That's great news about the Athena kit. I've seen that they are popular here for the WR Yams too. But more than pistons fail on CRF's. HISTORY.

As said earlier, CRF Honda series has a very mixed past. Early versions were terrible with LOTS of bearing failures and tightening up of valves at very low hours. Very very common.

Both the 250 and 450 R & X series were affected. Among guys I ride with we had several trail side mishaps with these bikes going back to around 2003 or so when they first were introduced.

One example is on this thread. Scroll up a few posts to my Baja pic. The guy pictured on the CRF450X did not finish the ride. Cam follower bearing failed. I was there assisting when he took it apart. Ride Finished. Luckily he made it to Hotel that day ... but the thing sounded like a box of bolts.

Another buddy went through 2 CRF250's and one CRF450 ... yet he stuck with Honda after most bailed out. He bought his last one (CRF450X) in around 2008 and it was pretty good. But I was with him on TWO occasions in Nevada when his 250X started getting really hard to start. (bike less than 3 months old) Valves had tightened up ... and NO adjustment left.

That one was covered by Honda (not required as there is NO warranty on "race" bikes) The 2nd bike ... same thing, Honda did NOT cover it. He rebuilt it and sold it off.

His 450 was better but in a year (probably 200 hours of trail riding) valves tightened up. My buddy Rod rebuilt the whole top end as preventive and used the Kibblewhite stainless valves ... which helped. Still, not ideal on a modern bike.

You'll note neither Yamaha nor Suzuki had these sorts of problems during these years. I stopped following the CRF years ago so not sure how today's bikes are doing.

Hopefully better without the customer having to rebuild a brand new motor with aftermarket parts right out of the dealership. Here in the USA Honda lost THOUSANDS of long time, loyal customers (mostly former XR riders). Most went to KTM and that's were they are today.

From 2005 ... Red now turned to Orange. The CRF made this ride ... but trouble was further down the trail.

Once upon a time in 2006ish I rode a 300 gas gas enduro bike from uk to south of France,mainly down the motorways.....I'd put it about on par with having your teeth ripped out at the dentist or having stuff removed from your eye with a big needle at the eye hospital where they clamp your head in something and squirt some nasty yellow stuff in your eyes....it wasn't an experience I intend to repeat..
I've done the same trip plus a bit extra to Spain on a drz and it wasn't too bad an ordeal,I did bubble wrap the seat which helped a bit..
Then since then I've done the Spain to dieppe jaunt several times on a very old xt 600 tenere,which has by far the best seat of the lot,huge tank range and is relatively capable still off road..
If you don't mind a bit of spannering to get up together the original xt is a very versatile thing..