Words: Jock McLauchlan / Photos: Geoff Osborne
Honda’s CRF250L Rally offers
gorgeous Dakar-inspired looks and
the manners to cosset learner riders.
I
have to put a couple of things on the table...
I love the look of the new Honda CRF250L
Rally, but I’m so far removed from its
target market that it’s not even funny,
and it looks far better than it goes. In the
language of love, it’s not you... it’s me.
Ok, now let me explain. Firstly the little
Honda is an absolutely stunning-looking bit
of kit. I think it even looks better than my
own Africa Twin... sadly for me. It looks so good
and looks like a truly Dakar-capable beast and a
killer adventure bike. This is what the cynical old
racer in me wanted to experience when I threw a
leg over the Rally. I really wanted to believe it’s the
real deal. But the reality is quite different. This is all
about expectations, in case you hadn’t realised yet.