The single biggest complaint from CRF 250l owners is that the suspension is sprung way too light and the damping is inadequate. The bike seems to be set up for a 100-pound beginner rider- Here's how to fix that. A heavier spring or adjusting the pre-loadwill not resolve the issue.
Ohlins STX46 Shock for 2013-2020 CRF 250L The shock is equipped with a stiffer spring for 150-185 lb riders (68 - 84 kg) and offers precise rebound and damping control. (If you are installing on an ABS model, please click here to view the ABS install supplement sheet) The kit comes with great instructions and there is an installation video below.
Unfortunately, Ohlins does not offer a stiffer spring for the 250L. The best you can do is run the compression and rebound 20% firmer than normal and run your preload at the stiffer end of the sag setting.
We recently installed the kits on our CRF's and noted 3 things that are sort of glossed over in the instructions.
1- When installing the rear shock, the remote reservoir line at the top of the shock must be oriented so the line is positioned towards the rear of the bike and the line routed around the left side of the shock towards the front of the bike where the reservoir mounts on the left side of the engine.
2-Removing the top shock bolt isn’t too hard, but re-installation takes 2 people. One to operate a ratchet installing the top shock bolt from the right side of the bike and a second person to position the nut in place from the left side of the bike using a magnetic pickup
tool or by taping the nut to the end of a screwdriver. The airbox/battery bracket is what’s in the way-
3- To remove the fork spring, you need to remove a steel retaining clip located inside the fork tube at the top of the spring. It takes 2 people to do this. One to use a flat blade screwdriver or similar tool to depress the spring a bit while the other person uses a dental pick or similar tool to pull the retainer clip out of the groove. There's not a lot of preload on the spring, so it's not dangerous, it's just a tight space that requires 3- 4 hands! :-)
For some reason, the CRF 250L and 250L Rally's have really tall seat heights(over 35" and taller than the AFRICA TWIN!?! ), especially for a small displacement beginners bike.
Fits 2013-2020 250L & Rally
So we have some options to get your feet firmly on the ground. We are pleased to offer these custom-shaped lowering seats that lower the seat height by 2". These are brand new original HONDA seats that have been hand shaped and re-formed to reduce the seat height by 2" There is still 1-1/2" of foam cushion in the main seating area, so normal ADV riding won't be an issue, but if you are a hard-charging off-roader frequently getting airborne, it might be a bit firm on some landings! :-)
These were developed after my wife was about to give up on her Rally as it was too tall for her. She is relatively new to offroad riding and really felt unsafe and uncomfortable on the Rally, especially when riding on sidehills and slippery surfaces where she was not able to touch the ground when needed. We had already installed a lowering link and that helped, but she wanted it lower to feel comfortable. So we gave one of these a try and she now loves her Rally! Easily installed in just a couple of minutes with common hand tools.
Now available in your choice of RED or BLACK- Please make a selection
We occasionally get further inquiries regarding lowering options and this is our general reply:
The cons of running a link are due to the geometry change in the suspension. In a nutshell, the bike becomes "choppered out" slightly. So the bike likes to go straight (improves straight-line stability), but when cornering on loose surfaces such as gravel roads or lose dirt, the bikes front end will have a bit more of a tendency to plow or push through corners. This is not noticeable on pavement and a beginner off road rider probably won't push the limits of traction enough to have it be an issue, but if you are an experienced off-road rider, you will most likely notice it.
In regards to seat comfort, we had to choose a compromise point that had decent comfort and still an effective seat height reduction. If you read through the reviews, you will see a couple of comments about reduced comfort. I generally tell people that you most likely won't notice it riding off-road where you are standing up intermittently, but if you are riding a couple hundred miles of pavement, then its surely to be noticeable.
Lastly, to simulate the ride height adjustment, find some lumber, bricks or something that you can easily stack up on both sides of the bike that you can rest your feet on that is the same height as the potential drop from the seat and link. That will give you a pretty good sense of how it will feel after the mods.
* These are brand new original HONDA seats that have been hand shaped and re-formed to reduce the seat height by 2"
* Note: SRC MOTO is located in Oregon which is one of the few US states that does not have any general sales tax, so none is charged. However, please be aware when shipping outside the USA, import tax, duties, and other local taxes may still be charged by the destination government or municipality.
OHLINS Rear Shock Spring Installation Service CRF 250L RALLY & 300L RALLY
springlabor
Regular price
$85.00
Save $-85.00
NOTE: CRF 300L SPRING SERVICE COMING SOON - OHLINS HAS NOT RELEASED HD SPRINGS FOR THE 300'S YET. Y
The 250L Rally spring service is currently available.
This is a labor service fee to have us install the HD spring for your 250L CRF Rally. This applies to the HD spring included with the Ohlins Rally shock or the Ohlins extra heavy-duty spring available separately.
We can install the Ohlins heavy spring or extra heavy spring on your Ohlins shock for $85 for you if you like.Add the spring install service to your cart and we will swap the springs (Only available for Rally models and when the shock and springs are purchased together), usually the same day you place your order, so there will be no delay in shipping.
Ohlins Heavy Duty Shock Spring Honda CRF 250L RALLY
00580-21
Regular price
$100.00
Save $-100.00
Ohlins STX46 Shock for 2017-2020 HONDA CRF 250L Rally
The Ohlins STX46 Shock for 2017-2020 HONDA CRF 250L Rally comeswith 2 spring options included. The factory-installed Ohlins (64Nm/mm-6.53Kg/mm) spring on the shock is for riders up to 175 lbs (80 kg) and the included stiffer (7.0Nm - 7.15Kg/mm) is for riders 175 lbs-215 lbs (80-98 kg). We also offer an extra Heavy Ohlins Spring (75 Nm/mm- 7.65Kg/mm) for 225 lb-260 lb riders (102-118 kg) available on our site for an additional $96 We can install the heavy spring or extra heavy spring for $85 installation fee for you if you like. Simply add the spring install service to your cart and we will swap the springs (Only available for Rally models)
This product is an extra heavy-duty spring (75 Nm/mm- 7.65Kg/mm) for 225 lb-260 lb riders (102-118 kg) for the CRF 250L Rally Ohlins shock for 225-260lb riders (109-122 kg)
DOES NOT FIT THE STOCK SHOCK and does not fit the 250L!
If you are ordering this spring at the same time as the shock, we can install it for you for $85. please see the spring install service on our site and add it to your cart.
PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately, no heavier springs are available for the stock shock. Plus the stock shock rebound damping is way too light and that would make it unsafe to ride with a stiffer spring (it could easily rebound you over the handlebars on certain types of bumps off-road), so the only proper solution is to upgrade the stock shock as the stock suspension is set up for a beginner 120 lb rider and is not adjustable. It’s probably OK if you are just riding on the street with no cargo or passenger, but if you plan to go off-road at all the suspension will need to be upgraded.
* Note: SRC MOTO is located in Oregon which is one of the few US states without a general sales tax, so none is charged. However, when shipping outside the USA, import tax, duties, and other local taxes may still be charged by the destination government or municipality.
Ohlins Rear Shock for HONDA CRF 250L RALLY
HO 703
Regular price
$849.00
Save $-849.00
Ohlins Rear Shock for Rally HONDA CRF 250L RALLY 2017-2020
The single biggest complaint from CRF 250l and Rally owners is that the suspension is sprung way too light and the damping is inadequate. The bike seems to be set up for a 100-pound beginner rider- Here's how to fix that. A heavier spring or adjusting the pre-loadwill not resolve the issue. Ohlins STX46 Shock for 2017-2020 HONDA CRF 250L Rally The shock comeswith 2 spring options included. The factory-installed (64Nm/mm-6.53Kg/mm) spring on the shock is for riders up to 175 lbs (80 kg) and the stiffer (7.0Nm - 7.15Kg/mm) is for riders 175 lbs-215 lbs (80-98 kg). We also offer an extra Heavy Ohlins Spring (75 Nm/mm- 7.65Kg/mm) for 225 lb-260 lb riders (102-118 kg) available above for an additional $96 We can install the heavy spring or extra heavy spring for $85 installation fee for you if you like. Simply add the spring install service to your cart and we will swap the springs (Only available for Rally models), usually the same day you place your order, so there will be no delay in shipping. (If you are installing on an ABS model, please click here to view the ABS install supplement sheet)
PS- If you are installing the kit yourself, PLEASE NOTE!
The kit comes with great instructions and there is an installation video below.
We recently installed the kits on our Rally’s and noted 3 things that are sort of glossed over in the instructions.
1- When installing the rear shock, the remote reservoir line at the top of the shock must be oriented so the line is positioned towards the rear of the bike and the line routed around the left side of the shock towards the front of the bike where the reservoir mounts on the left side of the engine.
2-Removing the top shock bolt isn’t too hard, but re-installation takes 2 people. One to operate a ratchet installing the top shock bolt from the right side of the bike and a second person to position the nut in place from the left side of the bike using a magnetic pickup
tool or by taping the nut to the end of a screwdriver. The airbox/battery bracket is what’s in the way-
3- To remove the fork spring, you need to remove a steel retaining clip located inside the fork tube at the top of the spring. It takes 2 people to do this. One to use a flat blade screwdriver or similar tool to depress the spring a bit while the other person uses a dental pick or similar tool to pull the retainer clip out of the groove. There's not a lot of preload on the spring, so it's not dangerous, it's just a tight space that requires 3- 4 hands! :-)
OHLINS INSTALLATION VIDEO
* Note: SRC MOTO is located in Oregon which is one of the few US states without a general sales tax, so none is charged. However, when shipping outside the USA, import tax, duties, and other local taxes may still be charged by the destination government or municipality.
Lowering Link for HONDA CRF 250L & Rally
CRF250L-2 RALLY
Regular price
$168.00
Save $0.00
For some reason, the CRF 250L and Rally's have really tall seat heights (over 35" and taller than the AFRICA TWIN!?! ), especially for a small displacement beginners bike. So we have some options to get your feet firmly back on the ground.
Built in Boise, IDAHO. Ridden and raced everywhere.
We are pleased to offer lowering links by KOUBA LINK:
250L L 1.75" Lowering Link: For the standard 2013-2020 CRF 250L, This KOUBA LINK lowers the bike 1-3/4" (44.5mm)
RALLY 1.5" Lowering Link: This KOUBA LINK lowers the 2017-2020 CRF 250L Rally 1-5" (38mm) in the rear.
Please be aware: Any lowering link alters the rear shock linkage leverage ratio, effectively making the rear shock spring softer. And it's already too soft for most riders as it's set up for a 100 lb beginner rider. If you ride primarily on the street, it probably won't be that big of a deal, but if you ride off-road on loose surfaces, it will have a tendency to make the bike plow through corners instead of carving corners. The front end will push if that makes sense.
We generally also recommend that when installing a lowering link that the forks be raised as much as possible without touching the bottom of the handlebars. (assuming no bar risers have been installed). We do offer lowering seats that don't alter the handling.
We occasionally get further inquiries regarding lowering options and this is our general reply:
The cons of running a link are due to the geometry change in the suspension. In a nutshell, the bike becomes "choppered out" slightly. So the bike likes to go straight (improves straight-line stability), but when cornering on loose surfaces such as gravel roads or lose dirt, the bikes front end will have a bit more of a tendency to plow or push through corners. This is not noticeable on pavement and a beginner off road rider probably won't push the limits of traction enough to have it be an issue, but if you are an experienced off-road rider, you will most likely notice it.
In regards to seat comfort, we had to choose a compromise point that had decent comfort and still an effective seat height reduction. If you read through the reviews, you will see a couple of comments about reduced comfort. I generally tell people that you most likely won't notice it riding off-road where you are standing up intermittently, but if you are riding a couple hundred miles of pavement, then its surely to be noticeable.
Lastly, to simulate the ride height adjustment, find some lumber, bricks or something that you can easily stack up on both sides of the bike that you can rest your feet on that is the same height as the potential drop from the seat and link. That will give you a pretty good sense of how it will feel after the mods.
* Note: SRC MOTO is located in Oregon which is one of the few US states that does not have any general sales tax, so none is charged.
However, please be aware when shipping outside the USA, import tax, duties, and other local taxes may still be charged by the destination government or municipality.
Looking for a great deal? Check out our closeout and overstock sections!
If you are having difficulty locating an item please email us at info@srcmoto.com or call (503) 830-6433 during regular business hours, M-F 8-5 Pacific Time.
