Showdown: 2021 Honda CRF300L vs 2021 Kawasaki KLX300 - 4K

This pair of OG adventure bikes are all about short-range reconnaissance. Cheap to buy, maintain, and run, they’re built for exploring the world outside your back door.

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[JK-yuhj]

I suspect I would have been happy with the Honda but ended up with the KLX. It’s a lot smoother after the first oil change and a 1” lower Seat concepts made my rides much nicer. It’s been great on the off roading I have done so far. The only problem I have is that once I am out on the backroads/trails exploring I don’t want to stop riding!

[conscious]

I really dig this narrative style of review. Appreciate the extra attention to the videography and it felt like I was tagging along with two buddies going for a ride and talking about some cool bikes. Really well done!!

[reteptetep]

After owning the KLX250s, CRF250L, and CRF300L. I would pick the KLX300 without hesitation.

[aaronbehindbars]

Before I watch, I'm going to guess the Honda has a better powerplant and Kawi has superior suspension.

[alupangguam]

The blacked out camo KLX looks better than the red seat CRF but that's subjective. What isn't subjective is the CRF's saggy replace asap suspension = total deal breaker for me. I'm ~200lbs and after some minor preload adjustment, KLX's rear shock is plenty firm with even more preload adjustment to spare. Also the stock KLX exhaust seems to be high quality stainless steel, whereas the CRF looks to be plain black painted steel that will rust. To me, the CRF is a prime example of function following form. Its flashy racy looks do not match its actual performance. Noobie slipper clutch too. The KLX delivers function first; it simply works. No brainer; KLX wins hands down for me

[phatsmitty]

John Burns, Jimmy Lewis, Nick Ienatsch... legends of the magazines I read back in the '90's. So happy that they are still at it!!!!

[joeblow]

a nice 18 minute respite from the current day nuclear sheethole the world is facing.
Thanks, Ryan and Burnsie 😁
as an '18 KLR-650 owner, looking at that dyno chart, for once you made me feel like I was riding a superbike 🤗

[MMAD]

amazing vid, love the closing scene on the mountain

[ar]

Why does Honda run there front brake line in a HUGE loop like it’s a wind-screen or number-plate or something??? It looks so ridiculous and it’s on all the CRFL’s.

[njohnson]

Great video. The film crew or person is doing a great job at picking spots and the audio is spot on.

[johnnyblue]

So if I get a jacuzzi and a plastic duck will I also get invited for a ride?

[jwaller]

I have to agree with the assessment that the Honda is better on the street and the Kawasaki is better on the dirt. And the history of the two bikes would show why that's the case. The Kawasaki is really just an updated early 90s dirt bike, which started out as a 4-stroke take on their successful KDX200. Look at the chassis of today's KLX and a KDX; they're almost identical. It's just now a 4-stroke with road gear and styling that was updated in 2008, I believe. So, yeah, a 30-something old dirt bike design, but still a dirt bike design. The CRF300L comes from the CRF250L which was a clean sheet design with a motor lifted from a single cylinder beginner's sport bike, the CBR250, I believe. So, it was never a dirt bike that morphed into a dual sport like the Kawasaki. It was always meant to be a dual sport: a street bike with dirt styling that's capable of being taken off the road. I own the Kawasaki, but have a buddy with the CRF. My buddy's CRF is definitely the looker. And I think it's probably the better bike for the majority of riders looking for a dual sport bike, to do dual sport things: it's more refined, has better instrumentation, better gas mileage, more modern looking, and with a much better aftermarket potential. But if your idea of a dual sport is more dirt leaning, to include trail riding on single track, the KLX is the better of the two, and not by just a little. I've not ridden the CRF on anything but single track, so I don't KNOW that it's better on the road, but the feel of it suggests to me that it would be better there. But I found it to be harder to ride on the single track than the Kawasaki. It could be that I own the Kawasaki and am used to it, but it didn't even feel that the two bikes are really all that comparable at all, off road.

[KrzToV]

twist of the wrist 3

great video. keep this editor.

[WillPower]

I have a YSS rear shock, FMF exhaust, DNA filter and EJK on my CRF300l. It has completely transformed the bike making it feel like day and night from stock. I wasn't unhappy with the bike in stock form but I really love it now, for those thinking about doing mods to their CRF.

[danielthatcher]

A comparison that many people will benefit from

[aaron___]

Under $6k? Why does everyone fail to mention the $1k+ in addition to the msrp that every dealer puts on a new motorcycle?

[hayvalley]

Hondas are always smooth. I've owned several but decided on the Kawi this time because of the suspension. I think I made the right choice. Either way, very comparable bikes.

[IvanRides]

I’ve test ridden the kawi and it’s great. Def has more power than an xt250, its hard finding a dual sport in dealers now a days

[jamiebizness]

I did a 3 hrs hiway ride on my klx 300 it was loud but it wasn't so bad . Sorta slides around at speeds over 100km but it's fun to rip around on

[murraehaynes]

Guys- thanks for the review as I’ve been considering both of these as
lightweight ADV bikes to complement my larger ADV bike…my only other comment is “Burnsey, what happened??? We both got old😜”