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  #1  
Old 28 May 2021
MEZ MEZ is offline
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Too busy building CRF500L's....!!!

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  #2  
Old 20 Jan 2022
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Took one for a quick spin and I thought the subframe looked reassuringly chunky.
(Usual 5-6kg limit on the back. 162kg gross payload).

No one has asked but I will share my impressions anyway.
Long version here.
  • Very light (147kg verified with a near empty tank)
  • Looks great
  • Very good (claimed) mpg
  • Interesting gearing: low 1st; overdrive 6th
  • Bigger fuel tank (12.8L = 500km range)
  • Welded subframe looks chunkier (162kg claimed payload)
  • For me, 24 to 27hp is not a worthwhile improvement
  • Lots of plastic to scratch and crack
  • Tall saddle (but sinks down loads – or was my Xmas better than I thought?)
  • Suspension probably needs upgrading
  • Nearly a £grand more than a 300L
  • Less than a couple of hundred quid cheaper than a 500X

Update 2023:
Bought myself a near new 300L with loads of extras.
Fitted an Acerbis tank for a 400km range and getting some TL wheels made.
https://adventure-motorcycling.com/p...onda-crf-300l/

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CRF300L/Rally-ral24.jpg  

Last edited by Chris Scott; 5 Jul 2023 at 13:57.
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  #3  
Old 24 Jan 2022
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
Took one for a quick spin and I thought the subframe looked reassuringly chunky.
(Usual 5-6kg limit on the back. 162kg gross payload).

No one has asked but I will share my impressions anyway.
Long version here.
  • Very light (147kg verified with a near empty tank)
  • Looks great
  • Very good (claimed) mpg
  • Interesting gearing: low 1st; overdrive 6th
  • Bigger fuel tank (12.8L = 500km range)
  • Welded subframe looks chunkier (162kg claimed payload)
  • For me, 24 to 27hp is not a worthwhile improvement
  • Lots of plastic to scratch and crack
  • Tall saddle (but sinks down loads – or was my Xmas better than I thought?)
  • Suspension probably needs upgrading
  • Nearly a £grand more than a 300L
  • Less than a couple of hundred quid cheaper than a 500X
You mentioned in your long version that Honda dont have bigger suitable engine - but they actually do - the 330 cc engine they for example have in their Forza scooter: https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocia...forza-350-2021

Another thing about the Crf250/300s

I own a first year Crf250L in Thailand (2012/2013) and a 2018 Crf250 Rally in Norway. Both are engine and performance-wise stock. And the 2017-2020 engines supposed to be more peppy with 1,8 HP more. But in reality my thai Crf is very much more lively and peppy, especially at low and mid range - even though its supposed to be having less power. So theres something not quite right there with the performance numbers. Different ECU or mapping or whatever…? Maybe Ted or others that are skilled about bikes know?

And on the 300 models the thai models comes with 31 HP and most other markets seem to come with 27 HP only. So that indicates that they now have the numbers right and that there is something to be done to get a bit more power out of the 300s
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  #4  
Old 24 Jan 2022
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I have also heard that the later, more powerful 250s actually seemed slower alongside the older ones. The power must be found somewhere, maybe way up the rev range?

27 vs 31hp; perhaps they don't have Euro regs in Thailand.
Wasn't there a thing fitting a Thai ECU into restricted bikes?
Worked for a bit then Honda changed the plug.
Can't recall if it was the CRFs or something similar.

I think a Forza and similar scooter engines are quite a different bit of kit.
Hard to know where it starts and ends.
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CRF300L/Rally-s-l1600.jpg  

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  #5  
Old 24 Jan 2022
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Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Scott View Post
I have also heard that the later, more powerful 250s actually seemed slower alongside the older ones. The power must be found somewhere, maybe way up the rev range?

27 vs 31hp; perhaps they don't have Euro regs in Thailand.
Wasn't there a thing fitting a Thai ECU into restricted bikes?
Worked for a bit then Honda changed the plug.
Can't recall if it was the CRFs or something similar.

I think a Forza and similar scooter engines are quite a different bit of kit.
Hard to know where it starts and ends.
Yep - youre into something there as I also have heared that getting a ECU from Thailand or Japan made the bikes noticably peppier. Maybe it was a ECU from the CBR250 as that bike was said to have ~ 27 HP compared to the first edition Crfs with 22,8.

I also think Thailand dont have the EU regulations and thus dont need to restrict their bikes to run so very lean as they do in EU. The funny/interesting thing is that I also get slightly better fuel milage on my more powerful thai Crf compared to my EU Crf Rally. Would be interesting to get a good explanation about that….?

The 286 cc Honda engine thats used in the 300 Crfs nowadays was used for several Honda scooters, the SH300i (very classic and cool scooters - my mate had one for a couple of years) and the Forza 300 - that now had become a 350 (330 cc in reality) Obviously the drivetrain is different but the rest of the engine should be mostly the same.
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  #6  
Old 21 Jan 2022
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Originally Posted by MEZ View Post
Too busy building CRF500L's....!!!

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That's cool.

I wish Honda would get on and build a proper CRF450/500L.

Their current 2 year old CRF450L is already being discontinued in certain markets as it's a total "WHY did you build this?" bike.

Even better, Suzuki need to build a DRZ450 with FI and a Rally cockpit.

I love my twenty year old DRZ400. If only it had that magic 6th gear. Although with the 434cc kit on mine it has the torque to pull longer gearing.
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