Honda’s 2005 CRF250R only just seems to have hit the market and still appears new however things certainly aren’t standing still with Honda’s chief four-stroke weapon in the Pro-Lite Motocross wars receiving a whole swag of changes for the 2006 model year.

Buyers won’t have to wait until 2006 to get their hands on the new machines as Honda are expecting to deliver first stocks of the new machines to their dealers early next month.

The most obvious change is an interesting move to a new dual muffler layout with small silencers peeking out from behind each of the white side covers. The twin muffler system is claimed to give the CRF250R a torque advantage in mid-range power delivery. The exhaust piping is stainless steel while the repackable silencers are aluminium skinned.

Below the new twin mufflers is a lighter new swingarm with the Pro-Link Showa rear shock valving modified to suit. 13 stages of low-speed compression damping are adjustable along with a separate high-speed circuit also adjustable and 17 stages of rebound damping.

Moving forwards in the machine we get to the heart of the matter, the 13,000rpm single cylinder powerplant that has undergone major changes in the new model. In fact not much has been left alone inside the vertically split crankcases in this latest revamp with a new forged slipper piston, rings, valve seats, camshaft, ignition and cylinder head fed by a new 40mm Keihin FCR carburettor all adding up to offer more performance than before right throughout the rev range.

The complete engine assembly weighs in at an incredibly light 23.9kg. A feature of the Honda assembly is that the engine and gearbox oil circuit are completely separate which helps to reduce windage losses and oil contamination.

Honda are claiming 31.5kw (42hp) at 11000rpm from their Pro-Lite motocrosser with 29.2Nm of torque available at 9500rpm.

The front rim scores a lighter new hub and more weight has been shaved from the front of the machine with a move to lighter new fork tubes encasing the 47mm Showa twin-chamber cartridges.

The radiators are now mounted slightly lower than before to help position the machine’s centre of gravity as low as possible.

The internal valving of the forks has also been modified to take advantage of the changes. The forks offer 315mm of travel and are adjustable through 16 stages of separate rebound and compression settings.

Honda are expecting the first shipment of 2006 model CRF250R machines to reach their dealers early in October.

SPECS
Honda CRF250R 2006
Engine: 249cc, Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 4-valve single
Bore x Stroke: 78 x 52.2mm
Compression: 12.9:1
Induction: 40mm Keihin FCR flat-slide carburettor with TPS
Starter: Kick
Transmission: Five speed
Final Drive: Chain
Wheelbase: 1,479mm
Dimensions (L x W x H): 2172 X 827 X 1277mm
Seat Height: 965mm
Dry Weight: 93.3kg
Fuel Capacity: 7.3 litres
Tyres: Front _ 80/100-21; Rear _ 100/90-19
Suspension: Front _ 47mm inverted Showa forks, fully adjustable; Rear _ Showa fully adjustable shock
Brakes: Front _ 240mm single disc, twin-piston caliper; Rear _ 240mm single disc
Price: TBC
Warranty: Nil, competition machine