CRF230 - All you wanted to know etc etc

[phil w]

Have you given consideration to a Serow also Jack, get a good one very cheap and bulletproof to see if you like laning

[hondaxrnut]

the small chap (mostly) riding mine at ubley was my mates 14 year old son who is quite throttle happy and could make a good enduro rider, it seemed an ideal bike for his size.
the engine is very similar to the old xl 185/xr200 lump but hardly any parts are the same, even the final drive shaft/sproket shaft is a bigger size.
the essential design is the same, but much beefier built.
the honda price maybe 2500 odd and you can get it registered for less but i did not want the hassle, you need, a dim/dip headlight, rear light, horn, stop light switch, number plate, registration, ect.
i added a bash plate, £50
2 trials tyres £100,
so it could have paid only 2950 or there abouts.
but i sold the original unused knoblies on ebay for £50 about 18 months later.
i have since added a k&n airfilter, power up kit, forks guards, and renthals.
i also fitted abbr rev box, but it is no good for your average green lane, or ldt, so i took it off.
i cant realy see any other mods to do, without spending loads of money.
the serrow is also a good bike, but a lot heavier, as it has a steel tank and more electrics ect.
it realy depends on your budget and how much you are likely to throw it at the greenery and pick it up again.

[phil w]

suppose it depends on tarmac capability also. Not knowing how good the CRF would be, but read lots on the Serow that travels along tarmac all day too if you wanted it to, at a decent pace

[Dangerous_Dave]

I have become quite taken by the wee CRF 230 and found this while doing a bit of "googling" not much on the bike's capabilities but a nice read all the same ..............

http://www.hmarc.com/trips/SlickrockTrail/

One day, I am going to do that.

[Wee Jack]

suppose it depends on tarmac capability also. Not knowing how good the CRF would be, but read lots on the Serow that travels along tarmac all day too if you wanted it to, at a decent pace

I'm not that bothered about road performance as such , I just want it road legal so that i can hop around on the roads between the lanes. I don't want the hassle of a van or trailer.

[XRDAVE]

I have had my 2 230s for a year now and they have been really great. There's almost nothing they won't do including big climbs as long as you're prepared to thrash them a bit. Changing the OE bars is a must and removing the baffle makes a big difference in power just like an XR. The forks are a little weedy in rough going if you're a bigger guy. They have also been 100% reliable. I'd say they are a much better off-roader than a Serrow, a bit like the difference between a DR350 and an XR400.

Check out this vid -

[Wee Jack]

Well that looks pretty darned impressive to me !!!

It certainly is able to handle more than I'll ever be able to throw at it!!

[hamster01]

I have had my 2 230s for a year now and they have been really great. There's almost nothing they won't do including big climbs as long as you're prepared to thrash them a bit. Changing the OE bars is a must and removing the baffle makes a big difference in power just like an XR. The forks are a little weedy in rough going if you're a bigger guy. They have also been 100% reliable. I'd say they are a much better off-roader than a Serrow, a bit like the difference between a DR350 and an XR400.

Check out this vid -

hi dave i brought mine without a baffle and its far to noisy for geen laning and as the power after i got the baffle put back in it ran a lot quicker

[hondaxrnut]

i would also not use it without a baffle, we are loosing enough lanes through noise as it is, if you need more power then a more powerfull bike is the way to go, the beauty of the crf230 is that they do not anounce that you are there until much later, we should be keeping noise down not making more!
apart from the new needle ect, i have never found it wanting on power, i can keep up with my make on his ktm 250 except on realy bumpy motox circuits.

[XRDAVE]

i would also not use it without a baffle, we are loosing enough lanes through noise as it is, if you need more power then a more powerfull bike is the way to go, the beauty of the crf230 is that they do not anounce that you are there until much later, we should be keeping noise down not making more!
apart from the new needle ect, i have never found it wanting on power, i can keep up with my make on his ktm 250 except on realy bumpy motox circuits.

Noise isn't really an issue for me, no walkers or irate farmers to piss off thank god. I found the bike revs much more cleanly without the baffle and just feels less strained. Not a massive hike in power but just much nicer to ride.

I've also found they are fantastic bikes in river crossings. The airbox seals really well and if it goes wrong they are a doddle to get started again.