hello I can by a honda NX 250 Dominator 1994 with 12000 Km, looking good, no traces showing off road use

Anybody experenced traveling with such a bike? I am especialy interested in off road experiences
with this bike

Thanks

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I hope that this answers one or two of your questions, I know that these are 400cc but the 250 should be equally up to it, they are a very good and reliable bike capable of taking you just about anywhere.

Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers' Stories - Sheonagh Ravensdale and Pat Thomson

Thanks, nice link

the NX 250 has a reputation of extreme economy (3 l/ 100 Km?), an interesting aspect to me( money issues off course, but this is also a great factor in weight when traveling)
I do read about a weak rear schock...?(replace it ?)
So I hope some one can tell me more on these aspects

make love, not work

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Great little bike, the Honda NX 250 Dominator!

We are busy on a trans-Africa trip, from Amsterdam to Cape Town, on 2 of these machines and it is going great until now! We are now in Ethiopia. We did some offroad in Rhodos, Greece and in Wadi Rum, Jordan and it was all good fun. The next big test is the infamous Moyale road in north-Kenia.

Economy on this trip is 1/28, but serious offroading can get is down to 1/15. Shocks (both rear and front) are sloppy indeed, but for us it is good enough. The front shocks can be made stiffer by putting larger bushings and putting more and denser oil.

The only weak point about this bike that sometimes the CDI unit craps out. So you need to bring a spare, or know how to repair it (we own 3 NX250 and I re-soldered the prints on all 3 CDI units). (For instructions on how to repair the CDI unit, check this page. It is in Dutch, but you can use Google Translate and look at the pictures: http://www.motor-forum.nl/forum/list_messages/19436)

Off course highway driving is a little uncomfortable on these small bikes, as they only do about 120-130 kph. But on 100 kph or 80 kph roads they do well.

And many avantages, like low weight (less damage when dropped and easy to pick up by 1 person, even with luggage), good off-road playing, very easy mechanically, so easy to maintain, understand and repair, etc, etc.

For more information about our specific travel and our experiences with these bikes (and some nice pics and videos), check out our website: Travelin.tk: de Afrika motorreis van Dave en Marly - Beginpagina

Now go out and have some adventure with your NX 250!

PS. Don't forget so check out the NX 250 thread on AVrider:
ADVrider

Dave and Marly from Amsterdam, The Netherlands
http://www.travelin.tk

i heard the cam chain tensioner is a weak spot, as far as one can speak of weak. i know someone who did off-road, with some mods (for the mud), without any problems.
just take a front sprocket, brake pads, oil filter along. keep an eye on the fluids and tire and go for it.

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I’m not afraid to go fast, it’s the crash and burn part that sucks.

I have one at 70k kilometers.I usually use it on long off-road trips with camp equipment loaded.It is really and really a very reliable machine.
Yes, suspensions are not great but they are so reliable too.I had never have problems with shocks, never replaced the seals even for a 21 year old bike.Tires are small;19'' for front, 16'' for rear.They make off road riding a little compelling.I had put spacers to front and rear shocks to increase the ground clearence.I hadnt came across a road or terrain that the bike couldnt pass.
Anyway.Not the best travel or off-road bike but the most economic one i think with it's reliability and fuel consumption.

Indeed the cam chain tensioner is a weak spot! When I wrote my first reply, I didn't know yet, but NOW I know, because I lost a whole engine to this problem. The cam chain tensioner doesn't keep the chain on the right tension, once your chain starts to wear out. When your chain is starting to wear, either replace it with a new chain, or lock you cam chain tensioner with the fix described by the user "Local Machine" and "Mass Out" on the NX 250 page on the AVRider forum.

Here is the link: ADVrider - View Single Post - NX250 Thread -- official ADV owners manual

Be very aware of this problem, because it could cost you your engine as well!!!

Happy NX-ing!

Dave