crf250 Rally

[garyboy]

Reading Bennett's Rally review, I now see how the heavier Rally feels lighter than the L ... its because the front fairing is not attached to the forks, but to the frame, making steering feel lighter,.. and also because of the long static sag, which brings the weight of the bike further back, so taking some weight off the front, despite the front having the extra weight of rally tower.

[berin]

Picking up on Minky's comment about clutches , and about how some people make them last, I would add my 5 p'neth. Being old and brought up on fragile and heavy old Brit single clutches you use the clutch just to get going and to change gear. IMO on gentle trail riding there is virtually no need to slip the clutch with a modern 250 provided that the gearing is sensible. Its really surprising how bikes will keep their momentum and chug up difficult inclines with low revs. Pulling the clutch simply results in you coming to a standstill or trying to carry on with loads more revs and continuous slipping--a burn out will come soon. Next time you are tempted to slip don't. Just keep a bit of throttle on and let it chug up.

Exactly wrong for riding trails on modern enduro bikes. You should use the clutch all the time, to take power away and moderate speed without harsh movements on the brake and throttle.

Every off road school teaches this, and I’ve been doing this I first went to Simon Pavey’s Off Road Skills in 2008, and I’ve never broken a clutch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm afraid I disagree--I'm in my 70s now and have been riding offroad since I was 16. I have done enduros, trials-- normal and long distance, and so have experience going way back, right up to modern stuff (I have a Kawa Super Sherpa and a Yamaha WR 250R now)--the key point is that they are both NOT ENDURO bikes, and produce good torque at lowish revs--I rarely need brakes--except steep and slippy downhill where I ride AGAINST the back brake to keep the rear wheel turning and not locking and stalling. I won't say that I never dip the clutch on the odd occasion but I certainly don't ride it. The Kawa has a great and correctly spaced 6 speed box and is 118 kg--it does what it says on the tin. On the WR the only problem was with both the throttle and clutch controls. A more gradual clutch action was achieved by doing my homework and fitting a Honda perch which has a better lever movement to cable movement ratio--more progressive. The throttle was too sharp--and solved by fitting a progressive diameter twistgrip--its smaller for the first third so is less sensitive to throttle tube movement. Also gearing is so important--I have a range or rear sprockets and chains and will change them according to the trip/use.

Everyone has their own way of doing things.

I’ve also been riding bikes a very long time, but when I got into enduro bikes about 15 years I took tuition from Simon Pavey, Patsy Quick, Burt and Moly and others. All of them taught to use the clutch as an extra gear, and since then I’ve done thousands of miles using what I’d been taught, and it seems to me it works very well, on bigger bikes like GS’s and 1190’s, which I’ve taken on trails across Europe and North Africa, as well as smaller bikes like my KTM 350’s and 690. The technique works just as well on all.

A good point is made about arresting forward movement-on the trails using the clutch to do this is a much better way to do this than slamming the brakes on. And no one is saying rev the tits off it while slipping the clutch, just using the clutch to modulate speed and power delivery is the way.

Modern clutches seem not to have the weakness of those from the 70’s and 80’s, and I’ve never had to replace a clutch.

For those that aren’t used to using a clutch in this way, well, no one is forcing you and I’m sure it works well for you.

But for those new to this, my advice would be go to one of the many off road schools and benefit from up to date techniques.

There’s a good video on this by Llel Pavey and you can see how clutch control works through to everything we want to do on a bike.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[garyboy]

I got a rear tyre ordered .. an MT21 .. will see what its like when its fitted and tried out. .. the front tyre didn't seen too bad, at low speed anyway, but it will have to be changed at some point very soon.

Too cold to work on the bike yesterday, especially for an oap dependent on viagra to keep him going, as well as senapods. .. So I did a bit today, not finished .. Placed the heated grips (a bit too chunky but cheap, as i had 'em off my `L` lol). Also placed the old hand guards .. they look good quality, as they came off my old crf250X but need a bit of `adjusting`. The oem hand guards looked good quality, but do not wrap around, to protect the ends of levers. .. essential, as i found out before. SO its all there ready to connect up .. when i shall also attach my old `L` usb .. direct to battery, all of it ... but i din have no problem before, as it has a switch and fuse. .. Its all gonna look naff, as the colours are faded, but i can spray paint the hand guard plastics later, maybe?... a bright pink with purple dots seems good. ... actually they do look a very pink now, with the sun fade lol.

Been gagging to get out on the bike, more so than the NC750, maybe because it is new (to me) ,, and i been thinking about it every night, and day, and am going to make a porno video of it. .. or maybe with the naked NC too.

I am surprised how the oap residents at our nursing home for the criminally insane, are accepting the bike ok ... perhaps because it looks so perdy .. and the oap biker chick keeps pestering me for a ride (really lol)... Its not her age, 83, its just I don't fancy her, and know she is into bondage, and i like my freedom .. why have a bike otherwise .. eh? .. o .. and i am celebrate anyway .. anything for a party .. eh bj ?

[garyboy]

the clutch .. i have taken note of all the useful comments, pewked up and trying hard to ignore it all .. but at least i will know this, what to look out for ... clutch slip I mean ... and after the max adjustment, go straight for the 1313 kit. I may even become proactive, for once, and order the kit before it all goes too far.

The use of second hand parts on the new Rally is a bit disconcerting, but i have to keep costs down to pay the HP .. o .. and for petrol, to aid opec.
Also, when i had the `L` i would not ride it `off road` for over a year, just a few gentle lanes... so this time i just went for it and give it shit n stick straight away ... almost criminal, I know... but its gotta be done. .... I was so chuffed i actually kept it upright, but am wondering if i will be able to keep doing that . should i remove the front fairing screen, just while on trails?

[garyboy]

fitted old handguards and heated grips

20220117_160159 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

20220117_151714 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

20220117_153745 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

20220117_154850 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

[garyboy]

The handguards are a temporary bodge

[garyboy]

Really pleased with my new Rally .. rides beautifully, crisp quiet deceptively quick gentle acceleration up to 30, then slight vibes up to higher speeds, followed by good progress up to 60 and beyond.. much better than my old 2015L.. yet its supposed to be the same engine???

Took me several hours to bodge fit the handguards and heated grips from my old L, but we'll worth the effort to have warm hands, and good overall wind protection.. much more so than my old L, which was freezing in winter. When I can afford it, I will buy some proper hand guards, but these do the job until then.

The plastic sump guard is OK, surprisingly, at the moment, but I wouldn't want to take the bike to strata like this. Looks like my old sump guard would have fitted, but I really like the look of the plastic one. Not sure what's available in that area atm.

The old Oxford heated grips work well; even the red light, for high power, started working lol. And the chunkyness was not an issue, .. quite good like that in fact, but it seemed to alter the handling confidence??

The tyres need sorting, and getting to the preferred pressures, and a rear mt21 will hopefully improve straight line motion.

Chuffed to bits, just need to get fit now lol, .. and build experience again, .. should be able to go slow properly then.

The oap women in my nursing home are gagging for a ride on it, and are stopping me to talk about it, even when I am filthy and scruffy after a ride lol

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

That's not the bike, Gary, it's you!

[dave h]

luverly thread this Gary,
thanks for sharing you in depth blossoming affair with this bike,

dave.

[garyboy]

short practice today ... reached 12mph lol

20220119_151322 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

20220119_152946 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

20220119_150514 (2) by gary boy, on Flickr

the bike is very comfy on the road and rides beautifully, much better than my old 2015 250L (I think it was a lemon). I do about 50-60 mph on tarmac for ease, and to save tyre wear, and there is plenty of oomph left after that, and can do at least 80mph. The wind protection is great and i have never felt cold on this bike. I have more confidence on this bike, the 250 Rally, then my other bikes, and although it is high, for me, it still gives confidence, and i like the fact that there is plenty of ground clearance, as standard.

I can't keep the Oxford heated grips on for long, as it gets too hot lol. and the hand guards are fine for now. The new MT21 was put on today, and the rear feeling (oops) is great .. softer better rubber and more road grip ... must get the front one done when i can afford it.
Off road the rear was fine but i could feel the hardness of the front rubber, but the bike sailed over all obstacles nicely ... at 12mph lol ... I am getting used to the off road feel of a bike again. and it was quite muddy and slippy . (I shat myself on the first 100 yards lol) .. Second gear, for me, was fine, and preferred to 1st as that was too skittish over dips, jerking me forward, whereas 12-20 mph in second was fine for a gentle ride. I dont think i need the lower gearing of the 300 Rally? though can see that it would help.

it took £10.50 to fill the tank from the first bar .. not sure if it flashes for reserve, so better make sure eh? It seems to be doing at least 80mpg but could be more, when i check at next fill up. Very steady and stable ride all round. very nice !!!!