Next-gen Honda CRF250L Patent Images Leaked

Honda’s quarter-litre dual-purpose bike comes with some big changes!

• The patent images of the CRF250L reveal a reworked engine.
• The changes could make the bike easier to repair, especially in remote areas.
• Honda seems to have changed the front suspension too.

Patent images of Honda’s next-generation quarter-litre dual-purpose motorcycle, the CRF250L, has been leaked online. Going by the leaked images, Honda seems to have reworked the engine’s internals. For starters, it shows a mechanical fuel pump connected to the camshaft and a direct fuel-injection system. Also, there are two spark plugs instead of one. 

Mechanical fuel pumps were widely used before the advent of electronic fuel injection systems, and has become rather a rarity in the modern day. So seeing an upcoming  motorcycle with a direct fuel injection system and mechanical fuel pump is even rarer. The exact reason behind Honda’s decision to add a mechanical fuel pump instead of an electronic one is unknown. That said, a mechanical fuel pump offers the inherent advantage of being repair-friendly in case the bike breaks down, especially in remote areas. Moreover, bikes like the CRF250L are intended to go down the route less travelled, so this update might just make sense. 

Also, the position of the direct injector appears to be in a way that it can be easily removed for repairs. Direct injection also offers the advantage of offering more precise fuel input, thereby improving the efficiency of the motorcycle. That said, just how precise a direct injector paired with a mechanical fuel pump remains to be seen.

As for the dual spark plug setup, it helps in burning the fuel-air mixture more efficiently than a single-spark layout. It could also be possible that Honda has made these changes to comply with the upcoming Euro 5 emission norms. With these new systems in place, there might be some difference in the output figures of the upcoming CRF. For reference, the current-gen CRF250L’s 250cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor churns out 24.7PS at 8500rpm and 22.6Nm at 6750rpm. It is mated to a 6-speed transmission.

Honda also seems to have used a traditional fork instead of the 43mm Showa inverted unit in the current-generation motorcycle. However, the rest of the underpinnings appear to be unchanged. The headlight cowl is also slightly different compared to the outgoing model. The aforementioned changes suggest that there could be a more affordable version of the CRF250L in the pipeline. But, we’ll have to wait until Honda releases more information to be certain. Considering the fact that the bike has just been patented, it is likely that Honda might showcase the motorcycle in 2021.

Also Read: Honda ADV 150 Custom Scooter Showcased

In the UK, the Honda CRF250L costs 4,669 Pounds (around Rs 3.96 lakh). Interestingly, both the CRF250L and the CB300R are similarly priced in the UK. So, if Honda brings the dual-sport to India via the CKD route, it could be priced around the same ballpark as the CB300R. That said, it remains to be seen whether prospective customers are willing to pay around Rs 2.4 lakh for what’s essentially a quarter-litre motorcycle.