Great video solid. I have WRR and won’t be changing to red. Having adjustable suspension and lower weight is an advantage. But I don’t think it really matters in the end if you buy blue, red, green or yellow. They are all capable dual sport bikes. Just pick one, get out in the bush with your mates and have fun.
Happy enough with my WR250R... It would be nice if Yamaha came out with WR250R Tenere. As in, with a larger fuel tank and some better wind protection...
If Yamaha comes with a WR300R with two different seat heights, like CRF300L and CRF300Rally, then Yamaha has all the light weight motocycle market in hand, otherwise it's Honda to win a big part of the market!! Let's see!!
The only frame issue I could see is if your in a major accident causing a frame twist. If someone could overload a bike & twist a frame, then they need to stop trying to take their home with them. These are made as a dirt bike & the frame should be made sterdy enough. I would not worry about what your carrying but accidents. Once again great videos & thanks for producing them!
Great content as always ! I think this CRF300L/Rally bike is getting closer to the unicorn dual sport we’ve all been anticipating. Some great improvements and features, though still falling short in the suspension department. Yamaha will soon follow suit 😉 if you can read the writing on the wall , it’s telling me that Yamaha ( as all manufacturers) will lend and borrow interchangeably through what they commonly refer to as “ platform sharing “ . They already have the tried and true proven and effective MT-03 engine platform at 321CC’s , which would make PERFECT sense to ‘ share ‘ this platform as it would not require any further R&D costs , just modifying and tuning the existing engine to accommodate the dual sport characteristics and fine tune everything in its raw form . Alas ! We should see something to the tune of a T-03 / WR330R ( or something to that effect ) with a very similar yet improved frame and suspension to the previous WR250R. I can almost guarantee that this will be what is expected from Yamaha to answer to the CRF300L and KLX300 . I’m excited and patiently waiting. Expect the characteristics to mimic the Rally bike with Tenere personality 😉 just my final thought 💭 And yes ... expect a higher price tag as well ( the WR250R as you stated here is still king 👑 and that crown comes with added cost )
Thank for this video. CRF300L with the short gearing from 1 to 5 and the 6th gear as an overdrive that could be really good on highway. Slipper clutch Also..
Very good summary solid .. as someone who owns a 250l and a 300l rally (cbr engine swap) the one thing I would add to your excellent summary is that the Honda is actually *two* bikes . The rally is very road and adventure orientated imho it turns in slower and is less nimble but more stable at speed. The 250l is the better trail bike of the two (although not as capable as wr250, but with the right rider and inexpensive tweaks to suspension it’s pretty close (provided you are under 100kg loaded...) it’s - closer than the paperwork spec sheet would suggest..) of course if you’ve come of a beta or KTM exc then go for wr250 if you are more coming from a dr650/drz400 or fed up picking up a heavy fuel laden KLR, or just had enough of the invisible “tax” placed on spares and servicing, and reliability with “the other Europeans” the the 300 rally would be a great option.. stay tuned for the Yamaha tenere 300 ???
I have the crf250l abs, I think abs is good, because you can turn it off. Even in gloves. I don't think it's a big deal turn it off. Wr250r is better bike, but you could not get it in Europ. They stop selling them years ago, because the euro emision.
You're lucky to have the choice! In Europe, there are just 2 serious, street-legal dual sport bikes over 125 cc left: Honda CRF300L and the Beta Alp 4.0. That's it! Kawasaki just offers the KLX 230, which is rather a toy for youngsters than a considerable off-road bike with some upgrade/tuning potential.
i think honda and kawasaki were smart coming out with the inexpensive 300, the yamaha does have a hotter motor and is a great bike but the same bike since 2008, i have 2 wr250r one with the 290 athena and that extra torque is very nice to have, its my favorite go to bike,
@@getdealtwithquick I have 2 wrr the 290 has 26000mi and the 250 has 6000mi, it is a little more buzzy, the 290 loses about 500rpm on top but you gain the 500 rpm on the bottom, I run 14/48 on the 290 because it has so much more torque and 13/48 on the 250, if you ride on dirt you will not notice as much as on the highway, if you can't install the 290 yourself it's not worth it, the reason I purchased the second low mile 250 is because I tried, own different bikes and found I always liked the wrr because of handing and smoothness the best, the 290 has a lot of hard dirt miles, I actually use the 290 much more then the 250 because with 26000mi it not worth much so I just run the hell out to keep miles off the 250, I have both wrr setup a little different to see what work better
@@paulcamino5034 very helpful, thanks. There's an Athena kitted WR for sale w 5K miles on it not far from me right now, with lots of other mods done already. After initial interest, I previously abandoned the WR as a light do it all bike option for me due to high prices used and the lack of torque and I agree that spending the money on getting the Athena kit installed just wasn't worth it. Highway smoothness is key for me now and if the torque is really improved w the 290 piston (and fuel map), I might actually consider the WR.
Sadly, Yamaha would probably just throw a de-tuned racing engine in it, with short maintenance intervals compared to the 250R, and call it a high performance dual sport. Just like Honda did with the CRF450L. Ideally, Yamaha would use the 250R engine as a template and just make it bigger with more displacement. Tons of people want a modern, Japanese dual sport with drz400 power and adjustable suspension, but without the down falls of having a “high performance” dual sport engine. If Yamaha made a bike like that, they would sell like hot cakes.
Great video. Looking to get back into riding & teaching my 12yr boy. Still torn between buying WRR now or waiting for CRF300L??? With the CRF I think it will be a case of if the sum of all its parts work then it will be a winner...
I’ve owned a lot of dual sports in the last few years. I think I want a 300L or rally next. 2013 WRR 2017 1090R 2017 CRF250L 2018 KLX250F/S 2017 FE350 Husky CRF450L Plus an 2019 Beta 300RR and 2020 KTM300 XC-W Now a 2021CRF250F trail bike and a 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan. A bit ridiculous, I know, but worth it to figure out what type of riding I actually prefer. Himalayan is actually awesome for chugging down gravel roads, but would get heavy if it gets gnarly at all. 300L could fit the bill. I thought the last CRF250L was too heavy, the WRR too tall for me (Did the full GoRace Suspension), and the KLX actually was my favorite, but the thing sounded like it would explode.
@@adamniswonger8015 how do you like the 250F? I have a Wr250r right now. Thinking the 250f would be a sweet bike for more nasty stuff and single track.
@@truehaun it’s perfect for trail riding in the woods. It could be limited if you’re riding in a more open setting, but where I ride it, it’s great. I’ll only top out 3rd gear a couple times, the rest is done in 2nd and third in the bottom half of the rev range, in between trees.
You can switch the ABS on and off on the CRF300L so you have the benefit of both. It is much better when on the road to have the ABS on, especially in Thailand when it rains.
This is a great review, or insight into the differences between the two bikes. One thing i heard about the CRF is its lack of ability to carry enough weight. With a 90kg rider, that doesn't leave enough capapcity to carry luggage, tools etc....any feedback around that? Thanks
Thanks mate 👍 Regarding the frame - too early to tell given that the 300 has a new one piece frame. We will have to wait until release to find out the weight carrying capacity I think. I would expect it to offer no real improvement weight carrying wise though.
I may have missed it but my only gripe...aside from price on the WR... is the 91 Octane requirement for the engine. I love the bike but have had a few occasions where gas is in a water bottle and your happy with whatever octane it is... Idk.. i was KLX250 and soon to be KLX300 guy so maybe I am hyperfocused on a small detail... I love the WR frame and that engine is such a hyper little thing and so fun to ride.
You need to ride the new CRF300L before you make a judgment. I live in Thailand where the CRF300L is built and has been out for the last 10 days. The price in Thailand on the road with taxes and registration is 148,000 baht => US$4850
Ya' know , your gonna get one . May as well sign up for it now and pay it off before it gets here . Don't need the Rallywonder , just the plain vanilla 300 L . COOL
Not many reviews on the 300 crf LS it’s a good bike for short riders and the suspension isn’t to bad either it’s got abs and it’s easy to handle in the bush it’s still a 300 it’s not a bike for advanced riders more a trails bike ,I like it suits me fine
I had a WR250. Versatile bike, but a little heavy and a little underpowered. I completely agree that you have keep the revs up to get the horsepower. Then it basically drops your mpg. Re-gear the bike and it’s better off road. Good newbie bike if you are on the smaller side and you can get a deal on a used bike.
I find the crf300l much more comfortable and ergonomics are great. WR sits higher and has stiffer springs good for hard off road but on road Crf300l is way better, with a new spring on the 300 I would say it’s a better all around bike, but from the factory the wr is set up a lot better for off-road.
My two cents, a used WR for $4 is still a better value than a new CRF300 for $6k. However when the new 2022 WR comes out with 323cc engine it will retain as the king of small displacement dual sports
You probably made your decision already, but from what I understand, the 08's have some more issues than the rest after which Yamaha fixed the teething problems. Plus the 300L suspension is junk. Have you considered the Kawi 300?
@@machupikachu1085 I have the 300L and I’m very happy! The suspension is indeed soft (crap if you will) but I still manage to ride quite it strong in the trails. With 500€ you can totally upgrade it and still have a cheap bike, but even more capabilities!
Love listening to your apinions you explain in detail nice ? But if a wr250r has 30hp and 300L has 31hp doesn't seem to be much point whats your thoughts
In this case it's where the power is made. WR makes its power 1500-2000rpm higher. More importantly is peak torque is higher on the L and is made lower in the rev range as well. This will translate to peak power and torque available earlier in the rev range.
Thanks , still can't believe no english speaking thai's to make us a review video, really interested in the taller sixth gear sounds like a great dualsport for trans euro trail.
@@Dirtpoorhomesteader I ended up putting a 14 front 51 rear on it. Pretty happy with it. Ditched the tires pretty quickly for some more dirt oriented tires. Added a skidplate and handguards. And the best mod thus far is having the rear shock revalved. No more donkey kicking.
@@ButBigger42 I have yet to fix my rear. Did you revalve it yourself or send it to someone? The bucking is starting to get to me ha I have found a mT21 front and dsport rear tire to be excellent in sand and mud.
@@Dirtpoorhomesteader I had motorrev suspension here in vegas do it. Swapped in blud lubricants thickest fluid too. I was going to buy the tools and do it myself but stumbled on motorrev and decided to let a pro do it. I have a motoz tractionator enduro it rear and a michelin ac10 up front.
Dear Yamaha, Regarding the elimination of the WR250R, we know you're up to something. While we don't know what direction you'll be taking your small displacement dual sport, we're hoping you'll return with it's replacement in some form very soon. What I would like to say here is please, I repeat, please keep the long service intervals as the fans of the WRR don't want to have to buy a pumpkin with it's full-race maintenance schedule just to get pumpkin-like performance. The WR250R is, or should I say was, the closest thing to pumpkin performance without actually buying a pumpkin. For so many riders the WR250R was the sweet spot of performance vs cost vs maintenance and we hope you will provide our cult-like followers with more of the same. Sincerely, Numbzinger
The WR250R is the Goldilocks of dual sport bikes and I deeply regret selling it. As soon as it is reincarnated by Yamaha I'm buying another. I hope they don't wait too long because the Honda CRF300L just might steel their thunder. Hurry up Yamaha!
The WR is a great bike but so is the Honda the Honda I keep thinking it comes down to size if your shorter it's Honda. ABS is a wonderful thing , on the street. Given a choice for a dual sport I'd rather not have even easily switchable I'd rather not deal with it. But then it could be that "old dog, new tricks" thing! The Honda I think will be as reliable as ever. The only real new bit will be the motor, the frame and suspension is supposed to be pretty much the same as they used on CRF250 Rally instead of the CRF250l. Unfortunately I imagine it will still require an upgrade.
I'm thinking the 300l with ohlins suspension upgrade is going to be around the same price as a Teknics upgraded wr250r. Having owned a wr250r and currently own a drz400e, I know how good the wr250r is, the drz400e feels bulky compared to the Wrr. The drz has way more power and the tractor factor is really a huge difference. Unfortunately my drz has been a nightmare of problems, countershaft seal going and dumping oil, clutch sh!tting itself and needing a rebuild, and now the carb is giving me issues and needs a full clean and going to rebuild that as well. Never had a issue with the Wrr and want FI on my next bike. So basically looking at the wr250r with Teknics suspension vs the crf300 with ohlins suspension.. I am keen to try the CRF, because Honda is claiming 20% more torque and lower down vs the 250l.. also hopefully Kawasaki get their 300 here, want to try that too Was going to get a T7, but I think it will limit my confidence to explore too much with its 200kg+ weight
Yep, the CRF300L with Ohlins is a tantalizing idea and admittedly one I have had on my brain since its announcement. Agree with the DRZ feeling bulky over the WR, it was the major factor for why I chose the WR in the end👍
@@chroniclesofsolid yeah, the crf300 will be bulkier than the Wrr, but if it has some of the tractor factor of the drz.. it starts to look like a pretty nice compromise between those two bikes 🤔 Also having owned a drz and a wrr, I wouldn't "upgrade" to a drz again 😂
I just bought a Dez, I was looking for a wr but can't find one for looking here in Vic. The Drz is a compromise, but I liked it on my little test ride. I don't think of it as an upgrade though, an alternative perhaps.
I love Hondas. Will drive my 91 accord forever would have bought a honda if they were available when i got the bike itch. So i got a new wr250r. Love the wrr put 7000kms on this past year. But i still have an itch to add another honda to the family. Buy I also wish the headlights werent so goofy loking on the rally...
I just wish you would just buy a bike and get back on the tracks I miss your off road antics instead of comparing apples n pairs but saying that have a safe Christmas 🎄 and looking forward to future trail vids kind regards Phil
to compare apples to apples price wise, you could compare the 300L with upgraded suspension to the WR. If the 300L is much cheaper, it leaves room to add on some $ for that upgrade. Just to complicate things, not sure you can buy a WR 'off the showroom floor' anymore. So, you'd be looking at a lightly (???) used WR, vs a new 300L (with suspension upgrade still?). Maybe by the time you can actually get the 300L, Yamaha will at least have teased us with a WR replacement (but after the Tenere, their teases might not mean much for 2021). And, Kawasaki doing their announcements next month, but assuming those will be bigger cc's. Certainly an interesting time to be shopping. Lots of fodder for you (and us).
Regarding the WR discontinuation - Here in Aus we have been told we have enough WR250R 2020 stock to last well into 2021. Yer the CRF300L with suspension upgrade has me thinking and like you say lets hope Yamaha comes to the table with an upgrade!
I have, the gearbox is very close ratio despite being 6 speed which results in it not being very happy at speeds over 100kph. The major reason I am not going that direction is dealer support. There is no SWM primary dealer here in WA. There are 2 very small little bike shops that offer one or two of the SWM lineup with neither operation having a great reputation. If there was a primary dealer here and I knew they were here for the long haul, I would give it much closer consideration.
@@chroniclesofsolid fair call. I’m happy to live with the challenges of poor dealer support for now. We’ll see if I still feel the same in 12 months time. If you want to check my 2018 out let me know, should be registered by late Jan. 👍🏻
great video sir, I have the 250L (2020) and as long as you keep ya back straight it's ok you will have fun ya need to use the weight of the bike to work with your style of riding (don't let the weight of the bike make you fight it) I have had the bike for one year and it's Awesome in the bush and great on road. Honda should offer an adjustable rear shock for the 250L as I'm 92kg and the standard spring compresses all the way down but it's comfortable when riding.
The WR250R was never king. The CRF450RL is king now of low maintenance and enduro high performance. KTM and Husq are still kings of performance production ready dualies.
Can someone please tell me why I keep seeing different headlight than stock I want the one that’s in this vid but I think stock is still the ugly big buld headlight I’m not sure ??
I really hope so. Their Ténéré is no dual sport. I hope whatever they make is below at least the $9000 (hopefully around $8k) range too. Maybe a purpose built 450 dual sport or 350 like you said. I’d like to stick with Yamaha when I eventually sell my YZ for a street bike.
It's funny how the Yamaha 250 makes more power than Honda's 300 (286)cc & hell same power as the KLX 300cc (292)cc motor! I used to have the wr250x badass fun bike but geez the suspension is too stiff n' too high of a seat height & I'm 6' tall
I was always getting a WR second hand. That is the price inflation I was talking about. WR's and most off road vehicles have seen a 30% price hike in 2020. Not paying the covid tax, I am patient.
Demand, Australia has seen unprecedented off road sales in 2020 due to international travel restrictions. As a result 4wd and off road motorcycle sales new and used have gone nuts. Price has gone up because demand is stronger than supply. Terrible timing on my part 😞
@@slakk5093 yeah they have moved away from port injection where fuel is sprayed on the back of the valves. This helps with carbon build up. The new 2021 MT 09 has just brought port injection back due to some issues with the current model. Same deal in car engines mate.
@@slakk5093 The direct injection has become so much of a problem in automobiles that the manufacturers now include both types of fuel injection so the valves last longer.
im so looking forward to going back to a dualsport sometime this year as im finding the rural blacktop roads far too rough for my naked road bike. wanna see that the honda crf is just as good if not better than the wr? watch this chick ride her crf all over australia on the worst roads and tracks australia has. you rekon a wr could do this and be just as reliable? ua-cam.com/video/7ZOxfFONzO8/v-deo.html this is an awesome series and i think you will really enjoy watching it. i know i am.
Gearing on the 2020+ has been shortened so its no longer suitable for extended hwy. Quality control has been sliding back as well according to the owners forums and the wiring has always been done poorly.
Great video solid. I have WRR and won’t be changing to red. Having adjustable suspension and lower weight is an advantage. But I don’t think it really matters in the end if you buy blue, red, green or yellow. They are all capable dual sport bikes. Just pick one, get out in the bush with your mates and have fun.
Agreed 👍
The best bike is the one you have and ride. Yes there are differences. But getting out and having fun is what matters, regardless of manufacturer.
Happy enough with my WR250R... It would be nice if Yamaha came out with WR250R Tenere. As in, with a larger fuel tank and some better wind protection...
@Elisha Sebastian bot
@Caleb Shawn bot
Waiting for the WR 350 R !!
If Yamaha comes with a WR300R with two different seat heights, like CRF300L and CRF300Rally, then Yamaha has all the light weight motocycle market in hand, otherwise it's Honda to win a big part of the market!! Let's see!!
The Affordable Athena 280cc Big bore kit ‘fixes’ the Yamahas power issue! Reliably
The only frame issue I could see is if your in a major accident causing a frame twist. If someone could overload a bike & twist a frame, then they need to stop trying to take their home with them. These are made as a dirt bike & the frame should be made sterdy enough. I would not worry about what your carrying but accidents. Once again great videos & thanks for producing them!
Great content as always ! I think this CRF300L/Rally bike is getting closer to the unicorn dual sport we’ve all been anticipating. Some great improvements and features, though still falling short in the suspension department. Yamaha will soon follow suit 😉 if you can read the writing on the wall , it’s telling me that Yamaha ( as all manufacturers) will lend and borrow interchangeably through what they commonly refer to as “ platform sharing “ . They already have the tried and true proven and effective MT-03 engine platform at 321CC’s , which would make PERFECT sense to ‘ share ‘ this platform as it would not require any further R&D costs , just modifying and tuning the existing engine to accommodate the dual sport characteristics and fine tune everything in its raw form . Alas ! We should see something to the tune of a T-03 / WR330R ( or something to that effect ) with a very similar yet improved frame and suspension to the previous WR250R. I can almost guarantee that this will be what is expected from Yamaha to answer to the CRF300L and KLX300 . I’m excited and patiently waiting. Expect the characteristics to mimic the Rally bike with Tenere personality 😉 just my final thought 💭 And yes ... expect a higher price tag as well ( the WR250R as you stated here is still king 👑 and that crown comes with added cost )
Awesome video as always mate! I have a WR250R and love it, I ride off road in mostly enduro single tracks haha
Thanks Leigh 👍
Thank for this video. CRF300L with the short gearing from 1 to 5 and the 6th gear as an overdrive that could be really good on highway. Slipper clutch Also..
It's hilarious that somebody actually thought these 2 were comparable enough to do a comparison video.😆 The CRF isn't half the bike the WR is.
Very good summary solid .. as someone who owns a 250l and a 300l rally (cbr engine swap) the one thing I would add to your excellent summary is that the Honda is actually *two* bikes . The rally is very road and adventure orientated imho it turns in slower and is less nimble but more stable at speed. The 250l is the better trail bike of the two (although not as capable as wr250, but with the right rider and inexpensive tweaks to suspension it’s pretty close (provided you are under 100kg loaded...) it’s - closer than the paperwork spec sheet would suggest..) of course if you’ve come of a beta or KTM exc then go for wr250 if you are more coming from a dr650/drz400 or fed up picking up a heavy fuel laden KLR, or just had enough of the invisible “tax” placed on spares and servicing, and reliability with “the other Europeans” the the 300 rally would be a great option.. stay tuned for the Yamaha tenere 300 ???
Thanks Michael, great insight as always having been ahead of the game with your 300 swap👍
@@chroniclesofsolid if you are ever in the sunny coast (QLD) and want a spin pm me myname at gmail.
Snagged a 300l rally and loving it.
Thanks for doing in depth videos on this class of bike.
No worries 👍
Just bought one of the last new WR250R in Melbourne! Can't wait to hit the trails!
Congrats Rahul, happy trails 👍
Why last few of the new? No stock?
@@stephendubos169 they're not making it anymore so just selling the last ones made in 2020!
@@directgrover Ah really I had heard but still see them on the au Yamaha website!
WR250R 💪🏻
Yeah, it will be interesting to compare the DRZ400 “cockroach” to these newer 300s 🤪
Red one for me .. new ..
Blue one is impossible to find 2nd hand where I live and not produced any more
A very sound analysis Mr Solid.
Cheers Mate 👍
I have the crf250l abs, I think abs is good, because you can turn it off. Even in gloves. I don't think it's a big deal turn it off. Wr250r is better bike, but you could not get it in Europ. They stop selling them years ago, because the euro emision.
Solid comparison!!
watching after buying a sorted WR ❤
Thanks solid!!! Great info cant wait till you ride it and give us your opinion.
You're lucky to have the choice! In Europe, there are just 2 serious, street-legal dual sport bikes over 125 cc left: Honda CRF300L and the Beta Alp 4.0. That's it! Kawasaki just offers the KLX 230, which is rather a toy for youngsters than a considerable off-road bike with some upgrade/tuning potential.
i think honda and kawasaki were smart coming out with the inexpensive 300, the yamaha does have a hotter motor and is a great bike but the same bike since 2008, i have 2 wr250r one with the 290 athena and that extra torque is very nice to have, its my favorite go to bike,
How buzzy is your WR with the Athena kit at highway speed (70mph+) compared to the stock piston?
@@getdealtwithquick I have 2 wrr the 290 has 26000mi and the 250 has 6000mi, it is a little more buzzy, the 290 loses about 500rpm on top but you gain the 500 rpm on the bottom, I run 14/48 on the 290 because it has so much more torque and 13/48 on the 250, if you ride on dirt you will not notice as much as on the highway, if you can't install the 290 yourself it's not worth it, the reason I purchased the second low mile 250 is because I tried, own different bikes and found I always liked the wrr because of handing and smoothness the best, the 290 has a lot of hard dirt miles, I actually use the 290 much more then the 250 because with 26000mi it not worth much so I just run the hell out to keep miles off the 250, I have both wrr setup a little different to see what work better
@@paulcamino5034 very helpful, thanks. There's an Athena kitted WR for sale w 5K miles on it not far from me right now, with lots of other mods done already. After initial interest, I previously abandoned the WR as a light do it all bike option for me due to high prices used and the lack of torque and I agree that spending the money on getting the Athena kit installed just wasn't worth it. Highway smoothness is key for me now and if the torque is really improved w the 290 piston (and fuel map), I might actually consider the WR.
Yamaha Make it a 450 with as little additional weight as possible and they will have a winner all round.
Or give me back my TT 350 from the 80s... plzzz
Miss this bike so much
Especially in Australia. Perhaps a Cush drive on the rear sprocket to lessen drive stresses on pavement.
Sadly, Yamaha would probably just throw a de-tuned racing engine in it, with short maintenance intervals compared to the 250R, and call it a high performance dual sport. Just like Honda did with the CRF450L. Ideally, Yamaha would use the 250R engine as a template and just make it bigger with more displacement. Tons of people want a modern, Japanese dual sport with drz400 power and adjustable suspension, but without the down falls of having a “high performance” dual sport engine. If Yamaha made a bike like that, they would sell like hot cakes.
Great video. Looking to get back into riding & teaching my 12yr boy. Still torn between buying WRR now or waiting for CRF300L??? With the CRF I think it will be a case of if the sum of all its parts work then it will be a winner...
Get both 😈
I wish... the boy & I have only just finished convincing mum that we are getting bikes 😁. Trust you have recovered ok from your concussion... cheers 🍻
Another great video. Good job, bro.
I’ve owned a lot of dual sports in the last few years. I think I want a 300L or rally next.
2013 WRR
2017 1090R
2017 CRF250L
2018 KLX250F/S
2017 FE350 Husky
CRF450L
Plus an 2019 Beta 300RR and 2020 KTM300 XC-W
Now a 2021CRF250F trail bike and a 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan.
A bit ridiculous, I know, but worth it to figure out what type of riding I actually prefer. Himalayan is actually awesome for chugging down gravel roads, but would get heavy if it gets gnarly at all. 300L could fit the bill. I thought the last CRF250L was too heavy, the WRR too tall for me (Did the full GoRace Suspension), and the KLX actually was my favorite, but the thing sounded like it would explode.
I am with you Adam. I cycle through bikes quite a bit and like you say its in a quest to narrow down the ideal bike 🤠
@@chroniclesofsolid appreciate your videos, bud.
@@adamniswonger8015 how do you like the 250F? I have a Wr250r right now. Thinking the 250f would be a sweet bike for more nasty stuff and single track.
@@truehaun it’s perfect for trail riding in the woods. It could be limited if you’re riding in a more open setting, but where I ride it, it’s great. I’ll only top out 3rd gear a couple times, the rest is done in 2nd and third in the bottom half of the rev range, in between trees.
Good comparison. Another thing to consider is the seat height. CRF is friendly for short riders.
You can switch the ABS on and off on the CRF300L so you have the benefit of both.
It is much better when on the road to have the ABS on, especially in Thailand when it rains.
This is a great review, or insight into the differences between the two bikes. One thing i heard about the CRF is its lack of ability to carry enough weight. With a 90kg rider, that doesn't leave enough capapcity to carry luggage, tools etc....any feedback around that? Thanks
Thanks mate 👍 Regarding the frame - too early to tell given that the 300 has a new one piece frame. We will have to wait until release to find out the weight carrying capacity I think. I would expect it to offer no real improvement weight carrying wise though.
I may have missed it but my only gripe...aside from price on the WR... is the 91 Octane requirement for the engine. I love the bike but have had a few occasions where gas is in a water bottle and your happy with whatever octane it is... Idk.. i was KLX250 and soon to be KLX300 guy so maybe I am hyperfocused on a small detail... I love the WR frame and that engine is such a hyper little thing and so fun to ride.
You need to ride the new CRF300L before you make a judgment.
I live in Thailand where the CRF300L is built and has been out for the last 10 days.
The price in Thailand on the road with taxes and registration is 148,000 baht => US$4850
Ya' know , your gonna get one . May as well sign up for it now and pay it off before it gets here . Don't need the Rallywonder , just the plain vanilla 300 L . COOL
🤐
Not many reviews on the 300 crf LS it’s a good bike for short riders and the suspension isn’t to bad either it’s got abs and it’s easy to handle in the bush it’s still a 300 it’s not a bike for advanced riders more a trails bike ,I like it suits me fine
I had a WR250. Versatile bike, but a little heavy and a little underpowered. I completely agree that you have keep the revs up to get the horsepower. Then it basically drops your mpg. Re-gear the bike and it’s better off road. Good newbie bike if you are on the smaller side and you can get a deal on a used bike.
I find the crf300l much more comfortable and ergonomics are great. WR sits higher and has stiffer springs good for hard off road but on road Crf300l is way better, with a new spring on the 300 I would say it’s a better all around bike, but from the factory the wr is set up a lot better for off-road.
My two cents, a used WR for $4 is still a better value than a new CRF300 for $6k. However when the new 2022 WR comes out with 323cc engine it will retain as the king of small displacement dual sports
Is there really a WR / Tenere coming sitb 323cc?
@@Rusty-Gold no
I hope the wr250r is still king. Not that I’ve been able to ride it due to Melbourne’s lock downs
7:03 “I had to lay her down.”
Waiting for wr 300r,,👏👏👏👏
I hope it's a 350 or 400
@@johnscott9829 yeah yeah,, super upgrade,,👌👌👌
I’m thinking I’ll get a wr250r and put the big bore in it. I have a kx250f that I put a 270 kit in and it gave it all the low end grunt she needed.
Thanks. Great comparison. Not considering their prices, between a 2008 WR 250 R (w/ 6k kms) and a brand new CRF 300 L... what would you do?
WR250R !
You probably made your decision already, but from what I understand, the 08's have some more issues than the rest after which Yamaha fixed the teething problems. Plus the 300L suspension is junk. Have you considered the Kawi 300?
@@machupikachu1085 I have the 300L and I’m very happy! The suspension is indeed soft (crap if you will) but I still manage to ride quite it strong in the trails. With 500€ you can totally upgrade it and still have a cheap bike, but even more capabilities!
Excellent review.
Love listening to your apinions you explain in detail nice ? But if a wr250r has 30hp and 300L has 31hp doesn't seem to be much point whats your thoughts
In this case it's where the power is made. WR makes its power 1500-2000rpm higher. More importantly is peak torque is higher on the L and is made lower in the rev range as well. This will translate to peak power and torque available earlier in the rev range.
Any english ride reviews yet? And is that it for 2021 new adventure bikes now? Disapointing, the 300l in the uk hasn't got the new light cluster.
Could be, Kawasaki has an announcement on the 26th of Jan so still might be something there.
Thanks , still can't believe no english speaking thai's to make us a review video, really interested in the taller sixth gear sounds like a great dualsport for trans euro trail.
I just bought a wr250r today and so far I am happy with it.
Congrats mate, fantastic bike and will serve you well 👍
Get a fisher seat and put on a 48 tooth rear sprocket
@@Dirtpoorhomesteader I ended up putting a 14 front 51 rear on it. Pretty happy with it.
Ditched the tires pretty quickly for some more dirt oriented tires.
Added a skidplate and handguards. And the best mod thus far is having the rear shock revalved. No more donkey kicking.
@@ButBigger42 I have yet to fix my rear. Did you revalve it yourself or send it to someone? The bucking is starting to get to me ha I have found a mT21 front and dsport rear tire to be excellent in sand and mud.
@@Dirtpoorhomesteader I had motorrev suspension here in vegas do it.
Swapped in blud lubricants thickest fluid too. I was going to buy the tools and do it myself but stumbled on motorrev and decided to let a pro do it.
I have a motoz tractionator enduro it rear and a michelin ac10 up front.
Why has the Kawasaki 300 not made the list? Few sites seem to pay it much heed yet the 250 seemed to be a good bike.
Compared it with the 300L in a previous video Ron. Also OZ is not getting the KLX300 😒
@@chroniclesofsolid OK, short term memory loss......... :)
We got the klx 300 but only a dirt bike. Not road legal like my 300L
Dear Yamaha,
Regarding the elimination of the WR250R, we know you're up to something. While we don't know what direction you'll be taking your small displacement dual sport, we're hoping you'll return with it's replacement in some form very soon. What I would like to say here is please, I repeat, please keep the long service intervals as the fans of the WRR don't want to have to buy a pumpkin with it's full-race maintenance schedule just to get pumpkin-like performance. The WR250R is, or should I say was, the closest thing to pumpkin performance without actually buying a pumpkin. For so many riders the WR250R was the sweet spot of performance vs cost vs maintenance and we hope you will provide our cult-like followers with more of the same.
Sincerely,
Numbzinger
Well said!
The WR250R is the Goldilocks of dual sport bikes and I deeply regret selling it. As soon as it is reincarnated by Yamaha I'm buying another. I hope they don't wait too long because the Honda CRF300L just might steel their thunder. Hurry up Yamaha!
The WR is a great bike but so is the Honda the Honda I keep thinking it comes down to size if your shorter it's Honda. ABS is a wonderful thing , on the street. Given a choice for a dual sport I'd rather not have even easily switchable I'd rather not deal with it. But then it could be that "old dog, new tricks" thing! The Honda I think will be as reliable as ever. The only real new bit will be the motor, the frame and suspension is supposed to be pretty much the same as they used on CRF250 Rally instead of the CRF250l. Unfortunately I imagine it will still require an upgrade.
Totally agree Scott
It will definitely require an upgrade..
if only yamaha offer a WR300R-350R, instant king of DS
For the money you save on the crf you can buy some decent suspension. That alone I feel will outclass the Yama. Although I do love the WR
Power alone isnt going to help the honda. Wr all day baby!
I guess that’s why they still make the WR...oh wait...
I'm thinking the 300l with ohlins suspension upgrade is going to be around the same price as a Teknics upgraded wr250r. Having owned a wr250r and currently own a drz400e, I know how good the wr250r is, the drz400e feels bulky compared to the Wrr. The drz has way more power and the tractor factor is really a huge difference. Unfortunately my drz has been a nightmare of problems, countershaft seal going and dumping oil, clutch sh!tting itself and needing a rebuild, and now the carb is giving me issues and needs a full clean and going to rebuild that as well. Never had a issue with the Wrr and want FI on my next bike. So basically looking at the wr250r with Teknics suspension vs the crf300 with ohlins suspension.. I am keen to try the CRF, because Honda is claiming 20% more torque and lower down vs the 250l.. also hopefully Kawasaki get their 300 here, want to try that too
Was going to get a T7, but I think it will limit my confidence to explore too much with its 200kg+ weight
Yep, the CRF300L with Ohlins is a tantalizing idea and admittedly one I have had on my brain since its announcement. Agree with the DRZ feeling bulky over the WR, it was the major factor for why I chose the WR in the end👍
@@chroniclesofsolid yeah, the crf300 will be bulkier than the Wrr, but if it has some of the tractor factor of the drz.. it starts to look like a pretty nice compromise between those two bikes 🤔
Also having owned a drz and a wrr, I wouldn't "upgrade" to a drz again 😂
I just bought a Dez, I was looking for a wr but can't find one for looking here in Vic. The Drz is a compromise, but I liked it on my little test ride. I don't think of it as an upgrade though, an alternative perhaps.
I love Hondas. Will drive my 91 accord forever would have bought a honda if they were available when i got the bike itch. So i got a new wr250r. Love the wrr put 7000kms on this past year. But i still have an itch to add another honda to the family. Buy I also wish the headlights werent so goofy loking on the rally...
WR costs twice as much as CRF in Australia?
No Honda for me today WR all the way
I just wish you would just buy a bike and get back on the tracks I miss your off road antics instead of comparing apples n pairs but saying that have a safe Christmas 🎄 and looking forward to future trail vids kind regards Phil
I'm getting there Phil, you are not the only one going nuts waiting 😜 Have a good Christmas mate 👍
to compare apples to apples price wise, you could compare the 300L with upgraded suspension to the WR. If the 300L is much cheaper, it leaves room to add on some $ for that upgrade. Just to complicate things, not sure you can buy a WR 'off the showroom floor' anymore. So, you'd be looking at a lightly (???) used WR, vs a new 300L (with suspension upgrade still?). Maybe by the time you can actually get the 300L, Yamaha will at least have teased us with a WR replacement (but after the Tenere, their teases might not mean much for 2021). And, Kawasaki doing their announcements next month, but assuming those will be bigger cc's. Certainly an interesting time to be shopping. Lots of fodder for you (and us).
oh, what you and Nizami (?) were chatting about below, lol.
Regarding the WR discontinuation - Here in Aus we have been told we have enough WR250R 2020 stock to last well into 2021. Yer the CRF300L with suspension upgrade has me thinking and like you say lets hope Yamaha comes to the table with an upgrade!
Used wr250r or crf250L at relatively similar price ?
Me personally WR all day. As a first bike, short rider, better relationship with a Honda dealer CRF 👍
@@chroniclesofsolid I'm 6'4" and 198lbs lol.
Thanks for your input 👍
Have you noticed there are two different headlights on the CRF300L?
Yep, Asia and OZ get the new LED headlights and the rest of the world get the old 250L headlight.
Have you taken a close look at the SWM RS300R?
I’m curious about their bikes as well.
@@Bongo_Fury I just bought a 2nd one but won’t be here until mid Jan, wish me luck 😀
I have, the gearbox is very close ratio despite being 6 speed which results in it not being very happy at speeds over 100kph. The major reason I am not going that direction is dealer support. There is no SWM primary dealer here in WA. There are 2 very small little bike shops that offer one or two of the SWM lineup with neither operation having a great reputation. If there was a primary dealer here and I knew they were here for the long haul, I would give it much closer consideration.
@@alanseery4458 what happened to the first one?
@@chroniclesofsolid fair call. I’m happy to live with the challenges of poor dealer support for now. We’ll see if I still feel the same in 12 months time. If you want to check my 2018 out let me know, should be registered by late Jan. 👍🏻
great video sir, I have the 250L (2020) and as long as you keep ya back straight it's ok you will have fun ya need to use the weight of the bike to work with your style of riding (don't let the weight of the bike make you fight it) I have had the bike for one year and it's Awesome in the bush and great on road. Honda should offer an adjustable rear shock for the 250L as I'm 92kg and the standard spring compresses all the way down but it's comfortable when riding.
WR250 ALMINUM flames when crack not easy to weld DR350 ideal
Well.....the WR250 Dual Sport is history, discontinued at least in the USA.
Wait a minute what about the fact the WR250R is being discontinued next year.
Oh...that! Yeah really.
I owned a wr250r and it was the bees knees.
The WR250R was never king. The CRF450RL is king now of low maintenance and enduro high performance. KTM and Husq are still kings of performance production ready dualies.
Comparing a dead bike with a bike that is only in thiland. Klx300 pls
Can someone please tell me why I keep seeing different headlight than stock I want the one that’s in this vid but I think stock is still the ugly big buld headlight I’m not sure ??
Europe and the USA get the same headlight setup as the 250L. Malaysia and Australia get the LED headlight in the thumbnail photo 👍
Yamaha has something up their sleeve. Either a 300, 350 or 400.
I really hope so. Their Ténéré is no dual sport. I hope whatever they make is below at least the $9000 (hopefully around $8k) range too. Maybe a purpose built 450 dual sport or 350 like you said. I’d like to stick with Yamaha when I eventually sell my YZ for a street bike.
So your doing a comparison on a bike that's no longer made or for sale new ?
In France only the honda 300 l is available. No yamaha wr 250 new is sold. So no choice.
Same in España.
I'll pit my bone stock WR250R and riding skills against anyone and any other dual-sport. Don't blame the machine for your own lack of skill.
It's funny how the Yamaha 250 makes more power than Honda's 300 (286)cc & hell same power as the KLX 300cc (292)cc motor! I used to have the wr250x badass fun bike but geez the suspension is too stiff n' too high of a seat height & I'm 6' tall
Haha... a comparison between 2 bikes having never seen/sat on one of them?
Interesting :)
He did own a wr250r!
You still can, such as weigh, fuel capacity, seat high, power, cost, drive train...etc.
How about boring the wr250 out to make it a 350cc?... then it could be the ultimate , what ur thoughts?
This was my original plan until COVID hit and sent WR250R prices to the moon
@@chroniclesofsolid why dont u get a 2nd hand one? Then ur gonna be rebuilding alotbof the stuff with big bore anyway...
I was always getting a WR second hand. That is the price inflation I was talking about. WR's and most off road vehicles have seen a 30% price hike in 2020. Not paying the covid tax, I am patient.
@@chroniclesofsolid 30% price hike because of what?
Demand, Australia has seen unprecedented off road sales in 2020 due to international travel restrictions. As a result 4wd and off road motorcycle sales new and used have gone nuts. Price has gone up because demand is stronger than supply. Terrible timing on my part 😞
I thought the WR has ABS, the ones for sale in NZ do
I will keep my 2012 wr
34.7" seat height for me. Sorry Yamaha
You forgot one other upgrade. It has more fuel range.
No comparison even before I watched the video WR250R wins hands down
No led lights in the USA.
Why? Im in Australia and we have led lights but all front lights stay on including blinkers
Yes
👑
300L is really just 286cc
WR250R 💪👍🚀😁
CRF !!!
The Yamaha is discontinued for 2021, run and by one! Or go for Red.
I disagree with looks the Yamaha looks wayyy better no ABS motorcycles don’t need it!
Torque dirty to me baby!
WR350R 😏
Not without ABS
You're really just selling me on the honda to be honest.
It’s the 450L but you can’t buy them anymore.... what the hell Honda!!!!???
😢
what? honda cancel the 450L? so soon?
You can still buy the 450l
@@CollinMac96 I thought it was discontinued 🤔
@@NoobRoutz I don’t know who told you that. The 2021 model is on Honda’s website and there’s nothing about it getting discontinued
Too bad Yam dropped the WR250, and no WR300.
It was never king? If it was a king, it was king of the smallest kingdom on earth since Lichtenstein.
Hate ABS off road, complete waste of time
The move to direct injection has me a little worried I must say😬
Whys that? Can you elaborate?
@@slakk5093 yeah they have moved away from port injection where fuel is sprayed on the back of the valves. This helps with carbon build up. The new 2021 MT 09 has just brought port injection back due to some issues with the current model. Same deal in car engines mate.
@@jasoncee666 Good to know,, thanks for the explanation 👍
@@slakk5093 no problem, I have the current 250 rally so I'm not too sure about upgrading due to that and the rear frame business.🤔
@@slakk5093 The direct injection has become so much of a problem in automobiles that the manufacturers now include both types of fuel injection so the valves last longer.
Thailand Price is 5,000USD selling like hot cakes...!!!
im so looking forward to going back to a dualsport sometime this year as im finding the rural blacktop roads far too rough for my naked road bike. wanna see that the honda crf is just as good if not better than the wr? watch this chick ride her crf all over australia on the worst roads and tracks australia has. you rekon a wr could do this and be just as reliable? ua-cam.com/video/7ZOxfFONzO8/v-deo.html this is an awesome series and i think you will really enjoy watching it. i know i am.
Yer the WR could easily do Roz’s trip. Both are super reliable 👍
Or just get a Beta 390RR.
Gearing on the 2020+ has been shortened so its no longer suitable for extended hwy. Quality control has been sliding back as well according to the owners forums and the wiring has always been done poorly.
Strange to compare bikes when you only tried one out, pointless video, sorry.
CHANGE THE GEAR RATIO FOR HIGH WINDS WHAT DID I JUST HEAR