I currently own both the CRF300 Rally and the DR, and I've decided to part ways with the CRF300. The CRF simply lacks the torque of the DR, and its higher center of gravity doesn't suit my riding style. It requires aggressive revving to stay in the power band; otherwise, it quickly falls flat. I've become a big fan of the DR-it's a game changer for me. While the CRF300 Rally is fine for non-highway use and performs decently off-road when you can keep it revved up, it's not ideal for highway or overtaking scenarios. It's a 286cc engine, so expectations should match its capacity. This bike is perfect if you trailer it to your riding destination and use it solely for aggressive dirt riding. Having experienced both bikes, I would choose the DR every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Although the DR lacks ABS and fuel injection, its other qualities more than make up for these omissions. I wouldn't put the CRF in the same category as the DR. The CRF might work well in places like Thailand, or for riders who weigh up to 80kg, but in terms of power, the DR outperforms the CRF by a significant margin. The DR is versatile, reliable, and practically bulletproof.
They are both bullet "proof". The DR has the torque, true. The CRF lives in higher rpm. The fuel efficient CRF engine likes it. A little modification to fit your weight with the suspension and a few other mods for a little more low end power, and you have a great fuel effect bike that can do it all with enough to satisfy MOST riders. The Dr being better to relax and have a little more easy ride with all the torque. But the fun factor stays with the CRF. And is very reliable. I also like the fuel injection with temps changing so much where I am, and higher and lower elevations. did I mention fuel efficiency, much better.
Just a couple of observations: after owning the 300 for almost 2 years and never taken it off road, I can say that the soft suspension is great going over speed humps but it's also a little scary in 25 mph crosswind.
I think these are great motorcycles to compare. The CRF300 Rally is basically a dual sport cosplaying as an adventure bike, while the DR650 is an adventure bike playing as if its a dual sport. Both bikes land in that middle ground on paper, seemingly able to do highways with some comfort but also be capable enough for some single track. And of course, everyone says that they both have really soft suspension which keeps you from being able to push the bike hard.
Is DR650 really that much better on the highway with its limited 5speed transmission? Also short fuel range. I wouldn't really call DR650 that much better at adventure bike. I would still pick CRF300L Rally if I were doing adventure bike things.
@@SirMo the DR650 would definitely need an oversized gas tank for adventure duty imo. You could go big with a 6.6 gal, or something in the middle with about 5, which should still be enough to do around 240 miles on a tank (on paper of course). In my experience with a DR350, 30 hp isn’t enough to travel 70-75mph loaded down with fairly minimal camping gear and water for 2 days. You’ll be limited to 60-65mph realistically and it won’t be comfortable (and I only weigh 165lbs). I’d expect the 650’s 13 additional hp to make 70-75mph rides less of an effort. Using gearing commander, 75mph on the 650 is at about 70% of its rev limit on stock gearing, so it might feel a little wrung out unless you swap sprockets but I doubt it would harm the engine to cruise there.
Im looking to getting my first dual sport. Actually new to riding in general as well. This channel is a wealth of knowledge. Ive watched tons of videos but this channel by far has been the best for comparison sake! Definitely subscribing now!
Thanks for this vid! I have both of these bikes and love both. Of course the DR is better for long rides to the trails, and still light enough to handle when I get there.
17:00 i had the 250. I treated that bike like ABSOLUTE garbage. Dropped, ran pegged out (75 on dash, 70 on gps), 33k with no valve adjustment... totaled out and got the 300. So much happier.
Err isn't the '300' really a 286? How much difference can 36cc make? (disclaimer, still beating the pss out of my modified 250 and using it for distance dual sport trips)
@suzyamerica4679 brother, as far as I'm concerned.... ALLOT. IN 6TH, you had ZERO passing power. Wind would knock you down. With the 300, all that's gone
@@jeffalley4417 Agree on that part. So I usually gear down my 250 and sacrifice some of the 6th gear speed, which is really available only during downslopes, tailwinds, or something to draft behind.
@suzyamerica4679 the most common speed limit I have is 55. the shifty part is, to keep up with everyone and not get smoked, you have to travel around 65mph. The 250 felt like riding a hand grenade. I wonder how the 300 would handle a little more speed....
Wow, what a flashback! I left south Jersey 11 years ago. I use to run my DR650 and Husky 449 on those trails. I was only a mile or two away from the racetrack. I hear it's closed now. The best thing I did was get out of Jersey. Damn, I miss all those trails, and WaWa also, of course.
I purchased my 1983 Honda XL600R new and have been riding it ever since. It is stock except for going with a 39 tooth rear sprocket for highway travel. Then use a 13 or 14 tooth front sprocket for dirt riding, other with standard 15 tooth front. Other than a windshield, rear rack, and bags, I haven't modified very much on it. Did recently overhaul the engine but still going with original piston and crank, but did have to get a new camshaft and cam chain, along with valve springs and lifters. Use Shell Rotella T6 oil in 15W-40 full synthetic.
I sold my XL600 back in the early 90's with around 8000 miles on it. Wish I still had it. I did just buy a Honda CRF300L, but I liked the XL better. Even back then it had a much better suspension.
They just need to make a dual sport version of the 450 honestly. Suzuki needs to do fuel injection and add a gear And KTM should do a 390 enduro based on their small adv Yamaha needs to get back in the game and up all of them with a wr450r
I really want a crf400L, the crf300L is plenty powerful for offroad, it just needs a tiny bit more for highway riding (enough to ride 80mph at moderate RPM). Yamaha needs to come out with their 300/400cc wr250f replacement. And Suzuki needs to switch to fuel injection, because frankly carbs should have stayed in the last century.
Good comparison of two great bikes. Two things to consider with the DR is that if you leave the DR stock the fuel economy is much closer to the 300. I have done as well as 4L to 100km on mine. It is also a lot less expensive to mod the suspension. I did the FFRC suspension valving on both front and rear for about $500. The CRF requires a whole new back shock and that can be $1000 alone.
Hmm, my DR650 is 18 years old with all the adventure mods known to man and still has yet to break down. The 5.3 gallon tank provides a super amount of range and the Cogent suspension totally slaps. The downside is the bike is 60 pounds heavier than I would like and the rear flat repair takes 2 hours to finish by hand.
It seems like a DRZ400S and the CRF300L would be a closer comparison. Like everyone says though, the DRZ needs that 6th gear or at least a taller 5th gear. Maybe a little wider spread on all 5 gears with 1st being lower but as you said, this video isn't about that bike. If I had to choose between the two bikes in this video, not off the showroom floor, it would have to be the DR if I were going to do any real miles at speeds above 65 mph but if not the the CRF would be my pick.
The DRZ400 is one if the few of this class I haven't tried yet - some friends are kind enough to swap bikes now and then. If someone handed me $5K to put together a rugged off-road-capable adventure bike I'd probably start with the XR650L and modify it. Stepfather lets me borrow his, and after about a thousand miles of abusing it I can say it's one of the more bulletproof bikes of its class. Easy to fix, and little that goes wrong with it. I even like the stock suspension as is, which saves a lot of money.
Just completed over 500 miles thru the Utah desert on my 300 Rally and it was wonderful. Rally Raid suspension was poetry in motion and the windshield extender was great for the small highway bits. Not once did I wish for more power in the dirt but I plan on exhaust and ecu for road in the future. As close to a unicorn bike for me as I'm gonna get. Still keep my TW200 for the knarly single track tho.
@MotorcyclesOffroad Yeah, mainly because I'm a shorty and it's much lower than the Rally. The TW is also much lighter and I've geared it way down and upgraded it to be a dirt only machine.
Good review Andrew, and spot on with the analysis. The only point missing is that this always boils down to personal preference and that comes down to experience and time in the saddle. This discussion is just so wide at this point there will always be the ‘why didn’t you include ( insert here; XR 650, DRZ, KLX, KLR, WR, TW and probably the XT? Then come all the high dollar folks who can’t see beyond KTM and Husky. T hi a is also the joy of the discussion, there is just something out there for us all and though it seems pretty easy for any given manufacturer to build the Unicorn bike, I just don’t ever seeing that happen🤨. I have an ‘06 DR and it still puts the biggest grin on my face even with multiple steeds to choose from. Keep on plugging the highlights and exposing the low lights and maybe one day we will all be riding that Super Nova, all purpose wonder bike with the perfect cc’s, optimal performance for mere pennies and no need for aftermarket🤔. Ya, when pigs fly right. For now all us riding artists have plenty of options to create with👏
Thanks. These two are towards the top of my list. I first looked at the DR when I started riding in 2008 but went with mostly bigger ADVs with ABS after starting with a DR200, and later having a CRF250. Now I feel myself being pulled back towards the basic DR now that I live around a lot of flat dirt farm roads with a lot of deep sand and sticky mud that I can see the 650’s torque being useful for. My main concern is whether it’s enough lighter than my 790 Adv to be that much better or worth it. While I can do it, I really don’t enjoy the 790 in deep sand or mud; it’s just too heavy and has a low fender. I avoid the mud as much as possible. The XT250 and KLX230S are on the list, too, for their weight. The DR’s rear tire limitations bother me. First world problems… but I’d sure appreciate others’ opinions.
Just bought a FE350S and love it! 255lbs and being corked up and not used for racing, you don't have to service it as much. Light is key and the Husky opens the lock to a light dual sport;)
"INTENT".... is everything when trying to decide what to buy. Money also plays in but knowing what you plan to use a bike for is the biggest factor except for one small problem. We change our minds after the fact. People like me w/ less cash had better know what they plan to do with their bike so I appreciate all the video help.... peace Ohh, how's the XT holding up? I'm a subb but I haven't looked to see all you've done w/ it?
The CRF 300L Rally has a twitchy throttle. Takes getting used to. First gear is the worst. Had some stalls too (even when just at idle). Still, I love my Rally. Beyond smooth clutch. I lowered it with a Koubalink and dropped the forks, so I can now flat-foot it. Will go with 19"/17" wheels soon. More tire choices for 50/50 riding. Thanks for all the 300 videos.
I still miss my big blue DR650SE w/ $3k in mods and that was all just bolt on s from ProCycle I have Husky 501 now and its great especially in tight trails but on double track or roads I might prefer the DR650 for half the money and more reliability.
Great comparison, its def hard to choose between these two. I went with the DR. Also its fairly easy and cheap to drop about 25lbs off the dr which brings its weight much closer to the honda. Tho id probably compare the DR to the base crf300L rather than the rally version.
The only issue really with fuel injection is that if your battery gets really low on a fuel injected bike you can't bump start it as you need power for your fuel pump to run. I have tried bump starting a fully drained FI bike, it will not work. A carb bike will always start on a bump start if you do it right.
I just picked up a crf300L yesterday off craigslist. has 985 miles on it for $4000. I was very excited about that. this is the second video I watched of yours. I bought the bike on a whim but you made me feel like I made a lucky choice. I am in san antonio texas. I have no idea where I am going to be able to ride this thing. any ideas would be appreciated.
I took that in consideration when doing the video, both backs have alterations to jets/ecu so I used the standard manufacturer fuel economy in the slide.
If have a DR350SE with a pumper carb, a CRF 300 rally and a TTR600. The 350 has the best offroad engine but the suspension is old skool, the rally has Ktech and handles really well, amazing mpg, just lacks a bit of grunt, took it around Morocco. The TTR goes really well, stays with modern twins offroad but it's thirsty ( has a 20L tank fitted) , great brakes, decent suspension
I owned a dr500 1984 model when I was 15 it's what I learned on and 20 years later when I was 35 I owned a KTM 690 and 100 percent I would rather ride the Dr 500 I had when I was 15 the engine the way it made its power was more enjoyable to ride both had same top speed the KTM was crap at low rpm unless I were above 3000rpm it wasn't nice at all the Dr 500 it didn't matter it was awesome all the way through the rpm never wanted to stall even at low rpm it was a nice bike to ride hill climbs bush riding and road done it all well and I can't say that about any of the modern day dual sports
I have a 23 CRF300 LS, and a 03 DR650, two different animals, just did 2,535 miles in to Mexico on my DR, it involved a lot of hi way, I would not do that with my CRF, Baja roads the LS would be ok
fun factor is decided on a dual sport by how well and how easily it can wheelie! My 97 XR600 with Baja kit could pull the front end up with a little tug, theottle and clutch finese . Simple with less tech is best. If that CRF was only fit with the old XL500 engine it would be a way better and more capable dual sport. The Dr650 is highly praised when modified and it vecome very capable. Lots of aftermarket kit for it which also makes it easy to set up to your liking. this was a Good comparison to do
Torque usually wins. I like the the DR, my riding buddy has one and it's a phenomenal bike. Personally, I ride LC4's, I've had every version from the 620, 625, 640, and now a 690 with 21,000 miles and zero mechanical issues.
Thanks for this comparison. I am looking for a motorcycle for a first time rider friend. He really has no experience so whilst I really like the DR650, it has no abs and is probably too big of a bike for a newbie.
The DRZ400 would probably be good though. My buddy had one, and I rode it as a beginner before I got my own bike. The power is very controllable, and the weight is not a problem unless you crash or run out of gas. I’m debating between the 400 and 650 for a next bike. Tired of MX bike maintenance.
Too many variables for a one size fits all.... Both bikes will require mods which need to be factored into price and then dealer locations and parts availability.... I've owned a 400e, but would go 300 rally today....unless the 400 or 650 get efi, 6th cog, bigger tank and updated dash....
@@MotorcyclesOffroad Yes! It's because, although I'm an experienced off-road rider, I'm a small and short in sature. The bike of this low seat height would be ideal for someone like me. I'm very close to buying a used CRF300L Rally though. The Honda is so light compare to other 430 lbs plus bikes.
Park both the CRF and the DR for 10 years and which one will have a better chance of getting it to run? FI is great and very reliable but nothing beats a gravity fed carburetor for roadside repairs. I always think long term ownership and the simpler it is the better.
So tuning the 300 to do what the DR does stock on the hwy and tuning it to do better than a torquey stock DR off-road seems like just buying a DR and making it lighter would solve the issues, and cost less. Stressing a small engine like the 300 for more hp then winding its RPM way up since it had to be geared down to match the DR all to run for 6hrs on the freeway seems questionable IMO for longevity. Especially since after tuning the 300 would match the DRs mpg, literally. But to each their own. Side note: Suzuki literally invented the "Dual Sport" name. That was their branding.
@@TK-cl1jm Old ass exhaust, lighter tank, bar end weights, weights (spacers) at the top of the fork tubes, tons of reflector crap with steel brackets, swapping out stuff for aluminum vs the steel stuff like bars, etc....
Rally top speed (wish it could do 90 comfortably) and suspension is my only complaint. As my daily driver, rain, freeze, or 115⁰.... 70mpg and ABSOLUTELY zero maintenance, it will live in my heart forever. Put the windshield extender on there. It makes so much of a difference. I think both my rims are out of balance. I don't ride hard enough to blame myself. Eventually ill be able to have a shop center them
Like the DR650 coverage, you ride same areas i do. I have my woods weapons for ECEA events & thinking the DR might be a good addition replacing my street bike. Riding to the Pine Barrons and back using Main roads/highways how stable is the bike?
I find it's pretty stable, of course it will be buffeted by wind, but the front can feel sketchy when when at it's limits. Overall after driving 14k miles it's a great bike at what it does. Tight trail to 90+ highway riding makes me appreciate the grunty low maintenance bike that is the DR.
Does the CRF 300 1st gear give you the ability to tractor? Im looking at which one of these bikes to get. Im an old guy with not much off road experience and would just be looking to explore rather than run hard off road.
I'd beg to differ on that 300 keeping up in highway traffic! Or going up long steep hills. Seen a few of them not up to the task. Where as the DR has no issues with both hills or highway riding. The DR should never be downgraded to fuel injection and a 6th gear is most likely going to ruin the transmission.
The reason I ride a 2nd gen klr,that said it was a close call between the klr and Dr. The klr won out due to its fuel capacity and already having full fairings stock,but the Dr is still a great bike in own right.
Foe the riding I do it's the best fit, most single tracks in montana is way too aggressive for a klr and most my off road is on 2 track and forestry roads.some of my trips have had 800+ miles of slab just for maybe 70-120 miles of dirt lol.
I’ve done comparison vids. It is amazing how you always get the “you can’t compare these bikes!” Comments. When clearly you can compare anything you like.
It definitely is a between of the 2 lol. It sacrifices the power of the R for street legality but still maintains short service interval of 800 miles oil and value checks about twice as often. I have only rode one once, it has ton of power. Kinda reminds me of any ktm I rode.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad Thankfully it’s a Honda through and through. The oil changes can be extended to 12-1500 depending on your type of riding. The guy I watch (John T Young) still didn’t have to do a valve adjustment at 10,000 miles on his 450L. He’s had over 20,000 miles on his with no trouble. My bike is approaching 4,000 and still has its valves right at where they were when I did its initial inspection.
@butterytoast4836 ahh gotcha, for me I would have it in my mind every time I went out of u didn't atleast throw the feeler gauge under it every once in a while. 10,000 seems like a lot to me, I though it's insane that the 300L/rally call for 16,000 miles on valve. Have mutiple bikes it would take me a few years to reach that. So I just try to do a valve check every other year.
@@rantANDrave1987 I skipped over the 600 mile inspection and did mine at 1800 miles. I’ve checked them again at 3200 miles and they’re still in the same place right in spec. I do a mix of single/double track and a bit of riding on the road to reach the state forests in NJ.
I am a prepper. I am afraid of an emp. I’d still prefer fuel injection (hence why I bought a 300 rally). As much as I’m afraid an emp will fry my bike, I also have a feeling that all you’ll have to do is turn the key off and on again and it will fire up again due to how computer systems are designed today.
Just get yourself a bycicle and be happy. No worry about emp, no worry about fuel, no worry about noise, now worry about people which wanna get your fancy prepper bike with tons of stuff and gear on it. the first things you drop in a real emergency situation is always your fancy stuff you have in non emergency situations anyway.
Hey Jeff you don't have to watch the ads through. They took away our option to change or customize the ads. Sp they are what they are, but I dobt remember off the top of my head. It's a no name brand and it's fantastic, I even have footage for a video of it. Maybe I should do that since you asked.
@MotorcyclesOffroad I lost my last phone at 70 with the ram X. One of the rubber bushings came free and there was no stopping it. I can usually catch it... no chance this time
Should be comparing the ZDrz400 to THE CRF not the 650 but the 400 would still be the clear winner so it doesn't really matter. CRFis a great bike for a light weight rider with no desire for power or good suspension
This is the heavy "dual sport" /semi Adv bike from both manufacturers. The CRF300L is a good comparison to the DRZ400 which I have done but the rally is a light Adv bike basically like the DR. th-cam.com/video/QeFyBMJkMqY/w-d-xo.html
@@dr.x4050 the hub would be the least to think of, both have 5 speeds, standard suspension, carbureted 650s. But in the wheel selection the XR is closer to the CRF. However, I find he should compare all 3, they are at a similar price point as mentioned and made for the same customer group.
I would just love for the 300s transmission. Then the DR would be a destroyer, I could sprocket it down for single trail but still have the legs of the 6th, it would go like 100mph with that trans lmao
@ogoshikimura5621 yeah I don't know why, to be honest the KLR is probably the best bang for your buck adventure bike you can buy today. I personally have no problem with it, yeah it's heavy and can be a dog but you know what your getting. In motorcycles you can never have everything you get a great price and amazon reliability with the KLR. I would be happy with it.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad that’s because this community is driven by forums and not by actual real life experiences. Riding off road is a sport that you need to learn. There is technique and training, but in the forum it’s just about equipment, gear and spec sheets.
Where are What numbers? And what do you mean Google says. Google is just grabbing a random text from a first hit article, there is no verification of fact going on there. I don't have the information in front of me at the moment but I'm if I remember right the DR650 has 43pr so crank hp.
Plenty of people have ridden the DR650 through the Andes mountains, which are easily above 2000m without issues, just a slight adjustment to the idle speed screw and you’re good to go.
Why compare the dr650 with the 300l? They're both dual sport but very different classes. A dr650 vs xr650l would be better comparison as they're actually similar bikes.
Ok well since I feel like you are generally asking and not trying to be a jerk like the few people who are asking that question on FB I can for sure answer. Firstly did you watch the video?
You seem to Have an interresting Crowd, or is it the regular crazy suki-fans 😂 I love the crf on single-track where the DR really Have no place. But it needs the mods.
I'm old , have crf1000, and 300. Both bikes have their place, on road the 1000 is awesome, in the woods the 300 is my choice every time. Having both bikes is the only way to go.
Until a stick goes through your radiator in the middle of nowhere... Until your fuel injection pump fails 70 miles from a paved road. Until your water pump quits in the middle of a rainstorm. Until your thermostat decides to stick shut and overheat your motor. Until your fuel injectors bite the dust in the middle of the desert in the summertime. Starting to get the point here?
Thats awesome thanks for the offer. I had access to the 520Excf for a few years. It was stored in a pole barn and my buddy said ride it whenever. But I would defiantly be interested. I am really looking to get my hands on a XR650L, KTM690 (I used to have the LC4 640) and a KLX300 for full review.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad Would love to see your take on the XR650L. I get to borrow one of those sometimes. I've abused it pretty hard on long dual sport rides. The usual thing I ride on dirt is a modded KDX220R. The XR650L with hard-rubber knobbies will get you spin happy on dirt & gravel. If you know dirtbikes it feels almost just like a big one. Gobs of torque if you uncork it a little, though not the power/weight ratio of a punchy 2stroke.
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Well I'm not completely sure tbh, mine were never stock for very long. I am going by the reported stock numbers. I think mine with a stage one kit was just a little shy of that.
Sorry, but in 2024 I could never invest in a bike with a halogen headlight and lack of fuel injection, no matter what the other pros might be in its favor. I could have bought the same bike twenty years ago.
Haha it's funny how many opposites and different options have come from this video. It seems some people hate the Idea of the DR and some love it over everything else. To the DRs credit tho, you can mod everything out. Like that light for example.
I know what you are trying to say about bigger but you mean more displacement, my honda is a bit bigger. With the CRF's aftermarket suspension and it's ferrings it sits higher as wider.
I respect your opinion but I have to disagree, I have used the rally on the highway with no issues. I will also succeed and say mine is has a stage 1.0 performance kit. Soon to be more.
@@localresident7826 I'm thinking of doing the cams now since it's been long enough were the tunes have caught up. So maybe I will have a video on that sometime in the near future
@MotorcyclesOffroad Then you are not comparing the two correctly. You can also modify the DR650 to a level the 300 could never achieve. In stock form, the CRF300 is dangerous on the highway. The DR650 will cruze all day long at 80 with more to spare, if needed. I'm not a CRF300 hater, just being realistic.
The 300 gets the same mpg as the DR after a full tune. My buddy has one and has verified he only gets about 110-115 before reserve or gas indicator. Same as the DR.
@jonwoodworker I seem to have lost the thread on what we are actually debating at this point. But for clarity both bikes are molded equally in this video. The 300 gets more out of the mods simply because an ECU can do more then jets but both have aftermarket fuel adjustments, both have exhaust, and both have intake modifications. I also mention in the video in the performance section how one hp and torque there is no question the 300 can compete.
There is no comparison, the DR650 is far and away a better dual-sport and adventure bike simply because it has none of the electronic devices to fail out on the trail that the Honda does. When you're talking real adventure, getting out into places where a failure can really be bad and in some cases life-threatening, then you want to keep things as simple as possible and the DR650 does that hands down. Winner: DR650
@@MotorcyclesOffroad That's not the point though, I love Honda, my first motorcycle many years ago was a used 1974 CB550 so I go back a long way with Honda, best motorcycle company on the planet hands down, but the fact is you're dragging unwanted technology out on the trail with you to remote places, and if you're going to go with the Honda you should probably choose the XR650L over the CRF300L just due to the XR's simplicity.
@@BillySBC So all the gear you have with you is spare parts, spare oil (rfvc needs constant oil changes and every 2nd oil change valve adjustement) and spare fuel....i dont know, today i would go with a rieju aventura on a real outback trip with a simple app on the phone to see what is electric problem when it would get some...but on the other hand, every mechanic in hillbilly outback land knows how tech of 1960 rfvc works but the few electronic parts of honda rfvc bikes have also isnt known for relaiablitiy (cdi, ignition in general....dont know if they fixed the low powered rotator till now).....what do you trade of? I would go with lightest bike with the lowest fuelconsumption...everything else can and will brake sometime and somewhere anyway.
DRs can also leave you stranded outback. Sometimes on separate trips. 🤷 I don't blame the bike. $hit happens no matter what brand of bike you prefer. Don't drink any brand's Kool-Aid and you'll be right. But be prepared in case it happens on your trip.
Because if you have truly ridden through enough of them you realize there is no way to tell the difference between a bike drowner and 6 inches of water. Keep going straight through the middle of them all and see how that works out for you.
Both great bikes. You do realize you are comparing a 288cc motor against a 650cc motor.... Is that fair? At any rate, the CRF has a better cockpit feel and is 60 pounds lighter. (CRF300L is 303 pounds w/o abs or rally) The DR tech (or lack thereof) will never leave you stranded... Both great bikes.
They are 10% different I'm weight, both do things better then the other. It's a main point to make because as a new bike they are very close in MSRP, only 900$ different.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad I had a DR 600 many years ago, and a 650 after it, I understood one thing - if you want a road bike get one, if you want a dirt bike, get one.... don't expect the "dual bullcrap" to give you any enjoyment. That's in case you can only have one bike. If you can have more, and enjoy those breed of bikes, well that's another story. just my opinion sorry ...tough decisions in life
@@eyalcr500 some can't afford multiple bikes, nor have the room for storing them or the means to transport them and want something they can ride to the trail and then ride the trail. Ya see what I'm sayin?
yes Sir, of course I see ! I am one of those guys , can't afford 2 bikes, have only one bike, don't even have a trailer to tow it - and because of that i chose one option , an off road bike (... not that I'm a big bad pro rider...) and only ride off road, but when I ride - I RIDE ! but, if one is willing to live with a dual purpose bike , that's his choice ! what i meant is that those bikes don't give enough fun, they are limited by nature, thus don't thrill (me , at least...) and so miss the point of "fun"
I have a CRF 300L with a performance 550 ECU so it has more power than stock, but I still don't really like riding it. It just isn't exciting to ride. I would much rather be on my KTM 500 EXCF. With a GET ECU and a map switch that thing will rip your arms off. The DR650 is so god-dam ugly! I can't get over how ugly it is. Same with the Honda XR650. They are just ugly and reek of "old man with no skills."
I currently own both the CRF300 Rally and the DR, and I've decided to part ways with the CRF300. The CRF simply lacks the torque of the DR, and its higher center of gravity doesn't suit my riding style. It requires aggressive revving to stay in the power band; otherwise, it quickly falls flat. I've become a big fan of the DR-it's a game changer for me. While the CRF300 Rally is fine for non-highway use and performs decently off-road when you can keep it revved up, it's not ideal for highway or overtaking scenarios. It's a 286cc engine, so expectations should match its capacity. This bike is perfect if you trailer it to your riding destination and use it solely for aggressive dirt riding.
Having experienced both bikes, I would choose the DR every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Although the DR lacks ABS and fuel injection, its other qualities more than make up for these omissions. I wouldn't put the CRF in the same category as the DR. The CRF might work well in places like Thailand, or for riders who weigh up to 80kg, but in terms of power, the DR outperforms the CRF by a significant margin. The DR is versatile, reliable, and practically bulletproof.
Long live the bush pig!!
They are both bullet "proof". The DR has the torque, true. The CRF lives in higher rpm. The fuel efficient CRF engine likes it. A little modification to fit your weight with the suspension and a few other mods for a little more low end power, and you have a great fuel effect bike that can do it all with enough to satisfy MOST riders. The Dr being better to relax and have a little more easy ride with all the torque. But the fun factor stays with the CRF. And is very reliable. I also like the fuel injection with temps changing so much where I am, and higher and lower elevations. did I mention fuel efficiency, much better.
Glad I switched from ADV to my 300L. Off-road has never been more fun
Just a couple of observations: after owning the 300 for almost 2 years and never taken it off road, I can say that the soft suspension is great going over speed humps but it's also a little scary in 25 mph crosswind.
Haha lighter bikes are like that in wind.
Another high quality and unbiased video! Keep up the great work!
Thanks dude, thanks for watching
I think these are great motorcycles to compare. The CRF300 Rally is basically a dual sport cosplaying as an adventure bike, while the DR650 is an adventure bike playing as if its a dual sport. Both bikes land in that middle ground on paper, seemingly able to do highways with some comfort but also be capable enough for some single track. And of course, everyone says that they both have really soft suspension which keeps you from being able to push the bike hard.
Is DR650 really that much better on the highway with its limited 5speed transmission? Also short fuel range. I wouldn't really call DR650 that much better at adventure bike. I would still pick CRF300L Rally if I were doing adventure bike things.
@@SirMo the DR650 would definitely need an oversized gas tank for adventure duty imo. You could go big with a 6.6 gal, or something in the middle with about 5, which should still be enough to do around 240 miles on a tank (on paper of course). In my experience with a DR350, 30 hp isn’t enough to travel 70-75mph loaded down with fairly minimal camping gear and water for 2 days. You’ll be limited to 60-65mph realistically and it won’t be comfortable (and I only weigh 165lbs). I’d expect the 650’s 13 additional hp to make 70-75mph rides less of an effort.
Using gearing commander, 75mph on the 650 is at about 70% of its rev limit on stock gearing, so it might feel a little wrung out unless you swap sprockets but I doubt it would harm the engine to cruise there.
Im looking to getting my first dual sport. Actually new to riding in general as well. This channel is a wealth of knowledge. Ive watched tons of videos but this channel by far has been the best for comparison sake! Definitely subscribing now!
Thanks for this vid! I have both of these bikes and love both. Of course the DR is better for long rides to the trails, and still light enough to handle when I get there.
17:00 i had the 250. I treated that bike like ABSOLUTE garbage. Dropped, ran pegged out (75 on dash, 70 on gps), 33k with no valve adjustment... totaled out and got the 300. So much happier.
Haha yeah it happens. Glad you found the good bike for you now!
Err isn't the '300' really a 286? How much difference can 36cc make? (disclaimer, still beating the pss out of my modified 250 and using it for distance dual sport trips)
@suzyamerica4679 brother, as far as I'm concerned.... ALLOT. IN 6TH, you had ZERO passing power. Wind would knock you down. With the 300, all that's gone
@@jeffalley4417 Agree on that part. So I usually gear down my 250 and sacrifice some of the 6th gear speed, which is really available only during downslopes, tailwinds, or something to draft behind.
@suzyamerica4679 the most common speed limit I have is 55. the shifty part is, to keep up with everyone and not get smoked, you have to travel around 65mph. The 250 felt like riding a hand grenade. I wonder how the 300 would handle a little more speed....
Wow, what a flashback! I left south Jersey 11 years ago. I use to run my DR650 and Husky 449 on those trails. I was only a mile or two away from the racetrack. I hear it's closed now. The best thing I did was get out of Jersey. Damn, I miss all those trails, and WaWa also, of course.
Left NJ 35 yrs ago and went to FL, best move I ever made.
@@dancassale7805 For Sure. We went back September, and it was horrible. Wawa was great of course....lol
Still enjoying my 41 year old 1983 Honda XL600R that weights 327# wet. Reliable as ever, don't even have a battery in it.
Nice! I still want to test the Xr650l.
I purchased my 1983 Honda XL600R new and have been riding it ever since. It is stock except for going with a 39 tooth rear sprocket for highway travel. Then use a 13 or 14 tooth front sprocket for dirt riding, other with standard 15 tooth front. Other than a windshield, rear rack, and bags, I haven't modified very much on it. Did recently overhaul the engine but still going with original piston and crank, but did have to get a new camshaft and cam chain, along with valve springs and lifters. Use Shell Rotella T6 oil in 15W-40 full synthetic.
I sold my XL600 back in the early 90's with around 8000 miles on it. Wish I still had it. I did just buy a Honda CRF300L, but I liked the XL better. Even back then it had a much better suspension.
Those are rad bikes, I've been coveting for years.
Thats called weight savings sir haha
Honda needs to make a crf500l in the vein of 300l, but unlike the 450rl
They just need to make a dual sport version of the 450 honestly.
Suzuki needs to do fuel injection and add a gear
And KTM should do a 390 enduro based on their small adv
Yamaha needs to get back in the game and up all of them with a wr450r
I really want a crf400L, the crf300L is plenty powerful for offroad, it just needs a tiny bit more for highway riding (enough to ride 80mph at moderate RPM). Yamaha needs to come out with their 300/400cc wr250f replacement. And Suzuki needs to switch to fuel injection, because frankly carbs should have stayed in the last century.
@@DrRumsmuggleryeah Yamaha definitely needs to get back in it
@@SirMo don’t mess with my DR650, I like it just the way it is🤗
@@pacopaez04 It's a great bike if you really want to customize a dual sport to fit you like a glove, true.
Good comparison of two great bikes. Two things to consider with the DR is that if you leave the DR stock the fuel economy is much closer to the 300. I have done as well as 4L to 100km on mine. It is also a lot less expensive to mod the suspension. I did the FFRC suspension valving on both front and rear for about $500. The CRF requires a whole new back shock and that can be $1000 alone.
Hmm, my DR650 is 18 years old with all the adventure mods known to man and still has yet to break down. The 5.3 gallon tank provides a super amount of range and the Cogent suspension totally slaps.
The downside is the bike is 60 pounds heavier than I would like and the rear flat repair takes 2 hours to finish by hand.
It seems like a DRZ400S and the CRF300L would be a closer comparison. Like everyone says though, the DRZ needs that 6th gear or at least a taller 5th gear. Maybe a little wider spread on all 5 gears with 1st being lower but as you said, this video isn't about that bike. If I had to choose between the two bikes in this video, not off the showroom floor, it would have to be the DR if I were going to do any real miles at speeds above 65 mph but if not the the CRF would be my pick.
Yeah the 300L is a direct competitor to the DRZ. I do have that comparison on the channel as well. These 2 are more of an adventure trim let's say.
The DRZ400 is one if the few of this class I haven't tried yet - some friends are kind enough to swap bikes now and then. If someone handed me $5K to put together a rugged off-road-capable adventure bike I'd probably start with the XR650L and modify it. Stepfather lets me borrow his, and after about a thousand miles of abusing it I can say it's one of the more bulletproof bikes of its class. Easy to fix, and little that goes wrong with it. I even like the stock suspension as is, which saves a lot of money.
Just completed over 500 miles thru the Utah desert on my 300 Rally and it was wonderful. Rally Raid suspension was poetry in motion and the windshield extender was great for the small highway bits. Not once did I wish for more power in the dirt but I plan on exhaust and ecu for road in the future. As close to a unicorn bike for me as I'm gonna get. Still keep my TW200 for the knarly single track tho.
Interesting, so you prefer the tw on single track?
@MotorcyclesOffroad Yeah, mainly because I'm a shorty and it's much lower than the Rally. The TW is also much lighter and I've geared it way down and upgraded it to be a dirt only machine.
Good review Andrew, and spot on with the analysis. The only point missing is that this always boils down to personal preference and that comes down to experience and time in the saddle. This discussion is just so wide at this point there will always be the ‘why didn’t you include ( insert here; XR 650, DRZ, KLX, KLR, WR, TW and probably the XT? Then come all the high dollar folks who can’t see beyond KTM and Husky. T hi a is also the joy of the discussion, there is just something out there for us all and though it seems pretty easy for any given manufacturer to build the Unicorn bike, I just don’t ever seeing that happen🤨.
I have an ‘06 DR and it still puts the biggest grin on my face even with multiple steeds to choose from.
Keep on plugging the highlights and exposing the low lights and maybe one day we will all be riding that Super Nova, all purpose wonder bike with the perfect cc’s, optimal performance for mere pennies and no need for aftermarket🤔. Ya, when pigs fly right. For now all us riding artists have plenty of options to create with👏
Thanks. These two are towards the top of my list. I first looked at the DR when I started riding in 2008 but went with mostly bigger ADVs with ABS after starting with a DR200, and later having a CRF250. Now I feel myself being pulled back towards the basic DR now that I live around a lot of flat dirt farm roads with a lot of deep sand and sticky mud that I can see the 650’s torque being useful for. My main concern is whether it’s enough lighter than my 790 Adv to be that much better or worth it. While I can do it, I really don’t enjoy the 790 in deep sand or mud; it’s just too heavy and has a low fender. I avoid the mud as much as possible. The XT250 and KLX230S are on the list, too, for their weight. The DR’s rear tire limitations bother me. First world problems… but I’d sure appreciate others’ opinions.
Just bought a FE350S and love it! 255lbs and being corked up and not used for racing, you don't have to service it as much. Light is key and the Husky opens the lock to a light dual sport;)
Excellent review! I currently ride a 701 and wish it was built by Honda.
Haha, well the 701/690 platform are great motorcycles. The 690 adventure is a bike I really enjoy.
A 400 big bore kit for the CRF would make it perfect.
There is a big bore kit but it's only 301.
That would be cool, but most kits just make them unreliable. Might as well go KTM at that point?
This is great and very insightful review, thank you. Having just sold a WR450F and looking to 'downsize' I found your thoughts helpful. Nice work.
"INTENT".... is everything when trying to decide what to buy. Money also plays in but knowing what you plan to use a bike
for is the biggest factor except for one small problem. We change our minds after the fact. People like me w/ less cash
had better know what they plan to do with their bike so I appreciate all the video help.... peace
Ohh, how's the XT holding up? I'm a subb but I haven't looked to see all you've done w/ it?
Great review/advice brother. Keep them coming
Thank you, and I appreciate the great words.
Honestly for me at least it has come down to what bike looks the coolest and I gotta say it’s definitely the old yet bold DR650
You earned a new subscriber.
+1 more here !
The CRF 300L Rally has a twitchy throttle. Takes getting used to. First gear is the worst. Had some stalls too (even when just at idle). Still, I love my Rally. Beyond smooth clutch. I lowered it with a Koubalink and dropped the forks, so I can now flat-foot it. Will go with 19"/17" wheels soon. More tire choices for 50/50 riding. Thanks for all the 300 videos.
Go with a 550 Performance ECU. That fixes everything.
That's because a computer is TRYING to do what a carburetor does organically.
I still miss my big blue DR650SE w/ $3k in mods and that was all just bolt on s from ProCycle I have Husky 501 now and its great especially in tight trails but on double track or roads I might prefer the DR650 for half the money and more reliability.
This exactly what I was cross buying, please don't listen to what ither say. Your videos are very informative and useful to make a pick.
Thank you 👍
Another great vid. if yo ucan have two bikes, these two are among the best, complimentary pair you can have! Ride on, brother!
I own a 300L. Used to own the DR650. I still dont know which bike I prefer.
Haha riding both back to back I can say they both are great. Neither perfect but I like both.
Hey, Great video. What seat pad/cover are you running on the rally?
I regularly get 56mpg on my dr, the bigger tank gives me over 250 mile range, I have never run it dry
Nice, mine would be at 40-42mpg If I was on mainly road I think it would do better, but I always ride a mix.
Great comparison, its def hard to choose between these two. I went with the DR. Also its fairly easy and cheap to drop about 25lbs off the dr which brings its weight much closer to the honda. Tho id probably compare the DR to the base crf300L rather than the rally version.
The only issue really with fuel injection is that if your battery gets really low on a fuel injected bike you can't bump start it as you need power for your fuel pump to run. I have tried bump starting a fully drained FI bike, it will not work. A carb bike will always start on a bump start if you do it right.
I just picked up a crf300L yesterday off craigslist. has 985 miles on it for $4000. I was very excited about that. this is the second video I watched of yours. I bought the bike on a whim but you made me feel like I made a lucky choice. I am in san antonio texas. I have no idea where I am going to be able to ride this thing. any ideas would be appreciated.
Is your 300L rally the one with the ECU flash that requires premium gas? If so it cuts the advantage of fuel economy a bit.
I took that in consideration when doing the video, both backs have alterations to jets/ecu so I used the standard manufacturer fuel economy in the slide.
What's the seat cover you have on the CRF?
Love my Dr; I take it to the nastiest places on earth and never wonder if it will stay running!!
If have a DR350SE with a pumper carb, a CRF 300 rally and a TTR600.
The 350 has the best offroad engine but the suspension is old skool, the rally has Ktech and handles really well, amazing mpg, just lacks a bit of grunt, took it around Morocco.
The TTR goes really well, stays with modern twins offroad but it's thirsty ( has a 20L tank fitted) , great brakes, decent suspension
I live in central Jersey and I'm looking to buy a 300l but always nervous about riding offroad because of the police. You ever run in to problems?
I owned a dr500 1984 model when I was 15 it's what I learned on and 20 years later when I was 35 I owned a KTM 690 and 100 percent I would rather ride the Dr 500 I had when I was 15 the engine the way it made its power was more enjoyable to ride both had same top speed the KTM was crap at low rpm unless I were above 3000rpm it wasn't nice at all the Dr 500 it didn't matter it was awesome all the way through the rpm never wanted to stall even at low rpm it was a nice bike to ride hill climbs bush riding and road done it all well and I can't say that about any of the modern day dual sports
I have a 23 CRF300 LS, and a 03 DR650, two different animals, just did 2,535 miles in to Mexico on my DR, it involved a lot of hi way, I would not do that with my CRF, Baja roads the LS would be ok
This sounds like a good story. Please elaborate.
fun factor is decided on a dual sport by how well and how easily it can wheelie! My 97 XR600 with Baja kit could pull the front end up with a little tug, theottle and clutch finese . Simple with less tech is best. If that CRF was only fit with the old XL500 engine it would be a way better and more capable dual sport. The Dr650 is highly praised when modified and it vecome very capable. Lots of aftermarket kit for it which also makes it easy to set up to your liking. this was a Good comparison to do
The XR600 is a beast. I had the XR400r once, it was awesome offroad.
Torque usually wins. I like the the DR, my riding buddy has one and it's a phenomenal bike. Personally, I ride LC4's, I've had every version from the 620, 625, 640, and now a 690 with 21,000 miles and zero mechanical issues.
Nice, I had a LC4 640.
Thanks for this comparison. I am looking for a motorcycle for a first time rider friend. He really has no experience so whilst I really like the DR650, it has no abs and is probably too big of a bike for a newbie.
The DRZ400 would probably be good though. My buddy had one, and I rode it as a beginner before I got my own bike. The power is very controllable, and the weight is not a problem unless you crash or run out of gas. I’m debating between the 400 and 650 for a next bike. Tired of MX bike maintenance.
Great video
Too many variables for a one size fits all....
Both bikes will require mods which need to be factored into price and then dealer locations and parts availability....
I've owned a 400e, but would go 300 rally today....unless the 400 or 650 get efi, 6th cog, bigger tank and updated dash....
Great review.
I hope you will review the CFMOTO 450MT when it gets to the US.
I haven't really seen to much about it. Is it a bike you are excited for?
@@MotorcyclesOffroad Yes! It's because, although I'm an experienced off-road rider, I'm a small and short in sature. The bike of this low seat height would be ideal for someone like me. I'm very close to buying a used CRF300L Rally though. The Honda is so light compare to other 430 lbs plus bikes.
One bike you should take a look at is an AJP PR7
Park both the CRF and the DR for 10 years and which one will have a better chance of getting it to run? FI is great and very reliable but nothing beats a gravity fed carburetor for roadside repairs. I always think long term ownership and the simpler it is the better.
So tuning the 300 to do what the DR does stock on the hwy and tuning it to do better than a torquey stock DR off-road seems like just buying a DR and making it lighter would solve the issues, and cost less. Stressing a small engine like the 300 for more hp then winding its RPM way up since it had to be geared down to match the DR all to run for 6hrs on the freeway seems questionable IMO for longevity. Especially since after tuning the 300 would match the DRs mpg, literally. But to each their own.
Side note: Suzuki literally invented the "Dual Sport" name. That was their branding.
What are chopping off to make it as light as the 300?
@@TK-cl1jm Old ass exhaust, lighter tank, bar end weights, weights (spacers) at the top of the fork tubes, tons of reflector crap with steel brackets, swapping out stuff for aluminum vs the steel stuff like bars, etc....
Rally top speed (wish it could do 90 comfortably) and suspension is my only complaint.
As my daily driver, rain, freeze, or 115⁰.... 70mpg and ABSOLUTELY zero maintenance, it will live in my heart forever.
Put the windshield extender on there. It makes so much of a difference. I think both my rims are out of balance. I don't ride hard enough to blame myself. Eventually ill be able to have a shop center them
Nice video.
Both are good bikes and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Like the DR650 coverage, you ride same areas i do. I have my woods weapons for ECEA events & thinking the DR might be a good addition replacing my street bike. Riding to the Pine Barrons and back using
Main roads/highways how stable is the bike?
I find it's pretty stable, of course it will be buffeted by wind, but the front can feel sketchy when when at it's limits. Overall after driving 14k miles it's a great bike at what it does. Tight trail to 90+ highway riding makes me appreciate the grunty low maintenance bike that is the DR.
Does the CRF 300 1st gear give you the ability to tractor? Im looking at which one of these bikes to get. Im an old guy with not much off road experience and would just be looking to explore rather than run hard off road.
XT250 or TW200 perhaps? I've never ridden the CRF or the DR.
I'd beg to differ on that 300 keeping up in highway traffic! Or going up long steep hills. Seen a few of them not up to the task. Where as the DR has no issues with both hills or highway riding. The DR should never be downgraded to fuel injection and a 6th gear is most likely going to ruin the transmission.
Rally was dangerous when I borrowed one for the weekend. Going up a grade and not being able to keep up with traffic was nerve wracking.
The reason I ride a 2nd gen klr,that said it was a close call between the klr and Dr. The klr won out due to its fuel capacity and already having full fairings stock,but the Dr is still a great bike in own right.
The KLR is also a special bike. I see it as more road oriented, but I feel it is reliable and the best bang for your buck then it comes to cost.
Foe the riding I do it's the best fit, most single tracks in montana is way too aggressive for a klr and most my off road is on 2 track and forestry roads.some of my trips have had 800+ miles of slab just for maybe 70-120 miles of dirt lol.
I’ve done comparison vids. It is amazing how you always get the “you can’t compare these bikes!” Comments.
When clearly you can compare anything you like.
Interesting that it looks like you had an XT on the trip with you, but didn't mention that in the same breath - reliable simple dual sport.
He did a comparison between the xt and the CRF awhile back, and a ride with the DR and XT in another video. Both are worth watching.
I have to ask , what trail system are you riding? They look awesome!
Im the videos I am riding in NJ, PA, and MD. Mostly NJ
@@MotorcyclesOffroadim in upstate NY, i did not know that nj had trails like this. Are they open to everyone or do you need a pass?
Wharton State Forest and Bass River State Forest, New Jersey great place for sport riding must have license plates
Awesome thanks i appreciate it. Can you ride there with out of state plates?
Love my 450RL. Dual sport guys say it’s too much of a dirt bike. Dirt bike guys say it’s too much of a dual sport 🤣
It definitely is a between of the 2 lol. It sacrifices the power of the R for street legality but still maintains short service interval of 800 miles oil and value checks about twice as often. I have only rode one once, it has ton of power. Kinda reminds me of any ktm I rode.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad Thankfully it’s a Honda through and through. The oil changes can be extended to 12-1500 depending on your type of riding. The guy I watch (John T Young) still didn’t have to do a valve adjustment at 10,000 miles on his 450L. He’s had over 20,000 miles on his with no trouble. My bike is approaching 4,000 and still has its valves right at where they were when I did its initial inspection.
@butterytoast4836 ahh gotcha, for me I would have it in my mind every time I went out of u didn't atleast throw the feeler gauge under it every once in a while. 10,000 seems like a lot to me, I though it's insane that the 300L/rally call for 16,000 miles on valve. Have mutiple bikes it would take me a few years to reach that. So I just try to do a valve check every other year.
@@butterytoast4836what milage did you first check
@@rantANDrave1987 I skipped over the 600 mile inspection and did mine at 1800 miles. I’ve checked them again at 3200 miles and they’re still in the same place right in spec. I do a mix of single/double track and a bit of riding on the road to reach the state forests in NJ.
Like to see a CRF300 VS XR650L comparison.
I have yet to ride a XR650l but I am interested and looking for one.
Comparing a 650 to a 300 is so in appropriate You should compare thd dr 650 with the ever reliable xr650 .
I am a prepper. I am afraid of an emp. I’d still prefer fuel injection (hence why I bought a 300 rally). As much as I’m afraid an emp will fry my bike, I also have a feeling that all you’ll have to do is turn the key off and on again and it will fire up again due to how computer systems are designed today.
Yeah I have read that as well. Or keep it in a tin shed lol
Just get yourself a bycicle and be happy. No worry about emp, no worry about fuel, no worry about noise, now worry about people which wanna get your fancy prepper bike with tons of stuff and gear on it. the first things you drop in a real emergency situation is always your fancy stuff you have in non emergency situations anyway.
Yeah a lot of us old codgers have bikes that have nothing but a magneto. Though if the mag fails parts can be all kinds of fun.
Haha 😄
Which phone mount do you use?
The comments are for channel engagement and i watch the ads all the way through.
Hey Jeff you don't have to watch the ads through. They took away our option to change or customize the ads. Sp they are what they are, but I dobt remember off the top of my head. It's a no name brand and it's fantastic, I even have footage for a video of it. Maybe I should do that since you asked.
@MotorcyclesOffroad I lost my last phone at 70 with the ram X. One of the rubber bushings came free and there was no stopping it. I can usually catch it... no chance this time
Should be comparing the ZDrz400 to THE CRF not the 650 but the 400 would still be the clear winner so it doesn't really matter. CRFis a great bike for a light weight rider with no desire for power or good suspension
This is the heavy "dual sport" /semi Adv bike from both manufacturers. The CRF300L is a good comparison to the DRZ400 which I have done but the rally is a light Adv bike basically like the DR.
th-cam.com/video/QeFyBMJkMqY/w-d-xo.html
Bring the XR650L in this equation
I have been looking! If I find one at a price/mods I find reasonable for my area I will definitely have one on the channel
The DRZ seems like a better match for the XR650L. Both don't have CUSH drives. That makes these bikes more dirt focused than the DR/300L
@@dr.x4050 the hub would be the least to think of, both have 5 speeds, standard suspension, carbureted 650s. But in the wheel selection the XR is closer to the CRF. However, I find he should compare all 3, they are at a similar price point as mentioned and made for the same customer group.
Excellent bike. Not as good as the DR650 but a dead reliable dualsport in any case.
Why not compare the DRZ 400 in lieu of the 650.
CRF300L VS DRZ400 th-cam.com/video/QeFyBMJkMqY/w-d-xo.html
You’re comparing the mighty dirt pig with the little red riding Honda? That’s not a fair comparison. It’s the DR every time.
6:13 sell both and get the husqvarna 701 LR mate 👋🤠👍
Dr650 with EFI and ABS would be my dream bike !!!
I would just love for the 300s transmission. Then the DR would be a destroyer, I could sprocket it down for single trail but still have the legs of the 6th, it would go like 100mph with that trans lmao
Doubt it. That’s what they said about the KLR and once it was released it only received hate.
@ogoshikimura5621 yeah I don't know why, to be honest the KLR is probably the best bang for your buck adventure bike you can buy today. I personally have no problem with it, yeah it's heavy and can be a dog but you know what your getting. In motorcycles you can never have everything you get a great price and amazon reliability with the KLR. I would be happy with it.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad that’s because this community is driven by forums and not by actual real life experiences. Riding off road is a sport that you need to learn. There is technique and training, but in the forum it’s just about equipment, gear and spec sheets.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad The DR tops at 100mph per GPS when tuned.
Where are these numbers from google says dr650 has 36hp
Where are What numbers? And what do you mean Google says. Google is just grabbing a random text from a first hit article, there is no verification of fact going on there. I don't have the information in front of me at the moment but I'm if I remember right the DR650 has 43pr so crank hp.
In countries with mountains over 2000 meters high, the DR does not work well because it is carbureted
Plenty of people have ridden the DR650 through the Andes mountains, which are easily above 2000m without issues, just a slight adjustment to the idle speed screw and you’re good to go.
@@ericweber1969 I live in Colombia that's why I'm telling you
Why compare the dr650 with the 300l? They're both dual sport but very different classes. A dr650 vs xr650l would be better comparison as they're actually similar bikes.
Ok well since I feel like you are generally asking and not trying to be a jerk like the few people who are asking that question on FB I can for sure answer. Firstly did you watch the video?
You seem to Have an interresting Crowd, or is it the regular crazy suki-fans 😂 I love the crf on single-track where the DR really Have no place. But it needs the mods.
I'm old , have crf1000, and 300. Both bikes have their place, on road the 1000 is awesome, in the woods the 300 is my choice every time. Having both bikes is the only way to go.
I agree, this is why I had the T7 and 300L. But now it's DR650, CRF300L rally, and a street legal KDX200 for the woods.
CRF300L Rally is way ahead when it comes to real offroad Adventure, unlike onroad "adventure"
Until a stick goes through your radiator in the middle of nowhere... Until your fuel injection pump fails 70 miles from a paved road. Until your water pump quits in the middle of a rainstorm. Until your thermostat decides to stick shut and overheat your motor. Until your fuel injectors bite the dust in the middle of the desert in the summertime. Starting to get the point here?
@@BillySBCunless unless unless 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@@willisbcteoh9840 It's a great bike, but I wouldn't wander too offroad with it, because you don't wanna be where a tow truck can't get to you.
@@BillySBCkeep dreaming
@@BillySBCIs it just me, or does it seem like he is questioning you? 😁
Let me know if you wanna test a KTM EXCF 350 in the Pine Barrens.
Thats awesome thanks for the offer. I had access to the 520Excf for a few years. It was stored in a pole barn and my buddy said ride it whenever. But I would defiantly be interested. I am really looking to get my hands on a XR650L, KTM690 (I used to have the LC4 640) and a KLX300 for full review.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad Would love to see your take on the XR650L. I get to borrow one of those sometimes. I've abused it pretty hard on long dual sport rides. The usual thing I ride on dirt is a modded KDX220R. The XR650L with hard-rubber knobbies will get you spin happy on dirt & gravel. If you know dirtbikes it feels almost just like a big one. Gobs of torque if you uncork it a little, though not the power/weight ratio of a punchy 2stroke.
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Omg. The range is a deal breaker for me. It can't not be a light adventure bike.
For the DR? I can see that, that's why there is mutiple options on the market to fix this.
Even with premium fuel, you'll get 72 if you baby the 300. Otherwise, it's 68-70
Well I'm not completely sure tbh, mine were never stock for very long. I am going by the reported stock numbers. I think mine with a stage one kit was just a little shy of that.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad if you were getting about 65 after performance mods... that's WELL worth it bro
Seems like everyone forget the real king of dualsports xt660 R
Mostly people care to see bikes compared that are still sold currently.
@@MotorcyclesOffroad fair enough 😄 the xt660 should still be sold ! And make one with a 6-speed. That'd be the true unicorn we all want 😄
Reliability is your priority? And no KTM considered? Sorry, I just had to. LOL.
Sorry, but in 2024 I could never invest in a bike with a halogen headlight and lack of fuel injection, no matter what the other pros might be in its favor. I could have bought the same bike twenty years ago.
Haha it's funny how many opposites and different options have come from this video. It seems some people hate the Idea of the DR and some love it over everything else. To the DRs credit tho, you can mod everything out. Like that light for example.
The big bike better
I know what you are trying to say about bigger but you mean more displacement, my honda is a bit bigger. With the CRF's aftermarket suspension and it's ferrings it sits higher as wider.
A 300 that can be compared to a 650. Enough said, the 300 must be a corcker
The DR650 is the clear winner at everything but MPG. The CRF300L can't do highway speed to get to the trails.
I respect your opinion but I have to disagree, I have used the rally on the highway with no issues. I will also succeed and say mine is has a stage 1.0 performance kit. Soon to be more.
@@localresident7826 I'm thinking of doing the cams now since it's been long enough were the tunes have caught up. So maybe I will have a video on that sometime in the near future
@MotorcyclesOffroad Then you are not comparing the two correctly. You can also modify the DR650 to a level the 300 could never achieve. In stock form, the CRF300 is dangerous on the highway. The DR650 will cruze all day long at 80 with more to spare, if needed. I'm not a CRF300 hater, just being realistic.
The 300 gets the same mpg as the DR after a full tune. My buddy has one and has verified he only gets about 110-115 before reserve or gas indicator. Same as the DR.
@jonwoodworker I seem to have lost the thread on what we are actually debating at this point. But for clarity both bikes are molded equally in this video. The 300 gets more out of the mods simply because an ECU can do more then jets but both have aftermarket fuel adjustments, both have exhaust, and both have intake modifications. I also mention in the video in the performance section how one hp and torque there is no question the 300 can compete.
There is no comparison, the DR650 is far and away a better dual-sport and adventure bike simply because it has none of the electronic devices to fail out on the trail that the Honda does. When you're talking real adventure, getting out into places where a failure can really be bad and in some cases life-threatening, then you want to keep things as simple as possible and the DR650 does that hands down. Winner: DR650
You wont get there anyway before running out of gas 🙃
So how many people do you know where the honda has failed them?
@@MotorcyclesOffroad That's not the point though, I love Honda, my first motorcycle many years ago was a used 1974 CB550 so I go back a long way with Honda, best motorcycle company on the planet hands down, but the fact is you're dragging unwanted technology out on the trail with you to remote places, and if you're going to go with the Honda you should probably choose the XR650L over the CRF300L just due to the XR's simplicity.
@@BillySBC So all the gear you have with you is spare parts, spare oil (rfvc needs constant oil changes and every 2nd oil change valve adjustement) and spare fuel....i dont know, today i would go with a rieju aventura on a real outback trip with a simple app on the phone to see what is electric problem when it would get some...but on the other hand, every mechanic in hillbilly outback land knows how tech of 1960 rfvc works but the few electronic parts of honda rfvc bikes have also isnt known for relaiablitiy (cdi, ignition in general....dont know if they fixed the low powered rotator till now).....what do you trade of? I would go with lightest bike with the lowest fuelconsumption...everything else can and will brake sometime and somewhere anyway.
DRs can also leave you stranded outback. Sometimes on separate trips. 🤷
I don't blame the bike. $hit happens no matter what brand of bike you prefer. Don't drink any brand's Kool-Aid and you'll be right. But be prepared in case it happens on your trip.
👍
Thank you
Short version, get the DR650 if you're a man and the CRF300L if you're unsure. 😂
APPLES TO APPLES
or in this case
HONDA to HONDA .... you screwed the admirals pooch boys!!
XR650L v CRF300L
take it down and do it RIGHT
lol why would I take it down?! And I dont have an XR650L atm
Dr is way mor capable
It highly amuses me you guys don't like riding through water puddles ...
Why ride through them?
Because if you have truly ridden through enough of them you realize there is no way to tell the difference between a bike drowner and 6 inches of water.
Keep going straight through the middle of them all and see how that works out for you.
A 650 against a 300. Not the same
Not the point
Both great bikes. You do realize you are comparing a 288cc motor against a 650cc motor.... Is that fair? At any rate, the CRF has a better cockpit feel and is 60 pounds lighter. (CRF300L is 303 pounds w/o abs or rally) The DR tech (or lack thereof) will never leave you stranded... Both great bikes.
They are 10% different I'm weight, both do things better then the other. It's a main point to make because as a new bike they are very close in MSRP, only 900$ different.
the title should've been "Who Cares ?! "
Yeah? Why is that?
@@MotorcyclesOffroad I had a DR 600 many years ago, and a 650 after it, I understood one thing - if you want a road bike get one, if you want a dirt bike, get one.... don't expect the "dual bullcrap" to give you any enjoyment. That's in case you can only have one bike. If you can have more, and enjoy those breed of bikes, well that's another story. just my opinion sorry ...tough decisions in life
@@eyalcr500 some can't afford multiple bikes, nor have the room for storing them or the means to transport them and want something they can ride to the trail and then ride the trail. Ya see what I'm sayin?
yes Sir, of course I see ! I am one of those guys , can't afford 2 bikes, have only one bike, don't even have a trailer to tow it - and because of that i chose one option , an off road bike (... not that I'm a big bad pro rider...) and only ride off road, but when I ride - I RIDE ! but, if one is willing to live with a dual purpose bike , that's his choice ! what i meant is that those bikes don't give enough fun, they are limited by nature, thus don't thrill (me , at least...) and so miss the point of "fun"
@@eyalcr500 for some the fun is in the journey and not the speed, some also enjoy a challenge
Suzuki for me. Honda is rubbish 😢.
I have a CRF 300L with a performance 550 ECU so it has more power than stock, but I still don't really like riding it. It just isn't exciting to ride. I would much rather be on my KTM 500 EXCF. With a GET ECU and a map switch that thing will rip your arms off. The DR650 is so god-dam ugly! I can't get over how ugly it is. Same with the Honda XR650. They are just ugly and reek of "old man with no skills."