Honda CRF300L Rally vs. Yamaha XT250
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2021
- I know, I know - this is kind of a weird comparison, but I figured it might be helpful to a handful of people out there in the same boat as me. The bulk of the video is just me rambling about my thoughts on the two bikes. If you want to skip all that and see the two side by side, jump to 13:50.
I have an xt250 and used to ride a WR250R.
I'm old and short and ride mostly dirt roads and trails.
xt250 is so much more forgiving and user friendly.
This is not a weird comparison. I agree with Jeff Blake very insightful.. Thanks for a real comparison. I too appreciate it.
Thanks for the feedback.
I actually have the standard CRF300l and an xt250. I’d pick the Yamaha for beginners or even hard enduro because it’s so low and forgiving. The Honda is taller and twitchier.
You can drop the Yamaha on both sides and it doesn’t phase it. Drop the honda on the left and risk smashing the coolant reservoir. Drop it on the right and possibly say bye to your radiator. Both great bikes!
Great points
I have a 250L & my daughter just bought an XT250. (She's moving up from an XR100)
There are things about the XT I like better than the CRF250, but what would really make me happy is another OSSA Pioneer, like I had back in the early 70's.
Sadly, it's close to impossible to get an old 2 stroke dirt bike registered in CT.
Very good information, thanks
This is a great point. I drop my XT almost every time I ride the challenging trails where I live. Aside from taillights doesn’t phase it at all.
Just ordered a 2022 Yamaha XT 250 , I have had 2005 Honda CRF250X and recently just sold a 2015 KTM350EXC-F ( which I NEVER should have bought to begin with, nice bike but way too tall and maintenance intervals are ridiculous )
I already know for a fact that this XT250 will give me more smiles per miles than the other two .
You just can’t go wrong with an XT250. I’m sure you’re going to love it. And as a bonus, the 2022 color scheme is the best ever (in my opinion).
Wow can I relate ! As my 66th b-day approaches I just put my 2018 Husky FE350 up for sale and pretty sure an XT will replace it . Should still be able to smoke the grandkids😂😂
After a year with my XT250, I have a Rally on order. Trying to decide whether to keep the XT, and it is proving to be a tough choice. I go with friends on some technical rides where I'm sure the Rally would be more intimidating. So...keep both, build my skills/confidence, or subtract the technical stuff from my itinerary.
Kinda funny - I sold my XT after a while of having the Rally. Then I missed it, so I bought another XT. But I still always opted for the Rally when I went out, so I ended up selling my second XT as well.
I got a chance to ride both bikes, my uncle has his 300L and i got my XT 250 2014 round headlight. When it comes to trail riding, the xt 250 for me is much easier to ride because of its weight and seat height, I'm only 5 foot 10 (177cm to be exact) and The 300L is still a tall bike for me, but I can ride it well enough and don't have any issues about it, but if you're a guy who stands 5'7" to 5'8", the stock height of the 300L is pretty tall for you. On the other hand, the xt 250 has a lower seat height which offers a good control in trails and has a lighter weight than the 300L which feels like you're just riding a 150cc trail bike. The power is pretty identical, not too far away from each other, but the 300L for me is much more fit on adventure riding which is more on-road bias. The 250L and 300L is good for adventure, the Xt 250 can do both, trail and adventure but much more lighter.
Good review , just the kind of info I was looking for Thanks
Glad it was helpful. I appreciate the feedback.
Appreciate that Video, Very insightful.
Thank you Jeff.
The XT250 has two secret compartments that you need a screw driver to get into. I switched the screws out for thumbs screws. There is a stock tool roll in there too which I haven't taken a look at yet, but it is supposed to have basic tools in. I will add things eventually.
That is a good point - I did the same thing with the thumb screws, because I thought it was a bit of a conundrum that you needed a tool to get to your tool kit. I’ve never considered using that space as extra storage for other things. Not a bad idea, but even with the thumb screw, it always takes me a bit of finagling to get that panel popped off and then back on correctly.
No, you don't need screw driver. If your fingers are not too thick and sensitive, you can pull them under the cover and pop it opened. Then push back to close. I showed it to bunch of guys while I was on fakebook.
Same boat, want just a bit more speed and range. Love my XT but time to move on. Tks!
My dilemma exactly. Thank you.
The gear indicator is not really a newbie thing its a nice feature to have new rider or not
It's good to own & ride bikes that are wildly different!
Personally, I own a trials bike, classic BMW, dualsport, & Italian road machine.
If it has two wheels & an engine, I want to ride it!
Amen!
I had a deposit on the CRF300L and before it came in I bought the XT with no regrets. I think you'll spend more maintaining the CRF than the XT. I like the XT a lot but had I had more money at the time I would've got the WR250. Motorcycle manufacturers should offer more dualsport bike to those of us who don't have 40" inseam.
I've never met anyone who had had regrets about buying an XT. They're amazing bikes. And I agree about the manufacturers needing more options for shorter riders. It's not like the technology isn't available - the XT proves that. My XT has the exact same ground clearance as my CRF, and the seat is 4 inches lower.
@@HighDesertHills I've done a few things to mine like larger foot pegs, skid plate, rear rack, top box and just ordered the Zeta Wraparound handguards. The only 2 problems is I ordered the handguards from Bikebandit an I've seen nightmare reviews on getting your items or even money back from them. The other small problem is I really don't want to cut my grips but I'll take extra care and time doing it.
I can't say I've ever ordered anything from Bikebandit, so fingers crossed that your hand guards make it soon. I'm spoiled because Rocky Mountain ATV is only about 45 minutes from me. I feel your pain on cutting the grips. I was pretty apprehensive about it too the first time. One tip for the left grip that worked great for me is to hit the end of your grip with a rubber mallet until the handlebar breaks through. Then you have a perfectly cut out hole for your hand guard. On the throttle side, I just carefully did it with a hack saw. It wasn't as perfect as I wanted it to be, but you don't really notice it, once the hand guard is installed.
@@HighDesertHills Thanks so much about the rubber mallet trick.
Man, I put on some pillow top hand grip's, big difference, way better !
Does the headlight point in the direction you turn on the CRF? I didnt know it was attached to the frame like that. Thanks for the comparison.
It doesn’t change with the the handlebars, which I thought would be weird, but it’s not. The headlight is great on the CRF, and I never feel like it’s not aiming in the direction I need the light.
Great insight on these 2 bikes. I’m in the market for my first dual sport. Currently ride a T120. Seat height is 31 and I’m short at 5’6” with a 30” inseam. I can almost flat foot the t120, but I’m fine with handling it and all. I got pretty decent balance and coordination.
Really wanted the CRF300 rally until I went to the deal and saw how big it was. They said they got an xt250 coming in soon. The XT250 seems like a great bike. But I like the updates features of the Honda. I don’t have too many trails near me. So I think I’ll have to ride a bit, at least 40 miles, to the nearest trail. I do have some woods near me. But i can see those getting played out quick. Do you think the Honda would be a good first dual sport? You had the xt250 to break you in. I feel the xt250 is limiting and I’ll grow out of it. But the drawbacks on the Honda is the height, weight, and more things to break. But really like the idea the xt250 is closer to the ground. I also like how the Honda, there’s a bit to grow into. I just don’t want to be in a position where I don’t feel confident on a bike and I end up wanting to sell it or not ride it. Any thoughts/comments are appreciated. Thanks again for the great comparison and safe riding.
Did you have a chance to actually sit on the Rally in the dealership? That would be helpful, so you can know exactly how your feet hit the ground on it. I'm on both of my tiptoes, and it's fine. A lot of people ride the tall bikes only being able to touch one foot, and I think that would be stressful for me.
Another factor I'd consider is how technical the trails you plan to ride are. If you're going to be hitting some pretty tough stuff, I'd go with the XT250. It'll make the riding a lot more enjoyable with the height and weight. Also, if money is a factor, it's worth noting that to tackle really technical stuff, the Rally is going to be more expensive to make "bullet proof". On the XT250, you basically just need a bash plate, hand guards, and wider foot pegs. The Rally has a plastic bash plate, but I wouldn't trust it over lots of big rocks where I'm bottoming out all the time. Same with its flimsy hand guards. Before I'd take the rally on technical stuff, I'd upgrade those, but I'd also want a radiator shield, and probably even crash bars. Not cheap, and it adds a lot of weight to a bike that's already quite a bit heavier than the XT.
I don't do much technical stuff, so for me, those upgrades will probably come slowly as I gradually get more daring on the Rally.
I wouldn't worry too much about outgrowing the XT250. It's a fantastic bike, and capable of way more than I am. The only things I'd say I "outgrew" on the XT is the gas tank size, and the top speed - both only really applicable on super long trips. If you plan on taking trips that have more than 150 miles between gas stations, and/or you're going to be traveling over 60 MPH for long stretches, I'd say the XT250 isn't your best choice. Otherwise, it's perfect and bullet proof. And if you can find a used FI model, it won't really lose any value if you do end up wanting to change up after a couple years.
Good luck with whatever you choose! Dual sports are the best.
Si es alta instala bieletas.
Wow small world. I'm also 5'6" with a T120 and looking for a dual sport bike considering the XT250 and CRF300 Rally. My inseam is like 27" though so I'm leaning more towards the XT250.
@@MotoCampNerd I'm actually 6ft tall / 34" inseam. I don't like the tall CRF seat height, but I'm getting used to it after a few months.
I have the xt250 and im going to tell you that you dont need to ever worry about out growing it for a while. The xt250 can do everything that a higher power lightweight dirt bike can do but slower. The technical stuff is hard, takes months and years to get good on and its better that youll learn on a xt250. I do technical stuff everytime i ride.
Man, nice I'd take the XT !
Picked up a 2023 xt250 it will never see dirt lol just wanted something small and nimble to get around NYC (my Roadglide is fun to ride but not in NYC traffic)
I think the XT will be perfect for tight NYC traffic :)
@@HighDesertHills feels like I’m riding
A bicycle! Love it!
Good day from down under. II would like you opinion on my situation. I had been riding for 2 years mostly naked bikes. I am a fairly short rider 5 ft 5" 170lbs with 28" in seem. I sat on a few dual sports (there is a current shortage of bikes in Oz so no test ride on any Kawasaki or Honda). I found that i can nearly flatfoot DR650 and tiptoe a CRF300L. I rode my MT07 on dirt/gravel a few time and finding myself keeping to under 20mph in case i needed to catch it dropping (had not so far).
I found riding small street bikes (CB300R and MT03) let you increase you skill level much faster than if you were trying to not contain the bigger more powerful bike. Would this be the same with off road bikes?
My riding would involves 30mins of highway (60-70mph) to get to forest trails. I love the look and features of CRF300L and it would make killer weekend warhorse. But if i have to invest in XT250 to get skill level up for a year or 2 then i also think that is not a bad investment. What do you think?
Hi there! That's a tough one. If it wasn't for the 30 minutes of 60-70mph on the highway, I'd 100% recommend the XT250 to start. I know people ride that fast on them for much longer than 30 minute stretches, but I weigh about the same as you and the XT is absolutely pegged at 70mph on flat ground. It would be nerve wracking for me to try and maintain that for 30 minutes to and from a trail.
On the other hand, the low seat height of the XT250 is incredibly confidence building off road. Also, It's air cooled, so there's no radiator to worry about breaking. That makes it a lot more "bullet proof" when it tips over without adding crash bars.
In my opinion, the least risky thing to do would be to hunt down a used XT250 (2013 or later for the FI), and try it for a while. It's an amazing bike, and it may turn out to be just fine for you on the highway. If not, they hold their value extremely well, so you can sell it without losing much, if any, money.
Alternatively, you could go with a CRF300L, and lower the seat height. The safest way to do that, in my opinion, is to get a custom seat that is a couple inches shorter. A lowering link would be less expensive, but I'd consult an expert if you go that way, to make sure you don't throw off the geometry of the bike.
Best of luck with whatever you choose!
Is t there a third party option with a thicker f or am seat raising the height 2 inches???
Yes - Seat Concepts makes taller seats for both of these bikes.
I want XT seat height and ground clearance but with WR250R design since XT is too ugly and need liquid cool engine. Also with 300/350 cc. This will be my perfect bike.
Yeah, that would be great. People are guessing that Yamaha is going to replace the discontinued WR250 with a WR300. If they could do that and drop the seat height a couple inches, and switch up the gearbox to something closer to the CRF300L, they’d have a unicorn in my book.
Dr650 suzuki
I definitely considered the DR650. Seems like a great bike.
the xt250 is a sweet little bike and unfair to compare it with the 300. completely two different bikes.
I agree on both counts. I wasn't really trying to say that the 300 and XT are in the same category, I was just trying to explain my opinion on the two bikes for anyone in a similar situation as me - coming from an XT and wondering if the 300 would be a good fit for their next bike.