Leaner, Stronger & Looking Good

2021 Honda Crf300l & Crf300l Rally

- By Alex Marsh. Photography by Drew Ruiz

Great bikes tend to be preceded by legacy, and that’s the case with Honda, where riders loved the XR250L and CRF230L, forerunners of the CRF250L. The 2012 CRF250L combined the proven CBR250R single with an off-road frame and suspension for a dual-sport with pleasant road manners, a generous maintenance schedule, and stalwart reliability. For 2017 the 250L got a little bump in power and the Rally model joined the party with a new look, larger fuel tank, wind protection, skid plate, and other bonus features. Riders were left a little hungry, however, for the displacement and power bump the CBR, CB, and Rebel models saw.

Finally, for 2021, the displacement bump came, and we got the CRF300L and CRF300L Rally. Both models got a well-deserved reworking and Honda didn’t go the easy way out with just a motor swap and “bold new graphics.” The new models see revisions throughout, with a focus on weight savings and performance. Additionally, model-specific changes based on rider feedback aim to satisfy owners of the 300L off-road and give Rally owners the versatility to tackle any adventure while adding only $50 to the price tags. Honda recently flew me out to the Copper Horse Riding Ranch in beautiful Agua Dulce, California, to swing a leg over the pair.

DRIVETRAIN AND ENGINE IMPROVEMENTS

Starting with the heart of the bikes,