By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Enduro
Honda CRF250 Rally (Gen1) vs CRF250L (MD38)
Honda CRF250 Rally vs CRF250L: which one to buy for the riding you do.
Haul the Honda CRF250 Rally through a tight U-turn, and its steering won't run out of lock before you're facing back the way you came. On the Honda CRF250L, the bars swing a bike that's easy to handle at walking pace. It pivots under you without a fight.
So which one do you buy?
The CRF250 Rally has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: CRF250 Rally
For the ride to work, the CRF250 Rally noses ahead. That comes from easier everyday riding. Don't let that alone make the call.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Small edge: CRF250 Rally
The CRF250 Rally nudges ahead as a first bike. Credit more comfort. Don't let a gap this narrow outweigh how it fits you.
Real off-road capability
Nose ahead: CRF250 Rally
On a washboard dirt road, the CRF250 Rally edges in front. It's close, so ride both on gravel if you can.
What makes each one tick
CRF250 Rally
The CRF250 Rally's fairing doesn't sit there for looks: once the weather goes bad, wind and rain break over the screen instead of the rider. The suspension runs out of travel once a trail gets genuinely rough, and there's no damping adjustment to tune around it. The single's smooth to every throttle input. Its pegs hold a standing rider for miles.
Nils rode the CRF250 Rally in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
CRF250L
The CRF250L doesn't carry much weight, and its soft throttle lets it creep through tricky dirt sections without catching the rider out. A bump on pavement sinks into suspension that's set soft. Off-road, there's wallow in the fork and shock. The tall front wheel holds its line.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The CRF250L has the lower seat: 34.4 in (875 mm) vs 35.2 in (895 mm).
- The CRF250L has the lower wet weight: 317 lb (144 kg) vs 346 lb (157 kg).
- The CRF250 Rally has the larger fuel tank: 2.7 US gal (10.1 L) vs 2.0 US gal (7.7 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Look at twisty roads and running costs and you'll find two bikes doing the same job equally well. Fit is what breaks the tie.
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
- Heavy for its power
CRF250L
What owners say
Strengths
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Excellent fuel efficiency
- Forgiving low-speed off-road manners
Trade-offs
- Soft and underdamped suspension
- Limited highway capability
- Hard stock seat
Known problems to check before you buy
CRF250 Rally
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
CRF250L
- Starter relay (magnetic switch) recall (2013–2015) Recall 15V439000 NHTSA recall 15V439000: certain 2013–2015 CRF250L units (among other Honda models) were recalled because the starter relay (magnetic switch) could fail, potentially preventing the engine from starting or causing intermittent starting problems. A separate 2018 CRF250L campaign (18V630000) covered a wiring-harness issue.
What they share
- Displacement
- 249 cc
- Engine
- Single-cylinder
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 25 hp (18 kW)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 3.00-21
- Rear tire
- 120/80-18
Where the spec sheets split
| CRF250 Rally | CRF250L | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 35.2 in (895 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| Wet weight | 346 lb (157 kg) | 317 lb (144 kg) |
| CRF250 Rally | CRF250L | |
|---|---|---|
| Torque | 17 lb-ft (22 Nm) | 16 lb-ft (22 Nm) |
| CRF250 Rally | CRF250L | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 75 mpg (US) / 3.14 L/100 km | 78 mpg (US) / 3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 2.7 US gal (10.1 L) | 2.0 US gal (7.7 L) |
| CRF250 Rally | CRF250L | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground clearance | 10.6 in (270 mm) | 10.0 in (255 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.0 in (279 mm) | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
| Rear travel | 10.3 in (262 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| CRF250 Rally | CRF250L | |
|---|---|---|
| LED Headlight | Standard | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
