One day we happened to look in a darker corner of the Rider shop and realized that a number of smaller new motorcycles were back there multiplying, like tribbles. If it kept up, pretty soon there wouldn?t be any room left for the bounce house and kegerator, so we sucked up our big-bike egos and got to work reviewing them. Surprisingly, we liked the Rally, GSX250R, TW200, VanVan and Vespa so much that instead of beaming them onto a departing Klingon ship, each of us has stashed one in our offices behind a desk or a plant. In addition to a lower initial cost and fantastic fuel economy, these machines are versatile, good looking and downright fun to ride. Every one would make a good second or third bike. Just be careful, they do tend to multiply?.
Read EIC Tuttle’s “Man on a VanVan Without a Plan” adventure. Airing out the Rally is a breeze, but the rear shock needs more rebound damping to prevent pogoing. If you can handle the 35-inch seat height, this bike is a real winner. Photo by Kevin Wing.
Essential Adventure: 2017 Honda CRF250L Rally

By Arden Kysely
My first ride on the CRF250L is documented in our February 2013 dual-sport 250 shootout, where Honda?s new model drew down on the Kawasaki KLX250 and Yamaha WR250R. Though not as hardcore an off-pavement machine as the others, the CRF/L made its mark as a top-notch recreational motorcycle, perfect for daily duty in town and weekends exploring the boonies. This year brought a host of updates to the counte...