It’s not just the MX racers who will
love the 250’s midrange grunt -
cross-country racers will be well
impressed with the Honda’s ability
on the longer circuits too
It’s not just the MX racers who will love the
250’s midrange grunt - cross-country racers
will be well impressed with the Honda’s ability
on the longer circuits too. In fact all three
major factors – engine and handling and
suspension – are excellent.
At the Woodhill Sandpit there is a long road
of whoops that runs parallel with the beach
for about a kilometre. They’re not huge, but
certainly decent and not always evenly spaced.
They can be ridden at quite high speed...
fourth or fifth on a 450. I’ve never been more
impressed by a bike’s suspension feel and
chassis confidence than this 250 delivers
through those whoops! The forks are very
compliant, don’t seem to bottom and the
rear is plush. The bike stays low after impact
and yet the shock still stays up in the stroke
enough to be ready for the next hit. The faster
I went the better it felt and it got to the stage
where it felt like it was just floating across the
tops with no discernible impact at all – quite
amazing. Even other well suspended MX bikes
I’ve ridden in this section eventually start to
get sketchy as the speed rises. I never had the
opportunity to ride the Honda on hard pack
to check the suspension action there, so can’t
really comment on plushness over square
edged holes. It certainly felt firm on tree roots
in Woodhill single track, but again it felt better
the quicker I rode. So, I suspect that overall
the suspension action favours quicker riders
who stay on top of the bumps.
KIWI RIDER 57