The CRF300L maintenance intervals are in thousands of miles. The KTM maintenance is measured in hours. Reliability is worlds apart. I would take a CRF300L over any bike that KTM, Husky, or Beta make, purely because I like to ride the bike, not work on it.
takes 15 mins to do an oil change - take a 500 exc as example though, easy to do 50 hours oil changes for most people, 15 mins every 50 hours isn't a lot and if you do it more often then great, it helps you be at one with the bike anyway, and each time you do maintenance you are looking at other things which is surely a positive 🙂 - they will keep going forever if you look after them, the book service times are based on racers - 99% out there don't come close to being a racer, i race MX and i ride my 500 exc very different to my sxf450 - the 450 gets oil much sooner due to the way it is ridden, a 500 exc doesn't get treated like a race bike by anyone in reality, i know about 12 exc 500 owners, all are fast guys and all barely take the 500 over 30% throttle, it is powered by torque figures - not rpm.
@@ogasi1798agree, ride a beta 390, even with separate oil of engine and gearbox, change takes less than ten minutes... we are now a lot to get hundreds and hundreds engine hours in our 390/430/500 betas. Sometimes chain care and tension takes more time 😂 but at the moment a topic speaks about wind protection by rally screen, vibrations, etc, let s say that the fun we have is 1000 times better than the less comfort . Comfort? Buy a car 😅 I rather prefer to ride a bike which gives pure pleasure in the 10% most difficult places, and suffer more in the easier usual 80%. Guy has an honest talk, this bike suits him ! But he pointed the mist important factor that just a few mention, the importance of gravity center, not is all about weight, especially when bike decides to take a rest on ground 😂
@@babar69110 agreed, as for this screen stuff, meh, I was out today and it was windy as hell, no bike was protecting me from the wind , certainly no aftermarket add on screen lol.
Just back from the second 14-day 4000km Morocco trip on my 690 Enduro. No breakdowns. Would surely miss that oompf on the CRF300L, my engine is reliable as hell, and in addition it has a lot of power. The weight is 152kg that's nearly the same as the CRF300L.
I down sized to the CRF300L Rally and have no regrets. I live in the United State and have taken two 800 mile trips on it loaded down with camping gear and have had no problems with the bike. I have put a new shock on it and stiffer spring in the front fork as well as the usual rear rack, skid plate, engine guards, and bark buster hand guards. It is a little on the tall side so I also put a seat concepts low seat on it. It cruises along at 60 to70 miles per hour (100 to 110 KL.) with no problem and is very nice handling off road.
This all make sense. Last May my friend and I spent a week in Morocco on two rented 660 Teneres. On side roads or going up the mountain passes, the bike was fun. But then we spent 2 days and 350 km in the desert and way too many times the fun stopped and the struggle and suffering started. This was especially true in sand and loose gravel. Too heavy and like you say, it's top heavy. Even very savable, slow tip overs could not be prevented once the bike started to fall it was game over. Then the ritual of waiting for my friend to help lift the beast up or me helping him. At these moments, I was dreaming of my Rally 300.
I’m a believer in getting the lightest bike the most comfortable that you feel, how can you have fun on a massive bike when you get into situations. If I’m touring I like going to small streets and lanes and discover a place so much nicer with a light bike. Totally makes sense
i've also ridden the XT660Z Tenere for about 60.000km in 5 years and done a lot of offroad with it, but also lots of long 2up trips. You're right about the missing 6th gear and about the weight distribution and it being a high central of gravity machine...it was hard to do U turns with it loaded up and with a pillion in the back. Even after 5 years of riding it, i never felt comfortable doing some maneuvers with it. Migrated to a 2016 Africa Twin and i just love it. It's my second season with it, but first time i rode it before buying it, i felt like i had it since ever...just perfect. Have fun on the VRF300L bro! Great bike for what it was meant to do! Cheers from Romania!
Strange, I have the Xt660r model and it purrs like a kitten at 100-110 km/h. Maybe the weight matters, mine weights around 165 kg with a Dominator exhaust. In fact, the 5th gear feels like an overdrive, I use it only on highway riding. All of the gears seem really long. Edit: Just noticed I have a 16 teeth front sprocket. One extra.
@Kaloyan1337 the R is a lot lighter than the Z I believe the xt660z is 189kg dry so probably at least 213kg wet probably more with all that fuel capacity. The 660r is like a duel sport the 660z is as heavy as a twin cylinder bike
I've had a Honda 250L, 250Rally and now a 300 Rally, Your comments are very true. For the average rider the bike inspires confidence off road and is a cost effective way of getting into adventure bike riding. The main extra cost is upgrading the suspension front and back but well worth it. My Rally has been to the Pyrenees from England 3 times and I wouldn't choose anything different.
I went with K-tech in the Uk as I had an installer locally. But I have an irritating rattling noise going downhill still, which they cannot fix. My freind put the Rally Raid on his L and I regret not choosing it. @@motocamel
Your honesty graces you. You are quite right. I myself have just sold my Africa Twin 1100 and am going to buy a Honda X500. Also because it is smaller and so will fit in my camper van. The x500 also feels more familiar to me and will definitely go more off road with it, in my new life where I will live in the campervan. Have sold my house and therefore can afford more, in the late summer of my life...Good video my brother.
Everything you say is true. Sometimes less is more. It is confidence inspiring to be able to use every pony the machine has and do it reliably. CRF 450 L would be a nice step up if you wanted something with a little bit more power. I really like the CB 500 X. What a great blessing you have to have been able to experience the rides any your resale. I really do think the smaller displacement motorcycles are where the fun and ease are. Happy trails and travels. Thank you.
Yea, I found this to be the most honest best review I have found. I also went from from a 650gs to the 300L and just find it more capable in many ways!
I don't think people really understand that often when it comes to ADV bikes, less is more. For the average rider (which is 90% of almost everyone) you can go harder off-road on a Honda CRF300L/Rally than you could on a Yamaha Tenere' (660 or 700), KTM 690/790/890, the list goes on, and in many cases leave all of them in the dust (off-road). The effort and cost to maintain a Honda CRF300L blows everything else out of the water. You can ride versus spending time doing maintenance wrenching. Bigger and more, is not always better. Finesse is an often overlooked trait when selecting a bike.
Very common mistake is to start offroad riding on too big bike. I had XT660z too as my first adventure bike. I had it only one season, as I quickly realised that I suck badly at offroad riding and the Tenere was totally wrong bike to learn riding skills. I ended up being scared when I saw mud or wet grass or sand because I fell down dozen times on one weekend course. Tenere is heavy and you can’t stop it when it starts falling. And indeed getting it up without help can be a big problem. It’s good bike if you don’t go into too difficult terrain with it. I have CRF250L and it is surprisingly good. I can manage the little CRF much better in the woods, it’s not scary at all. I’m old enough to have gotten my head around the horsepower and cc’s. Few years ago I was thinking too that less than 650cc is too small, couldn’t guess that I’d buying 250cc bike later😅. Ok it could have few extra ponies but then again, the bike can do more than my skillset allows.
Couldn't have said it better. If you don't have the skills, big bikes are going to scare you riding offroad. Leave the pride aside and settle for a small cc light bike and you will enjoy the adventure so much more.
Same here, i rode an xt660z for 2 seasons as a first bike and i was often miserable, sand was scary as hell, I would tense up and slow down too much upon seeing it and that would cause me to eventually fall which in turn would knock my confidence further down, an endless cycle 😅 For this season I was thinking about getting a CRF300L or a KTM 690/Husq 701 but actually ended up getting a proper 250f dirt bike and oh my god how it changed everything. I now ride faster, more aggressive and I actually enjoy riding sand. A good example to illustrate the change is this steep, sandy, rutted hill climb that me and my mates on similar heavy bikes have visited numerous times in the past, none of us dared to even attempt climbing it, we would just look at it with fear and ride away lol. This year I just ripped up that hill at first attempt without any fear or problems and my mate, who also finally dared to attempt it after seeing me get to the top with ease, fell off his F800GS not even half way up 😆
@@pro_grapist Exactly. It's so much more fun when you don't have to fear about dropping the bike constantly. You just get a boost of confidence when too heavy bike is not limiting the fooling around in the woods 😆
Good video, thanks for sharing, its an Interesting comparison, I didn't know the 660xt was that bad on the road, I had the dr650 and currently the 300l, the dr650 was very smooth at 75mph never felt like it needed another gear the 300l can do 75mph but i think its sweet spot is at around 65, but when it comes to off road the300l it feels more manageable , especially with an upgraded suspension
Everyone has their own experience, but I found it to be not so good in highway rides. That's not the main reason I switched, but the difference is very noticeable.
Confidence, that's the right word. On my Transalp 600 or Beta Alp 200 I never miss horsepower in tricky terrain, only a better chassis. Let's wait and see what surprises EICMA Milan tomorrow brings for us. A CRF 350 L? No, it seems. Although they have had the cylinder head (Honda Forza and SH 350 scooter) in production for the last two years: much more thrust and a real 8 km/h faster. Enjoy the sandy tracks in the Netherlands, we have more gravel in Bavaria. Günter/Nürnberg
Nice bike my friend, great approach to your choice. I have never tried the Honda but sure it seems popular and definitely takes people out on serious adventures 👍
Hey Mattias! You have the best, so no need to try the little Honda :D But If you want a light, capable and cheap bike for some off-road riding, it's a great bike. Like I said in the video, going to Sweden the last time really played a big part in this choice. I had similar experiences to you when you got stuck on the TST near those bumble bees. For me the feeling that the Tenere held me back from riding on those challenging terrains, combined with the weight, made me pull the trigger.
Good video. I’ve got a Crf300L too and love it. I’ll park my Norden 901 Expedition for it and have a ball all the time. The Crf300L will do anything and not fail you. Enjoy! 🏍️💨
I like the look you have going on with the 300L. It more or less looks like a similar setup to the 300L Rally with the larger tank and windscreen, and a great option if the Rally easily found. I bought a Rally a few months ago, and I love it. I still need to upgrade the skid plate, add aftermarket handlebars and grips, and add a 12v socket and eventually a GPS.
Well the reason I went for the L is the fact I don't like the extra plastics on the Rally combined with the windscreen and strange headlights. But if the Rally was all I could get, I would most certainly buy it.
Very valid point on the plastics. I feel like the extra plastic helps shield my right leg from the heat of the header/exhaust. I also added some Outback Motortek crash bars on mine. They are higher, so they provide good coverage around the radiator area and should help keep the extra plastics on the Rally from getting messed up. I think most riders can't really go wrong with either model of the CRF300. Great bike and I'm happy to own one.
Great video 👍, this video got me thinking about the CRF300. Had a KTM350exc , then discoverd TET , put navigation on it went great in NL. But for longer trips i bought a XT660Z tenere, great bike but not as playfull and confidend off-road. Thanks for the video , going to look closer to the Honda 👌
I agree with you..I have a xt660x that I got 50/50 tyres on to explore gravelroads and so on...I dont do highways so I think about changing sprockets so I could remain in 3 gear on the gravel and small roads..agree on the vibrations worse than my old honda nx650 -90 😂 I think crf 300 is a great little bike👍
I've owned 2 Harleys, 1 BMW,a Norton, a KZ, Yamaha XS650, CX500, Suzuki 650. My next bike is the Honda XR150L. I'm so looking forward to downsizing to a light, nimble, efficient and support reliable bike. That'll be my keeper bike
Great video, I have a 300L and love the bike. When I first got it I was unsure about the lack of power, but a new exhaust, Better air filter and 550 Performance remap have made it much more fun. One question I do have is what tower set up are you using? Looks great.
I mainly see people from the US change out the ECU for the 550 ones. Is it that big of a difference? I swapped the air filter and did a full Akra exhaust system and am allready happy with the results.
Puike video en een goede swich. In Nederland was mijn laaste bike voor dagelijks gebruik en verre reizen, two up, de Ten met een xr400r voor offroad. Nu de nieuwe Ten maar dan in een ander land voor dezelfde reden. En twee crf250l voor offroad. Ik zie me met mijn 62 jaar en slechte rug geen 200 kg optillen na een crash in de Thaise slijk. Vroeg mij af welk protection shirt je daar aanhad?
You made the right choice getting the Honda 300. I ride several bikes, but my favorite is always my Kawasaki KLX230, which is a small but very capable bike for most riding. I commute on it every day, I go on trips on it, and occasional subtle offroading in not too aggressive terrain. The 200-300 cc bikes work everywhere.
What kind of tires do you use? I chose to go with Pirelli MT21's, keeping in mind I don't commute on it or even ride that much paved roads. Otherwise it would end up being an expensive hobby.
I use Dunlop Trailmax tires, they're like a budget alternative to Michelin's Anakee. I've had them now for almost two seasons and they still have some thread left. They are mostly good on roads and gravel, not so much in the rough ;)
After owning the second Tenere I eventually realized that they are just way too too heavy, as an experienced Enduro rider if many years, I agree with you.
I had the same experience,some years ago I sold my Africa Twin because it became to heavy for me to lift it on my own so I bought a 660Z ( old model with the blue tank ) in the UK and drove it back to Portugal where I live. I found it a great bike for traveling long distances on secondary roads over speeds of say 60/70 kms per hour but going slower particularly off road I always felt that I was in the wrong gear, also I didn’t trust it going off road so sold it right a way for a good price because they are very popular here. Then I bought the CRF250L what was unbelievable easy to handle off-road but definitely lacked some power so I chipped it and that sort of solved that,unfortunately the 300 L only came out later but anyhow I had a lot of fun with it.
So we did the same thing. I switched from XT660R to CRF300L this season. I love my bike and so glad that i did this step. Also have a content on YT driving my Honda. Take care mate :) Sub and like given :)
A polished vid ... well done 👌👏. Returning to off road after a 25 year break. Started back with CRF230L, then 250L, and since February a new 300L. At first we didn't feel the 300 was that much of an upgrade from the 250, indeed we thought 250 felt more solidly built. But as months go by and we become nore familiar with 300's capabilities it is amazing us more. It is far and away a better platform in rough country where it's weight advantage, and slightly better gearing really shines. In that environment we cannot fault it, despite stock suspension and engine components. Great economy to, and we really like the dash and LED light gear. The only downside is it's fidgety on the tarmac at speed, and does not inspire confidence in that environment. We recently couldn't resist a tidy 2017 DR650. Of course it's weight and torque makes it a far superior light tourer on pavement. But the 300 runs rings around even this evergreen stalwart when the going gets tough!!
I'm currently researching a new bike and am looking at the Tenere. This Honda keeps popping up as a very good bike. How are your highway/offroad rides divided in percentages? And how would you think it will hold up for long trips with a lot of highway involved?
Wery strange video. One off the most reliable motor ever built wants to explode in 70mph. CMON man get real. And the top heavy is just a matter off adjusting. I think you want to say that you got a bike more suited to your driving skill. The CRF is your bike and that is OK.
It’s just an opinion but look at the comments below and see how many XT owners more or less experienced the same. The engine does feel very uncomfortable at 100 km/ph. Exploding might not be the right word, but the amount of vibration it creates is insane compared to the CrF.
I hear ya. I ride a heritage on long highway trips but everything else i downsized from a klr650 to a versys x300 and love the light weight, handling and actually better on road in my opinion. If I could just find a better seat. Thats the problem with small bikes.
very honest review, did ride a teneree once and the vibration was bad, to many think power is the answer when it’s all about ability(fellow crf 300 rider) ride on ride safe 😊
I had a XT660R enduro. Lighter & better than the XT660Z adventure bike. I used a Power commander & tuned it to perfection in the Outback, it was smooth like a V6! But when the weather turned rainy, the engine would be viby and felt rough. This made the bike somewhat temperamental though very reliable. I exchanged it for a Tenere 700, much smoother & faster but also higher & heavier. Absolutely awesome on long rides or gravel roads, but it takes skill & balls to take it to its ability. Im glad you like the CRF, because I suspect its riding is more effortless. Enjoy your bike & dont doubt your choice.
I have an r1200gs and a vstrom1050xt, but there have been many times when I lost all my strength while fighting off-road with something as heavy as 250kg. I am so envious of the CRF300L that passes comfortably next to me. I'm still thinking about the 300L. I have to either give up on off-roading or buy a 300L. In the end, I had no desire to go off-roading until I bought the 300L. Because I had a hard time on the last off-road...
Totally understand your move. Have a T700, Husky TE250 enduro, and got the 300l to split the difference. Love them all but the go anywhere easy going nature of the 300l finds me wanting to be on it more frequently. Off topic but how are the AS supershirt and linesman pants working out for you? Expensive but the supershirt seems like a game changer for dual sporting.
Gearing of course is an easy fixable problem. But the Honda CRF does have a weight benefit for sure. The sixth gear is a definite plus, but riding 120km/h in 5th gear on the normal XT660R is calm and smooth. But no offroad/knobbies tires. Offroad, I do not have enough experience, so I will believe you immediately ;)
The gearbox is the gearbox, you can switch sprocket sizes, but that is going to impact the character of the bike a lot and not all for the good in my humble opinion. 120 km/ph for me was never smooth. Hands would go numb after an hour and the engine felt like you were stretching it too much. Yeah offroad with the CRF300L in my humble opinion is like night and day. And that is what I use it for mainly.
@@motocamel If that is the main use then it is the best pick for sure indeed. I wonder if it is a difference between the Z and the R, although the differences between the R and the X are slim, I have no experience with the Z, although the Tenere has some for sure. I have done 90 min at 120/130 without problems, Most vibrations are around 110-ish, but never that much that it was a real problem. Stretching the engine comes above 140km/h for sure. It can do more, but it feels like it doesn't want to do more ;)
Well my man, i had xt660z for 4 years also.. I have same "problems" like you.. But i select T7 and man,im telling you, is soooo much perfect bike.. T7 all the way!! Cheers!!
T7 feels very very light ,like bicycle ,compered to xt660z ... but im 1.85cm tall so maybe for this i find it sooo easy and comfortable, its like supermotard i can say... If i wanted even lighter bike i go for crf300l rally for sure.. and hey, KTM s isnt alternative choise, not compere it with trusty Yamaha or Honda , its far more unrealiable bikes, personaly ,i never through my money to KTM crap!@@motocamel
Very thoughtful said about the difference between those bikes. I have a XT660Z as you had with Öhlins etc. I love the bike except the top heavy thing that you describe so well. I am considering AJP PR7 or 690. I am suspicious about the CRF300L because I used to ride a WR250R and there were so much lack of grunt. But I will give this bike a try. Thanks!
I love the looks and the uniqueness of the PR7. It's a slightly bigger bike and somewhat less nimble in the tricky stuff. WR250R had most of it's power at the higher RPM range, the CRF300 has quite a different motor where most of the pull is actually at the low RPM range. I tested it when the CRF250 was around and allthough the WR had more hp, the CRF was soo much more easy to ride offroad. When it comes to the choice for the CRF, I was in a position that my budget only allowed for the CRF, so the choice was easy. If I was you I would really think about how you will be using the bike most of the time and make a choice based on that, instead of looks or power. But in any case, all the bikes mentioned are great bikes. Can't go wrong with either of them!
Love my crf300l. Once you change restricted exhaust, drill a few holes in airbox ,great bike ,on /off road .could do with better brakes ,is my only gripe
i have an 2018 CRF Rally 250 cc, im very glad that i have an indestructible engined bike.i stand it up on my own when my bike falls when im off roading(dont need an extra buddy to stand it for me).i'm able to cover expenses at this inflation rate which i live in Turkey ^^. im using my bike 7 days in a week and 350 days in a year.I didn't changed extra suspensions or ..etc. This bike only need more accesories ,nothing more
Such an informative video. I came close to buying the honda 300 rally where most of my riding would be done on tar with the occasional 2 up. The engine should have been around at least 40hp just to have less engine stress on highways.
I had a XT660Z Tenere like you and I modified it for thousands of € and I rode it around the world for 5 years and more than 200 k kms. I have to say it was a disaster of a bike! Waaay to heavy and totally unreliable. My bike broke down down big time tens of time and left me stranded so many places! Also the fuel consumption that was 3,5-4 liters pr 100 kms in the beginning changed after 50-60 k kms and it was difficult to get 5 l/100 kms even riding like a granny… Yes the 660 engine is really primitive…😂 Now I have a Crf250L in Thailand that I have ridden approx 50 k kms on and its a fantastic bike. Its a bit modified though. I also have a Crf250 Rally here in Norway which is a bit disappointing compared to my thai Crf as its way down in power. Will try to change ECU to get it to «thai power» Probably the EU bikes are modified due to emission standards.
I didn't have the reliability issues with the Tenere. I even sold it to a guy who has no traveled 30k on it around all the post sovjet countries, Turkey and Iran and even he did not have any breakdowns. Maybe try switching to a CRF300 with full exhaust system? I find it to be quite ok in power. Don't know if a expensive new ECU is worth it.
Good video. I agree with everything you say. And I did love my tenere. It brought me to many places but there were many places off-road that I didn't have the confidence to go with it.
Interesting. I am planning to do exactly the same change, for the same reasons. From XT660Z Tenere -2012 to a Honda CRF 300 L or Rally. I think it is a good change 😊👍🏻
Great to hear you are also thinking about a switch. I preferred the L over the Rally because of the looks and all the extra plastics the Rally had (which might break when falling on tricky terrain). I eventually got a Rally Tower on the L and a bigger petrol tank. So that kind of defeats the purpose of the Rally for me.
@@motocamel yea valid points! After comparing the two in more details I see your point. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I originally had my heart set in the L but a mate has had me thinking about the Rally for comfort and larger tank. Both hard to find second hand at moment and a little out of my price range so will need to save some more.
I have a KLX300 for the same reasons a small bike is fun and better off-road but in California the highway speeds are just too scary to get on with this bike even though it can, but I do my best to search for other routes.
I have a xtz 660 tenere from 1997 and got a crf 300l a few months ago. The CRF is much lighter and as you said and we get much more confidence off road. I'm loving it! It is a great light capable machine!
Great, logical and no hype rundown of your bike change. I had the 660 for a couple of years and really liked it.......apart from picking it up! Quite top heavy and susceptible to side winds. Did you consider the T7 at all? Also what is the armoured sweater you are wearing.....looks like it might be good for quick summertime blasts where weather protection not important. Would you recommend it?
An inspiring video Anwar. Your 300L is possibly the best looking 300L I've seen so far. Very nice. I have a G650GS Sertao and am considering a switch to either the 300L or 300 Rally, so your video is very appropriate - thanks.
Many thanks! There are still a few mods I'm waiting for, but the tank and rally tower really make a difference. Years ago I was also considering that BMW, but than chose the Tenere instead.
Good video ... had 3 XT's and agree with everything you said except the 70mph thing, I did Euro trips and mine was fine sitting at 80mph and the engine felt it had a little more ... all 3 were stock engines and handlebars, no Kev Mod, no messing with air filter/box or any engine mods and it was fine.
Goeie keuze. Ik begrijp t wel, de echte avonturiers rijden meestal ook op de kleinere lichter machines. Vn ook dat ze eenvoudig zijn te repareren als je ergens in the middle of nowhere zit
Thank you for the video. I have XT660r, and looking for new bike. I really like the CRF300l/rally, but I'm still not sure about the power loss. But as you have said it, XT may have more torq, but it does not like to be reved, and that is an issue with it's limited tramsmission. I must get my hands on one of those CRFs and tested it myself, but yours review was great help.
Great choice. I had the africa twin and soon realize it was too heavy in the bush for me So i bought the crf300l rally Way better to handle. It will bring me everywhere i want to go with. Yes less is more Yes riding a slow bike fast is way better than ridng a fast bike slow
Hoi Anwar, toffe video en leuk ding ook die 300L! Je hebt inmiddels al een hoop aanpassingen gedaan zo te zien. Is het bij een 300L ook nog de moeite om het motorvermogen iets op te krikken of zijn de kosten te hoog voor de winst die je boekt? Bedankt alvast!
The argument that the crf300l is less top heavy than the tenere is true. It would have to be. The crf300l carries about 2 gallons and the Tenere carries 23 liters or around 6 gallons of fuel.
What tankbag is this? I have the same Acerbis tank and looking for something like this. By the way, after 30+ years of street riding I got bored and gradually switched to some offroad. From FZ1 through DL650, XT600 to CRF 300l. So from 150HP to 27HP :D And I love it! Cheers
Very well made video! I agree with you. I switched to the CRF 300 L Rally from a 2008 BMW F800 GS. And I am very happy. More displacement and power makes difference in (straight line on tarmac) acceleration. Yet in any other scenario the weight is huge advantage. The difference is also more than 50 kg compared to the F800 and it just gives me sooo much more confidence! And to be dead honest to myself: with my riding skills I am not able to handle any 200+ kg and 80 hp motorcycle especially off-road. One thing to me noted though: as a first mod to the CRF do the front && rear suspension. (I have both from RaceTech) It's a night'n'day difference and moves the CRF to a whole new level.
@@motocamel For the front it is an interesting kit. It keeps the shock absorber body, replaced both compression and rebound valves and the valve stack. It keeps the original spring and adds a second spring in the other fork.
Groot gelijk, goeie keuze. Afgelopen jaar heb ik een tijd lang rondgereden met een NX250, en sinds dien staat de CRF300 op mijn verlanglijstje. De NX250 weegt ook net niets, heeft 6 versnellingen, en is ook erg gemakkelijk te besturen, maar heeft als minpuntje dat het ondertussen een erg oude motor is. De CRF lijkt me heerlijk. Alle pluspunten van de Nx, zonder de minpunten.
Im trying to choose between these two right now. Im going to ride on the highway hundreds of km-s, not planning to buy a trailer, so my question is, is 300cc enough for long drives on highway and with only 1 cylinder, does it resonate like hell? This is the only thing keeping me from buying the crf
I find it to be a better highway ride then for example the xt660z I had previous. Smaller engine but way smoother at high speeds. Also pretty much no vibration on the handlebars unlike older and bigger single cilinders. Having a rally tower does make your life a lot easier when doing long rides.
I think it is the weight that puts me off with the T7 and make me ride nervously on loose ground because I don’t want to lift that damn thing. I don’t want to drop the bike, because of that I ride like a chicken, I make a mess and I drop the bike. I still love my T7 but I also got myself the 300L 😅 to get over the bike lifting issue.
Yeah I have the T7 as well and it's not a bike to be timid with, best to ride it hard like an enduro and ironically that way it's easier to stay on , I think if you're to careful it's harder to balance.
I have rhe crf300l. only thing I wish you got out the box on it was better tires. It's a fun bike forsure. I come from an ultra classic in to the dual sport world. So much more fun
Ik weet nog voorheen dat je de tenere nam omdat je grote adv. Bikes te zwaar vond en te groot voor off road riding. Maar bedoel je nu te zeggen dat de xt660 dat eigenlijk ook is? Ben gewoon benieuwd want hou zelf ook van off road rijden en de xt660 tenere wordt toch vaak als goede optie bevolen.
Ja dat bedoel ik te zeggen. Als offroad je prioriteit is, is de Tenere way too big en te zwaar. Verschil van dag en nacht met de CRF. Als je alleen op asfalt of makkelijke gravel wegen rijdt is ie wel prima te doen.
You're quite realistic! You remind me of the French couple who rode around the World on two identical Kawasaki Versys 300. Also at 76 I'm riding a Yam 660cc 2010 MT03 but I think I'll soon switch to a BMW G310R, 22 kg lighter with a 2 cm lower seat 😂😂😂
You can not go wrong with the tried and tested CRF300l. Longevity in between maintenance schedules, reliability is second to none and it’s a bike that easily suits all riding styles within an enduro environment. There are also many modifications expensive and none expensive that can be made to enhance your riding experience. It’s also a light bike, which means you’re less likely to break any bones if you were to fall off. Certain parts need to be modified straight away, but you have to remember that Honda have deliberately made it affordable for all. What’s not to like?????
How tall are you and what is you weight? I am 184 and 115kg weight. I also looking for similar bike but I am afraid if suspension will match my weight. As I read in reviews this bike is not equipped with good suspension.
Ik denk dat je de spijker op z’n kop slaat. Deze Crf-jes zijn echt goede offroad bikes als je geen supertalent bent maar wel lekker wil offroad rijden. Ik heb zelf een een crf250L omgebouwd naar een crf300L. Je hebt net ietsje meer power. Tevens zijn ze heel comfortabele om lange afstanden mee te rijden en super betrouwbaar. Minpunten vind ik de slechte remmen en de slappe originele vering. Maar daar valt heel makkelijk iets aan te doen. Laatste pluspunt is prijs. Je koopt een moderne adventure bike voor weinig geld en je kunt meteen lekker op pad. Ik kijk uit naar je nieuwe content over de crf. Veel plezier met je nieuwe bike MotoCamel!
He, thanks voor dit review man! Ik ben aan het kijken voor een lichte adventure bike. En hier heb ik veel aan! Ik ga hoogst waarschijnlijk voor een rally versie van deze.
Ik kocht indertijd een oude DR800S Big om wat meer offroad touring te doen. Deze was ook nogal topzwaar, maar wat mij uiteindelijk heeft doen besluiten hem in te ruilen voor een iets meer road-oriented trail bike was het feit dat ik twee maal een dag ben verloren door op afgelegen plekken lek te rijden. Ik ben nl. niet zo handig in het vervangen van tubes langs de weg. Een tubeless herstel ik in een kwartiertje. Als je daarover nuttige tips hebt mag je die altijd posten.
Hi, I would like to ask why did you choose 300 L over rally version? I'm thinking about this motorcycle and I'm having a hard time choosing. Isn't it better to order a motorbike with a higher original windshield and covers? Or does upgrading the 300L yourself makes more sense? I'm not experienced biker, 184 cm and 90 kg and I'm planning a leisurely trip from Central Europe to Iceland. Of course, this model seems to be perfect for Icelandic gravel roads, but there is still over 1400 km to be done on ordinary roads, and here I am wondering whether it will be ok in terms of comfort etc. Thanks in advance for your opinion.
In short: I don't like the windscreen and the extra plastic covers on the rally version. I've built my L so that it has the benefits of a big tank, a windscreen, better lighting and actually usable way to mount a navi device. Without having the negatives of the Rally. If you go for a small lightweight bike you will always have to compromise for highway use. For me it's no issue. Just take your time and don't try to rush through traffic.
Thanks a lot for your reply. I will just check the cost off the mods I'd need to do in L version. Surely suspension, light, windscreen and tank. Best !@@motocamel
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The CRF300L maintenance intervals are in thousands of miles. The KTM maintenance is measured in hours. Reliability is worlds apart. I would take a CRF300L over any bike that KTM, Husky, or Beta make, purely because I like to ride the bike, not work on it.
takes 15 mins to do an oil change - take a 500 exc as example though, easy to do 50 hours oil changes for most people, 15 mins every 50 hours isn't a lot and if you do it more often then great, it helps you be at one with the bike anyway, and each time you do maintenance you are looking at other things which is surely a positive 🙂 - they will keep going forever if you look after them, the book service times are based on racers - 99% out there don't come close to being a racer, i race MX and i ride my 500 exc very different to my sxf450 - the 450 gets oil much sooner due to the way it is ridden, a 500 exc doesn't get treated like a race bike by anyone in reality, i know about 12 exc 500 owners, all are fast guys and all barely take the 500 over 30% throttle, it is powered by torque figures - not rpm.
@@ogasi1798agree, ride a beta 390, even with separate oil of engine and gearbox, change takes less than ten minutes... we are now a lot to get hundreds and hundreds engine hours in our 390/430/500 betas. Sometimes chain care and tension takes more time 😂 but at the moment a topic speaks about wind protection by rally screen, vibrations, etc, let s say that the fun we have is 1000 times better than the less comfort . Comfort? Buy a car 😅 I rather prefer to ride a bike which gives pure pleasure in the 10% most difficult places, and suffer more in the easier usual 80%. Guy has an honest talk, this bike suits him ! But he pointed the mist important factor that just a few mention, the importance of gravity center, not is all about weight, especially when bike decides to take a rest on ground 😂
@@babar69110 agreed, as for this screen stuff, meh, I was out today and it was windy as hell, no bike was protecting me from the wind , certainly no aftermarket add on screen lol.
Just back from the second 14-day 4000km Morocco trip on my 690 Enduro. No breakdowns. Would surely miss that oompf on the CRF300L, my engine is reliable as hell, and in addition it has a lot of power. The weight is 152kg that's nearly the same as the CRF300L.
@@ChristophLeitl and how much did it cost you in comparison?
I down sized to the CRF300L Rally and have no regrets. I live in the United State and have taken two 800 mile trips on it loaded down with camping gear and have had no problems with the bike. I have put a new shock on it and stiffer spring in the front fork as well as the usual rear rack, skid plate, engine guards, and bark buster hand guards. It is a little on the tall side so I also put a seat concepts low seat on it. It cruises along at 60 to70 miles per hour (100 to 110 KL.) with no problem and is very nice handling off road.
This all make sense. Last May my friend and I spent a week in Morocco on two rented 660 Teneres. On side roads or going up the mountain passes, the bike was fun. But then we spent 2 days and 350 km in the desert and way too many times the fun stopped and the struggle and suffering started. This was especially true in sand and loose gravel. Too heavy and like you say, it's top heavy. Even very savable, slow tip overs could not be prevented once the bike started to fall it was game over. Then the ritual of waiting for my friend to help lift the beast up or me helping him. At these moments, I was dreaming of my Rally 300.
I’m a believer in getting the lightest bike the most comfortable that you feel, how can you have fun on a massive bike when you get into situations. If I’m touring I like going to small streets and lanes and discover a place so much nicer with a light bike.
Totally makes sense
i've also ridden the XT660Z Tenere for about 60.000km in 5 years and done a lot of offroad with it, but also lots of long 2up trips. You're right about the missing 6th gear and about the weight distribution and it being a high central of gravity machine...it was hard to do U turns with it loaded up and with a pillion in the back. Even after 5 years of riding it, i never felt comfortable doing some maneuvers with it. Migrated to a 2016 Africa Twin and i just love it. It's my second season with it, but first time i rode it before buying it, i felt like i had it since ever...just perfect. Have fun on the VRF300L bro! Great bike for what it was meant to do! Cheers from Romania!
Strange, I have the Xt660r model and it purrs like a kitten at 100-110 km/h. Maybe the weight matters, mine weights around 165 kg with a Dominator exhaust. In fact, the 5th gear feels like an overdrive, I use it only on highway riding. All of the gears seem really long.
Edit: Just noticed I have a 16 teeth front sprocket. One extra.
@Kaloyan1337 the R is a lot lighter than the Z I believe the xt660z is 189kg dry so probably at least 213kg wet probably more with all that fuel capacity. The 660r is like a duel sport the 660z is as heavy as a twin cylinder bike
I've had a Honda 250L, 250Rally and now a 300 Rally, Your comments are very true. For the average rider the bike inspires confidence off road and is a cost effective way of getting into adventure bike riding. The main extra cost is upgrading the suspension front and back but well worth it. My Rally has been to the Pyrenees from England 3 times and I wouldn't choose anything different.
It does! With which suspension did you end up?
I went with K-tech in the Uk as I had an installer locally. But I have an irritating rattling noise going downhill still, which they cannot fix. My freind put the Rally Raid on his L and I regret not choosing it.
@@motocamel
Your honesty graces you. You are quite right. I myself have just sold my Africa Twin 1100 and am going to buy a Honda X500. Also because it is smaller and so will fit in my camper van. The x500 also feels more familiar to me and will definitely go more off road with it, in my new life where I will live in the campervan. Have sold my house and therefore can afford more, in the late summer of my life...Good video my brother.
Everything you say is true. Sometimes less is more. It is confidence inspiring to be able to use every pony the machine has and do it reliably. CRF 450 L would be a nice step up if you wanted something with a little bit more power. I really like the CB 500 X. What a great blessing you have to have been able to experience the rides any your resale. I really do think the smaller displacement motorcycles are where the fun and ease are. Happy trails and travels. Thank you.
450 maintance is brutal.
Yea, I found this to be the most honest best review I have found. I also went from from a 650gs to the 300L and just find it more capable in many ways!
I did the same thing - from a DR650 to Honda 300 Rally. Bit of a shock power-wise, but great ADV machines 😎👍
I don't think people really understand that often when it comes to ADV bikes, less is more. For the average rider (which is 90% of almost everyone) you can go harder off-road on a Honda CRF300L/Rally than you could on a Yamaha Tenere' (660 or 700), KTM 690/790/890, the list goes on, and in many cases leave all of them in the dust (off-road). The effort and cost to maintain a Honda CRF300L blows everything else out of the water. You can ride versus spending time doing maintenance wrenching. Bigger and more, is not always better. Finesse is an often overlooked trait when selecting a bike.
Very common mistake is to start offroad riding on too big bike. I had XT660z too as my first adventure bike. I had it only one season, as I quickly realised that I suck badly at offroad riding and the Tenere was totally wrong bike to learn riding skills. I ended up being scared when I saw mud or wet grass or sand because I fell down dozen times on one weekend course. Tenere is heavy and you can’t stop it when it starts falling. And indeed getting it up without help can be a big problem. It’s good bike if you don’t go into too difficult terrain with it. I have CRF250L and it is surprisingly good. I can manage the little CRF much better in the woods, it’s not scary at all. I’m old enough to have gotten my head around the horsepower and cc’s. Few years ago I was thinking too that less than 650cc is too small, couldn’t guess that I’d buying 250cc bike later😅. Ok it could have few extra ponies but then again, the bike can do more than my skillset allows.
Couldn't have said it better. If you don't have the skills, big bikes are going to scare you riding offroad. Leave the pride aside and settle for a small cc light bike and you will enjoy the adventure so much more.
Same here, i rode an xt660z for 2 seasons as a first bike and i was often miserable, sand was scary as hell, I would tense up and slow down too much upon seeing it and that would cause me to eventually fall which in turn would knock my confidence further down, an endless cycle 😅 For this season I was thinking about getting a CRF300L or a KTM 690/Husq 701 but actually ended up getting a proper 250f dirt bike and oh my god how it changed everything. I now ride faster, more aggressive and I actually enjoy riding sand.
A good example to illustrate the change is this steep, sandy, rutted hill climb that me and my mates on similar heavy bikes have visited numerous times in the past, none of us dared to even attempt climbing it, we would just look at it with fear and ride away lol. This year I just ripped up that hill at first attempt without any fear or problems and my mate, who also finally dared to attempt it after seeing me get to the top with ease, fell off his F800GS not even half way up 😆
@@pro_grapist Exactly. It's so much more fun when you don't have to fear about dropping the bike constantly. You just get a boost of confidence when too heavy bike is not limiting the fooling around in the woods 😆
Good video, thanks for sharing, its an Interesting comparison, I didn't know the 660xt was that bad on the road, I had the dr650 and currently the 300l, the dr650 was very smooth at 75mph never felt like it needed another gear the 300l can do 75mph but i think its sweet spot is at around 65, but when it comes to off road the300l it feels more manageable , especially with an upgraded suspension
Everyone has their own experience, but I found it to be not so good in highway rides. That's not the main reason I switched, but the difference is very noticeable.
Confidence, that's the right word. On my Transalp 600 or Beta Alp 200 I never miss horsepower in tricky terrain, only a better chassis. Let's wait and see what surprises EICMA Milan tomorrow brings for us. A CRF 350 L? No, it seems. Although they have had the cylinder head (Honda Forza and SH 350 scooter) in production for the last two years: much more thrust and a real 8 km/h faster. Enjoy the sandy tracks in the Netherlands, we have more gravel in Bavaria. Günter/Nürnberg
Nice bike my friend, great approach to your choice. I have never tried the Honda but sure it seems popular and definitely takes people out on serious adventures 👍
Hey Mattias! You have the best, so no need to try the little Honda :D But If you want a light, capable and cheap bike for some off-road riding, it's a great bike. Like I said in the video, going to Sweden the last time really played a big part in this choice. I had similar experiences to you when you got stuck on the TST near those bumble bees. For me the feeling that the Tenere held me back from riding on those challenging terrains, combined with the weight, made me pull the trigger.
@@motocamel This week me and Thomas Hansen will meet up again, motocamp and heading to Latvia. Start packing today at least all the base packing.
Very nice! I’m curious how the event will be. Are you and Thomas filming?
@@motocamel We will get something out of it, the Outduro guys are skilled withbthe camera/edition work so I expect alot of material.
Good video.
I’ve got a Crf300L too and love it.
I’ll park my Norden 901 Expedition for it and have a ball all the time.
The Crf300L will do anything and not fail you.
Enjoy!
🏍️💨
I like the look you have going on with the 300L. It more or less looks like a similar setup to the 300L Rally with the larger tank and windscreen, and a great option if the Rally easily found. I bought a Rally a few months ago, and I love it. I still need to upgrade the skid plate, add aftermarket handlebars and grips, and add a 12v socket and eventually a GPS.
Well the reason I went for the L is the fact I don't like the extra plastics on the Rally combined with the windscreen and strange headlights. But if the Rally was all I could get, I would most certainly buy it.
Very valid point on the plastics. I feel like the extra plastic helps shield my right leg from the heat of the header/exhaust. I also added some Outback Motortek crash bars on mine. They are higher, so they provide good coverage around the radiator area and should help keep the extra plastics on the Rally from getting messed up.
I think most riders can't really go wrong with either model of the CRF300. Great bike and I'm happy to own one.
Great video 👍, this video got me thinking about the CRF300.
Had a KTM350exc , then discoverd TET , put navigation on it went great in NL. But for longer trips i bought a XT660Z tenere, great bike but not as playfull and confidend off-road.
Thanks for the video , going to look closer to the Honda 👌
I agree with you..I have a xt660x that I got 50/50 tyres on to explore gravelroads and so on...I dont do highways so I think about changing sprockets so I could remain in 3 gear on the gravel and small roads..agree on the vibrations worse than my old honda nx650 -90 😂
I think crf 300 is a great little bike👍
Leuk filmpje kerel! 👍🏽 ben zeer benieuwd naar je avonturen met deze bike. Ziet er tof uit
Thanks!
I've owned 2 Harleys, 1 BMW,a Norton, a KZ, Yamaha XS650, CX500, Suzuki 650. My next bike is the Honda XR150L. I'm so looking forward to downsizing to a light, nimble, efficient and support reliable bike. That'll be my keeper bike
Great video, I have a 300L and love the bike. When I first got it I was unsure about the lack of power, but a new exhaust, Better air filter and 550 Performance remap have made it much more fun. One question I do have is what tower set up are you using? Looks great.
I mainly see people from the US change out the ECU for the 550 ones. Is it that big of a difference? I swapped the air filter and did a full Akra exhaust system and am allready happy with the results.
ONE ADVENTURE rally tower kit
Cheers from 🇮🇹
Puike video en een goede swich.
In Nederland was mijn laaste bike voor dagelijks gebruik en verre reizen, two up, de Ten met een xr400r voor offroad.
Nu de nieuwe Ten maar dan in een ander land voor dezelfde reden.
En twee crf250l voor offroad.
Ik zie me met mijn 62 jaar en slechte rug geen 200 kg optillen na een crash in de Thaise slijk.
Vroeg mij af welk protection shirt je daar aanhad?
Hey Bram. Leuk om je motoren opgesomd te zien. Ik draag hier een Adventure Spec Supershirt. Zeker een aanrader.
You made the right choice getting the Honda 300. I ride several bikes, but my favorite is always my Kawasaki KLX230, which is a small but very capable bike for most riding. I commute on it every day, I go on trips on it, and occasional subtle offroading in not too aggressive terrain. The 200-300 cc bikes work everywhere.
What kind of tires do you use? I chose to go with Pirelli MT21's, keeping in mind I don't commute on it or even ride that much paved roads. Otherwise it would end up being an expensive hobby.
I use Dunlop Trailmax tires, they're like a budget alternative to Michelin's Anakee. I've had them now for almost two seasons and they still have some thread left. They are mostly good on roads and gravel, not so much in the rough ;)
CRF300L riders, let's gather for some two-wheel fun,
Meet up, rev up, let the riding begun! 🏍️✨
@@CRF300LFahrer OK if I tag along on my Kawasaki KLX230?
@@uncletom1971 We can discuss where to meet for a ride. I wanted to start a group for CRF300L riders. Best regards.
After owning the second Tenere I eventually realized that they are just way too too heavy, as an experienced Enduro rider if many years, I agree with you.
I had the same experience,some years ago I sold my Africa Twin because it became to heavy for me to lift it on my own so I bought a 660Z ( old model with the blue tank ) in the UK and drove it back to Portugal where I live. I found it a great bike for traveling long distances on secondary roads over speeds of say 60/70 kms per hour but going slower particularly off road I always felt that I was in the wrong gear, also I didn’t trust it going off road so sold it right a way for a good price because they are very popular here. Then I bought the CRF250L what was unbelievable easy to handle off-road but definitely lacked some power so I chipped it and that sort of solved that,unfortunately the 300 L only came out later but anyhow I had a lot of fun with it.
So we did the same thing. I switched from XT660R to CRF300L this season. I love my bike and so glad that i did this step. Also have a content on YT driving my Honda. Take care mate :) Sub and like given :)
Thanks mate! Good look on the ol' Honda!
A polished vid ... well done 👌👏. Returning to off road after a 25 year break. Started back with CRF230L, then 250L, and since February a new 300L. At first we didn't feel the 300 was that much of an upgrade from the 250, indeed we thought 250 felt more solidly built. But as months go by and we become nore familiar with 300's capabilities it is amazing us more. It is far and away a better platform in rough country where it's weight advantage, and slightly better gearing really shines. In that environment we cannot fault it, despite stock suspension and engine components. Great economy to, and we really like the dash and LED light gear. The only downside is it's fidgety on the tarmac at speed, and does not inspire confidence in that environment. We recently couldn't resist a tidy 2017 DR650. Of course it's weight and torque makes it a far superior light tourer on pavement. But the 300 runs rings around even this evergreen stalwart when the going gets tough!!
Ik had gedacht dat na de 660 de 700 teneré zou worden..Goede keuze deze honda👍🏻
Ja die optie was ook reeel, alleen stuk duurder en met offroad als main goal, ook te zwaar in mijn optiek.
I'm currently researching a new bike and am looking at the Tenere. This Honda keeps popping up as a very good bike. How are your highway/offroad rides divided in percentages? And how would you think it will hold up for long trips with a lot of highway involved?
It will sit comfortable at 100km /h for long spells
Get a tenere ❤
Wery strange video. One off the most reliable motor ever built wants to explode in 70mph. CMON man get real. And the top heavy is just a matter off adjusting. I think you want to say that you got a bike more suited to your driving skill. The CRF is your bike and that is OK.
It’s just an opinion but look at the comments below and see how many XT owners more or less experienced the same. The engine does feel very uncomfortable at 100 km/ph. Exploding might not be the right word, but the amount of vibration it creates is insane compared to the CrF.
I hear ya. I ride a heritage on long highway trips but everything else i downsized from a klr650 to a versys x300 and love the light weight, handling and actually better on road in my opinion. If I could just find a better seat. Thats the problem with small bikes.
very honest review, did ride a teneree once and the vibration was bad, to many think power is the answer when it’s all about ability(fellow crf 300 rider) ride on ride safe 😊
I had a XT660R enduro. Lighter & better than the XT660Z adventure bike.
I used a Power commander & tuned it to perfection in the Outback, it was smooth like a V6! But when the weather turned rainy, the engine would be viby and felt rough. This made the bike somewhat temperamental though very reliable.
I exchanged it for a Tenere 700, much smoother & faster but also higher & heavier. Absolutely awesome on long rides or gravel roads, but it takes skill & balls to take it to its ability.
Im glad you like the CRF, because I suspect its riding is more effortless. Enjoy your bike & dont doubt your choice.
Enjoy the T7. It's a great bike!
I have an r1200gs and a vstrom1050xt, but there have been many times when I lost all my strength while fighting off-road with something as heavy as 250kg.
I am so envious of the CRF300L that passes comfortably next to me.
I'm still thinking about the 300L. I have to either give up on off-roading or buy a 300L. In the end, I had no desire to go off-roading until I bought the 300L. Because I had a hard time on the last off-road...
Totally understand your move. Have a T700, Husky TE250 enduro, and got the 300l to split the difference. Love them all but the go anywhere easy going nature of the 300l finds me wanting to be on it more frequently.
Off topic but how are the AS supershirt and linesman pants working out for you?
Expensive but the supershirt seems like a game changer for dual sporting.
Are you planning to mount a new ECU to have smoother engine?
(Many in USA are mounting the 550 aftetmarket ECU)
No. Seems to be more something people in the US do. For me the engine feels powerful enough for now.
Gearing of course is an easy fixable problem.
But the Honda CRF does have a weight benefit for sure.
The sixth gear is a definite plus, but riding 120km/h in 5th gear on the normal XT660R is calm and smooth.
But no offroad/knobbies tires.
Offroad, I do not have enough experience, so I will believe you immediately ;)
The gearbox is the gearbox, you can switch sprocket sizes, but that is going to impact the character of the bike a lot and not all for the good in my humble opinion.
120 km/ph for me was never smooth. Hands would go numb after an hour and the engine felt like you were stretching it too much.
Yeah offroad with the CRF300L in my humble opinion is like night and day. And that is what I use it for mainly.
@@motocamel If that is the main use then it is the best pick for sure indeed.
I wonder if it is a difference between the Z and the R, although the differences between the R and the X are slim, I have no experience with the Z, although the Tenere has some for sure.
I have done 90 min at 120/130 without problems, Most vibrations are around 110-ish, but never that much that it was a real problem.
Stretching the engine comes above 140km/h for sure. It can do more, but it feels like it doesn't want to do more ;)
Well my man, i had xt660z for 4 years also..
I have same "problems" like you..
But i select T7
and man,im telling you,
is soooo much perfect bike..
T7 all the way!!
Cheers!!
I think the T7 is a great machine. I just preferred a much lighter bike for mainly off-road riding. If I would do more 50/50 I’d chose the T7 for sure
T7 feels very very light ,like bicycle ,compered to xt660z ...
but im 1.85cm tall so maybe for this i find it sooo easy and comfortable, its like supermotard i can say...
If i wanted even lighter bike i go for crf300l rally for sure..
and hey, KTM s isnt alternative choise, not compere it with trusty Yamaha or Honda ,
its far more unrealiable bikes,
personaly ,i never through my money to KTM crap!@@motocamel
Great explanation of differences!
Very thoughtful said about the difference between those bikes. I have a XT660Z as you had with Öhlins etc. I love the bike except the top heavy thing that you describe so well. I am considering AJP PR7 or 690. I am suspicious about the CRF300L because I used to ride a WR250R and there were so much lack of grunt. But I will give this bike a try. Thanks!
I love the looks and the uniqueness of the PR7. It's a slightly bigger bike and somewhat less nimble in the tricky stuff. WR250R had most of it's power at the higher RPM range, the CRF300 has quite a different motor where most of the pull is actually at the low RPM range.
I tested it when the CRF250 was around and allthough the WR had more hp, the CRF was soo much more easy to ride offroad.
When it comes to the choice for the CRF, I was in a position that my budget only allowed for the CRF, so the choice was easy. If I was you I would really think about how you will be using the bike most of the time and make a choice based on that, instead of looks or power.
But in any case, all the bikes mentioned are great bikes. Can't go wrong with either of them!
Love my crf300l. Once you change restricted exhaust, drill a few holes in airbox ,great bike ,on /off road .could do with better brakes ,is my only gripe
I have a full Akrapovic exhaust system. Seems to give some more grunt on the low RPM's.
i have an 2018 CRF Rally 250 cc, im very glad that i have an indestructible engined bike.i stand it up on my own when my bike falls when im off roading(dont need an extra buddy to stand it for me).i'm able to cover expenses at this inflation rate which i live in Turkey ^^. im using my bike 7 days in a week and 350 days in a year.I didn't changed extra suspensions or ..etc. This bike only need more accesories ,nothing more
Such an informative video.
I came close to buying the honda 300 rally where most of my riding would be done on tar with the occasional 2 up.
The engine should have been around at least 40hp just to have less engine stress on highways.
I had a XT660Z Tenere like you and I modified it for thousands of € and I rode it around the world for 5 years and more than 200 k kms. I have to say it was a disaster of a bike! Waaay to heavy and totally unreliable. My bike broke down down big time tens of time and left me stranded so many places! Also the fuel consumption that was 3,5-4 liters pr 100 kms in the beginning changed after 50-60 k kms and it was difficult to get 5 l/100 kms even riding like a granny…
Yes the 660 engine is really primitive…😂
Now I have a Crf250L in Thailand that I have ridden approx 50 k kms on and its a fantastic bike. Its a bit modified though. I also have a Crf250 Rally here in Norway which is a bit disappointing compared to my thai Crf as its way down in power. Will try to change ECU to get it to «thai power» Probably the EU bikes are modified due to emission standards.
I didn't have the reliability issues with the Tenere. I even sold it to a guy who has no traveled 30k on it around all the post sovjet countries, Turkey and Iran and even he did not have any breakdowns.
Maybe try switching to a CRF300 with full exhaust system? I find it to be quite ok in power. Don't know if a expensive new ECU is worth it.
Good choice. Light is right.
Good video. I agree with everything you say. And I did love my tenere. It brought me to many places but there were many places off-road that I didn't have the confidence to go with it.
I'm in the same frame of mind. I have a KLR which is just feeling heavy and hard to muscle around. Dropping 130lbs sounds great.
Interesting. I am planning to do exactly the same change, for the same reasons. From XT660Z Tenere -2012 to a Honda CRF 300 L or Rally. I think it is a good change 😊👍🏻
Great to hear you are also thinking about a switch. I preferred the L over the Rally because of the looks and all the extra plastics the Rally had (which might break when falling on tricky terrain). I eventually got a Rally Tower on the L and a bigger petrol tank. So that kind of defeats the purpose of the Rally for me.
@@motocamelinteresting concept! Isn’t it better value for money to purchase the Rally rather than upgrade the 300l?
The rally comes with a lot of extra plastic bodywork and and in my eyes ugly windscreen and headlights.
@@motocamel yea valid points! After comparing the two in more details I see your point. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I originally had my heart set in the L but a mate has had me thinking about the Rally for comfort and larger tank. Both hard to find second hand at moment and a little out of my price range so will need to save some more.
I have a KLX300 for the same reasons a small bike is fun and better off-road but in California the highway speeds are just too scary to get on with this bike even though it can, but I do my best to search for other routes.
I have a xtz 660 tenere from 1997 and got a crf 300l a few months ago. The CRF is much lighter and as you said and we get much more confidence off road. I'm loving it! It is a great light capable machine!
I’ve never liked the lighting setup and looks on this bike. You have done a great job with your rally tower. Did you make a video about it?
Great, logical and no hype rundown of your bike change. I had the 660 for a couple of years and really liked it.......apart from picking it up! Quite top heavy and susceptible to side winds. Did you consider the T7 at all?
Also what is the armoured sweater you are wearing.....looks like it might be good for quick summertime blasts where weather protection not important. Would you recommend it?
CRF300L riders, let's gather for some two-wheel fun,
Meet up, rev up, let the riding begun! 🏍️✨
An inspiring video Anwar. Your 300L is possibly the best looking 300L I've seen so far. Very nice. I have a G650GS Sertao and am considering a switch to either the 300L or 300 Rally, so your video is very appropriate - thanks.
Many thanks! There are still a few mods I'm waiting for, but the tank and rally tower really make a difference. Years ago I was also considering that BMW, but than chose the Tenere instead.
Good video ... had 3 XT's and agree with everything you said except the 70mph thing, I did Euro trips and mine was fine sitting at 80mph and the engine felt it had a little more ... all 3 were stock engines and handlebars, no Kev Mod, no messing with air filter/box or any engine mods and it was fine.
Great video. - What about fuel consumption?
Goeie keuze. Ik begrijp t wel, de echte avonturiers rijden meestal ook op de kleinere lichter machines. Vn ook dat ze eenvoudig zijn te repareren als je ergens in the middle of nowhere zit
Simpele lichte motor is idd vaak sneller te maken, maar ook lichter om te tillen en bouwen wat meer vertrouwen op tijdens tricky terrein.
Thank you for the video. I have XT660r, and looking for new bike. I really like the CRF300l/rally, but I'm still not sure about the power loss. But as you have said it, XT may have more torq, but it does not like to be reved, and that is an issue with it's limited tramsmission.
I must get my hands on one of those CRFs and tested it myself, but yours review was great help.
great video! That little honda is capable of running long tracks, I'm going with that bike for trans latin america exped soon : ) hope it does well!
Great choice.
I had the africa twin and soon realize it was too heavy in the bush for me
So i bought the crf300l rally
Way better to handle.
It will bring me everywhere i want to go with.
Yes less is more
Yes riding a slow bike fast is way better than ridng a fast bike slow
impressif review, i am driving a yamaha xt 350 and kicking gets heavey, the crf would be a suitable alternative ,thx for the info
Hoi Anwar, toffe video en leuk ding ook die 300L! Je hebt inmiddels al een hoop aanpassingen gedaan zo te zien. Is het bij een 300L ook nog de moeite om het motorvermogen iets op te krikken of zijn de kosten te hoog voor de winst die je boekt? Bedankt alvast!
The argument that the crf300l is less top heavy than the tenere is true. It would have to be. The crf300l carries about 2 gallons and the Tenere carries 23 liters or around 6 gallons of fuel.
What tankbag is this? I have the same Acerbis tank and looking for something like this. By the way, after 30+ years of street riding I got bored and gradually switched to some offroad. From FZ1 through DL650, XT600 to CRF 300l. So from 150HP to 27HP :D And I love it! Cheers
It's a Mosko Moto Nomini tank bag. Fit's perfect on the Acerbis tank because it's more of a horizontal design.
How do you find sitting position on crf? I am very comfortable on tenere and crf 250 feels extremely uncomfortable, but I am 195cm tall.
hello, how do u feel about the engine? is it fast enough? by the way... very nice video. thx a lot for your input!
Adorei o seu canal MTS parabéns pelo vídeo MT bom , o seu depósito não é de origem pois não ? Onde comprou?
Boas curvas
50cc boring, not exciting at all scooter power, but can go off-road but super soft suspension
Very well made video!
I agree with you. I switched to the CRF 300 L Rally from a 2008 BMW F800 GS. And I am very happy.
More displacement and power makes difference in (straight line on tarmac) acceleration. Yet in any other scenario the weight is huge advantage. The difference is also more than 50 kg compared to the F800 and it just gives me sooo much more confidence!
And to be dead honest to myself: with my riding skills I am not able to handle any 200+ kg and 80 hp motorcycle especially off-road.
One thing to me noted though: as a first mod to the CRF do the front && rear suspension. (I have both from RaceTech) It's a night'n'day difference and moves the CRF to a whole new level.
Very well said! Did you do a fully new cartridge up front or change the spring only (like I bought it)?
@@motocamel For the front it is an interesting kit. It keeps the shock absorber body, replaced both compression and rebound valves and the valve stack. It keeps the original spring and adds a second spring in the other fork.
Groot gelijk, goeie keuze. Afgelopen jaar heb ik een tijd lang rondgereden met een NX250, en sinds dien staat de CRF300 op mijn verlanglijstje. De NX250 weegt ook net niets, heeft 6 versnellingen, en is ook erg gemakkelijk te besturen, maar heeft als minpuntje dat het ondertussen een erg oude motor is. De CRF lijkt me heerlijk. Alle pluspunten van de Nx, zonder de minpunten.
Thanks! Ja vooral de switch naar een nieuwe motor zul je snel merken. Alles voelt en loopt zoveel soepeler.
Hi .. The little tank bag you have on your 300 .. where can I buy that type ..? It's nice.
Regards Mats Pettersson, Sweden.
Hey. Google Mosko Moto Nomini. You can only but it from their website.
Why you didn`t considered a WR250R?, great video.
Glad you're making videos again!
Thanks! More to come!
Thank you for the review
So... power is not everything !
Salaam from UK good video let’s go to Pakistan together
I have Tenere 660Z, and I disagree with your negatives.
It’s just an opinion so feel free to disagree.
Im trying to choose between these two right now. Im going to ride on the highway hundreds of km-s, not planning to buy a trailer, so my question is, is 300cc enough for long drives on highway and with only 1 cylinder, does it resonate like hell? This is the only thing keeping me from buying the crf
I find it to be a better highway ride then for example the xt660z I had previous. Smaller engine but way smoother at high speeds. Also pretty much no vibration on the handlebars unlike older and bigger single cilinders. Having a rally tower does make your life a lot easier when doing long rides.
Looking forward to seeing your next video about the mods you did on the crf300L
That’s coming for sure.
I have a T7 and actually now looking at a CRF300 Rally.
What would be your reason to chose the rally instead of the L?
Did you also consider cfmoto 450mt?
I think it is the weight that puts me off with the T7 and make me ride nervously on loose ground because I don’t want to lift that damn thing. I don’t want to drop the bike, because of that I ride like a chicken, I make a mess and I drop the bike. I still love my T7 but I also got myself the 300L 😅 to get over the bike lifting issue.
Haha oh so recognizable. Especially with 20kg of luggage on there on sketchy roads.
Yeah I have the T7 as well and it's not a bike to be timid with, best to ride it hard like an enduro and ironically that way it's easier to stay on , I think if you're to careful it's harder to balance.
Bevalt deze ook goed op asfalt ? Ik ga morgen bestellen ….de rally uitvoering. Net mn vstrom 650 verkocht….
Jawel, maar snel is ie niet.
I have rhe crf300l. only thing I wish you got out the box on it was better tires. It's a fun bike forsure. I come from an ultra classic in to the dual sport world. So much more fun
It comes with the price of the bike. If it was more expensive you would have gotten something better.
My 2018 KLX250 was definitely top heavy and wanted to dump me when leaning on the road and heavy to pick up on the dirt
Are you riding a CRF now?
Hoi Motocamel,
Waarom heb je dan gekozen voor de L versie en niet bijv. de Rally versie?
Groetjes uit Utrecht!
Minder plastic kappen en geen lelijk windscherm en koplamp :D groeten terug 🖖
Gefeliciteerd met je nieuwe motorfiets broeder! Ik geniet ieder keer weer van je vlogs, ga zo door!
Thanks!
Ik weet nog voorheen dat je de tenere nam omdat je grote adv. Bikes te zwaar vond en te groot voor off road riding. Maar bedoel je nu te zeggen dat de xt660 dat eigenlijk ook is? Ben gewoon benieuwd want hou zelf ook van off road rijden en de xt660 tenere wordt toch vaak als goede optie bevolen.
Ja dat bedoel ik te zeggen. Als offroad je prioriteit is, is de Tenere way too big en te zwaar. Verschil van dag en nacht met de CRF. Als je alleen op asfalt of makkelijke gravel wegen rijdt is ie wel prima te doen.
You're quite realistic! You remind me of the French couple who rode around the World on two identical Kawasaki Versys 300. Also at 76 I'm riding a Yam 660cc 2010 MT03 but I think I'll soon switch to a BMW G310R, 22 kg lighter with a 2 cm lower seat 😂😂😂
You can not go wrong with the tried and tested CRF300l. Longevity in between maintenance schedules, reliability is second to none and it’s a bike that easily suits all riding styles within an enduro environment. There are also many modifications expensive and none expensive that can be made to enhance your riding experience. It’s also a light bike, which means you’re less likely to break any bones if you were to fall off. Certain parts need to be modified straight away, but you have to remember that Honda have deliberately made it affordable for all. What’s not to like?????
How tall are you and what is you weight? I am 184 and 115kg weight. I also looking for similar bike but I am afraid if suspension will match my weight. As I read in reviews this bike is not equipped with good suspension.
This was an excellent comparison. What brand of windscreen and tower is mounted on the bike?
It’s a One Adventure Rally Tower. Check my latest video where I do a first impression of it.
Ik denk dat je de spijker op z’n kop slaat. Deze Crf-jes zijn echt goede offroad bikes als je geen supertalent bent maar wel lekker wil offroad rijden. Ik heb zelf een een crf250L omgebouwd naar een crf300L. Je hebt net ietsje meer power. Tevens zijn ze heel comfortabele om lange afstanden mee te rijden en super betrouwbaar. Minpunten vind ik de slechte remmen en de slappe originele vering. Maar daar valt heel makkelijk iets aan te doen. Laatste pluspunt is prijs. Je koopt een moderne adventure bike voor weinig geld en je kunt meteen lekker op pad. Ik kijk uit naar je nieuwe content over de crf. Veel plezier met je nieuwe bike MotoCamel!
How is the adventure spec gear? Are you doing a review of the supershirt and linesman pants?
Yes. Working on that!
He, thanks voor dit review man! Ik ben aan het kijken voor een lichte adventure bike. En hier heb ik veel aan! Ik ga hoogst waarschijnlijk voor een rally versie van deze.
i still have an 2005 crf 250x . i understand what you are trying to get across !
you speak very well . great vid !
What is better? Honda CRF 300L or Tenere 700? Only correct answer is to have both.
looking to move from 1250 GS to 300Rally, had the husqvarna 701 but maintenance and confort did not retain it.
Do you mean the regular maintenance once every 10k or maintenance because of reliability issues?
Ik kocht indertijd een oude DR800S Big om wat meer offroad touring te doen. Deze was ook nogal topzwaar, maar wat mij uiteindelijk heeft doen besluiten hem in te ruilen voor een iets meer road-oriented trail bike was het feit dat ik twee maal een dag ben verloren door op afgelegen plekken lek te rijden. Ik ben nl. niet zo handig in het vervangen van tubes langs de weg. Een tubeless herstel ik in een kwartiertje. Als je daarover nuttige tips hebt mag je die altijd posten.
Hi, I would like to ask why did you choose 300 L over rally version? I'm thinking about this motorcycle and I'm having a hard time choosing. Isn't it better to order a motorbike with a higher original windshield and covers? Or does upgrading the 300L yourself makes more sense? I'm not experienced biker, 184 cm and 90 kg and I'm planning a leisurely trip from Central Europe to Iceland. Of course, this model seems to be perfect for Icelandic gravel roads, but there is still over 1400 km to be done on ordinary roads, and here I am wondering whether it will be ok in terms of comfort etc. Thanks in advance for your opinion.
In short: I don't like the windscreen and the extra plastic covers on the rally version.
I've built my L so that it has the benefits of a big tank, a windscreen, better lighting and actually usable way to mount a navi device. Without having the negatives of the Rally.
If you go for a small lightweight bike you will always have to compromise for highway use. For me it's no issue. Just take your time and don't try to rush through traffic.
Thanks a lot for your reply. I will just check the cost off the mods I'd need to do in L version. Surely suspension, light, windscreen and tank. Best !@@motocamel
Suspension you would have to put on the rallly and the L because OEM is crap