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**MW2K8** · #1 15 Dec 2020

Afternoon all

Just curious if anyone knew much about the new CRF300s?

I know the old CRF250s had a max rear weight of around 5kg ''officially'' over the rear rack

Rumour has it the 300s will have a subframe welded in place. Hence should have more load capacity....? But i havent seen numbers documented anywhere? It may only be a small increase of a couple kg....

With the CRF300 being lighter etc. Will it be as good as the older 250?

Just looking to start a bit of a discussion

Stay safe

M

**backofbeyond** · #2 15 Dec 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by MW2K8

I know the old CRF250s had a max rear weight of around 5kg ''officially'' over the rear rack

Rumour has it the 300s will have a subframe welded in place. Hence should have more load capacity....?

M

I always thought that was more a product liability issue to do with upsetting the handling than a 6kg and the whole rear end collapses thing. There must be more core strength in the construction otherwise it would never cope with the difference between a 60kg and a 120kg rider.

**AnTyx** · #3 15 Dec 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by MW2K8

I know the old CRF250s had a max rear weight of around 5kg ''officially'' over the rear rack

You will find that legal warning for pretty much every rack and topbox, on every motorcycle. Also a top speed of 100-120 km/h.

**ouroboros2015** · #4 15 Dec 2020

I bought a 250 Rally a couple of years ago. Had the 300 been an option at the time; I probably would have got that. But looking at the stats: the benefits of the 300 over the 250 are not enough to make me want to "upgrade". I bought the 250 precisely because it was a 250 (I wanted a smaller CC bike) and have been very happy with it. The weight and CC gains of the 300 over the 250 are negligible (to my mind); so I'm sticking with what I have.
As for the rear rack weight: I use soft throw-over panniers across the rear seat area and the rear rack is for a rotopax. So it makes no difference to me.
Cheers.

**Homers GSA** · #5 27 Dec 2020

I reckon that bike would be awesome.

To distribute the weight maybe look to see if the Andy Strapz tank pannierz will fit on it.

https://www.andystrapz.com/product/e...-tank-pannierz

I use these on my GS and am amazed at how much they hold. Mine carry my compressor/tyre repair/tools etc - kinds of heavy stuff but its good to get it off the rear.

**badou24** · #6 29 Jan 2021

Honda crf 300
Yes is will be a bit better than the gutless 250 version.
Looks good ..............
but i doubt if will beter than the yamaha wr 250 r

**Myrkskog** · #7 1 Feb 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by MW2K8

I know the old CRF250s had a max rear weight of around 5kg ''officially'' over the rear rack

~40kg is not a big deal for a CRF250 with a proper rack.

**Grant Johnson** · #8 2 Feb 2021

Myrkskog, we can't see the picture, possible a permissions thing? Try just attaching the image, then it's stored here and visible always.

**Myrkskog** · #9 3 Feb 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant Johnson

Myrkskog, we can't see the picture, possible a permissions thing? Try just attaching the image, then it's stored here and visible always.

fixed it.

**Flipflop** · #10 4 Feb 2021

This is the opinion, of the new CRF300s, of a chap who has built a couple of CRF300s himself.

found some info on the new gearbox and done a bit of comparason and it looks pretty good tbo im pretty used to the 13l 17l and 300 engines and gearboxes
one of the reasons i left the 300 gearset in is that it has a lower 1sst and closer ratios 2 to 5 with 6 being under the 250ls ..it easily allows a 15t front sprocket to work where as a lot of lads go 13 on the Ls ....a 13 on the below gearset trust me would have a fair bit of zest in it ...14s pleaty on the 300 for trail riding and 15 will work too

..the ratios on the cbr motor work really well that bit closer together and with a fairly big precentage more tourque and power slightly closer ratios it really is quite nippy to 60 ..what you notice straight away is there isnt any turbo lag waiting for 5.5k to arrive it just take the next gear and goes again ..so its a combo of several things 7hp touqueand gearset that make noticably more responsive

heres the good news the new 1st is slightly lower than the cb motor which in turn is a bit lower than the crfs
..gears 2345 are identical to the cbr motor which is good not silly short at all but each gear moves on from the next really nicley and the new 6th it taller than the existing one ...,,,it does look pretty much on the money and i think 14/40 will be ace at both ends with a slight suspision the gap to 2nd will still be a tad too wide now and again

..i think the days of 13t fronts will be over on the new 300 ..i think that box will work very well

1st gear: 3.538 3.538
2nd gear: 2.25 2.25
3rd gear: 1.65 1.65
4th gear: 1.346 1.346
5th gear: 1.115 1.115
6th gear: 0.925 0.925

dividing ist by 6th gearspread is a pretty high ranking 3.82 ....if they get the delivery right from the motor it will be a handy machine for sure

**badou24** · #11 7 Feb 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flipflop

This is the opinion, of the new CRF300s, of a chap who has built a couple of CRF300s himself.

found some info on the new gearbox and done a bit of comparason and it looks pretty good tbo im pretty used to the 13l 17l and 300 engines and gearboxes
one of the reasons i left the 300 gearset in is that it has a lower 1sst and closer ratios 2 to 5 with 6 being under the 250ls ..it easily allows a 15t front sprocket to work where as a lot of lads go 13 on the Ls ....a 13 on the below gearset trust me would have a fair bit of zest in it ...14s pleaty on the 300 for trail riding and 15 will work too

..the ratios on the cbr motor work really well that bit closer together and with a fairly big precentage more tourque and power slightly closer ratios it really is quite nippy to 60 ..what you notice straight away is there isnt any turbo lag waiting for 5.5k to arrive it just take the next gear and goes again ..so its a combo of several things 7hp touqueand gearset that make noticably more responsive

heres the good news the new 1st is slightly lower than the cb motor which in turn is a bit lower than the crfs
..gears 2345 are identical to the cbr motor which is good not silly short at all but each gear moves on from the next really nicley and the new 6th it taller than the existing one ...,,,it does look pretty much on the money and i think 14/40 will be ace at both ends with a slight suspision the gap to 2nd will still be a tad too wide now and again

..i think the days of 13t fronts will be over on the new 300 ..i think that box will work very well

1st gear: 3.538 3.538
2nd gear: 2.25 2.25
3rd gear: 1.65 1.65
4th gear: 1.346 1.346
5th gear: 1.115 1.115
6th gear: 0.925 0.925

dividing ist by 6th gearspread is a pretty high ranking 3.82 ....if they get the delivery right from the motor it will be a handy machine for sure

We will have to wait and see if it is any good

**MEZ** · #12 28 May 2021

Too busy building CRF500L's....!!!

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

**Chris Scott** · #13 20 Jan 2022

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/

**Snakeboy** · #14 24 Jan 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Scott

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

**Chris Scott** · #15 24 Jan 2022

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.