Honda Crf 250 M Manual

							Before Riding7
Before each ride, you need to make sure you and
your Honda are both ready to ride.  To help get
you prepared, this section discusses how to 
evaluate your riding readiness, and what items
you should check on your CRF.  
For information about suspension, carburetor,
and other adjustment for competition, see page
93.  
Before Riding
Are You Ready to Ride?.......................................8
Is Your Motorcycle Ready to Ride? .....................9
Pre-ride Inspection .............................................9 
						

							8Before Riding
Are You Ready to Ride?
Before riding your CRF for the first time, we
strongly recommend that you read this owner’s
manual, make sure you understand the safety
messages, and know how to operate the controls.
Before each ride, it’s also important to make sure
you and your CRF are both ready to ride.
For information about suspension, carburetor,
and other adjustments, see page 93.
Whether you’re preparing for competition or for
practice, always make sure you are.
•In good physical and mental condition
•Free of alcohol and drugs
•Wearing an approved helmet, eye protection,
and other appropriate riding gear
Although complete protection is not possible,
wearing the proper gear can reduce the chance or
severity of injury when you ride.WARNING
Not wearing a helmet increases the
chance of serious injury or death in a
crash.  
Be sure you always wear a helmet, eye
protection and other protective apparel
when you ride.   
						

							Before Riding9
Is Your Motorcycle Ready to Ride?
Competitive riding can be tough on a motorcycle,
so it’s important to inspect your CRF and correct
any problems you find before each ride. Check
the following items (page numbers are at the
right):Pre-ride Inspection
Check the following before each ride: 
•Engine oil level .............................................37
•Transmission oil level ...................................40
•Coolant for proper level................................41
•Cooling system and hoses for condition.......42
•Spark plug for proper heat range, carbon
fouling and high tension cord terminal for
looseness .......................................................54
•Air cleaner for condition and 
contamination................................................43
•Clutch lever adjustment and freeplay ...........49
•Hot start lever freeplay .................................53
•Steering head bearing and related parts
for condition..................................................89
•Carburetor throttle operation ........................47
•Tires for damage or improper inflation 
pressure ........................................................81
•Spokes for looseness .....................................80
•Rim locks for looseness ................................80
•Front and rear suspension for proper 
operation ..................................................71,72
•Front and rear brakes, check operation ........76
•Drive chain for correct slack and adequate
lubrication .....................................................83
•Drive chain guide, sliders and drive chain
rollers for damage or wear............................83
•Exhaust pipe/Muffler inspection,
removal and installation................................86
•Every possible part for looseness (such as
cylinder head nuts, engine mounting bolts,
axle nuts, handlebar holder bolts, fork triple
clamp bolts, drive chain adjuster, drive chain
guide, wire harness connectors, kickstarter
mounting bolt) ............................................140
WARNING
Improperly maintaining this motorcycle or
failing to correct a problem before riding
can cause a crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.  
Always perform a pre-ride inspection
before every ride and correct any 
problems.   
						

							10Before Riding 
						

							Basic Operating Instructions11Basic Operating Instructions11
Basic Operating Instructions
This section gives basic information on how to
start and stop your engine as well as break-in
guidelines.  Safe Riding Precautions .....................................12
Starting & Stopping the Engine .........................13
Preparation ....................................................13
Starting Procedure ........................................13
Flooded Engine .............................................13
How to Stop the Engine................................14
Break-in Guidelines ...........................................15 
						

							12Basic Operating Instructions12Basic Operating Instructions
Basic Operating Instructions
Safe Riding Precautions
Before riding your CRF for the first time, please
review the 
Important Safety Precaution
beginning on page 2 and the previous section,
titled 
Before Riding.  
For your safety, avoid starting or operating the
engine in an enclosed area such as a garage.
Your CRF’s exhaust contains poisonous carbon
monoxide gas which can collect rapidly in an
enclosed area and cause illness or death.   
						

							Basic Operating Instructions13Basic Operating Instructions13
Starting & Stopping the Engine
Always follow the proper starting procedure
described below.  
Your CRF can be kickstarted with the
transmission in gear by pulling in the clutch lever
before operating the kickstarter.  
Preparation
Make sure that the transmission is in neutral.
Turn the fuel valve ON.  
Starting Procedure
Always follow the proper starting procedure
described as follow.  Check the engine oil, transmission oil and coolant
levels before starting the engine (pages 37,40,41). 
Cold Engine Starting
1. Turn the fuel valve (1) ON.
2. Shift the transmission into neutral.
3. If the temperature is 35°C (95°F) or below,
pull the choke knob (2) fully out.
4. If the temperature is below 0°C (32°F), open
the throttle two or three times. (The engine
requires a richer mixture for starting in cold
weather. When the throttle is so opened, the
accelerator pump will feed extra fuel to the
cylinder, thereby facilitating starting in cold
weather.)
5. With the throttle closed, operate the
kickstarter starting from the top of the
kickstarter stroke, kick through to the bottom
with a rapid, continuous motion.
(Do not open the throttle, As the carburetor is
equipped with an accelerator pump, excessive
fuel will be charged into the engine, and the
spark plug will be fouled if the throttle is
opened and closed repeatedly. Excessive fuel
in the engine makes kickstarting difficult.)
6. About a minute after the engine starts, push
the choke knob back all the way to fully OFF.
If idling is unstable, open the throttle slightly.W
arm Engine Starting
1. Turn the fuel valve ON.
2. Shift the transmission into neutral.
3. Pull the hot start lever (3) and kick-start the
engine. (Do not open the throttle.)
4. As soon as the engine starts, release the hot
start lever.
(1) fuel valve (2) choke knob
(1)(2)
(3)
(3) hot start lever
Starting the engine after a stall during riding or
after a fall
1. Shift the transmission into neutral.
2. Pull the hot start lever and kick-start the
engine. (Do not open the throttle).
3. As soon as the engine starts, release the hot
start lever.
Flooded Engine 
If the engine fails to start after repeated attempts,
it may be flooded with excess fuel.  To clear a
flooded engine: 
1. Shift the transmission into neutral.
2. With the throttle fully opened, repeat
kickstarter operation approximately 10 times
very slowly to discharge excessive fuel from
the engine.
3. Pull the hot start lever and kick-start the
engine (Do not open the throttle.)
4. As soon as the engine starts, release the hot
start lever. 
						

							14Basic Operating Instructions
Starting & Stopping the Engine
14Basic Operating Instructions
How to Stop the Engine
(1)
(2)
(1) throttle grip (2) engine stop button
Normal Engine Stop
1. Shift the transmission into neutral.  
2. Turn the fuel valve OFF.  
3. Lightly open the throttle (1) 2 – 3 times, and
then close it.  
4. Depress and hold the engine stop button (2)
until the engine stops completely.  
Failure to close the fuel valve may cause the 
carburetor to overflow, result in hard starting.  
Emer
gency Engine Stop
To stop the engine in an emergency,  press the
engine stop button.   
						

							Basic Operating Instructions15
Break-in Guidelines
Help assure your CRF’s future reliability and
performance by paying extra attention to how
you ride during the first operating day or 15
miles (25 km).
During this period, avoid full-throttle starts and
rapid acceleration.
This same procedure should be followed each
time when:
•piston is replaced
•piston rings are replaced
•cylinder is replaced
•crankshaft or crank bearings are replaced 
						

							16Basic Operating Instructions