
There's a lightness to the CRF250 Rally from the moment it leaves the garage, and walking-pace moves bring grins, not nerves. The footpeg placement is well sorted. The steering lock is massive and the turning circle is tiny. The throttle wakes a smooth single. It's easy on gas. Broken pavement and dirt roads don't upset its soft suspension. The rally fairing takes the weather before you do.
Nils rode the CRF250 Rally in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
G 310 GS
The G 310 GS pads through city traffic on a smooth clutch and a light throttle. At 32.9 in (835 mm), the seat doesn't leave the ground out of reach. Its upright perch clears traffic. The brake lever reins it in on switchable ABS. The plush suspension's still soaking up road at sundown.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The G 310 GS has the lower seat: 32.9 in (835 mm) vs 35.2 in (895 mm).
- The CRF250 Rally has the lower wet weight: 346 lb (157 kg) vs 374 lb (170 kg).
- The G 310 GS makes more peak power: 34 hp (25 kW) vs 25 hp (18 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Call it even on commuting. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
CRF250 Rally
Strengths
- Fun from walking pace
- Big wind protection, small bike
- Tiny turning circle in town
- Throttle you can meter
- Rear ABS off for dirt
Trade-offs
- Engine wants revs, not lugging
- Vague chassis feedback
- Suspension runs out on rough ground
- Cheap bar, imprecise clutch lever
- Underpowered for highway use
G 310 GS
What owners say
Strengths
- Light and easy to manage
- Accessible and user-friendly
- Comfortable and roomy riding position
Trade-offs
- Reliability concerns with alternator and clutch
Known problems to check before you buy
CRF250 Rally
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
G 310 GS
- Alternator failure Premature alternator failure leads to battery drain and engine stalling, often at low mileage.
- Engine valve and crankshaft failures at high mileage A small number of owners have reported catastrophic engine failures, including valves breaking and crankshaft derangement, often around 30,000 miles (48,000 km). Possible link to extended valve inspection intervals.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 6-year-old CRF250 Rally with a 6-year-old G 310 GS.
- CRF250 Rally
- about $4,300
- G 310 GS
- about $3,800
At six years old, the Honda CRF250 Rally sits around $4,300 while the BMW G 310 GS lands near $3,800. That's a $500 gap in the BMW's favor. These are estimates from past US market data, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
Where the spec sheets split
| CRF250 Rally | G 310 GS | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 35.2 in (895 mm) | 32.9 in (835 mm) |
| Wet weight | 346 lb (157 kg) | 374 lb (170 kg) |
| CRF250 Rally | G 310 GS | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 249 cc | 313 cc |
| Power | 25 hp (18 kW) | 34 hp (25 kW) |
| Torque | 17 lb-ft (22 Nm) | 21 lb-ft (28 Nm) |
| CRF250 Rally | G 310 GS | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 75 mpg (US) / 3.14 L/100 km | 71 mpg (US) / 3.33 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 2.7 US gal (10.1 L) | 2.9 US gal (11 L) |
| CRF250 Rally | G 310 GS | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 296 mm | 300 mm |
| Front tire | 3.00-21 | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 120/80-18 | 150/70-17 |
| Ground clearance | 10.6 in (270 mm) | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.0 in (279 mm) | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
| Rear travel | 10.3 in (262 mm) | 7.1 in (180 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CRF250 Rally | G 310 GS | |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage System | Not offered | Option |
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
