Nice one minky looks like the tiger is going and another 250 l is on the cards I miss the one I sold so much . I need to stop watching RU-vid it's expensive
Cheers! Nice vid. Any chance of having a closer look at how you cut your front fairing? I have a bit of a big, heavy bash plate/engine guard (overkill, really) but I'm thinking of removing the plastic bash plate so I can have room for a tool roll or oil and stuff in there. Then cutting back the lower front fairing just so I can clean the bloody engine : )
Been a despatch rider for over 45 years and have covered more than 2 million miles on YAM.XT's. Had to retire 'cos of the virus. Selling my loaded up CB500xa (couldn't get an XT 'cos of the stupid Euro emm. laws and no one told me about this bike when i bought it) tomorrow as i'm broke and besides, never liked it anyway, even with uprated shocks etc. Since i've seen this bike, i WANT one. Gonna beg steal or borrow to get one but living on state pension and heavily in debt, it might take some time but listen, a guy can dream can't he!
I have CRF 250 Rally since two years now, and I love that bike. Sold two others, bigger bikes. With few mods and suspension upgrade (as I'm a 100kg, sometimes more :)) it's excellent motorcycle for me . Last year did 11000 km on it (50-60% off road, TET France, Spain, UK etc). But now, CB 300 engine is waiting in my garage :) Would like to ask you, what gearing do you use with 300 cc engine? In my case with 250cc, I changed from original 14/40 to 13/42, it was perfect off road, but as I have to go sometimes 600/700 km on tarmac before get to off road legal roads, went to 14/42 and that was perfect for my use. Thanks for your answer.
Sold mine a year ago and been kicking myself ever since. Soon as this lockdown is over Im getting another. I also recognise those roads. Passing near to my favourite Starbucks as well!
Finally worked out at the end when you kept saying “ten-ear” you meant “ten-err-ray”! Great review, I had a Crf250L and came very close to getting a Rally. Will do one day. Your many posts on these bikes on the massively long forum topics were super useful.
You've had some great adventures with the Rally. Thanks for sharing. Once this lockdown is over everywhere, hopefully I can take mine for a decent trip!
Very enjoyable video, this bike is on my wish list, haven’t ridden a trials bike since had my xt350 and dr350 in the 90s be interesting to see how it compares to these old school bikes, the electric start will be a godsend though!, have subscribed and looking forward to see more action
@@osvaldasgumbrys9347 hello Osvaldas. There is a company in Estonia who make very good quality alluminium panniers which I have fitted to my Rally nrteam.eu/
Just bought a minty 250 rally in as new condition after, like you a ton of other, larger bore bikes. I have to say it's really surprised me so far. The on road manners and comfort, easy going nature and economy have impressed me. One of the few bikes I've ridden that I don't feel any need to change a damn thing. Set the rear pre-load to my weight and left it alone. As you say, I don't find it slower than other bikes I've owned in real world situations as we rarely use all the power on bigger bikes anyway.
yes they are good bikes ive two tricked up crfs still and the rally has had a fairly hard life ..still runs as sweet as nut ..ill not be selling them now
After your reply I've bought a hardly used 2nd hand one of these, it's brilliant! Got to change the tyres, I'm after riding much like your vids on trails, what do you use? Stock ones not so good in mud!
see how u go ...i was out on mine today and its ace ..you can improve these litle bike considerably ... id say must dos are handguards ...rear shock and tyres ... i use pretty aggressive tyres so be warned there no knee down jobs but are more than adquate to do tarmack ..just fitted a motoz rally z on the rear ..and a maxxis it pro 7304 or /5 front ? .. the front is about as extream as you can go on tar but they handle surprisingly well witha bit on common sense ....tenacious grip off road though ...somthing slightly milder maby a mitas e13 ..... hope it all goes well
yes the rear shock is a yss and it does a good job ..the 300 engine is available now and no brainer in the new crfs .....the 450x for k conversion was relativly cheap at around400 quid off face book marketplace ...them 450x forks are something i would /will do with the new crf 300l .they really are very very good ... im waiting to get a scratched up 300l /rally for me next bike the 2013 300 is 38k on now and owes me nothing if it blew up tommorrow .....which sitows no signs of doing
still going strong 6 years doubt id sell it now ..300s justt stronger all round makes no difference in terms of weight or handling .me mate has bought a new 300 and i can say riding back to back the cbr300 motor has a a bit more bant than the new crf300 motor
mate has bought a 300l ..he reports back well on the motor ..but the same kinda soggy suspension remains so budget for that and you will have a mini gs ..well ish
@@minkyhead Hi there, im trying to deside between the 250 Rally and 300 Rally, can you tell me if the 300 is that much better on the road (for overtaking)...or is it marginably the same? I just don't want to spend extra costs... Thx in advance
@@sergegs4507 here the price difference new is about 700 pounds ...for me it would be a no brainer if buying new ..its probable that the new 300s will drive the 2nd hand prices down for the 250s .. 300 motor is better for sure and te new gearbox they have put in looks on the money too ..niether is gonna be a raging bull but the 300 is a much more pleasent engine ..that said a nice clean 250 and 2 grand holiday money is no disaster .... if i had the intention of making it a bike to keep for severel years ..id take the hit and get a 300 ...its probable that if you buy a 250 the 300 would niggle you everytime you rode it
probably in the long run guess you would always want the bigger motor to be fair the difference between anew 250and new 300 is more relevent 750 quid is a no brainer ... there getting poular now the 2nd hand prices are abit nuts i would be tempted to wait for a 2nd hander in the winter by then the aftermarket will be all over them with much more choice 6039 plus another 750 to get trail ready is getting on .all that said my next bike will be another crf but ill wait for some sctratchy ones to appear on ebay
very hard to say without knowing what kind of stuff your doing all rounder with half decent off road /road performance pirreli m21s good 50/50 rear mitas e09 for longer distance ....just keep trying stuff youll find your favorites .....
im not fixated on crfs its just tgeres nothing at all between them and the 701 huskys ...so i just modify the heck out of em and make em work ...ive got a crf250 heavily modded up the same ..if your tall the rally has better lights weather protection brakes tank range suspension travel ..... they both need a fair bit of modding to be better off road but its cheap and doable for most that can hiold a spanner straight ....the rally now sits at 950mm so it a pretty tall bike when the suspension is done ....
Can not disagree with anything in the review. I have a CRF 250 Rally bought new in 2017. Just put in a big bore kit from CRF’s only taking it to 305cc and Ohlins Shocks. Some people would say pouring good money after bad. But really where can you can get so much bike for the money? Friend with a CRF 450, yes it’s lighter but it’s not good on a motorway like the rally with a screen and it costs thousands more. The biggest Bang for bucks are tyres but you could write a book on these.
A country road like that in the US, I'd never be over 50mph. First, deer and other wildlife, but mostly deer and dogs. Second, tractors pulling onto the road very slowly, essentially stopped if you are going fast, often accompanied by one or several dogs. In Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana (at least) there are Amish and Mennonite communities who drive their small horse-drawn buggies. There are several news stories of whole Amish families being taken out when struck by an SUV.
i guess its the riders ability to stop in the distance they can see ,, it varies depending on expiriance ........have you considered a125 ? to build up you confidence ......... merry xmas and a braaaaapy new year
What you say about the reality of riding uk trails is why I started looking at 1000cc adventure, down to the 600-800 class, then 400's, and the more I see of what we do have to ride I've realised this crf 250 is the right tool for the job here, not having the vast open deserts and forests etc available to blast around like elsewhere
they need a decent rear shock dome tyres some hanguards and maby a carbon bashplate if your doing rocks ... you can be all done and dusted for sub 4k ...if you dont like it you can easy sell it on without getting spanked ..but you need to have the right routes and a expoectation that 65mph is where its at .... which when out trail riding is pleanty ...im coast to coast soon 4 days on it and i have a fully tricked t7 and the rally is way better on tough trails less is more for trails i reakon .....bigger bikes nice for scotland portugal easier firetracks .....
Rear shock is a must do. Still on the stock one but has anyone ridden both the more affordable YSS and Ohlins or Race Tech? I would like to know if it is worth splurging.
Watching this review a good few times now and it’s great, lots of common sense options. I’ve had the 250l 6 months now and I am really enjoying it. Just bought the YSS rear shock for it, I’ve not fitted yet but was wondering if anyone can advise on weather I should replace the standard spring in the forks for a heavier one at the same time?
Hi. Started watching your video and thought I recognised the roads and then you jumped off the Rainford bypass onto the M58. I bought a Triumph Tiger 800 XCA (ex display bike) back in Nov but thinking about a more off-road focussed lighter bike for fun. CRF250L came up as a good bike for those with shorter legs and then spotted the Rallly. Love the looks but is it worth it or just get better tires for my Tiger? Rally looks good as I’ll prob have to travel from Liverpool to get to trails/green lanes. I presume your in the area and did spot on video you travelling round a Lake in Snowdonia (south of Bala) so where do you go nearby to get off the tarmac? Is the Rally up for dropping with all that extra plastic? Cheers, Tom from Liverpool
hi tom ...i never presume what a gut can and can not do on what bike ...i would say you will need to be pretty expierianced off road to tackle some of them trails on tiger ...and as you know proper tyres for the job are not easy ..tyres that can cope with wetgrass and 110 hp and100 mph dont really exist pirreli 21 rally cross ..the little rally is in itself quite a heavy bike by trailk bike standards but pretty capable ...have a look at the tet but please be aware some of these tracks are pretty hard and i deffo would t try em on a bigger bike .... ive no idea of your level but some of them you need to have a pretty high level of of road competance to attempt em on a big adv bike and some of them it wont happen ..pirreli m21 rally are about the nearest youll get to shod a tiger with to a off road tyre ..if your new to off road id deffo say sack the tiger and buy a smaller machine or run both tet here transeurotrail.org/united-kingdom/#2.89/56.50/-15.80
minkyhead cheers. My off-road experience is just a 2day Level 1 training at Triumph centre in Wales (next to BMW’s). Loved it. Was amazing 2 days. Came home and bought a tiger a few months later. Was going to do Level 2 this month but CV-19 put a hold on that. Was amazed what tiger can do on off-road tyres but shit on road. Mine on std tyres is great on road and losses surface but totally shit in mud! Dunlop Trailmax look good when they come to the UK but do I purchase another toy instead 🤔
@@tomjones8883 heres the thing with the little bike ..a typical few days would be up motorway to lakes ..1hr.20 ..then all the lakes trails over a day and half .... move to northumberland same again and then ride back though west youkshire ..hop on motorway at preston 20mins and home .. ...honest if you like the tiger off road you would love the crf .100miles of tail riding is quite a big day out ..so the small bike has all the trump cards for this kind of riding as the bigger engined bike have no advatages at all ..ive got a 650 road bike at home i use for work ...id never dream of using it when im off work ..the little rally is way way more fun ........
@@tomjones8883 i know a lfew of guiys in the ribble mike thomlinson is the secutary ..they tend d to do a lot of more organised trail rides on smaller enduro type bikes ..i tend to do me own thing ..but i seem to remember them having a big bike section worth a enquiry i reakon
Ended up buying one of these, the L model and I’m really liking it. Need to get the shock sorted as it’s very soft (or maybe I’m very heavy) don’t find the tires to bad at the minute. I’m looking for a radiator guard now as it seems vulnerable to me. Really enjoy your YT channel and the comments you make in the forums, find it all super helpful
I'm thinking of buying one of these. I had a Honda super cub for a year now and want something a bit different for travelling a bit further and trying off road riding. Are these bikes you keep and not get bored of?
could happen for sure ..depends on what you want to do target them at say two days around northwales doing trails there fab ...set off down a motorway and a road route its the wrong bike ...helps a lot if your mates are on smaller bikes and you plan to take it the right places ...ive improved mine over that last few years that said just a decent rear shock and some handguards and its pretty capable bike ...luv the thing ...id sell the tenere 700 before id sell me 300 rally no contest fpr me ....?? ace bike but too heavy for me on the real harder tracks..depends on your skill level too of course ...keep the t7 for loger road firetrack stuff use the crf for trail weekends
You should. This was my first bike. Best explorer/trail bike. You don't need more power on a small trail. Now I've branched into supermoto and motocross. Will never sell this bike. The rally's off road capability is underestimated greatly. Best looking duel sport out there.
Great real world review, I'm looking at getting one of these and starting a bit trail riding around the UK, never done it before so not really sure on the best way to find these brilliant looking trails you get yourselves on.
Thanks for the video. I've been thinking for a while about getting a 2nd bike, for a bit of light trail riding/green laninge/winter use. No previous experience (road only) so I thought the rally would be a good starting point. The other option I had thought about was the royal Enfield Himalayan. What's your thoughts? Now subscribed to you channel, thanks again
hard to say what type of riding you want ..i have ridden the himmy and for what its desighned to do its ok ..the rally will with ifs or buts be more capable as the ground gets tougher its good entry level duel sport ...imho you need tyres a rear shock handguards and the will tio give it a go ....its a easy bike to learn on and its more capable than some think ...... keep wel l
Another interesting video ! You should put all the information you must have gathered and write a manual. I am looking for a cbr 300r engine for mine now, but not so easy to find in Italy. Also what is your weight ? I am only 68 kilos which helps a lot on these bikes I think. I carry luggage on mine also. I fitted a set of very light but very strong aluminium side boxes. Great if you fall over because the bike doesn't touch the ground and these things are welded 2mm so don't bend.
@@minkyhead Was looking like it was going to be a really long wait for the 300, so grabbed the last 250 Rally while it was still available today. Just got home from doing 50 miles of Freeway/Highway, double and single track...First impressions are very positive. I rode the T7 and consider it just another big heavy ADV bike. I've already been that route multiple times...no thanks..
@@gosolobox pity thers such a long wait ..the crfs a very improvable as a base to begin ..just sold my t7 ....not sure what ill get next ..may not bother ..deffo prefer my crf to the t7thats for sure .
@@minkyhead I'm glad I was able to avoid the T7 mistake. I'll do some stuff to the 250 to wake it up a bit and if I like it as much as I'm thinking I will, I'll get a 300 when one becomes available...
not the easiest bike in the world to own ..standard geraing is a bit tall for steep tech stuff ..full braaap version is proper quick ..honda ia way easier to own ansd maintain ..have to treat it more like a ktm than a rally with sevicing i dont buy into the 5k interval more like 1200 miles ..i think somtimes its a bit of overkill for a lot of trails ..but given a bit of room to work with it its pretty impressive ..chassis and suspension are great .annoying to work on ...test ride 2nd hand is a must avoid 6 speed husky sr versions
@@minkyhead That is, like you say, reasonable for "non-pro" users. Though you might upgrade as your vids and bike are nice. On gopro eu webshop 7 black is about 250eur now. I'll hunt for yi lite or similar though as my vids arent as interesting for public.
I like what you’ve done in removing the fairing lowers, I’m trying to figure out whether the 250L bash plate fitting points are the same, as that’d make life easier. Do you happen to know?
no engine 300 is black the fender is 450x black tank panels off ebay and the red bits on the tank were masked off and sprayed out ..so a tiny bit of paint on the tank only
The most entertaining and useful videos I've seen on the CRF, I'm looking to get a rally, other than the ride height and bigger tank, plastics etc is the engine any more powerful than the L?
What a great video, can I ask a couple of questions please. I’m seriously considering a Rally, you were saying that yours is happy in the 70S? Who luggage system are you using? Hay front end mods were you suggesting , I’ve heard a lot about the rear end being soft ?
the 300 engine will chug u along in the lw70s all day long ...i could have gone down a big hill and got 805 on the clock to look cool ..ish ...but its not practical .. even on long slopes and headwinds the 300 will sick in at 70mph where the 250 will get pushed back now and again ......undr normal going the 250 will be happy at 65 /70mph and the 300 70/75mph ..slick road ryres no luggage light rider may be a bit better ..but im 16stone full luggage and barly legal knobbly tyres ......its never going to be a gs on the motorway for sure id test ride the new 300 when its out see what you think ?
