An Even Better CRF250X!

Who knows off-road Hondas better than Summers Racing? And who to design better protection for the new, aluminum framed CRF250X's with their aluminum cases and magnesium side covers? Honda equipped the 250X with two little 1.5 oz. plastic shields in front of the engine, so that should be enough, right?

Okay, let's admit it. We certainly don't HAVE to have the full coverage protection of the SRC heavy duty skid plate just because we ride over rocks and logs. After all, that pretty new aluminum frame only costs a little over $1000, each engine case runs about $200 and change, and those trick magnesium covers can be replaced for a mere $130 or so. The water pump cover is a real bargain, at only $50 each! Of course, those prices don't cover sales tax, shipping, or labor. So who really needs to protect them? Yeah...me too!

The SRC Heavy Duty Skid Plate is not one of those narrow little motocross-style plates that fits under the frame but leaves the engine unprotected. No, this one is a full-coverage version designed to protect the frame and those high-dollar engine cases and covers. It's made from hardened aluminum to be strong but light, and it has plenty of holes in the forward area to further enhance its lightness, as well as provide air flow to and around the engine.

Due to its brilliant design, installing the SRC skid plate is quick and easy...if you know how. Personally, I'd like to have seen some instructions included, because I did it wrong the first time, fastening the left side first, and spending nearly 20 minutes in the process. When I found the rear clamp to be a little loose, I took it back off to close the rear clamp gap a little (a few taps with a 3 lb. hammer did the trick) to make it fit tighter and without rattling. By then I'd learned to install the right side bolt first. That side has less working room to insert and tighten the bolt, so having the plate still loose on the left side made it much easier. Once the right side bolt was snug (not fully tightened yet, mind you) , then I installed and tightened the left side bolt, where there's plenty of working space. Then I went back and final-tightened the right side bolt and the two bolts underneath for the rear clamp, and it was done. It took me about 4 minutes the second time!

The SRC skid plate CAN be installed with the provided ball-end 5mm Allen wrench just as it is. But if you have the ability to shorten the short end of the Allen wrench (see photo), it will make the job quicker and easier. Once your skid plate is installed, take a small wrench or screwdriver, and give the plate a healthy little whack somewhere near the front section. Oh go ahead... do it again. Get to know that "klank" sound, so you can smile every time you hear it during a ride, comfortably knowing that a rock has just been harmlessly deflected away from those expensive Honda parts. Life is good, but the CRF250X makes it better, and the SRC Heavy Duty Skid Plate makes the 250X better.

CRF's Only Review Conducted By: Gordon L. Banks, October 2004
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