Honda CRF250R Top Speed, Specs, Pros and Cons
Last updated on October 17th, 2026 at 03:40 am
Honda does not publish a top speed for the CRF250R. The gear ratios in Honda's own 2020 owner's manual work out to about 69 mph in fifth gear at 12,000 rpm with stock 13/48 gearing, and that is arithmetic, not a measured run.
The bike makes roughly 38 hp at the rear wheel on Dirt Rider's dyno, and Honda lists a curb weight of 229 lb for the 2023 model and 234 lb for 2025. Honda sells it for closed-course competition, not the street.
Honda CRF250R specs by model year
The engine specs match across all three years: 249 cc, 79.0 mm x 50.9 mm and 13.9:1 compression. What changed are the gearing, travel, weight and chassis. Honda's 2022 release says the redesign cut 8 lb and reworked the intake, valve timing and exhaust port.
| Spec | 2020 (owner's manual) | 2023 (Honda) | 2025 (Honda) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 249.43 cc | 249.4 cc | 249.3 cc |
| Final drive | 13T/48T (3.692) | 13T/50T | 13T/50T |
| Front / rear travel | 12.0 in / 12.5 in | 12.2 in / 12.3 in | 12.2 in / 12.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 58.5 in | 58.1 in | 58.4 in |
| Seat height | 37.7 in | 37.8 in | 37.6 in |
| Ground clearance | 12.9 in | 13.1 in | 13.0 in |
| Fuel tank | 1.66 US gal | 1.7 gal | 1.7 gal |
| Curb weight | Not in manual spec page | 229 lb | 234 lb |
Honda's 2022 launch release also claims a 20 percent increase in power at 6,500 rpm over the previous model. The 2023 and 2025 sheets list a 13T/50T final drive, a numerically higher final ratio than the 2020 bike's 13/48, and Honda also changed the internal gear ratios.
How fast is the CRF250R?
Road speed in any gear is engine rpm divided by the total reduction, times the rear tire's rolling circumference. Honda's 2020 manual gives the numbers: primary reduction 3.473, gear ratios of 2.230, 1.750, 1.470, 1.227 and 1.043, and a final reduction of 3.692.
Plug in 12,000 rpm and fifth gear is about 69 mph. Honda does not publish a rev limit or the rpm of peak power, so 12,000 is a round-number starting point and you can enter your own. We found no GPS-verified top speed for a stock, current CRF250R.
CRF250R speed-by-gear calculator
The calculator uses the 2020 manual's ratios. Honda's 2023 sheet describes "special primary and transmission ratios" for the redesigned bike and does not list them, so treat the result for a 2022 or newer bike as an estimate.
Tire squash, rider weight, wind and a track that is not flat all pull the real number down. A bike on a short track rarely reaches fifth gear at peak rpm, which is why top speed matters less on a CRF250R than on a trail bike.
What one sprocket tooth does to top speed
Honda's manual says a one-tooth change on the rear sprocket is normally enough. More rear teeth lowers the gearing: it decreases top speed in each gear and raises engine rpm at a given speed. Fewer teeth does the reverse.
| Sprockets | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/47 | 33 mph | 42 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph |
| 13/48 | 32 mph | 41 mph | 49 mph | 58 mph | 69 mph |
| 13/49 | 31 mph | 40 mph | 48 mph | 57 mph | 67 mph |
| 13/50 | 31 mph | 39 mph | 47 mph | 56 mph | 66 mph |
Honda's guidance: use higher gearing (fewer rear teeth) on wet, slippery or sandy tracks to keep rpm down and avoid wheelspin. Use lower gearing on hard, tight tracks to keep the engine in its power. Have a dealer change sprockets unless you have the service manual and tools.
Power, torque and engine modes
Honda does not list horsepower or torque. Dirt Rider measured the 2022 CRF250R at 37.6 hp and 18.1 lb-ft on its in-house dyno, and the 2024 bike at 37.9 hp and 18.0 lb-ft on a Dynojet 250i. Dirt Rider says the 2024 bike has had no mechanical changes since 2022.
The 2020 manual describes three engine modes selected with a handlebar button: mode 1 standard, mode 2 smooth with reduced throttle response, and mode 3 aggressive with increased throttle response. It also describes an HRC Launch Control system that temporarily lowers the rev limit at the start, with three levels and a factory setting of level 2.
Service intervals and key numbers
Motocross bikes are serviced by hours, not miles. Honda's schedule for the CRF250R counts each race or moto as about 2.5 hours. These are the 2020 manual's intervals for "average riding condition," and severe use needs service sooner.
| Interval | Service items (CRF250R) |
|---|---|
| Each race (about 2.5 h) | Inspect spark plug, throttle, idle speed, coolant, brakes, clutch, chain and sliders; lube the chain; clean the air filter when dusty |
| Every 3 races (about 7.5 h) | Replace the drive chain; lubricate the swingarm and shock linkage |
| Every 6 races (about 15 h) | Replace engine oil, oil filter, piston, rings and piston pin; inspect valve clearance |
| Every 12 races (about 30 h) | Replace fork oil, fuel line and fuel pump filter; inspect steering head bearings |
| Every 2 years | Replace coolant and brake fluid |
A few numbers from the same manual are worth keeping handy. Intake valve clearance, cold, is 0.004 in plus or minus 0.001, and exhaust is 0.007 in plus or minus 0.001. The spark plug is an NGK R0451B-9 gapped at 0.024 to 0.028 in.
Engine oil capacity is 1.14 US qt after draining and 1.18 qt with a filter change. Coolant capacity is 0.99 US qt after draining. Idle speed is 2,000 rpm plus or minus 100, and cold tire pressure is 15 psi front and rear. The oil drain bolt torque is 12 lbf-ft.
Pros and cons
- Pro: 229 to 234 lb curb weight, fully adjustable Showa suspension and a push-button electric starter.
- Pro: three engine modes and HRC Launch Control for different track conditions.
- Con: built for competition, with no lights, mirrors or speedometer, so it is not a trail or street bike.
- Con: Honda's schedule replaces the piston and rings about every 15 hours, and the tank holds only 1.7 gal.
CRF250R FAQ
What is the top speed of a Honda CRF250R?
Honda does not publish one. With Honda's 2020 gear ratios, 13/48 gearing and 12,000 rpm, fifth gear works out to about 69 mph. Real speeds depend on gearing, rpm limit, rider weight and terrain.
How much horsepower does the CRF250R make?
Honda does not publish a figure. Dirt Rider measured 37.6 hp for 2022 and 37.9 hp for 2024 at the rear wheel.
How much does a CRF250R weigh?
Honda lists 229 lb curb weight for 2023 and 234 lb for 2025, including fluids and a full tank.
Is the CRF250R street legal?
No. Honda's owner's manual describes it as intended for competition use, and it has no lights, mirrors or speedometer.
What sprockets does the CRF250R use?
The 2020 manual gives a 3.692 final reduction, or 13/48. Honda's 2023 and 2025 specifications list 13T front and 50T rear.
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I'm Suryashankar Dasgupta, the founder of Off-Road Handbook. I've been off-roading for years in the USA, including California and Texas, and have ridden mountain and desert terrain abroad. I've also driven a Jeep Compass for more than seven years, so I know the day-to-day side of Jeep ownership first-hand, from the Uconnect screen to the warning lights. Every guide here is researched from manufacturer owner's manuals, NHTSA recall and service-bulletin records and other trusted sources, checked against them before it is published, and corrected when we find a mistake. You can read how we work in our editorial policy: https://offroadhandbook.com/editorial-policy/
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