Honda CBR250R’s Adventure Cousins Get Updated For 2025

Quick News Highlights:

• 2025 Honda CRF250L and CRF250 Rally get subtle updates in Indonesia

• They come with new colours, revised graphics, and minor design tweaks 

• The bikes also now get switchable ABS at the rear

Honda recently introduced updated versions of the CRF250L and CRF250 Rally for 2025 in Indonesia. Both motorcycles come with small but noticeable changes in design and features, and the same updates happened in Japan as well, back in March 2025.

Design

The 2025 Honda CRF250L is now available in two updated colour options: Swift Gray and Extreme Red. Other design tweaks include a reshaped radiator grille and revised side body panels to improve heat management, redirecting engine heat away from the rider, and both also get plastic handguards. The 250L comes with a minimal flyscreen with a small, sharp and sleek-looking LED headlight. 

The 2025 CRF250 Rally, meanwhile, comes only in Extreme Red, but its shade is different compared to the CRF250L. Honda has also introduced a blue seat for the Rally variant for the first time. The Rally gets a semi-fairing, a taller windscreen, and more importantly an asymmetrical twin-headlight setup. 

Engine

Both the CRF250L and CRF250 Rally are powered by the same 249cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, engine as the CBR250R that was sold in India up to 2020, before the BS6 norms kicked in. The motor produces 24PS at 9,000rpm, 23Nm at 6,500rpm, and is paired to a six-speed gearbox with a slipper-clutch (new for 2025).

Underpinnings 

Both bikes get a long-travel 43mm inverted fork and a link-type monoshock suspension setup at both ends. They get 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoke wheels wrapped with 80-section front and 120-section rear tubed tyres. They also get disc brakes at either end, paired with dual-channel ABS. The Rally weighs 152kg kerb, has a 12.8-litre fuel tank, tall 885mm seat height, and a generous 275mm of ground clearance. Meanwhile, the 250L has a 142kg kerb weight, fuel tank capacity of 7.8L, seat height of 880mm, and an even higher ground clearance of 285mm.

Features

The feature set is revised for 2025, and now includes all LED lighting, anLCD instrument console, switchable ABS at the rear, and hazard lights that switch on automatically upon sudden or in emergency braking situations.

Rivals

If launched in India, the CRF250L and CRF250 Rally would compete directly with the Kawasaki KLX 230. They would also rival the Hero Xpulse 210, 2025 Yezdi Adventure, Suzuki V-Storm SX 250, and KTM 250 Adventure.

BikeDekho Says

While the 2025 updates to the CRF250 range are not major, they refine the package further for riders who enjoy light adventure touring and off-road trails. As of now, Honda has not announced any plans to bring these models to the Indian market. That said, the bigger Honda CRF300L and its Rally variant were spotted in Bengaluru exactly a year ago.

Considering Honda launched several new premium bikes and even an adventure scooter in the recent months, we wouldn’t be surprised if Honda decides to bring in the bigger CRF 300L here, as the brand already offers the CB300R, which shares the same engine but in a neo-retro roadster package.