Of course, the Chinese clearly didn’t bother with the design, so the Irbis XP250 subtly resembles several models at once. Its general appearance is similar to the design of Japanese touring bikes from the early 90s, like the Honda Dominator, but in fact it has nothing to do with this class. Don't be fooled by the raised rear suspension, high front fender and other features typical of a tourenduro. Irbis XR250R — This is a regular classic road bike, which, provided it has suitable tires, is quite capable of light off-roading, without swamps and quicksand, nothing more. But who said that this is bad? For the price at which you can buy a new Irbis XR 250, this is quite acceptable.
Technical characteristics of Irbis XR250R
If you expect the most simple equipment from a budget Chinese bike, then you have hit the nail on the head - the Irbis XP250 has everything you need, but nothing more. Steel frame, 5-speed gearbox, 250 cc single-cylinder air-cooled engine , by the way, quite good. Of course, 17 hp. for 250cc volume this is far from the limit, but for a 1-cylinder engine this is a good indicator. True, the Irbis XR250R motorcycle begins to vibrate mercilessly at high speeds. In practice, this means that in fifth gear parasitic vibrations will begin at about 90 km/h . The maximum declared speed of the bike is 120 km/h , and on a flat road without a headwind, the Irbis XP250 is quite capable of reaching it.
But what really pleasantly surprises you about this motorcycle is its overall good quality. Experience with Chinese motorcycles teaches you that something is constantly hanging out, rattling, or even falling off somewhere. But the Irbis XR 250 has no problems . Yes, it is quite obvious that this is a fairly cheap motorcycle, but in this case, cheap does not mean low quality. On a new bike from the showroom, all the parts fit as they should, all the bolts are tightened to the correct torque, and the plastic feels moderately flexible and quite durable to the touch. In general, the first inspection and first ride on the Irbis XR250R bring positive impressions. At a discount for its price point, of course, but purely subjectively this motorcycle makes a more pleasant impression than most of its Chinese competitors.
Debugging
After purchasing an Irbis XR250R motorcycle, it is necessary to carry out preliminary preparations and check the assembly quality of the main components, since Chinese manufacturers sometimes make mistakes at this stage. First of all, you should disassemble the fork and replace the oil that is there with something appropriate for your climate.
It would also be useful to pay attention to the reliability of the clutch cable and its position. Its rubber casing is located in close proximity to the muffler and engine and can melt due to exposure to high temperatures
All oil also needs to be changed, since the bike is filled with transport lubricant, which is not intended for use in the temperature range of the engine. It also wouldn't hurt to install a fuel filter in the Irbis XR250R. Reviews note that it is not included with the motorcycle - according to the owners of this vehicle, this issue is very relevant in connection with the quality of fuel at gas stations.
Pros and cons of Irbis XR250R
Advantages
- Moderate weight . Of course, 144 kg is by no means lightweight, but still, any beginner with at least basic motorcycle riding skills can handle the bike without any problems.
- Gas tank capacity 12 liters . This is small, but not for an archaic 250 cc engine, which even at maximum speed is not capable of consuming more than 4 liters per 100 km . And the average gasoline consumption of the Irbis XR 250 is well within 3-3.5 liters of AI-92 . Considering the constant rise in fuel prices, this is very relevant.
- Surprisingly comfortable fit . Even for a motorcyclist with a height of 180-185 cm, sitting on the Irbis XP250 is quite comfortable, since there is enough space for the legs and they do not rest against the steering wheel.
- Disc brakes on both wheels . Of course, with the simplest calipers, but that’s not bad. The braking intensity of this motorcycle is acceptable, although a lot depends on the quality of the tires.
- Affordable price and maintenance cost . Spare parts for the Irbis XR250R are very, very cheap.
Flaws
- saddle height by class standards . Shorter bikers, especially those who don't have long legs, may have trouble getting their feet to the ground with confidence.
- Despite the decent build quality of the Irbis XP 250 motorcycle, the quality of spare parts noticeably fluctuates. When purchasing anything, you need to pay close attention to this point.
- Mediocre standard tires . The problem can be solved by installing something more acceptable. And if you buy a used bike, then most likely the tires will already be replaced.
- When overtaking, you can clearly feel the lack of power . The Irbis XR250R loses the remaining dynamics at 70-80 km/h, and then accelerates very sluggishly.
- Lack of fuel sensor . Quite a strange decision, especially since the Chinese did not skimp on the tidy in general, and did it quite well, even adding a tachometer.
Review of the Honda XR 250 motorcycle (XR250R, XR250 Baja, XR250 Motard
Over the summer I rode more than a thousand kilometers around the village, became completely friendly with the bike, and began to allow myself more. He drove without understanding the road, climbed into the darkness with rams and complete mud, got stuck, crawled out alone for hours without anyone's help. Sand traps are a very tricky thing, as it turned out. Once I got into a complete mess, but it was my own fault - I shouldn’t have let go of the gas, I would have driven on, but if I “bleeped” - get over it. And so he quietly got out and was buried under the rear wheel, right up to the hub. He stood there, pushed and accelerated. Like two turtles they climbed, but they got out, dirty and tired. Then I soaked it in the bathhouse and had to wash and lubricate it. Afterwards, I began to choose the road more carefully, and became more and more addicted to forced driving. Later I began to notice that the throttle began to turn further and further, the driving became faster. Speed, uneven road, blood is boiling, the level of adrenaline in the blood is just off the charts! We jumped over bumps and holes, scared birds and mushroom pickers in the forest, at first the summer residents were scared too, then they got used to us. There were difficult cases when I miraculously stayed in the saddle, punched the front fork in holes several times, bent, and then completely broke the clutch handle. Nonsense! Nothing scared or stopped me! It’s a thrill, it’s a buzz, I wanted to experience this feeling of freedom every day!
Well, other than breakages and bends from falls, I had no problems with the bike. There was a case when in the village I filled up with questionable gasoline, noise and vibration arose at idle, but everything was cured with a sip of excellent fuel. In August, the left oil seal on the fork leaked, and I decided to take the Honda XR 250 to a service center for service. At the same time, change the steering wheel, otherwise the original one is too narrow and low, install hand protection, change the sprockets to increase traction, and so on in the suspension.
I ordered a unit from Japan, my friends helped me and put me in touch with a person. The motorcycle arrived at the showroom, where they cleaned it up for my arrival, so to speak, they carried out pre-sale preparation. I started exploiting it - some friends joked that the Japs drowned it there, but I’m happy to race it here. Nothing of the kind - the bike was in excellent condition, there were no signs of inadequate use.
But I began to exploit him cruelly. I traveled from May all the way until the new year - 6 months. Of course, I serviced everything as it should - the gas was good, I checked the chain every day. But I took any routes - sand, dirt, broken asphalt, etc. and that’s just the beginning. And where we jumped with him, and how many falls he endured on soft and very hard surfaces. He carried passengers often and not always on a good road. In general, I didn’t regret it. The equipment should work, but the New Year came, everything became white and snowy, and the motz went into hibernation in the garage, and I was bored at home at the computer.
But it should probably be noted that it’s not for nothing that they say that riding a bike in winter is bad form. I drove my horse to the next condition, almost in this form, he stopped for the winter, since circumstances did not allow him to be thoroughly repaired.
Breakdowns:
1. driving in the cold killed the left feather - it cried and began to flow... 2. the front brake lever broke from falling on the spot, 3. bent, for some reason)))) - the footrest, gear lever, headlights 4. as a result of clumsy the fall of one craftsman broke the thread of the bolt securing the trunk 5. I screwed up and didn’t properly tighten the bolt on the headlight - now I can’t find it, you can’t be lazy, comrades, everything must be done to the end (((( 6. well, I accidentally failed here into the storm sewer drain and eventually destroyed the protection of the rear brake disc. 7. The low beam burned out and now I can’t find the light bulb, and I laughed when they told me that there was such a shortage. Damn...
Well, that’s it, the Honda XP 250 was resting with wounds in the garage, and I'm at home on the sofa. We're waiting for the warmth. And we waited - March, sunshine, warmth, took a shovel, went to dig out the garage. Hello, buddy!!!! I started the repairs, replaced everything that was needed, except for the light bulb, be it not okay. New spark plugs and clean gasoline - turn the key and behold, your favorite growl... How nice it is to hear it again.
Honda XR250 Baja. Minuses:
1. I don't like her appearance. These ugly two headlights that do not turn when turning and the mount bends with every fall, even in the mud. After a while, the whole thing falls off. In addition, they both shine worse than the Jebelov one. Added later: low beam. Baja's long range is better.
2. The tank is 3 liters smaller.
3. A very non-rigid frame, it bends under impacts; on a track, especially a bumpy one, the bike “floats” because of this. Jebel has a monumental frame.
4. “Dry sump” system, which increases the amount of oil and complicates the engine design. Problems with the mesh in the frame (clogging), due to which several people ended up having to rebuild the timing belt.
5. The seal of the drive sprocket is not protected by anything, damage is common in shit, and if you don’t take care of the oil (a few examples from friends) it ends up on the engine bulkhead. Jebel has no problem, the defense is competent.
6. There are no grease nipples in the rear progression. You need to go through it a couple of times a season. At Jebel it is syringed, the bulkhead is purely preventative once every couple of seasons.
7. Both have uncomfortable saddles, there is parity here, but Baja’s is shorter.
8. The engine has no tops at all. Tractor.
9. Short wheelbase, which adds instability on asphalt.
10. All other things being equal, it is always more expensive.
Pros:
1. Very decent lows. However, Jebel with a vacuum carb (after 2000) practically does not lag behind. But if Baja confidently rides in the mud on stock stars, then replacing Jebelu with traction ones is still not superfluous. However, the front one can be changed very easily, in 10-15 minutes.
2. Short wheelbase, which adds convenience in the pampas.
3. The engine, even if killed to death, still runs.
4. Adjusting the valves with nut/lock nut is very simple and convenient. But often... After running 37 thousand km, I THINK maybe I should check... And it’s not a fact that it needs to be adjusted. Jebel has washers, it’s more confusing. But rarely.
5. This is a Honda
Similar models
- Lifan LF200 GY-5. Another guest from the Middle Kingdom, who has been popular in Russia for more than ten years. In terms of purpose, capabilities and technical characteristics, it is almost similar to the Irbis XP250, but at the same time it costs significantly less.
- Patron Gipsy 200 . A classic road bike, which, provided it has toothy tires, can easily push light off-road conditions thanks to good suspension and high ground clearance. Quite a universal motorcycle for all occasions, and also inexpensive.
- Suzuki Van Van 200 . A unique model in terms of style, 100 percent consistent with the American term “allround,” that is, “all-terrain vehicle.” Old-fashioned in appearance, it is able to move with ease both around the city and on the ground.
Main competitors of the GR 250
- Stels 300 Benelli and Benelli 600. Chinese-made road bike with excellent technical characteristics and a modern design with aggressive notes. The Irbis is inferior in price - the Russian bike is several times cheaper than its competitor from China.
- Genata YZF 250. A Chinese motorcycle that belongs to the class of sport bikes, but is not one: from a technical point of view, it can safely be classified as a road bike.
- Honda CB 250F Hornet. One of the most popular small-capacity bikes with a high-powered engine, which, coupled with its low weight, provides unsurpassed dynamics. Despite excellent reviews, the short service life of the engine and the considerable age of the model affect the technical condition, which significantly complicates the search for models on the secondary market in at least acceptable condition.
Reviews from Irbis XR250R owners
Compared to the rest of the Chinese, this is a normal vehicle, sometimes it throws up problems, but little things, there were no serious problems, and it never happened that it didn’t take me home. There are a lot of spare parts for the Irbis, the price is normal, there is also tuning, but I limited myself to a trunk case, I installed a large one so that two helmets could fit. For 12 thousand of my personal mileage, nothing fell off, I took the car with 5000+ km on the odometer. Alexander, Dedovsk, Irbis XR250R '2016.
An excellent and quite peppy moped under a 60-kilogram rider, it pulls confidently, although the design is not without problems. The original chain stretches very strongly, it definitely needs to be replaced right away. Another weak point is bearings, EVERYWHERE, it is better to change them immediately if possible, because destruction on the move can lead to even more consequences. If these problems are eliminated, the motorcycle immediately becomes quite good, rides and does not break down. Sergey, Belgorod, Irbis XR250R '2017.
Before purchasing the Irbis XP250, I read reviews, watched a review on YouTube, and overall I was happy with everything, taking into account the purchase budget of $1000. In the end, I found an option, although I had to ride almost 200 km to get it, but I liked everything, they agreed on the price, and so I rode home for the first time on my motorcycle, right along the highway. The pants were full of impressions. Since then I've ridden for half a season, only a little over 3,000 km, but so far I like everything. Igor, Miass, Irbis XR250R '2016.
Flaws
However, the bike has few disadvantages:
- The chain stretches quickly. Can be replaced with a suitable Japanese version (according to reviews - Xonda SV250 and other variations of the SV line).
- The quality of electrics is a standard problem for the Chinese, but you can re-arrange or corrugate them yourself.
- Weak plastic and suspension are the main problems, but cannot be solved.
- Starter. Try to find a second-hand model with a working electric starter. It will be hard. The design is flawed; the gear that transmits force from the starter to the engine breaks. Standard problem.
Sometimes there is a high seating position, but for an off-road bike this is the norm.
and dignity
Small jump. I'm doing it. The editor-in-chief is trying the “250 tyr-tyr” thing.
Some of the advantages include:
- good motor (unpretentious and pulling);
- ease of maintenance;
- low fuel consumption.
In addition, you can add what distinguishes Chinese models:
- price;
- maintainability;
- large selection of components.
Total
While not standing out from its competitors, the Irbis XR 250, however, impresses with the fact that it is truly reliably assembled. It doesn’t look like a typical “Chinese designer set” that falls apart on the go, and even though it has its own design flaws, they can be easily eliminated with your own hands. A significant plus is its versatility - the Irbis XP250 can both deftly dart through city traffic jams and ride on country dirt roads. This motorcycle is definitely worth the money, especially since the amount they ask for it is quite modest.
Specifications
| Maximum engine power: | 17 hp at 8500 rpm HP |
| Working volume: | 250 cm3 |
| Motor type (cylinder arrangement, number of strokes): | |
| Number of valves: | |
| Intake type (Injector / Carburetor): | |
| Bore and stroke: | |
| Starting system (Electric starter, kick starter): | |
| Maximum speed in km/h: | 110-120 km/h km/h |
| Cooling system: | Air |
| Transmission (gearbox): | Mechanical, 5-speed |
| Clutch (Dry / Wet): | |
| Drive unit: | Chain |
| Frame: | Steel tubular |
| Chassis | |
| Suspension (front/rear travel): | |
| Brakes (Front/Rear): | |
| Wheels / Tires / Rubber: | |
| Dimensions and weight | |
| Dimensions (Length / Width): | |
| Seat height: | |
| Ground clearance: | |
| Curb weight: | |
| Weight: | 144 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 12 l. |
| Battery capacity: | |
| Year of release: | |
| Country of Origin: |
Main settings
Let's look at the features of this bike that immediately attract attention:
- The appearance of this device is original, but very impressive. The Irbis XR250R motorcycle is copied from the Honda XR, but it is modified in such a way that it provides a comfortable riding position for the rider, even if his height is more than 1.70 meters. The headlight is mounted on the fender and combined with the body of the bike, so there may be some inconvenience when entering sharp turns at night.
- The vehicle's suspension is quite rigid and a bit "stool-like", so it is preferable to postpone long-distance travel until better times. It is very difficult to ride even 100 kilometers on this motorcycle. The front suspension is represented by an oil-spring upside-down fork, while the rear is equipped with a hydraulic shock absorber. In off-road conditions or over short distances, the bike's potential is fully revealed - high ground clearance and universal tires help to overcome any road troubles. The low weight of the unit allows it to be rolled without difficulty, which plays an important role in extreme operating conditions.
- The 17-horsepower engine easily accelerates the motorcycle to 110 km/h and consumes about 3 liters of fuel over a hundred-kilometer distance. The design of the power plant is presented in the form of a single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled engine. The piston group of the power plant is manufactured at the Kiyosh plant in Japan, which ensures its reliability.
- Standard Irbis XR250R tires with a universal tread guarantee reliable grip on the ground. The minimum mileage guaranteed by the manufacturer before they wear out is about 7-8 thousand km.
- Double-piston disc brakes provide quick speed reduction even on wet surfaces, which will protect not only the driver, but also pedestrians.
- The standard chain that comes with the kit will require replacement after 7,000 kilometers. It can be immediately replaced with a higher quality sample, otherwise this element will have to be shortened regularly.
- The maximum weight that the bike can carry is 150 kg.
