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The User-Friendly Honda CRF230F
As the company isn’t just focused on full-on enduro riding we discounted any of the bikes more suited to that type of riding and felt thata lot of our customers would be more at ease on a more manageable machine. We didn’t want high-maintenance, highly-strung machines that would intimidate rather than cosset, or big heavy trail bikes that would scare rather than soothe, so there was really only one choice – the Honda CRF230F.
It’s a trail bike rather than an enduro bike which would suit the less experienced off-roader or the rider who prefers a lower seat height of just 34 inches which means even the vertically-challenged can get a reassuring foot down, something which is very important when out on the rough stuff!
The engine is an unburstable air-cooled 223cc, SOHC 4-stroke which features an electric start for easy fire-ups whether cold or hot and a 6-speed gearbox with ratios suited to both on and off road.
It’s a lightweight at a claimed 108kg dry which is noticeable as soon as you climb aboard or even push it out of the garage and has a useful 8 litre fuel tank, enough to last a whole days’ riding without fuel stops.
Over 9 inches of suspension travel front and rear ensure that the terrain is soaked up and the disc brake front and drum rear are more than enough to tame any over-enthusiasm, without being so fierce that inexperienced hands lock the wheels unintentionally.
The bike has been very well received by the motorcycling world and has scored highly in customer satisfaction surveys. In a world where we’re told “faster and bigger is better”, the little Honda bucks that trend with its’ ability to punch above its’ weight whilst still being as easy-to-use as anyone could want.
We’ve had a varying range of sizes of riders and they all found the CRF very manageable whilst still able to deliver serious thrills – if you’re not used to the power delivery and grip of an off-road bike then you will find the Honda is very user-friendly. You can just chug along in a high gear and it’ll pull from nothing or, once you’re more confident, use the gears to their potential and get used to the wheel finding grip, even at high revs, without the worry of the rear spinning uselessly or the front wheel looping right over you!
You have to really try to get one of these to misbehave which is a real bonus for the newcomers to trail riding – but rest assured, the more experienced riders will still find it a very capable machine and it’s well able to deal with any of the tracks and trails we use.
PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR FLEET OF MOTORCYCLES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
