By dirtbike standards the DRZ is quite tame and easy to ride in my book they just need to release a modernized version. Slightly lighter, EFI, 6speed...sign me up.
A new dash that has a fuel gauge, as well as maybe a higher trim option with a bigger fuel tank as well as the things you mentioned would give the CRF300L Rally model some stiff competition.
@@Bow-to-the-absurd its not like suzuki hasn't seen the CRF450 go unsold at such a high price. Suzuki works with the same oems as Honda for suspension and such. The crf 300 costs barely less than a drz with non adjustable suspension and the 450 "needs" 2000+ in mods out of the box to be rideable in dual sport conditions. Sure suzukis hypothetical new 400/450 would be more dual sport focused than Hondas race 450 but it will still cost a lot and still compromise in places to meet that higher cost.
It would be a complete redesign and they would lose their emissions rating that Is grandfathered in. They still sell well, so why change? I would like to see an EFI kit that we could install.
I have a 2021 Honda CRF 300L and an older 2002 Honda XR 650L and thought I was strictly a Honda rider until I noticed a 2023 Suzuki DRZ 400 in the Bike store that I go to the other day. I talked with sales and I'm getting it. I can't wait. Might have to make some more room in my garage, but for this bike, it's worth it. Thank you for the videos.
Apparently Suzuki is sending surveys to drz owners about what they would like to see in a new drz. The old drz is dead, many markets that Suzuki can no longer sell the drz in because of euro regulations etc, abs laws, etc.. all they need to do is add FI, ABS, and put in a new gearbox with an overdrive 6th. If they do it, I will be buying one new (unless Yamaha release a WR300-350!). Until then, crf300L. At least we can thank Honda for reminding the big 4 Japanese brands how popular dualsports are.. Yammy and Suzuki must be watching the sales of the 300L and kicking themselves
I received Suzuki’s survey two weeks ago. I purchased a new Drz400 at the end of last year. It was basic questions about tech and comfort and what I would improve. So, it looks like they are definitely making a move.
Maybe they can fix the DRZ....maybe not. But the last thing I'd want to see is it getting the treatment the new KLR 650 did. It is now a land whale, up to 220kg or so depending on model and LESS power than the DR650 (EFI.....Huh !! What is it good for ? Keeping Greenies happy...)
I have owned both and still own a DRZ...if that tells you anything. Only advantages for the 300 are EFI and the windscreen. Power, suspension, handling, ease of working on the bike, grin factor when you twist the throttle, etc. are all better for the DRZ. The thing that really made the Honda NOT work for me is the way the tank flares really wide really quickly...so sitting against the tank was not an option because I had to spread my legs very wide which made my hips hurt. I bleed HONDA Red so keeping my DRZ and selling my CRF300L was a major change in my way of thinking :).
important advantages of the DRZ Fully adjustable suspension Removable rear subframe More power Easily tunable carb Ability to install Kickstarter Made in Japan not Thailand
@@alphawolf2993 not at the moment. I'm looking and there are drz400s, 10yrs old selling for $6k. Crf300l priced at approx $8k. But 3weeks ago Honda dealers were saying new stock wasn't coming in till May or June- maybe. The Vid19 has made a lot of things go up in prices. Will still go the DRZ way though, so I don't feel bad about dropping it in the bush.
@@yomstergilla7683 things are high here too, before all this you could get an older one in good shape for $2500 or less. I bought my dual sport 2007 Husqvarna TE510 for $2500 from a dealer.
Solid, as a DRZ owner, you needn't apologise. Your commentary & comparison is informative & well measured. These types of comparison videos are gold for people looking to buy a new machine. Keep up the great work. 👍
A note about the carb thing, Fortnine basically concluded that the main reason they're not so viable now is due to the amount of ethanol in modern gasoline. Fuel injectors can simply power through the gunk it leaves behind but carbs can't, which is why they need to be cleaned so much especially when left idle during the winter months. The only way to make carburetors less labor-intensive is to use ethanol-free gasoline, which isn't exactly widely available.
Great video. I have a 1999 dr350 with the 6 gear box and it needed it a highway speeds. Great bike and has been stock reliable for 23 years now. I just put down deposit for a crf300l. The fuel injection and 6th gear was the main reason. Price also helped. You really can’t go wrong with either bike for dual sport riding. Ride safe!!!
I would argue yes, for one reason: that narrow ratio five speed. You run out of transmission well before engine. I think that is the Achilles heel of the drz.
The longer that I have had my DRZ400E for, the more I appreciate the engineering of this bike. They are both tools for very different jobs. One is not better than the other. The DRZ must be an OK Bike. Whilst people have kept buying them for 20 years, Suzuki will keep making them. Lets see how long the 300L will be in production for.
They don't engineer a new one because the market is small and they put that R&D into other categories. That logic is like saying the Honda Shadow is the ultimate cruiser because it's still around.
I think people keep buying them because manufacturers continue to fail to make a light, 400cc, fuel injected dual sport with decent maintenance intervals.
I couldn't pass up the opportunity of buying a DRZ with absolutely everything already on it plus and this was the kicker, a 28l safari tank all for 5k! And only 12k kms! She's loud and proud and likes a drink but that's ok by me because I know I can rely on her to get me home everytime. I really like this review and think you did a fair job on the points of view. Great video and Thankyou for sharing.
Great comparison 👍 Despite the painful price rise, I'm still going to get a Drz. I want the horses, suspension and ease of working on it. I'll look at the aftermarket gearset later on 🙂
If you do mostly street, you'll love the DRZ. If you do dirt, you love the CRF. My DRZ was fun, but I was ALWAYS left behind in the dirt because the bike is simply to big and bulky feeling to maneuver well in the dirt. You can do it, just at a much slower pace.
@@k0d0kan I ended up getting a drz and love it, no regrets. I do both street and trail riding / adventure riding and it's a good all-rounder for all of it 🙂
I bought used DRZ 400S last year and I am happy with it. But I am not crazy fanboy of 20yo Suzukis tech and understand that 300L is way better in many aspects. Buying new one I probably would go to Hondas dealership and buy fully adjustable suspension but on the used motorcycle market I had little choice. And it is worth to mention that 400S has service schedule more like 300L than 400E. Cheers from Poland.
Wow. Hello Neighbour! Just found your channel as Im tossing up between a DRZ and CRF and I was watching your video going, hang on, thats our shopping centre, then hang on, thats OUR STREET and thats OUR HOUSE! .. too funny. Anyway just seems so random that the first video I picked is from someone who must live with nearbye.
Thanks for a honest well thought out comparison, i have a CCM 404 with a drz 400 Suzuki engine and the only thing it lacks is the 6th gear, i have test driven the Honda crf 300L an excellent bike, i cant knock it, but the fun factor of the 400cc engine and the torque coupled with a light weight frame and excellent suspension and it can take on the most difficult terrain and put a smile on your face. At the end of day its a personal choice and what you want from your motorcycle. enjoy.
Nice review. I've owned several dual sports in my earlier life, all have been fun in their own way. I got back into it five years ago and bought a used 2005 DRZ 400S because I love to tinker and modify, and there are so many accessories and parts available. But, if I bought a new bike I'd probably go with the CRF 300, probably the Rally version if I could fine one. I'd have a hard time parting with the DRZ though. I love to ride gravel, seasonal roads, and an occasional easy single track or ATV trail but mostly cruising many miles on back roads. 22k miles on the DRZ now and it has never let me down and all I've had to do is change the oil and check the valve clearance. The only issue I've had is a plugged pilot jet and I pulled the carb and replaced it. It's not that hard to do and there is a DRZ forum on Thumpertalk that provides lots of help. While a 6 speed might be nice I am happy with the five speed although I've dropped the rear sprocket from 44 to 42 tooth for my riding, might try a 41. I've added an aftermarket seat and a windscreen, and can happily ride it all day. I've had the suspension rebuilt by a reputable shop and they lowered the bike 2 inches and set up for my weight. Wow, it's perfect for me know, sort of a light weight scrambler. I love the power response of the DRZ. Riding with a friend who's much better off road rider than I am has gotten me a bit over my head off road a couple times but I just trusted in the DRZ and it got me through every time. If I get in the wrong gear the torque will get you through. Although I've put money in the DRZ to make it my bike, I've spent way less than a new bike. In conclusion, if you just want to buy a new bike and ride the Honda might be the better choice but don't dismiss the DRZ.
For me, it came down to suspension and power. The DRZ wins hands down. I think the carb debate is overblown. But it would be nice to have 6 gears! The problem with the CRF is that if you encounter any kind of an incline on the freeway, it doesn't have enough power to keep up with traffic. That's dangerous. You might as well throw out the argument that it's safer. I have no problem keeping up with traffic and passing traffic too on my DRZ and it's not even broken in yet.
Good impartial review Solid. The Yellow Fan Boys may not agree but many are irrational die hards. DRZ heaps reliable and a good bike. However the cost differential as you say , the 300 L could get the following -CRB300R cams -CBR Air box Throttle body boot Mod -Rally Raid or Race tech Forks -Rear shock upgrade and power pipe - Unifilter air cleaner and pre filter - 550 performance ECU - 550 performance air box cover with frog skin - tire upgrade and you would still have some change for a tank of fuel. or You get the 300L rally with the bigger tank remove the head steam and visor for an after market from LED head light and the other aforementioned mods and have a more suitable enduro / adventure bike.
The 300l is good no doubt but I'm still waiting for a 450l rally (with long maintenance intervals). *Insert skeleton waiting meme here* . I'm sticking with trusty my DR650 for now.
I own a 2021 Africa Twin Adventure Sport DCT. I love it, but yes, better as a tourer than trail rider. I am considering the Husky 701LR for highway riding…I am in the category of the adventure begins leaving from home for me.
I think those longer service intervals are more about the new oil rather than the engines themselves. I'm sure the DR would be happy with the same intervals as the honda. It's 27hp from 286cc vs 40hp from 399cc It's almost the same state of tune.
Had a DR650 years ago, love it but very top heavy. Last year bought a CRF300L. For the money, very great bike. Would like to see the motor upped to an honest 350 with 35 hp and 6th gear made taller for the street. All in all a great on/off road bike for the money here in West Virginia!
Another excellent video Solid. I'm a happy owner of a DRZ, but I will test ride the 300L and try to compare them myself as soon as I can get my hands on one. They are rare here in Norway.
@@chroniclesofsolid Haha yes, they went out of production in Europe in 2007 if I'm not mistaken. So when there's a DRZ for sale in Norway, they go fast and at a ridiculous price! I should just hold on to mine for ten years and then make a fortune on it, but I'm completely trashing it in the forest, so I can't really imagine it would keep running for that long 😅
@@simonbravo2825 I looked at that when I went to the Cuenca Honda dealer for a session of oogle and drool. It is basically a more street oriented CRF. Carburetor and no ABS. From the available Honda offerings, I would probably go with the CB500X, but it is $12,000 USD here due to taxes. Grown man tears were shed, LOL. For comparison, the VStrom 650 is $15,000.
@@davidc1961utube Hey tanks for the reply. I couldn't find specs for XRE300 due to the outrageous Google geo filters. Carburated and that expensive! Waow, as you wrote, why go for a carburated 300 pig when you can get a CB or the VStrom for not that much more... But those are bigger heavier bikes though. Good luck with your shopping.
Just purchased a new 2021 DR Z400 S. Love it! It is old school bike just like the guy… lol! that said proven concept that is going for 20 plus years and will for 20 more.
Another great video. Love the comparison, seems very fair-minded. Great job sharing attributes instead of pulling one up or pushing the other one down. I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the good work.
I have two dr 400 Suzukis here in South Africa, one a drz 400z the other a dr 400sm, both super reliable, also have two dl650 vstroms one an 05 the other an 07. Have had no issues compared to my 07 gs1200 BMW. Suzuki is the best always, BMW unreliable. Cheers your commentary is spot on. Keep up the good work.
I agree that the smaller bike is easier to handle off road and ultimately is MORE fun because you can maneuver the bike easily. I currently own a WR250R modded and while its not as fast as my modded DRZ was, it's way more fun.
In regards to ABS: if I remember correctly, it was possible to take ABS fuse out on the CRF, if getting rid of ABS permanently would be someone's need. Cheers!
Surely suzuki is going to update the drz soon. Honda has really offered something interesting here and have really thrown a spanner in the works for both suzuki and yamaha
Great comparison Solid and you’re earlier vids swung me in favour of the 300L. I haven’t ridden for over 30 years and wanted the DRZ, but at 11K new or 9-10K for near new, 20 year old technology, tall bike, no overdrive and high centre of gravity, and lacking the agility of the 300L it was a pretty easy decision. My bike arrives end of Feb hopefully with ECU upgrade from 550 Performance and Moto X exhaust already purchased. This will at least give the bike a little more pep and nudge towards 30HP. Not a bullet but i don’t need one, nor do i need one.
Interestingly, the Moto X exhaust at less than $400 delivered is quieter than stock in all power ranges except over 10,000RPM (refer peak motorcycles vid). This swung my decision to ditch the heavy and choking exhaust in favour of something that breathes, improves performance but also not overly loud.
My DRZ was a blast in the bush, but not so hot for any distance on the road, despite higher gearing. Tiger 800XC was great on road, still OK in the bush but too heavy. Loving my DR650 now, for me it's a great compromise and can do both well. Don't care if it doesn't have all the electronic wizardry, it's a tractor and just keeps going wherever I point it. Just need to find what works for how and where you want to ride...
I have been on the DRZ400E for 18 years now and would like more than 40HP at this time so I know that I would not be happy with the power of the CRF300L.
@@xpusostomos with minimal modification you can get 45HP out if the E model. That is more than enough to handle deep sand tracks, which is where the lesser power becomes a chore.
I too have had both, the DRZ400 about 15 years ago, the 300L now. They both suited who I was/am at the time, now in my 60's the 300L fits me perfect, back in my 40's if the choice was there it still would have been the DRZ
You are absolutely right about the fuel consumption of the drz at some point I had both the drz400s and the dr650s same year same mpg on both, now I have a 690 Enduro r and an f800gs and getting the same 53 mpg that I was getting out of the drz400s
Great VS vid. I traded a "1st" gen CRF250L for a DRZ400S just before H came up with the CRF300L. Man I like that "crap your pants" power delivery of the DRZ. You nailed all the check boxes like everybody else. The majors: Power[X], EFI vs Carb [X], 5-6 Speed[X]. Then Height[X], Weight distribution [X], Roadability [X], Modernity[X], After market[X], Service Intervals[X], plus some extra. Bottom lines for me, sometimes I miss the always start at first CRF's EFI Grrrrrr. Only 5 gears... Meh, my 2015 FJR1300 has "only" 5 too, so I'm used to it. Otherwise DRZ all the way. I'm hooked to the extra pants crapping and I'm not welling to deal with the short maintenance schedules of the CRF450RL, KTM's, Huskies, Beta's, etc power monsters. I'll wait for Yam or Hon to come up with a notch of extra power with minimal sacrifice on reliability and service intervals. Thanks for your enjoyable and informative vids.
@@chroniclesofsolid Absolutely, and on the other hand Honda Wizards pulled quite a trick with that 300. Many like you agree that this new little red pig is punching above its weight. The DRZ was an obvious upgrade before the CRF300L(or KLX300) shuffled the cards. We now see duels between credible vloggers "claiming" one is better than the other. Both camps are teasing the other for their faults while undeniably respecting the strengths of their opponents. I'm in white Winter territory and still 6 long weeks away from the riding season. So thanks and keep up the great work at entertaining us while we are stuck on 4 wheels. :-)
The DRZ was designed to be a cutting edge enduro racer (and was when it was released). Somewhere along the line (as it aged) it took on a dual sport identity as an accidental side effect of its excellent reliabilty. But the gear box tells the truth behind the drawing board. The 300L gearbox is FIFTY percent wider. Why ? because it was designed to be a dual sport.
They make 'sprockets larger and smaller' - it has no issues I have mine geared a little taller and has no issues. Plus, the suspension on the 300L is non-adjustable, non-adjustable subframe and a 'cast iron cylinder' from the 1900s.
im about 180 lb i have a drz400 its setup for mx and its 100% stock and it works just fine for me just mx tires different bars and its just the right amount for me power wise suspension could be better at least in my situation but other then that love the drz highly recommended
I use the bike for green laning and commuting to work in London and found the Drz400s chugging at 20-30 mph in traffic couldn't find a smooth gear, either revving too high or chugging. But not had that problem on my Crf250l, its just smooth.
I bought a drz400s 2019 for $5500 1k miles. I couldn't find a used crf300l and new they wanted $8k out the door. Doing the math for my riding that would have taken me 15 years of riding to break even on price. Being taller I'm super happy with the drz, very comfortable.
😎👍 🇺🇸 I have a DRZ SM. I use it mainly for foul weather riding. In my area North of Seattle Washington. There's very little off road riding available. Bought it used with most all of the higher end bits added. It's a load of fun. Coming in hot, up on the tank with elbows up, leg out waiting to slide the rear in the rain. No one knows I'm 55 years old 😁
I'm really difficult, and this is a really good video, I had 3 DRZ, really liked the bike! But even better than the CRF300L: The CRF300 RALLY :D , I own this bike for 1 year now, and its completely awesome! Specially for his 400km of range! The best adventure/dual sport bike for me. (I was having a KTM 790 adv R, and a KTM 690 Enduro R Just Before, and i prefer the CRF300 Rally, for many reason. a 500cc motor, low maintenance, would be the ideal, but its still the best choice for me)
Love my DRZ. The bike has enough torque to run 16/38 gearing with my 6ft 240lbs on it, it will cruise down the hwy at 80 all day long and still ride the trails with a useful 1st gear that will pull me up anything possible. Most people gear the bike so low, 1st is barely useful and they spend more time in 2nd. Mine is a 2002 and I have tried gearing from one extreme to the other. You can actually cross the road in 1st without having to change to 2nd right away with the taller gearing and the bike feels faster since you aren't always ringing its neck. I will say the stock seat is a like a 2x6, but a Seat Concepts tall fixed that, now she's like a couch. 4 gallon tank takes me farther than any of my buddies bikes.
I really like my 300l but I do wish it had more power. I fitted YSS suspension and that works perfectly. Let’s see how I feel about the power once I have fitted a full system, filter and EJK. That might give me all the grunt I need. Cheers for the video.
I’ve ridden both of these bikes. The DRZ was originally made to be a large trail bike. It has a beefy aggressive suspension and more hp then a 250 two stroke. The lights and license plate was added later. The 300L feels like a moped compared to the DrZ400. The DRZ is a big old skool dirt bike. It feels heavier because it has a larger piston and flywheel spinning. Larger tires. And it’s higher up. We need a review of someone pushing these bikes hard off-road. Not putting around in second gear. As stated. For a first bike the 300L is better. Once you start going fast off-road the easy going moped manners of the Honda start to hold it back. Once you start going fast into the turns and pinning the power the DrZ starts to feel light and stable. Then you get that it’s not really made to go on the highway or on a track or on tight single track. It’s made to go fast. For a long distance…..off-road. Honda 300L- 50/50 riding. quality high powered moped…..with dirt tires. DRZ 400E- high speed long distance off-road. large displacement trail/desert bike with street legal kit. Close ratio gears. So reliable…..Suzuki decided to make it a dual sport. Fuel injection on a motorcycle does not increase performance either. The DRZ400 has a badass FCR39mm pumper carb…. And just because it’s older does not make it worse. Anyways…that’s my opinion. I felt like the Honda was too limp to really be a great off-road weapon like the DRZ is.
Ok...i know I'm weird and it makes no sense...but I'd prefer the the weird power characteristics of the DRZ. It honestly makes riding and owning more fun. I sold a 1000cc sports bike for my DR650 and i honestly couldn't be happier.
People complaining about Lack of power on 400 or 650, just DON'T know how to ride!!Period!! I have a Liter bike also, and when I'm riding the drz400, I Still dust Every car on the road, pushing people out of my way!! I've been riding street bikes for over 10 years, so maybe it's just experience, but there's NO power issues with Even the 400 on road......it's a rider issue.
That's right you are spot on the money there , i have been riding trail bikes [ that's old school talk ] for over 40 yrs now and did my apprenticeship as a motorcycle mechanic at a Yamaha dealership back in the 80's & 90's always loved bikes & have quite a few in my collection . I do own a DRZ400E & a WR250R which i have adventurised both with long range fuel tanks , protection & racks ect i also put supermotard gearing on the DRZ to help with the lowering of rev's on the black top & it did help but the engine vibration was something that gets to you a lot quicker than the smaller cc bike. Now because I'm old and yes i do like the power of the DRZ400 but you don't really need it when your riding of road and i can ride a WR250R a lot quicker & easier in the bush than the DRZ & the WR250R is stock std. The only time i mist the power on the WR is when over taking on the black top yes a crack of the throttle on the DRZ has you up to 130 easy instead of trying to wait & pick a nice clear moment to wind the WR up , but the smother engine & the better handling on the WR250R out ways having the power ... yes its nicer on rear tyre to . Now one of them has to go & as you can probably tell it is going to be the DRZ400E they are a grate bike easy to do maintenance & servicing come with grate standard features & i do love old school bikes but as you have said it dose need to be up dated to keep up with 2days market. I hope SUZUKI do look at doing that cos it is really the only manufacturers that is still in that 400 cc odd market , would i love a light wait reliable 400-500 cc adventure bike with longer service intervals grate suspension at a reasonable price and maybe some gear already on it from new ... absolutely where is the WR450R or why don't some of these manufactures dee tune a rally bike make things out of cheaper materials like plastic instead of carbon if its a bit heaver that wont matter as long as its between 150 & 200kg . Yes definitely a lot less than 200kg 😄😀, well there's my rant hope i haven't offended to many DRZ fans .
My old Honda had a carburetor and I rode it for years and never had a single issue. Never had to be cleaned or tuned once. Always started. Did not have ABS either. Did not need it.
Owned a DRZ for 7 Years, beat the crap out off it, never let my down. I was young and had little to no money. The DRZ was the best Bike at this time for 3000euros. I was able to ride every day that was the most important part for me. Nowadays, i ride a KTM EXC, it does everything better than the DRZ but a cost the double and isn't that reliable. And the 300L is the better value, used DRZ are now years old, overpriced a not serviced well.
Hey Solid, another great video. Do you know where I can find bike sales data. I’m curious to know how many 300Ls have been sold in Australia vs DRZ and other bikes like 690 (which I own). Maybe that could be the topic for a future COS video ie what’s was the most popular Dual Sport in 2021? I’m always impressed by your research and knowledge of Dual Sport and ADV bikes. Cheers
Thanks mate, unfortunately FCAI no longer release the specific sales data on what models are selling what. The manufacturers are playing funny games. Best bet is to look at the NZ data as that is still transparent www.mia.org.nz/Sales-Data/Motorcycle-Sales. Here is MCNEWS talking about the data funny games www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycle-sales-figures-2021/#:~:text=From%20what%20MCNews.com.au,per%20cent%20on%202020%20figures.
Finally bought a DRZ400S after waiting in the weeds for 10 years. Coming from 2-strokes, an R1, and an XR250L. Just wanted the extra motor, suspension, and the fact that (like the XR series) there’s the sister E-model to steal the really go fast goodies from. Grew up on 5 speeds, don’t understand all the fuss…just lower the final drive ratio a little bit from stock as the bike clearly has the motor for it. 300 or 250’s are fun until either tossing on a pillion, sprinting on the interstate, or any type of altitude gets thrown into the mix. The DRZ isn’t that much larger or heavier than my old XR250L.
Went from an XR650L to the 300L. Love it so far, but the DRZ still looks like it would be a fun machine to keep around. Hard to justify having two bikes though
Thanks for this Solid, great to get a detailed review comparing to the DRZ as it's a bike I've had the chance to ride so I have a point of reference. Keen to see some suspension mods, particularly fully adjustable forks for the 300 if these are available. I fully agree that in 2022 we are ready to move on from unreliable fuel systems that passenger cars managed to ditch in the 80s. 11 grand for a DRZ is a travesty! Have you ever ridden an XR250r or similar air-cooled 250 enduro of the 2000's? I'm interested to see how the 300 compares in terms of handling and power. Adventure Daily seems to have no worries popping the front wheel up so it can't be too bad. My dealer tells me I'm next in line for a 300L, and I'm looking at using this on fairly technical enduro rides where most guys are on 300exc's and wr450f's. No hard enduro Billy Bolt insanity, but still certainly not beginner level tracks either. With the top spec suspension, an EJK and full aftermarket pipe, how do you reckon the 300L would fare? I'm generally happy plodding along with the sweep rider, as long as I can get through without being that guy that gets stuck and needs help lol. Usually the XR makes me that guy, purely due to the flooding carby and the twelve-month application and review process which is required to appease Lord Roczen and have this bike start. I have seen one guy getting through these techy tracks with a modded 250L so there is hope. Not having to load and unload a ute should be a game changer too. Sorry about the text wall and cheers for the vids!
I have not had a ride on an air cooled dual sport only air cooled road bikes so cant help you there. As for how the 300 would fare with the mods you plan, sounds like it will be pretty capable, especially with the suspension upgrade. As long as you are happy with the weight handicap over the enduro's it will be great. I find myself doing a decent amount of single where we only ever see ktm/beta/husqy's and never other dual sports. We are just slower 😆 but have just as much fun!
Tried the Drz400e and being a short inseam 29” the Drz was a non starter. I couldn’t even get the side stand up sitting on the bike. Considered shaving the seat and possible lowering links but it also needs bar risers to lower the forks. I ended up with a Beta XTrainer 300 with shaved seat.
Very comprehensive - only things I missed was : Japanese manufacturing vs Thai made on the Honda Quality It's not tinkering it's the ability to really go out back in the middle of nowhere and be able to fix the bike and get home that's impossible on modern fuel injected systems.
Wonderful to have choice, right? I am going to pull the trigger on a Husky 701 LR…I like the power, balance between road and trail, and like to leave from home (suburbs to Forest)
I rode a dr650 around the world and due to simplicity it was the best bike for it. I still have the dr650 but also own a ktm 690 and the KTM is night and day better for many reasons. I love them both but for different purposes. Great vid
@@chroniclesofsolid yeah so true, I also think there is an element of whatever makes you happy is the bike you should ride. The most important thing is just get out there. Keep up the great work mate
I would take the DRZ purely because of how easy it is to work on and how enormous the aftermarket is for it. The only thing the DRZ really needs is EFI, though I don't mind working on carbs if I have to.
Beginner here, when you say “bigger person” how big are we talking? I float between 105-115kg and quite fit/strong depending on where I’m at with training. What is considered big when we are talking dirt bike suspension?
Nobody has mentioned the Kawasaki klx300. I think this is a far better comparison to the crf300l. The KLX 300 has far better suspension and a slightly larger motor. The Honda has a smoother gearbox and is overall more refined. Suzuki needs to keep up with the times but they are riding the DR-z gravy train to the bank. Similar to Yamaha and the TTR 230.
I thought about getting rid of my drz and getting a 300l rally so I can do more long distance riding and just upgrade the suspension. I want efi and a 6th gear. But I think I’ll just buy a T7 or Africa twin band keep the drz for the harder stuff. Something about the 300l keeps my attention. Seems really cool.
I had DRZ 400SM. I had non stop problems with the carb leaking , including into the actual motor. Nothing would fix it including buying another carby. Possibly the rubber Oring around the float needle just doesn't like our ethanol 91RON fuel. By the same token the Honda low speed snatchiness is a complete pain in the butt ( fixable with the 550 ECU swap). Interesting both bikes have really soggy rear suspensions. Both seats suck. A really big one is the DRZ vibrated on the highway very annoyingly. I really agree that a well fuelled EFI would completely transform the DRZ.
well again a very good vid . what your saying is very true , i went to the ktm 390 adventure at $8200. for the small few things it may not quite do i keep my ktm 250 2 banger will . and find the ktm 390 a very surprising bike . your on the money about the drz ,as it was around the $7900 to $8300 at one stage , but for over $10k its a No from me , i have also owned the honda XRs 200 ,250, 350, 500, 400, 600, ,, and fell off them more than i like to remember , 2007 i did find my CRF 450 was a big improvement on the XRs .. but honda would have to pull something very special for me to buy another Honda . as long as it suits your style of riding ,,, just enjoy i recon . keep up the good work .see you out there one day Steve/Geraldton
Never road a Honda but the DRZ is pretty decent, a bit soft and a bit heavy. Looking at the specs however, the Honda is the same weight as the DRZ but with 11 less horsepower. That's gotta blow. That Honda is heavy and under-powered. I have no idea why Suzuki uses trail wing tires. Remove those. DRZ work great with Kenda K270 5.10 inch wide in the rear and as wide as you can get in the front. Works awesome everywhere and can be had for cheap.
Yes, Trail Wings are flat out DEADLY off-road!!.....regardless of skill, Period....I never believed it, until I rode on them for myself......it did not disappoint it's bad reputation!.....The reason Suzuki uses them is DOT.....covers their ass for liability On Road, they aren't responsible for what you do off-road...but On Road they are great....and they actually do Extremely well for Rocks and riding along side Train Tracks, etc.
Both great dual sports, just different flavors for different folks 👍
By dirtbike standards the DRZ is quite tame and easy to ride in my book they just need to release a modernized version. Slightly lighter, EFI, 6speed...sign me up.
Its genuinely bizarre that suzuki fail to recognise the desires of its fans
A new dash that has a fuel gauge, as well as maybe a higher trim option with a bigger fuel tank as well as the things you mentioned would give the CRF300L Rally model some stiff competition.
FUCK EFI
@@Bow-to-the-absurd its not like suzuki hasn't seen the CRF450 go unsold at such a high price. Suzuki works with the same oems as Honda for suspension and such. The crf 300 costs barely less than a drz with non adjustable suspension and the 450 "needs" 2000+ in mods out of the box to be rideable in dual sport conditions. Sure suzukis hypothetical new 400/450 would be more dual sport focused than Hondas race 450 but it will still cost a lot and still compromise in places to meet that higher cost.
It would be a complete redesign and they would lose their emissions rating that Is grandfathered in. They still sell well, so why change?
I would like to see an EFI kit that we could install.
The DRZ 400 is such an iconic looking bike. I always smile when I see one out on the road or in the bush.
Good honest Solid comparison. However, "comparison is the thief of joy".
I have a 2021 Honda CRF 300L and an older 2002 Honda XR 650L and thought I was strictly a Honda rider until I noticed a 2023 Suzuki DRZ 400 in the Bike store that I go to the other day. I talked with sales and I'm getting it. I can't wait. Might have to make some more room in my garage, but for this bike, it's worth it. Thank you for the videos.
Apparently Suzuki is sending surveys to drz owners about what they would like to see in a new drz. The old drz is dead, many markets that Suzuki can no longer sell the drz in because of euro regulations etc, abs laws, etc.. all they need to do is add FI, ABS, and put in a new gearbox with an overdrive 6th. If they do it, I will be buying one new (unless Yamaha release a WR300-350!). Until then, crf300L. At least we can thank Honda for reminding the big 4 Japanese brands how popular dualsports are.. Yammy and Suzuki must be watching the sales of the 300L and kicking themselves
Hush now you are beating me to the punch for my ADV News segment at the end of the month 😆
I received Suzuki’s survey two weeks ago. I purchased a new Drz400 at the end of last year. It was basic questions about tech and comfort and what I would improve. So, it looks like they are definitely making a move.
If they released a 6 speed, efi drz I would probably sell my rally
Yes, fixing the DRZ is not rocket science.
Maybe they can fix the DRZ....maybe not. But the last thing I'd want to see is it getting the treatment the new KLR 650 did. It is now a land whale, up to 220kg or so depending on model and LESS power than the DR650 (EFI.....Huh !! What is it good for ? Keeping Greenies happy...)
I have owned both and still own a DRZ...if that tells you anything. Only advantages for the 300 are EFI and the windscreen. Power, suspension, handling, ease of working on the bike, grin factor when you twist the throttle, etc. are all better for the DRZ. The thing that really made the Honda NOT work for me is the way the tank flares really wide really quickly...so sitting against the tank was not an option because I had to spread my legs very wide which made my hips hurt. I bleed HONDA Red so keeping my DRZ and selling my CRF300L was a major change in my way of thinking :).
important advantages of the DRZ
Fully adjustable suspension
Removable rear subframe
More power
Easily tunable carb
Ability to install Kickstarter
Made in Japan not Thailand
and you can buy a used DRZ for 1/3rd the price of a used CRF 300L which are basically at newp prices.
@@alphawolf2993 not at the moment. I'm looking and there are drz400s, 10yrs old selling for $6k.
Crf300l priced at approx $8k.
But 3weeks ago Honda dealers were saying new stock wasn't coming in till May or June- maybe.
The Vid19 has made a lot of things go up in prices.
Will still go the DRZ way though, so I don't feel bad about dropping it in the bush.
@@yomstergilla7683 I’m in Pennsylvania. I see a couple advertised now, asking $3500
@@BruckerMotors I'm in Australia 🇦🇺. Probably less of a market here. Also lockdowns etc have bumped everything up on the 2nd hand market.
@@yomstergilla7683 things are high here too, before all this you could get an older one in good shape for $2500 or less. I bought my dual sport 2007 Husqvarna TE510 for $2500 from a dealer.
Most valuable opinion on YT about both bikes, great stuff. Honest opinions are kind of rare nowadays…. Thank you!
for someone who was very hesitant making this vid you bloody well nailed it! What a rippa review! Cheers man 😎
Solid, as a DRZ owner, you needn't apologise. Your commentary & comparison is informative & well measured. These types of comparison videos are gold for people looking to buy a new machine. Keep up the great work. 👍
Thanks mate
A note about the carb thing, Fortnine basically concluded that the main reason they're not so viable now is due to the amount of ethanol in modern gasoline. Fuel injectors can simply power through the gunk it leaves behind but carbs can't, which is why they need to be cleaned so much especially when left idle during the winter months. The only way to make carburetors less labor-intensive is to use ethanol-free gasoline, which isn't exactly widely available.
you can run ethanol, just cant store it longer than a month. add some stabil, marvels or sea foam et al and you will be fine on a carb bike
But nones of these bikes are carburated, are they?😅
@@motoXplore23 The DRZ is most definitely carbureted
Great video. I have a 1999 dr350 with the 6 gear box and it needed it a highway speeds. Great bike and has been stock reliable for 23 years now. I just put down deposit for a crf300l. The fuel injection and 6th gear was the main reason. Price also helped.
You really can’t go wrong with either bike for dual sport riding. Ride safe!!!
I had a DR250SH thirty years ago.
I would argue yes, for one reason: that narrow ratio five speed. You run out of transmission well before engine. I think that is the Achilles heel of the drz.
I put smaller rear sprocket on my drz (44t), still always going for that elusive sixth gear 😆
You can buy a new gear set for the drz with a "overdrive"-esque top gear though. Sadly it's not the cheapest thing in the world
@@tolga1cool Or without serous modification to install. Gotta crack the case and grind out the space for the gears.
@@TommyNitro Yeap. Sadly. It's a pretty good option to consider if you're already rebuilding an engine though
Definitely, it needs a 6 speed. Damn I wish Suzuki would refresh it, shave a little weight and add EFI.
The longer that I have had my DRZ400E for, the more I appreciate the engineering of this bike. They are both tools for very different jobs. One is not better than the other. The DRZ must be an OK Bike. Whilst people have kept buying them for 20 years, Suzuki will keep making them. Lets see how long the 300L will be in production for.
They don't engineer a new one because the market is small and they put that R&D into other categories. That logic is like saying the Honda Shadow is the ultimate cruiser because it's still around.
@@Largetalons They don`t change because of certification for US.
I think people keep buying them because manufacturers continue to fail to make a light, 400cc, fuel injected dual sport with decent maintenance intervals.
I wish all reviews were as straight forward and informative as this..well done.
I couldn't pass up the opportunity of buying a DRZ with absolutely everything already on it plus and this was the kicker, a 28l safari tank all for 5k! And only 12k kms!
She's loud and proud and likes a drink but that's ok by me because I know I can rely on her to get me home everytime.
I really like this review and think you did a fair job on the points of view. Great video and Thankyou for sharing.
Congrats Todd, sounds like you got a steal!
Great comparison 👍
Despite the painful price rise, I'm still going to get a Drz. I want the horses, suspension and ease of working on it.
I'll look at the aftermarket gearset later on 🙂
DRZ would be perfect for what you listed there👍
If you do mostly street, you'll love the DRZ. If you do dirt, you love the CRF. My DRZ was fun, but I was ALWAYS left behind in the dirt because the bike is simply to big and bulky feeling to maneuver well in the dirt. You can do it, just at a much slower pace.
@@k0d0kan I ended up getting a drz and love it, no regrets. I do both street and trail riding / adventure riding and it's a good all-rounder for all of it 🙂
The prices are not rising the rubbish currency is worthless and less as devaluation rises.
@@PissTakeProduction The price of a DRZ rose by almost $2k from around $9500 to $11,400 in one hit.
I bought mine just after the prise rise.
I bought used DRZ 400S last year and I am happy with it. But I am not crazy fanboy of 20yo Suzukis tech and understand that 300L is way better in many aspects. Buying new one I probably would go to Hondas dealership and buy fully adjustable suspension but on the used motorcycle market I had little choice. And it is worth to mention that 400S has service schedule more like 300L than 400E. Cheers from Poland.
Wow. Hello Neighbour! Just found your channel as Im tossing up between a DRZ and CRF and I was watching your video going, hang on, thats our shopping centre, then hang on, thats OUR STREET and thats OUR HOUSE! .. too funny. Anyway just seems so random that the first video I picked is from someone who must live with nearbye.
😎👍
Thanks for a honest well thought out comparison, i have a CCM 404 with a drz 400 Suzuki engine and the only thing it lacks is the 6th gear, i have test driven the Honda crf 300L an excellent bike, i cant knock it, but the fun factor of the 400cc engine and the torque coupled with a light weight frame and excellent suspension and it can take on the most difficult terrain and put a smile on your face. At the end of day its a personal choice and what you want from your motorcycle. enjoy.
Nice review. I've owned several dual sports in my earlier life, all have been fun in their own way. I got back into it five years ago and bought a used 2005 DRZ 400S because I love to tinker and modify, and there are so many accessories and parts available. But, if I bought a new bike I'd probably go with the CRF 300, probably the Rally version if I could fine one. I'd have a hard time parting with the DRZ though. I love to ride gravel, seasonal roads, and an occasional easy single track or ATV trail but mostly cruising many miles on back roads. 22k miles on the DRZ now and it has never let me down and all I've had to do is change the oil and check the valve clearance. The only issue I've had is a plugged pilot jet and I pulled the carb and replaced it. It's not that hard to do and there is a DRZ forum on Thumpertalk that provides lots of help. While a 6 speed might be nice I am happy with the five speed although I've dropped the rear sprocket from 44 to 42 tooth for my riding, might try a 41. I've added an aftermarket seat and a windscreen, and can happily ride it all day. I've had the suspension rebuilt by a reputable shop and they lowered the bike 2 inches and set up for my weight. Wow, it's perfect for me know, sort of a light weight scrambler. I love the power response of the DRZ. Riding with a friend who's much better off road rider than I am has gotten me a bit over my head off road a couple times but I just trusted in the DRZ and it got me through every time. If I get in the wrong gear the torque will get you through. Although I've put money in the DRZ to make it my bike, I've spent way less than a new bike. In conclusion, if you just want to buy a new bike and ride the Honda might be the better choice but don't dismiss the DRZ.
For me, it came down to suspension and power. The DRZ wins hands down. I think the carb debate is overblown. But it would be nice to have 6 gears! The problem with the CRF is that if you encounter any kind of an incline on the freeway, it doesn't have enough power to keep up with traffic. That's dangerous. You might as well throw out the argument that it's safer. I have no problem keeping up with traffic and passing traffic too on my DRZ and it's not even broken in yet.
Good impartial review Solid.
The Yellow Fan Boys may not agree but many are irrational die hards.
DRZ heaps reliable and a good bike.
However the cost differential as you say , the 300 L could get the following
-CRB300R cams
-CBR Air box Throttle body boot Mod
-Rally Raid or Race tech Forks
-Rear shock upgrade and power pipe
- Unifilter air cleaner and pre filter
- 550 performance ECU
- 550 performance air box cover with frog skin
- tire upgrade
and you would still have some change for a tank of fuel.
or
You get the 300L rally with the bigger tank remove the head steam and visor for an after market from LED head light
and the other aforementioned mods and have a more suitable enduro / adventure bike.
The 300l is good no doubt but I'm still waiting for a 450l rally (with long maintenance intervals). *Insert skeleton waiting meme here* . I'm sticking with trusty my DR650 for now.
Lol you have a long wait
I own a 2021 Africa Twin Adventure Sport DCT. I love it, but yes, better as a tourer than trail rider. I am considering the Husky 701LR for highway riding…I am in the category of the adventure begins leaving from home for me.
@@KentwoodWarrior probably.
I think those longer service intervals are more about the new oil rather than the engines themselves. I'm sure the DR would be happy with the same intervals as the honda. It's 27hp from 286cc vs 40hp from 399cc It's almost the same state of tune.
Had a DR650 years ago, love it but very top heavy. Last year bought a CRF300L. For the money, very great bike. Would like to see the motor upped to an honest 350 with 35 hp and 6th gear made taller for the street. All in all a great on/off road bike for the money here in West Virginia!
I gave the CRF300L the benefit of doubt right up until weight was mentioned.
I also own both the crf and drz. My choice is the DRZ as the better bike.
Another excellent video Solid. I'm a happy owner of a DRZ, but I will test ride the 300L and try to compare them myself as soon as I can get my hands on one. They are rare here in Norway.
Thanks Johannes, DRZ's must be getting rare over there?
@@chroniclesofsolid Haha yes, they went out of production in Europe in 2007 if I'm not mistaken. So when there's a DRZ for sale in Norway, they go fast and at a ridiculous price! I should just hold on to mine for ten years and then make a fortune on it, but I'm completely trashing it in the forest, so I can't really imagine it would keep running for that long 😅
This analysis is spot on. The DRZ is better for some, but the Honda is best for most. Too bad neither is available in Ecuador...
Cheers!
Thanks David, good summary there 👍
I noticed Honda just released the XRE300 in south America. I wonder how close it compares to the CRF300L besides the obvious cosmetics.
@@simonbravo2825 I looked at that when I went to the Cuenca Honda dealer for a session of oogle and drool. It is basically a more street oriented CRF. Carburetor and no ABS. From the available Honda offerings, I would probably go with the CB500X, but it is $12,000 USD here due to taxes. Grown man tears were shed, LOL. For comparison, the VStrom 650 is $15,000.
@@davidc1961utube Hey tanks for the reply. I couldn't find specs for XRE300 due to the outrageous Google geo filters. Carburated and that expensive! Waow, as you wrote, why go for a carburated 300 pig when you can get a CB or the VStrom for not that much more... But those are bigger heavier bikes though. Good luck with your shopping.
@@simonbravo2825 The XRE was about 1500 less than the CB, and more than the 250. Good luck!
Just purchased a new 2021 DR Z400 S. Love it! It is old school bike just like the guy… lol! that said proven concept that is going for 20 plus years and will for 20 more.
Another great video. Love the comparison, seems very fair-minded. Great job sharing attributes instead of pulling one up or pushing the other one down. I always look forward to your videos. Keep up the good work.
👍
Finally!! Someone caters and reviews for a taller rider. I was looking at the rally. Live in OZ and ride a KLR 650. 6ft7 here 110kg..
You don't want efi issues in the middle of nowhere, so I'll go for the carb DRZ 🤘
I have two dr 400 Suzukis here in South Africa, one a drz 400z the other a dr 400sm, both super reliable, also have two dl650 vstroms one an 05 the other an 07. Have had no issues compared to my 07 gs1200 BMW. Suzuki is the best always, BMW unreliable. Cheers your commentary is spot on. Keep up the good work.
I agree that the smaller bike is easier to handle off road and ultimately is MORE fun because you can maneuver the bike easily. I currently own a WR250R modded and while its not as fast as my modded DRZ was, it's way more fun.
I have the drz and love it. What's really awesome is the 20+ years of aftermarket support. If you can think of it, it's probably been made.
The DR250SH I used to have in Tokyo thirty years ago was thirsty, too.
Very interesting video.
Imma Honda boy. But the old DRZ runs circles around the 300L in every category except MPG.
In regards to ABS: if I remember correctly, it was possible to take ABS fuse out on the CRF, if getting rid of ABS permanently would be someone's need.
Cheers!
Jake the Garden snake removed totally his ABS if anyone is interested go watch his bulid series on TH-cam
You can buy a non ABS CRF300L model here in the USA.
Surely suzuki is going to update the drz soon. Honda has really offered something interesting here and have really thrown a spanner in the works for both suzuki and yamaha
They did... its called the RMX450.
I did a lot of back road country roads riding last summer with my 250l and got consistent fuel economy of 2,85l/100km. Crazy!
I am shopping for a new bike. Both of these are on my list. Thanks for this comparison.
Great comparison Solid and you’re earlier vids swung me in favour of the 300L. I haven’t ridden for over 30 years and wanted the DRZ, but at 11K new or 9-10K for near new, 20 year old technology, tall bike, no overdrive and high centre of gravity, and lacking the agility of the 300L it was a pretty easy decision.
My bike arrives end of Feb hopefully with ECU upgrade from 550 Performance and Moto X exhaust already purchased. This will at least give the bike a little more pep and nudge towards 30HP. Not a bullet but i don’t need one, nor do i need one.
Interestingly, the Moto X exhaust at less than $400 delivered is quieter than stock in all power ranges except over 10,000RPM (refer peak motorcycles vid). This swung my decision to ditch the heavy and choking exhaust in favour of something that breathes, improves performance but also not overly loud.
My DRZ was a blast in the bush, but not so hot for any distance on the road, despite higher gearing. Tiger 800XC was great on road, still OK in the bush but too heavy. Loving my DR650 now, for me it's a great compromise and can do both well. Don't care if it doesn't have all the electronic wizardry, it's a tractor and just keeps going wherever I point it. Just need to find what works for how and where you want to ride...
I have been on the DRZ400E for 18 years now and would like more than 40HP at this time so I know that I would not be happy with the power of the CRF300L.
we CRF300L people secretly want more power too but keep the mantra "it is enough, we don't need more" ;-)
The Honda has adequate power until you hit deep sand.
If you like power is 40 really enough?
@@xpusostomos with minimal modification you can get 45HP out if the E model. That is more than enough to handle deep sand tracks, which is where the lesser power becomes a chore.
I’m 6’2”. 225lbs. The 250l was undersprung for me. I’m riding drz now. High points are suspension and throttle.
The 300l is a totally different bike compared to the 250.
@@Broxty how?
Fair enough, but new springs are a thing.
@@xpusostomos yes. Looking back I should have put some money into suspension as it was great bike.
I too have had both, the DRZ400 about 15 years ago, the 300L now. They both suited who I was/am at the time, now in my 60's the 300L fits me perfect, back in my 40's if the choice was there it still would have been the DRZ
You are absolutely right about the fuel consumption of the drz at some point I had both the drz400s and the dr650s same year same mpg on both, now I have a 690 Enduro r and an f800gs and getting the same 53 mpg that I was getting out of the drz400s
Well done 👍 thanks for sharing this. The only thing is now the DRZ is no longer available
Wow you finalized my feeling and I should keep the wrr!
Great VS vid. I traded a "1st" gen CRF250L for a DRZ400S just before H came up with the CRF300L. Man I like that "crap your pants" power delivery of the DRZ. You nailed all the check boxes like everybody else. The majors: Power[X], EFI vs Carb [X], 5-6 Speed[X]. Then Height[X], Weight distribution [X], Roadability [X], Modernity[X], After market[X], Service Intervals[X], plus some extra. Bottom lines for me, sometimes I miss the always start at first CRF's EFI Grrrrrr. Only 5 gears... Meh, my 2015 FJR1300 has "only" 5 too, so I'm used to it. Otherwise DRZ all the way. I'm hooked to the extra pants crapping and I'm not welling to deal with the short maintenance schedules of the CRF450RL, KTM's, Huskies, Beta's, etc power monsters. I'll wait for Yam or Hon to come up with a notch of extra power with minimal sacrifice on reliability and service intervals. Thanks for your enjoyable and informative vids.
Nice summary Simon, can't beat the brap of the DRZ
@@chroniclesofsolid Absolutely, and on the other hand Honda Wizards pulled quite a trick with that 300. Many like you agree that this new little red pig is punching above its weight. The DRZ was an obvious upgrade before the CRF300L(or KLX300) shuffled the cards. We now see duels between credible vloggers "claiming" one is better than the other. Both camps are teasing the other for their faults while undeniably respecting the strengths of their opponents. I'm in white Winter territory and still 6 long weeks away from the riding season. So thanks and keep up the great work at entertaining us while we are stuck on 4 wheels. :-)
Hey now, I dont take kindly to criticism about my DRZ
And it's not a cult, its a club.
🤣
The DRZ was designed to be a cutting edge enduro racer (and was when it was released). Somewhere along the line (as it aged) it took on a dual sport identity as an accidental side effect of its excellent reliabilty. But the gear box tells the truth behind the drawing board. The 300L gearbox is FIFTY percent wider. Why ? because it was designed to be a dual sport.
They make 'sprockets larger and smaller' - it has no issues I have mine geared a little taller and has no issues. Plus, the suspension on the 300L is non-adjustable, non-adjustable subframe and a 'cast iron cylinder' from the 1900s.
The 300L with yellow Barkbusters is the perfect compromise!
😬
im about 180 lb i have a drz400 its setup for mx and its 100% stock and it works just fine for me just mx tires different bars and its just the right amount for me power wise suspension could be better at least in my situation but other then that love the drz highly recommended
This guy should have 250k subs. Great vid and thanks man. A+
I use the bike for green laning and commuting to work in London and found the Drz400s chugging at 20-30 mph in traffic couldn't find a smooth gear, either revving too high or chugging.
But not had that problem on my Crf250l, its just smooth.
Fair enough... though neigher one is much of a road bike. Where do you take it off road to make it worth it?
@@xpusostomos I live on the Kent border, and Kent is full of Green Lanes byways, you can ride all day 90% off road.
@@thinkingoutofthebox.9421 Interesting, suddenly I want to go to the UK
I bought a drz400s 2019 for $5500 1k miles. I couldn't find a used crf300l and new they wanted $8k out the door. Doing the math for my riding that would have taken me 15 years of riding to break even on price. Being taller I'm super happy with the drz, very comfortable.
What a great, honest review. I really appreciated it. Many Thanks.
😎👍
🇺🇸
I have a DRZ SM. I use it mainly for foul weather riding. In my area North of Seattle Washington. There's very little off road riding available.
Bought it used with most all of the higher end bits added. It's a load of fun.
Coming in hot, up on the tank with elbows up, leg out waiting to slide the rear in the rain. No one knows I'm 55 years old 😁
I'm really difficult, and this is a really good video, I had 3 DRZ, really liked the bike! But even better than the CRF300L: The CRF300 RALLY :D , I own this bike for 1 year now, and its completely awesome! Specially for his 400km of range! The best adventure/dual sport bike for me. (I was having a KTM 790 adv R, and a KTM 690 Enduro R Just Before, and i prefer the CRF300 Rally, for many reason. a 500cc motor, low maintenance, would be the ideal, but its still the best choice for me)
Love my DRZ. The bike has enough torque to run 16/38 gearing with my 6ft 240lbs on it, it will cruise down the hwy at 80 all day long and still ride the trails with a useful 1st gear that will pull me up anything possible. Most people gear the bike so low, 1st is barely useful and they spend more time in 2nd. Mine is a 2002 and I have tried gearing from one extreme to the other. You can actually cross the road in 1st without having to change to 2nd right away with the taller gearing and the bike feels faster since you aren't always ringing its neck. I will say the stock seat is a like a 2x6, but a Seat Concepts tall fixed that, now she's like a couch. 4 gallon tank takes me farther than any of my buddies bikes.
Thanks Joe! 16/38 is that mean 16 tooth front and back 38 tooth sprockets?
@@Paul49myspace yes. Stock was 15/44.
If DRZ 400 came out with EFI, inverted forks, 6speed and 120kgs - perfect 👍
If only the DRZ400 come to my country at all it would be prefect.
Really enjoying your videos (and my rally). Please keep them coming! Cheers
Thumbs up for clear, honest opinions.
I really like my 300l but I do wish it had more power. I fitted YSS suspension and that works perfectly. Let’s see how I feel about the power once I have fitted a full system, filter and EJK. That might give me all the grunt I need. Cheers for the video.
450l
Your opinions are the same as mine.
Currently have both bikes in the shed.
Same conclusion.
I’ve ridden both of these bikes. The DRZ was originally made to be a large trail bike. It has a beefy aggressive suspension and more hp then a 250 two stroke. The lights and license plate was added later.
The 300L feels like a moped compared to the DrZ400. The DRZ is a big old skool dirt bike. It feels heavier because it has a larger piston and flywheel spinning. Larger tires. And it’s higher up.
We need a review of someone pushing these bikes hard off-road. Not putting around in second gear. As stated. For a first bike the 300L is better.
Once you start going fast off-road the easy going moped manners of the Honda start to hold it back.
Once you start going fast into the turns and pinning the power the DrZ starts to feel light and stable. Then you get that it’s not really made to go on the highway or on a track or on tight single track. It’s made to go fast. For a long distance…..off-road.
Honda 300L- 50/50 riding.
quality high powered moped…..with dirt tires.
DRZ 400E- high speed long distance off-road.
large displacement trail/desert bike with street legal kit. Close ratio gears. So reliable…..Suzuki decided to make it a dual sport.
Fuel injection on a motorcycle does not increase performance either. The DRZ400 has a badass FCR39mm pumper carb…. And just because it’s older does not make it worse.
Anyways…that’s my opinion. I felt like the Honda was too limp to really be a great off-road weapon like the DRZ is.
Put my order in for the 300L. Can’t wait. Thanks for all the info solid 👍🏼
Congrats 🥳
I never owned either and thought this was a great review! Very informative.
Ok...i know I'm weird and it makes no sense...but I'd prefer the the weird power characteristics of the DRZ. It honestly makes riding and owning more fun. I sold a 1000cc sports bike for my DR650 and i honestly couldn't be happier.
People complaining about Lack of power on 400 or 650, just DON'T know how to ride!!Period!! I have a Liter bike also, and when I'm riding the drz400, I Still dust Every car on the road, pushing people out of my way!! I've been riding street bikes for over 10 years, so maybe it's just experience, but there's NO power issues with Even the 400 on road......it's a rider issue.
That's right you are spot on the money there , i have been riding trail bikes [ that's old school talk ] for over 40 yrs now and did my apprenticeship as a motorcycle mechanic at a Yamaha dealership back in the 80's & 90's always loved bikes & have quite a few in my collection . I do own a DRZ400E & a WR250R which i have adventurised both with long range fuel tanks , protection & racks ect i also put supermotard gearing on the DRZ to help with the lowering of rev's on the black top & it did help but the engine vibration was something that gets to you a lot quicker than the smaller cc bike. Now because I'm old and yes i do like the power of the DRZ400 but you don't really need it when your riding of road and i can ride a WR250R a lot quicker & easier in the bush than the DRZ & the WR250R is stock std. The only time i mist the power on the WR is when over taking on the black top yes a crack of the throttle on the DRZ has you up to 130 easy instead of trying to wait & pick a nice clear moment to wind the WR up , but the smother engine & the better handling on the WR250R out ways having the power ... yes its nicer on rear tyre to . Now one of them has to go & as you can probably tell it is going to be the DRZ400E they are a grate bike easy to do maintenance & servicing come with grate standard features & i do love old school bikes but as you have said it dose need to be up dated to keep up with 2days market. I hope SUZUKI do look at doing that cos it is really the only manufacturers that is still in that 400 cc odd market , would i love a light wait reliable 400-500 cc adventure bike with longer service intervals grate suspension at a reasonable price and maybe some gear already on it from new ... absolutely where is the WR450R or why don't some of these manufactures dee tune a rally bike make things out of cheaper materials like plastic instead of carbon if its a bit heaver that wont matter as long as its between 150 & 200kg . Yes definitely a lot less than 200kg 😄😀, well there's my rant hope i haven't offended to many DRZ fans .
Be honest. You just get bored and change bikes like shirts. None of those are 'the best' and they don't seem to want to make the best.
I tend to lean towards the DRZ..depends what you ride most..fireroad..DRZ..single track ...CRF..good vids chron,,thanks
Came here for someone else's opinion on the 2. This vid will help me make my decision.. Thank you for making it 😅🤟
My old Honda had a carburetor and I rode it for years and never had a single issue. Never had to be cleaned or tuned once. Always started. Did not have ABS either. Did not need it.
Owned a DRZ for 7 Years, beat the crap out off it, never let my down. I was young and had little to no money. The DRZ was the best Bike at this time for 3000euros. I was able to ride every day that was the most important part for me. Nowadays, i ride a KTM EXC, it does everything better than the DRZ but a cost the double and isn't that reliable. And the 300L is the better value, used DRZ are now years old, overpriced a not serviced well.
Hey Solid, another great video. Do you know where I can find bike sales data. I’m curious to know how many 300Ls have been sold in Australia vs DRZ and other bikes like 690 (which I own). Maybe that could be the topic for a future COS video ie what’s was the most popular Dual Sport in 2021? I’m always impressed by your research and knowledge of Dual Sport and ADV bikes. Cheers
Thanks mate, unfortunately FCAI no longer release the specific sales data on what models are selling what. The manufacturers are playing funny games. Best bet is to look at the NZ data as that is still transparent www.mia.org.nz/Sales-Data/Motorcycle-Sales. Here is MCNEWS talking about the data funny games www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycle-sales-figures-2021/#:~:text=From%20what%20MCNews.com.au,per%20cent%20on%202020%20figures.
Awesome comparison. Thank you. Subscribed.
Thanks mate, welcome aboard👍
Finally bought a DRZ400S after waiting in the weeds for 10 years. Coming from 2-strokes, an R1, and an XR250L. Just wanted the extra motor, suspension, and the fact that (like the XR series) there’s the sister E-model to steal the really go fast goodies from. Grew up on 5 speeds, don’t understand all the fuss…just lower the final drive ratio a little bit from stock as the bike clearly has the motor for it. 300 or 250’s are fun until either tossing on a pillion, sprinting on the interstate, or any type of altitude gets thrown into the mix. The DRZ isn’t that much larger or heavier than my old XR250L.
Honda 300L has a *cast iron cylinder* along with non adjustable suspension and non-removable subframe.
Great video
I'm still going strong on my old XT600E...but I'll be looking at one of these two..maybe the WR250R also
Very informative
Great video. Exactly what I needed
Went from an XR650L to the 300L. Love it so far, but the DRZ still looks like it would be a fun machine to keep around. Hard to justify having two bikes though
One bike to ride while the other one is down for maintenance :)
I have a Harley Davidson Street 500 for road riding and just bought a DRZ400E as a second bike for adventure riding.
Thanks for this Solid, great to get a detailed review comparing to the DRZ as it's a bike I've had the chance to ride so I have a point of reference. Keen to see some suspension mods, particularly fully adjustable forks for the 300 if these are available. I fully agree that in 2022 we are ready to move on from unreliable fuel systems that passenger cars managed to ditch in the 80s. 11 grand for a DRZ is a travesty!
Have you ever ridden an XR250r or similar air-cooled 250 enduro of the 2000's? I'm interested to see how the 300 compares in terms of handling and power. Adventure Daily seems to have no worries popping the front wheel up so it can't be too bad. My dealer tells me I'm next in line for a 300L, and I'm looking at using this on fairly technical enduro rides where most guys are on 300exc's and wr450f's. No hard enduro Billy Bolt insanity, but still certainly not beginner level tracks either. With the top spec suspension, an EJK and full aftermarket pipe, how do you reckon the 300L would fare? I'm generally happy plodding along with the sweep rider, as long as I can get through without being that guy that gets stuck and needs help lol. Usually the XR makes me that guy, purely due to the flooding carby and the twelve-month application and review process which is required to appease Lord Roczen and have this bike start. I have seen one guy getting through these techy tracks with a modded 250L so there is hope. Not having to load and unload a ute should be a game changer too.
Sorry about the text wall and cheers for the vids!
I have not had a ride on an air cooled dual sport only air cooled road bikes so cant help you there. As for how the 300 would fare with the mods you plan, sounds like it will be pretty capable, especially with the suspension upgrade. As long as you are happy with the weight handicap over the enduro's it will be great. I find myself doing a decent amount of single where we only ever see ktm/beta/husqy's and never other dual sports. We are just slower 😆 but have just as much fun!
Love the look of the helmet in the background, can you share the details please? Great vid too!
Bell MX-9 adventure 👍
I love them both but the 300 L has a six speed transmission, slipper clutch, fuel injection, tachometer, and a fuel gauge.
Tried the Drz400e and being a short inseam 29” the Drz was a non starter. I couldn’t even get the side stand up sitting on the bike. Considered shaving the seat and possible lowering links but it also needs bar risers to lower the forks. I ended up with a Beta XTrainer 300 with shaved seat.
Very comprehensive - only things I missed was :
Japanese manufacturing vs Thai made on the Honda
Quality
It's not tinkering it's the ability to really go out back in the middle of nowhere and be able to fix the bike and get home that's impossible on modern fuel injected systems.
Wonderful to have choice, right? I am going to pull the trigger on a Husky 701 LR…I like the power, balance between road and trail, and like to leave from home (suburbs to Forest)
Variety is the spice of life indeed! and those 701 LR's sure are sweet, enjoy!
I rode a dr650 around the world and due to simplicity it was the best bike for it. I still have the dr650 but also own a ktm 690 and the KTM is night and day better for many reasons. I love them both but for different purposes.
Great vid
Great point there mate, its all about the right tool for the job and user 👍
@@chroniclesofsolid yeah so true, I also think there is an element of whatever makes you happy is the bike you should ride. The most important thing is just get out there.
Keep up the great work mate
I would take the DRZ purely because of how easy it is to work on and how enormous the aftermarket is for it. The only thing the DRZ really needs is EFI, though I don't mind working on carbs if I have to.
Beginner here, when you say “bigger person” how big are we talking? I float between 105-115kg and quite fit/strong depending on where I’m at with training. What is considered big when we are talking dirt bike suspension?
Nobody has mentioned the Kawasaki klx300. I think this is a far better comparison to the crf300l. The KLX 300 has far better suspension and a slightly larger motor. The Honda has a smoother gearbox and is overall more refined. Suzuki needs to keep up with the times but they are riding the DR-z gravy train to the bank. Similar to Yamaha and the TTR 230.
20,000 + Drzs' sold in OZ alone, why change it?
I thought about getting rid of my drz and getting a 300l rally so I can do more long distance riding and just upgrade the suspension. I want efi and a 6th gear. But I think I’ll just buy a T7 or Africa twin band keep the drz for the harder stuff.
Something about the 300l keeps my attention. Seems really cool.
I had DRZ 400SM. I had non stop problems with the carb leaking , including into the actual motor. Nothing would fix it including buying another carby. Possibly the rubber Oring around the float needle just doesn't like our ethanol 91RON fuel. By the same token the Honda low speed snatchiness is a complete pain in the butt ( fixable with the 550 ECU swap). Interesting both bikes have really soggy rear suspensions. Both seats suck. A really big one is the DRZ vibrated on the highway very annoyingly. I really agree that a well fuelled EFI would completely transform the DRZ.
Probably the petcock issue they're known for. I switched mine out with a raptor 660 manual petcock and fixed all my problems
well again a very good vid . what your saying is very true , i went to the ktm 390 adventure at $8200. for the small few things it may not quite do i keep my ktm 250 2 banger will . and find the ktm 390 a very surprising bike . your on the money about the drz ,as it was around the $7900 to $8300 at one stage , but for over $10k its a No from me , i have also owned the honda XRs 200 ,250, 350, 500, 400, 600, ,, and fell off them more than i like to remember , 2007 i did find my CRF 450 was a big improvement on the XRs .. but honda would have to pull something very special for me to buy another Honda . as long as it suits your style of riding ,,, just enjoy i recon . keep up the good work .see you out there one day Steve/Geraldton
Thank you for great comparison!! But what about the real dual sport comparison between crf300l and DR650?? Please !!
Never road a Honda but the DRZ is pretty decent, a bit soft and a bit heavy. Looking at the specs however, the Honda is the same weight as the DRZ but with 11 less horsepower. That's gotta blow. That Honda is heavy and under-powered. I have no idea why Suzuki uses trail wing tires. Remove those. DRZ work great with Kenda K270 5.10 inch wide in the rear and as wide as you can get in the front. Works awesome everywhere and can be had for cheap.
Yes, Trail Wings are flat out DEADLY off-road!!.....regardless of skill, Period....I never believed it, until I rode on them for myself......it did not disappoint it's bad reputation!.....The reason Suzuki uses them is DOT.....covers their ass for liability On Road, they aren't responsible for what you do off-road...but On Road they are great....and they actually do Extremely well for Rocks and riding along side Train Tracks, etc.