https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwrk49kDCZ0

Another concept while you're waiting for the mythical True Adventure!

Quite like the look of that but it still looks like it has a small fuel tank!

Wayne

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The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

As much as I like 250s, I cannot fathom why they don't pull out the CRF450X in a production rally guise. It'd probably sell bucket and loads, don't you think?

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

You mean like this one?


Honda (HRC) built the 450 Rally Racer a few years back. Shown above with the Honda Dakar race team riders from a year or two back.

Word is you can buy this bike, but must have racing credentials and race resume'. Cost, IIRC, is around $100,000 USD.

The new 250 Rally shown is a good idea for Honda ... sort of ultimate poser bike. But who cares? It looks the part. Lots of nice "Bling" there. Be interesting to see if it will become a reality. I doubt the engine is anything special, probably stock CRF, suspension probably basic too. A new CRF is about $8500 usd. I'm guessing $12K usd for that Rally.

To keep the bike affordable for mortals Honda will have to limit it ... IMO, a nice effort nonetheless. But the CRF250F motor would not be my choice in any sort of travel/ADV bike. Neither of the Honda 4 strokes (250X or 450X) have been reliable among many friends who have owned (or own) them. I have personal experience with both. Disasters for any sort of serious high mileage ... but GREAT race bikes or local enduro racers/rally bikes.

Yamaha should know their timing and introduce their WR250R in an affordable rally set-up. Great engine, reliable and cool

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

Yes, Yamaha (like Honda) also have a Dakar Race bike to copy from. But the bike I'd rather see from Yamaha is a WR450R. Would not be hard or expensive for Yamaha to produce this bike ... and thousands of fans have begged for a 450 version of the WR250R for years, so buyers waiting.

IMHO, a WR450R with some work & adaptation, could make a good travel/ADV bike. For me personally, I won't pay for a Dakar "look alike" Bling machine. I don't need that, prefer something strong, simple, light and practical for long range travel ... not a pseudo Dakar Wanna Be.

The big four already did exactly this in the 1980's ... Remember? Suzuki DR BIG 800, Yamaha 750 Tenere', Honda Africa Twin/Dominator, KLR650 ... all Dakar inspired and only the KLR made it to the USA.

Agreed - a WR450R would be the ultimate bike for a lot of purposes. I like the rally set-up with extra tanks, nav tower, even longer suspension travel,and whatnot. But then again I like bling

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HansP
All you wanted to know
about riding in Norway

Why use a high powered enduro/MX engine to power a RTW machine?
More important to have reliability and low fuel usage.
Just because the Dakar specifies 450 4t thumpers doesn't mean everyone has to use them, better to have a bigger less stressed engine than a small light low oil capacity one.
Oil capacity in the WR is 1.2 litre or so?
600 mile oil changes.
10 hr specified change interval for the small end bearing?

IMO they are tuned for performance not long term reliability but if you fancy one work away.

Despite what CCM have done I agree a 450X or -R would not make a real-world overlander, but a 450L would - and if rally styled then so much the better. I like that look.
As has been said - 1980s Dakar look-alikes were the original 'adventure bikes'. So let's do it all again.

Just saw Honda Argentina have a 'limitada' Rally-styled XRE 300 (pic below). Based on the old air-cooled 250 Tornado, not modern CRF - but now injected.
So they’re getting the picture.

Honda - XRE300 Rally Special Edition

Honda Linha 300
Cant see price in Arg but 16,500 Bz reals for the ABS = 3300 quid.

I actually prefer the older carb Tornado 250 to the CRF: less weight, same power / mpg, better springs.
But never sold worldwide and if anything, being withdrawn here and there in place of the all-conquering CRF.
Noticed they're even calling the new Africa Twin a 'CRF1000L'
So let's hope H start filling the gap between 250 and 1000.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

I think you may be mixing up the two versions of the WR Yamaha's. With the WR250 you have the "F" model ... A RACE BIKE. I recently sold my '07.
But Yamaha also sell the WR250R dual sport bike, which has reasonable oil change intervals and very long life.

A totally different bike than the "F" model ... and presumably, if Yamaha did a 450 version of the WR450F ... it too would be a more road worthy, long distance capable machine as the WR250R is. Many WR250R's have done LONG TOURS.

A mildly tuned WR450R dual sport version could make a decent travel bike, but like ANY bike would need serious set up to go long distance with a load.

Yes! An "L" version would be great. We always wondered why Honda never made an "L" version of the XR400 ... at least not in USA. They also never upgraded the XR650L. But the CRF250L gives us hope. Good little bike, eh?

The old XR250R had an "L" version going back to early 90's. Of course the 600/650 had "L" versions too ... XL600R, XL650L ... all street legal dual sports.

If Honda do an "L" version of the CRF450R I would hope for a modern, low maintenance, liquid cooled, F.I. de-tuned version. (to pass EU and EPA regs). I like the Rally look too ... but not keen to pay extra money for non functional bling tact onto a poser bike.

All this may be so much fantasy. After all, we've waited since 1992 for Honda to upgrade the old XR650L ... that's a long run for a model with so many poor engineering choices.

Honda drove a stake through the heart of the entire XR line with the CRF line ... and lost THOUSANDS of loyal customers to KTM because of it. They then shifted production to Brazil and Thailand for the small non race bikes and the rest is history.

Early Honda CRF race bikes were an unmitigated disaster ... took 10 years for Honda to dig their way out of that hole.

Always merry and bright! ... lets hope for the best!

Chris

The Hondas XRE 300 are Made in Brazil in their Factory at Manaus, all the XRE 300 are based on the 250 Tornado. Its same engine with +40cc, same frame, shorter suspension but instead of carb, injected and new plastics, also rear disc brake and few things more are updated. Price here are ARG$ 90,000.- (Argentinean Pesos) like 10K U$D at official exchange. Bz reals are in Brazil there are like half the price WOW!!!

Here (in Argentina) the XR Tornado still on sale. Honda says is made here but only are assembled with few argie bolts, most parts still coming from Manaus Factory. I love this bike (had one) but compared with the new 300 the Tornado is slow (from GPS never more than 127,5 km/h with back wind). Have seen a Brazilian traveller with a XRE 300 more than fully loaded that show me his GPS from day before to arrive to BA in Uruguay roads at 141 Km/h (wow???). Price in Argentina of the Tornado, stay very expensive at U$D 6500.-

CRF250L made in Malaysia? from 2014 but new 0Km is possible to find here but I fill ashamed to says at how much…

For small 250s around South America even when I don’t like it is better the Yamahas XTZ250s, in Brazil is call the Lander or they have the new Mini Tenere.
Her frame has thin and weak tubes, wheel rims are in steel and all bike looks like an enlarged 125. But is very economical on fuel (good injected), is faster than the Tornado and cheaper to buy..

The CRF250 Rally looks spectacular very similar to the official 450s that I have seen and touch last Dakar around, the picture from Mollydog is an older model (have to find my pics and video).

I would kill or die for a normal human version of that 450 but for sure the price, and more around here will be only for millionaires kids.

Would love to see a new CRF650L “Dominator” (old NX) updated but simple and cheap but I’m sure never will happen. Like the Tenere 660 but not the latest with ABS.

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

Caramba! I saw that in an Arg review of the Rally bike and assumed it was a typo.

Perhaps they should rename the Arg peso: ARGH!$

ARGH!$ HAHAHA

It hurts more to us than to visitors, at least you can take the benefits of the “Dollar Blue” (street vs official markets) by now.

I will keep riding my old bikes, all pre-Y2K. Maybe in 10 or 15 years I can buy a well used CRF1000L “Africa Twin”.

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

I love the Tornado; it's a solid choice for a budget S.Am tour. You can gun them all day and they never complain. I met an Argentinian group of bikers mostly on GS800's but one of them rode the XRE300. He loved it and gave me a go. It felt much lower than the Tornado and smooth to ride though I only drove it a hundred meters or so. Seemed like he kept up just fine with those big twins. The "Falcon" NX400's look great too. Only thing about the XRE would be it had a lot of plastic on it to get smashed up.