New Honda CRF300 L and CRF300 Rally

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Honda UK's marketing department showing its usual complete lack of understanding of the UK motorcycle market.

Been market leader for so long they can't remember how they got there.

[Helicoptermanr22]

Would be a good addition for the CRF 250 chaps who want a bit more!

450 Adventure bike with 18 litre tank and ally frame would have been nicer without entering into the 450L uselessness
Honda being so conservative are holding back the release of the CT125 trail which im keen to get hold of!

[scutty]

Argh, why can't they just put the CB500X engine in there!!??!



It really isn't that hard to do! (even I managed to do it!)

[ollydog]

because they can drag it out and have another update and make more money

[Flipflop]

IMHO these bikes are not built with 1st world countries like the UK in mind, they are built for 2nd and 3rd world countries where the vast majority are sold.
These bikes don’t need power in the countries they are designed for, they are underpowered and under stressed which means the engines are very reliable - there is a couple touring the world at the moment on two 250ls with 90K km - no valve adjustment needed yet, in fact all Honda main dealers refused to even open the engines to look until they’d done 50K and then it was done under duress.
Cheap and reliable is wanted in 2nd/3rd world.
However, lots of people in the 1st world also want cheap and reliable which is why they are available here.

[OB1]

IMHO these bikes are not built with 1st world countries like the UK in mind, they are built for 2nd and 3rd world countries where the vast majority are sold.
These bikes don’t need power in the countries they are designed for, they are underpowered and under stressed which means the engines are very reliable - there is a couple touring the world at the moment on two 250ls with 90K km - no valve adjustment needed yet, in fact all Honda main dealers refused to even open the engines to look until they’d done 50K and then it was done under duress.
Cheap and reliable is wanted in 2nd/3rd world.
However, lots of people in the 1st world also want cheap and reliable which is why they are available here.

The reason I bought my CRF250 Rally is so that I can visit those 2nd and 3rd World countries without having to worry that the bike may break down!

[minkyhead]

saw a thing on facebook 6 years ago today ....and there was me crf on top of a bighill somwhere ....bikes have come and gone in that time but the little crf 300 remains the rally got the same treatment and i really luv them little crfs
id sell the t7 before id sell me tricked up 13 plate crf ......ive around 4 grand in it total .. but ive 6 years use and its still worth a solid wedge to someone ...not for sale though .... braaaaaaap



heres the thing it gets used a lot three times this week hooning about in the local mudfuck and it just takes it all ..there cant be a easier bike to own literally 5 quid s worth of standard westway oil every now and again a couple of rear disks and ride it




big difference to the 250x that kev has ..high pegs attack stance all the time but like cheating in the soft mud ..but the crfs went everywhere the x did al be it slower with duelsport tyres ...but on the road theres just no comparason ...point being that a duel sport doesnt need to be set up so the rider is like a praying mantis all the time ...somtimes a bit of merecat is all you need for travel and trail ...ridden a lot of hard hitters and they are great fun but fuck me they tire you out ..250x 450x husky 501 350ktm borrowed em all this year and for trails i were glad to give em back ..just to radical for days on end .....

[JtheLakes]

I always enjoy Minky’s reviews . So much common sense and unlike me he’s ridden so many other bikes, so has a comparison. Interesting that Kawasaki have launched a KLX300 so close to Honda as well. Which suggests that either they are breathing new life into this segment or the Euro 5 emission regulations have forced them into it.
My local Honda dealer has taken an order off me for a new CRF300 Rally and expects them to be here in late January. So my old Rally will be going. Will it be worth it? Who cares it’ll be better than my old one and I have thoroughly enjoyed that for 3 years.
About 18 months ago I did the Honda 2 day course at the Dave Thorpe Centre in Exmoor. Everybody on the course used the Africa Twins on the first day and by day 2 I was joined by two others switching to the 250 Rally’s. They saw the light, handling heavy bikes off road is no fun.
I’ll keep you informed when I get the bike..

[JtheLakes]

Sorry fat fingers added some pics by mistake

[Lexinoo]

So they are bringing the 300s to the UK then?