The bottom line is that if you want the best dual sport as-is, out the door, the KLX is a better deal. Both bikes will be a reliable blast and the Honda is probably better for your around the world trip. I bought a KLX and love it, I am new to dual sporting but so far it’s proven to be very capable and is very forgiving to my mistakes so far.
The only thing holding the KLX back (for me) is the lack of fuel gauge and gear indicator. Yes, I know neither are really needed and Honda has both included. Back in the day, it was easy to count up and down while shifting, etc. However, I find it a nice feature to have and a little extra insurance knowing exactly where you are at. Honestly, I am a bigger guy who has been losing weight slowly this last 9 months (covid slowed things down, still recovering from a mild case), the KLX would be a better bike based on that, yet my weight IS going down and the suspension on both would be replaced right away. May as well get the Honda then. Of course, I would rather have a T7, sadly that is just too much money for a first bike since it has been 20 years since riding and my vehicle isn't even worth what the T7 is worth, haha!
@@27Zangle Out of the box both are an excellent choice - in my mind, whichever bike gets you back out there riding is the right one for you! My advice is to get some decent safety gear, take your time to really get to know the bike - and most of all - never stop moving brother!
@@JK-yu7hj - Yeah, I always forget to budget gear into the total cost when trying to figure out how much to save. Sadly something has changed in the last couple of days and affording a bike maybe a few more years out - at least a new one that is. I have decided to make some massive life changes concerning my wife to improve my mental health :-)
Really good review! I have the 2021 KLX-300 DS in Camo Gray and just love it! (especially after a few mods to uncork the engine). I really like the Honda too but liked the styling of the Kawasaki better. I don't think you can go to wrong with either bike. The Honda is more tech the Kawasaki is more old school (in a good way). By the way, the gear indicator and fuel gauge are nice to have but surprisingly not an issue for me. The KLX also has a low fuel warning light that lets you know when you have .6 gallon left in the tank. Anyway, get the one that inspires YOU!
Imagine how many klx 300's would sell if kawasaki just had a standard 3.5 gallon tank and a rear rack option for $95, that simple for people to make it their small adventure bike platform!
for a small adventure bike the Honda mid range power is much better but I would go with the KTK 390 Adventure the only thing it is lacking is ground clearance, and for a ADV bike you just have to take it a bit slower over the really gnarly stuff. the CRF 300 L and the KLX 300 are duel sport bikes, and bough very good at it. The CRF 300 L Rally would be more of a Adventure touring bike than the other 2 but the KTM beats them hands down for touring, and GIVI makes racks for the KTM for 33/46 liter hard bags.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Yes. But we all have preferences and those preferences color our perception thus making it hard to give a truly unbiased opinion. Takes effort and you can appreciate it when it happens. Cheers.
Excellent well thought out comparison. Point of contention on power upgrades: The kawasaki has the option to have a very reliable Bill Blue 351cc kit installed whereas the Honda 250 and 300's (cbr which is what is used in the crf) has suffered very patchy reliability when owners have fitted big bore kits.
A comprehensive comparison based on real experience - the first I’ve seen ! Fortunately I don’t have to lose sleep over the choice since neither of the two may get launched in India.. It’s ironic that Honda and Kawasaki dealerships are within 20 minutes from where I live !
I still can't believe that these manufacturers are not bringing those bikes to the world's biggest market. Those bikes are perfect for India. What better bike to take into the mountains?
@@DifferentSpokesTV Glad you showed interest and watched its review ! Reason for Non Indian companies deciding against introducing many of their products in India is the high import duty.. My Kawasaki Vulcan S costs 10K USD in India.. With KLX priced similar, there’ll be no takers, so it doesn’t make sense for its release in India !
Loving the Canadian motorcycle content! This bike is great because I'm a student in my early 20s and would enjoy an ADV bike to explore Canada, but the others are way too expensive. This is actually affordable.
Yep, if I was only gonna have one inexpensive bike the Rally would be it. It’ll do anything from long distance touring to chomping through the forest, and it has good weather protection. Important for those cold Canadian days.
I have to say that the amount of aftermarket parts available for my 2015 CRF 250 L is incredible, it's like a custom bike. Heck I even bought all black custom plastics and customized the decals. It's one of a kind. The suspension is definitely squishy though
I went with the 300l rally. I really love the bike. I'm a beginner and have been able navigate some serious offroad terrain on it. Its very comfortable and very capable.
Well if I were to buy either one brand new, I would be too broke to do any upgrades or modifications, So based on your own recommendations I would go for the Kawasaki
You are the only person i’ve seen who has said the honda was more power and eager to rev. Multiple people have ran the bikes side by side and the kawi was noticeably faster and put more power down to the ground.
I like both bikes. Thanks for reviewing them. One consideration that I have will be valve check frequency. That goes along way towards making ownership easier and extending the life of the engine. (Noob theory)
Yes, those are good mods. It'll make the ride better on tight singletrack. Should be some fuel tanks out there soon, and you don't have to worry about a fuel gauge when installing.
Living in Australia and so wanted the KLX camo to match my KLR........... FU Kawasaki, ordered my CRF Rally, a 6-8 week wait for my new bike. Thanks for this review, it showed that i made the right choice
@@DifferentSpokesTV If you ever wish to explore the class 4 roads of VT, just let me know. I might be able to share some of those hidden gems with you. I recently started a project where I map out routes suitable for dual sports and ADVs via google maps.
I'm going for the KLX300. I love the adjustable suspension. Just my Take on the two bikes. Honestly I will take the one that becomes available! Both are great 300cc bikes! Great video! Peace!! 👏👏👏👏🙌👌👍✌🖖🖖🖖🤙🤙👋🙂🙂🙂
Good choice! they're awesome bikes but these days you have to order early. I put down our deposit at the beginning of March and the bike came in late May.
Remember you can always upgrade the Kawasaki as well. So it sounds like out if the big for dirt use the Kawasaki is superior out of the box. The o ly reason why Kawy is not selling in Australia is because Australia now required ABS standard on ALL street legal bikes.
Much of the world (Europe, India, Japan etc) now requires ABS for all bikes sold over 125cc. Looks like the US and Canada, and no doubt others are where manufacturers will sell bikes that they don’t want to upgrade to ABS. It’s quite heavy so will account for a big part of the weight difference.
Suspension is different yes, but there are other things you forgotten to mention are different on the Rally than compared to the "standard" L model or vice versa. I understand you put a disclaimer in the vid about never riding a 300L before, and how the suspension differences between the two bikes(Rally/KLX300) should not be compared basically. Oook, Well then that doesn't make much sense to "compare" these two at all. As (like you stated) the Rally is different than the L in suspension(as well as other differences forgotten to be mentioned). So having clarified that, this comparison is just a Engine vs Engine comparison really, bc you dont have an L nor ever ridden one to exactly compare it too. Right? Right. Oook then....so putting 300"L" in the title instead of "RALLY" makes no sense. This should be a "CRF300Rally vs" video/title imho. You said two most important things are power & handling which most would agree, but isnt handling "suspension"? Lol. "Any suspension comparisons in this video dont apply"...lol uhhm ok welp then at this very point in the vid imho the entire comparison is irrelevant to even watch and i stopped. I mean how can you "compare" 2 bikes that are supposed to be very similar, but then in the "comparison" *your actually not even riding one of the bikes your claiming to compare* in the title?? I mean at that point it just becomes a power vs power or engine vs engine video, look i completely get it both bikes(Rally & KLX) are somewhat similar and you wanted to make a compare vid between them. Not trying to be rude here just kinda inaccurate title throws ya off. You were the first ive seen so far in numerous vids/owner claims that said the Honda had more torque or felt faster on the ole' butt dyno too. If i had to choose (having owned a Wr250x, Drz400sm, Honda 250l, KLX250L. so no fan boying here) i would go KLX all day long for one simple reason: POWER. It might not be quicker than the honda stock vs stock, but the one thing the Kawi has going for it is the "Bill Blue 351cc " kit. I had installed this into my klx250 and it was awesome to have, nice Noticeable jump in power for sure, what the bike should have been imho. I dont care what anyone says even the NEWEST of riders will eventually want more POWER, that is a given i would bet a years salary on that lol, its just inevitable after you become familiar and comfortable with your bike. Suuuure some will buy these bikes and not ever even consider doing the upgrade, but i can guarantee within half a year(shit even sooner prob, these things are sloooow stock) every single owner will be saying this when asked if they like the bike: "yeaaa its really nice, fun, good on gas, i can go on road/off road wherever i want and most of all it wasn't to expensive, BUT *i just wish it had a litttttle more power* for me". If i had a nickel for everytime someone buying a new bike(or mainly their first bike) told me "nah i wont want extra power" and then eventually did anything they could to make it faster i would be a rich man rn. With the Honda youll be shit out of luck trying to get more power, as even if they do make a BB kit its already documented that the Honda motor doesnt take on the extra CC's/Power so well and breaks very easily. Those complaining about no gas gauge and a gear display is what a newb does or someone who doesnt ride very much or has a VERY serious phobia to running out of gas LOL... because why do you need a fuel gauge? Most if not 99% of riders will ride until gas light comes on or atleast very close, so what is exactly someone's reasoning in needing a fuel guage? Its almost as if they want to fill the bike up when the bike has half or quarter tank, so they WANT the gauge to be able to see when its at that level. BUT WHO DOES THAT? No one. With the Kawi it has a simple "low fuel light" that comes on and you should be good for roughly 35 miles after this, if you cant find a gas station or make it back to a fill point then you must be riding in some crazy places(shit idk if your so damn paranoid strap a 32oz bottle gas underneath or in your bag). The shift selector is another "i want i need" new rider must have it seems, in all my riding years(20) i have never forgotten what gear im in lol. I feel like by default i know what gear im in bc its like second nature to just count, never used or even looked for "what gear am i in" when i rode bikes with a shift gauge. These two things you will forget about as soon as you start riding and it would be crazy to choose the honda over the kawi just based on its display alone, its like people dont understand there are tons of aftermarket gauges out there. So if you really wanted one on the Kawi its possible.
I'm really enjoying your videos. Excellent narration accompanying some great video footage, and you seem to address all the pertinent details fully. I sold my '15 CRF250L last year and replaced it with a NC750X with the DCT...I'm really missing the CRF. Now I have to decide if I'll be grabbing an 'L' or a Rally in the next year. I'm in S.W. Ontario...where is your riding footage taken?
CRF rally for me. Not sure how or why people buy street legal bikes with 2 gallon tanks. Makes sense for a dirt bike, but no sense for a street legal bike.
@@calcrappie8507 200 miles is the minimum for anything other than a dirt bike or crotch rocket. It was a stupid move to handicap the KLX with a 2 gallon tank.
If you have to spend a ton of money to get a cheap bike to where you want it to be, it's no longer is a cheap bike. I bought a new KLX 250 in 06 when they first came out and I would buy the KLX 300 again over the Honda.
Fun video great sense of humor! But you do speak the truth. I have the Cali 300 klx 2023 and I freaking love it! Super comfortable organics great attention to detail and yes acceptable suspension Im 5-10 190 lbs Happy riding!! Allan So Cal USA
Save your money. It was THE option for a trail capable factory Dual Sport in the early 2000s but the gearing sucks both on and offroad. I haven't had one in over 10 years but the lack of 6th was very annoying on the road and the gear spacing and tall stock gearing sucked offroad. They require significant investment in protection and a few must do reliability mods (MCCT, & Counter Shaft Sprocket nut); the WR250R was a huge improvement (other than the lack of torque) and these 2 will make the DRZ completely obsolete (when buying new).
There's bulletproof, then Chuck Norris, then Honda 💪 Don't think Kawasaki was ever in the Guinness book of records? Your right, no klx in UK, I think I'd go honda anyway. Love your videos 👍
Good review. I like the comparison. I have a deposit on the 300L with abs. I really wanted thebl gray camo klx 300 however I think the Honda which is priced cheaper here is a better deal.
Moose are pretty majestic to see in person. As for which bike I would prefer, it would be a matter of cost to me, and not so much which is better in any category. So the CRF300L is a couple hundred dollars lower than the KLX300 in my area. Even then, I would still probably get a Versys-X 300 instead of these two. It is all about opinions, and mine is just as good as others.
I have the Rally and it's a great bike, but if the Kawasaki had a fuel gauge (and a larger tank) on it I may have bought that one. Fuel anxiety sucks. IMO, the windscreen on my Rally is virtually useless, it's essentially a street bike with knobby tires on it. The big gas tank is the godsend...but off road it's a bit too "wide" because of that tank. I'm 70% off road, 30% pavement and the Rally is fine in that regard...however if I were to spend a vast majority of my time off road with the bike then the "L" model is the one to get...simply for the maneuverability. It's a Honda...it'll last forever but I REALLY dig the camo look of the Kawasaki. If I could go back and do it all over again, it would be a tossup between the "L" model and the 'saki after I had test ridden both...but in the end I'd take the Rally for the range alone. I'm getting over 200 miles to a tank easy which works great considering I'll be camped in the boondocks for a week at a time. The Rally is actually a pretty big bike...bigger than you might think.
The Kawasaki looks to have the good suspension sold on motocross bikes from a few years back. The better the suspension the better the bike in my book. Plus I have owned so many red bikes. I recommend learning to loft the front end and ride wheelies through mud puddles. You and the bike will stay cleaner. Standing up will make the ride easier, those motocross riders are not sitting down. This new adventure bike thing being marketed is funny. I recommend a lighter bike for any off-road adventures. I wonder if anyone sells a center stand for the Kawasaki? Nice video.
Yes, my cottage is 270km from my house. I can make it these on one tank easy on the Rally, where the 300L and KLX would need a fill-up halfway there. Also, depending on how buggy it is in the wilderness, who wants to mess with a Rotopax? You'll get eaten filling up the tank.
Which one would i buy? Er, the 411cc Enfield Himalayan..... Heavier, same bhp, much more torque, no rads and fans, ie air cooled. Oh, and it looks like a proper motorcycle , not a transformer, very little plastic, trad analogue dash, no digi bar graph tach and flashing Casio watch speedo, yada nada da bing. If only Yamaha would introduce an XT400.....
Yes, my butt noticed the difference pretty quickly and my Honda is heavier than the Kawasaki. The standard 300L should be even peppier. Also, if you need more power an ECU is available or should be soon for the Honda. The suspension is soft so you may need to swap the springs.
I found the opposite. The crf300 rally struggles to maintain speed uphill at 60mph where the KLX was fine. The Rally was still in the break in period so maybe the electronics were neutering it, but was noticeable and could not maintain 60 in 6th gear when going up long moderate inclines.
Good review, but I still don't know which one I'll buy. Fortunately, I plan on going to a dealer that has both, so I'll let my butt decide. Do you know how much the suspension upgrade would be on the honda?
CRF Rally version has more padding in the seat than the non-rally. Good choice. but Honda lacks in suspension. Lacks, as in, there's no spring in one of the fork tubes....An upgrade of the full suspension will set you back $1500 USD.
The fact that i might buy this bike and itll be the second honda in a row(500cbx) that has bad suspension leaves a irritated feel in me. But seems way more affordable and time saving and promising performance then my last bike. Im just worried about significant increase in seat height unless they have a small 1 or 2 inch lowering option from a manufacturer.
I am looking at the CRF 300 L but setting it up for more off road I do not want to race it so hoping the stock suspension will be OK but will be going up a couple of teeth on the rear sprocket and going with Dunlop 606 rear and Pirelli MT-21 front and putting a good bash plate and hand guards on. I have a KTM 390 Adventure for a touring bike with 33/64 liter hard bags and a DR650 for rough dirt roads and long runs as it has a 20 liter gas tank. The Honda CRF only road use will be getting to the trails. I have watched a lot of videos on the CRF 300 L and the Rally and talked to a few who have rode them bough and they put the 300 L a head of the Rally, in suspension and weight , and handling. the videos just talk about the weight and suspension, being better. as far as gas goes I will be putting a rear tack on to carry some spare for now. but do not plan on doing any long distance on the CRF as the KTM and DR are bough much better for touring and long day rides when using highway and dirt and gravel roads. If I were to put more off road tires on the DR 650 it would more that do the trails but like to keep it for 50/50 use, and the CRF in also 57 lbs. lighter for off road that is good.
Thanks for the helpful vidio. I got a honda rally, in 2019 and when the kawi 300 came out i was wondering what if? But im sure now i made the right decision based pn my needs for a small enduro. Lorenzo Tx
Can't wait to see how your ralley turns out. Would you recommend a new dual sport rider get the Honda rally or the t7? I want to use it as a commuter so I thought getting the t7 but im scared of how I might handle a 450lb bike offroad. Also I'm 6'2 and 210lbs
I wouldn't worry that much about the weight of the T7. My KLR weighs that much and I take it off road all the time. It is a matter of how knarly the off road is. If you are going to be commuting, I'd recommend the T7, all day long. Commuting on a little 300 thumper is going to be grueling.
@@beammeupscotty1955 thats what I figured. After some mods to improve the suspension and quality of life mods for my height on the crf the price difference won't be too far apart but a 300 single can't compete with that cp2 from yamaha. I figure ill invest in some crash protection and learn to handle it. I dont plan on doing any serious off road, gravel and sandy roads are the most my bike will see. Thanks for your input. Im doing a demo day with the t7 soon so I hope that solidifies my choice
@@latituderider This is great advice ! I moved from Tuono to Tiger 900 last year for all the right reasons and soon figured out that a 500 pound adventure bike is a handful off road especially in Florida with all the sugar sand. I bought a Rally last month to build skills on and introduce my adult son to two wheeling. What I wasn't expecting was to absolutely love this Honda! The Triumph is still great for what it does but I've found I like dual sport a little more than adventure. If Honda makes a 450RL Rally I most likely will trade the Tiger in on one.
@@ERUtheWINDRIDER if honda threw their 500cc engine in the 300l frame they would own the market. I've heard that there's patents for a new transalp from Honda using the nc750 engine in the works to compete with the t7. Who knows maybe with the sportbike section cooling off maybe we get a boom in the adventure segment
Can the fuel tank and displays be modded/switched out. I like a way more narrow fuel tank even if it means more stops to get gas. And my short range vision isn't great so I'd like a bigger and backlit display.
In this category? I'd go for the DRZ400. Wait a minute the Kawasaki has sixth gear? I like the looks of the Kawi but it'll have to wait until my old exe 350 gets to be too much for me.
I have to wait to get the CRF 300 L so was looking and comparing it to the Rally which there are lots available, but there is more than larger gas tank and wind protection. the suspension is different and the geometry is also different. Do your home work, a side by side shows that the L is much better off road, but the rally better for comfort on the highway. after much comparing I will wait for the L model. as will be using it for 90% off road. The KLX should be done with the CRF L not the Rally as there is just to much difference. The rear end jumping is because of the rally's lighter suspension, the L will be much better, If you are doing for people to decide which one the want you have to do a direct comparison, not to one that is meant for a different purpose. As you will not be given the true fax.
I live in the Kimberley region in Western Australia's north. I have a kawasaki dealer about two kilometres away. The nearest Honda dealership 650 kilometres away and suzuki and yamaha 2000 km. The road going version of the KLX sn't vailable here as it doesn't come with abs and that's the only reason. Come on kawasaki please put abs on this bike so I just have to travel in my town and not hundreds of kilometres. I'm guessing Yamaha's discontinued WR250R will morph into a 300. Wouldn't that be nice?
I come from a Guzzi Stelvio, bought a Tenere 700 and recently bought a lighter adventure bike (125cc Suzuki DF-E). I also own an old Moto Guzzi California, a HD wanabee bike at the time. Oh and I aslo play guitar. We really should meet :D :D :D :D
Where is the KLR650 twin? Why aren't they giving us what we want? They seem to make tiny adventure bikes, and HUGE adventure bikes that cost $17,000. Where is the cheap, low quality, high horsepower, 2 cylinder version? Single cylinder streetbikes are not acceptable.
The bottom line is that if you want the best dual sport as-is, out the door, the KLX is a better deal. Both bikes will be a reliable blast and the Honda is probably better for your around the world trip. I bought a KLX and love it, I am new to dual sporting but so far it’s proven to be very capable and is very forgiving to my mistakes so far.
The only thing holding the KLX back (for me) is the lack of fuel gauge and gear indicator. Yes, I know neither are really needed and Honda has both included. Back in the day, it was easy to count up and down while shifting, etc. However, I find it a nice feature to have and a little extra insurance knowing exactly where you are at.
Honestly, I am a bigger guy who has been losing weight slowly this last 9 months (covid slowed things down, still recovering from a mild case), the KLX would be a better bike based on that, yet my weight IS going down and the suspension on both would be replaced right away. May as well get the Honda then. Of course, I would rather have a T7, sadly that is just too much money for a first bike since it has been 20 years since riding and my vehicle isn't even worth what the T7 is worth, haha!
@@27Zangle Out of the box both are an excellent choice - in my mind, whichever bike gets you back out there riding is the right one for you!
My advice is to get some decent safety gear, take your time to really get to know the bike - and most of all - never stop moving brother!
@@JK-yu7hj - Yeah, I always forget to budget gear into the total cost when trying to figure out how much to save. Sadly something has changed in the last couple of days and affording a bike maybe a few more years out - at least a new one that is. I have decided to make some massive life changes concerning my wife to improve my mental health :-)
@@27Zangle Yeah, I had a bad cold too..
@@27Zangle Best of luck with your life changes. Been there, done that. Life is better now.
Really good review! I have the 2021 KLX-300 DS in Camo Gray and just love it! (especially after a few mods to uncork the engine). I really like the Honda too but liked the styling of the Kawasaki better. I don't think you can go to wrong with either bike. The Honda is more tech the Kawasaki is more old school (in a good way). By the way, the gear indicator and fuel gauge are nice to have but surprisingly not an issue for me. The KLX also has a low fuel warning light that lets you know when you have .6 gallon left in the tank. Anyway, get the one that inspires YOU!
Imagine how many klx 300's would sell if kawasaki just had a standard 3.5 gallon tank and a rear rack option for $95, that simple for people to make it their small adventure bike platform!
Yes, and they need to offer optional ABS because that's the reason they can't import it into several countries. Laws say that all bikes need ABS.
for a small adventure bike the Honda mid range power is much better but I would go with the KTK 390 Adventure the only thing it is lacking is ground clearance, and for a ADV bike you just have to take it a bit slower over the really gnarly stuff. the CRF 300 L and the KLX 300 are duel sport bikes, and bough very good at it. The CRF 300 L Rally would be more of a Adventure touring bike than the other 2 but the KTM beats them hands down for touring, and GIVI makes racks for the KTM for 33/46 liter hard bags.
Nicely presented, clear facts and useful opinion as always. Keep it coming.
Excellent content.
Rare to find an unbiased comparison like this one.
Thumbs up.
Glad you liked it! I have no allegiances to any company so I'm free to say what I think.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Yes. But we all have preferences and those preferences color our perception thus making it hard to give a truly unbiased opinion. Takes effort and you can appreciate it when it happens. Cheers.
Excellent well thought out comparison. Point of contention on power upgrades: The kawasaki has the option to have a very reliable Bill Blue 351cc kit installed whereas the Honda 250 and 300's (cbr which is what is used in the crf) has suffered very patchy reliability when owners have fitted big bore kits.
A comprehensive comparison based on real experience - the first I’ve seen !
Fortunately I don’t have to lose sleep over the choice since neither of the two may get launched in India.. It’s ironic that Honda and Kawasaki dealerships are within 20 minutes from where I live !
I still can't believe that these manufacturers are not bringing those bikes to the world's biggest market. Those bikes are perfect for India. What better bike to take into the mountains?
@@DifferentSpokesTV RE Himalayan and the recently introduced XPulse200 ( from Hero motors ) are the most popular off-roaders in India !
I just saw a review on the XPulse. It looked like awesome fun.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Glad you showed interest and watched its review !
Reason for Non Indian companies deciding against introducing many of their products in India is the high import duty.. My Kawasaki Vulcan S costs 10K USD in India.. With KLX priced similar, there’ll be no takers, so it doesn’t make sense for its release in India !
How did you get a dislike ? Isn't that illegal in Canada? Cool video man.
By far the best motorcycle videos on RUclips!!’ Fantastic writing ✍️
Wow, thanks!
You’re very welcome.
My last DS was a DRZ400s, got one of these Kawi's now and love it! Gonna own it until I die!
Loving the Canadian motorcycle content! This bike is great because I'm a student in my early 20s and would enjoy an ADV bike to explore Canada, but the others are way too expensive. This is actually affordable.
Yep, if I was only gonna have one inexpensive bike the Rally would be it. It’ll do anything from long distance touring to chomping through the forest, and it has good weather protection. Important for those cold Canadian days.
I have to say that the amount of aftermarket parts available for my 2015 CRF 250 L is incredible, it's like a custom bike. Heck I even bought all black custom plastics and customized the decals. It's one of a kind.
The suspension is definitely squishy though
I went with the 300l rally. I really love the bike. I'm a beginner and have been able navigate some serious offroad terrain on it. Its very comfortable and very capable.
Well if I were to buy either one brand new, I would be too broke to do any upgrades or modifications, So based on your own recommendations I would go for the Kawasaki
You are the only person i’ve seen who has said the honda was more power and eager to rev. Multiple people have ran the bikes side by side and the kawi was noticeably faster and put more power down to the ground.
facts
I like both bikes. Thanks for reviewing them. One consideration that I have will be valve check frequency. That goes along way towards making ownership easier and extending the life of the engine. (Noob theory)
I put a 13t sprocket on my klx and what a difference it made. If I can then get a bigger fuel tank I'll be set.
that's what I'm looking for. Have you heard any news of a fuel tank?
did it affect your top speed on the road? i figure the bike is speed limited by power, not gearing
Yes, those are good mods. It'll make the ride better on tight singletrack. Should be some fuel tanks out there soon, and you don't have to worry about a fuel gauge when installing.
Man, I tried a 13 on my 2017 250l good for single track sucked on road, took it off went back to stock gearing !
Living in Australia and so wanted the KLX camo to match my KLR........... FU Kawasaki, ordered my CRF Rally, a 6-8 week wait for my new bike. Thanks for this review, it showed that i made the right choice
Have fun on it! The wait may be a bit longer than that. The dealerships always over promise.
I hope to pick up a klx300 next season. Keep my Vstrom 650 as a street/commuter. Klx for the abundance of class4s here in the Vermont mountains
Nice! I love Vermont. I’ve camped at Smuggler’s Notch at least a dozen times.
@@DifferentSpokesTV If you ever wish to explore the class 4 roads of VT, just let me know. I might be able to share some of those hidden gems with you. I recently started a project where I map out routes suitable for dual sports and ADVs via google maps.
I'm going for the KLX300. I love the adjustable suspension. Just my Take on the two bikes. Honestly I will take the one that becomes available! Both are great 300cc bikes!
Great video!
Peace!!
👏👏👏👏🙌👌👍✌🖖🖖🖖🤙🤙👋🙂🙂🙂
Good choice! they're awesome bikes but these days you have to order early. I put down our deposit at the beginning of March and the bike came in late May.
@@DifferentSpokesTV The delays are getting worse....
😒
Remember you can always upgrade the Kawasaki as well. So it sounds like out if the big for dirt use the Kawasaki is superior out of the box. The o ly reason why Kawy is not selling in Australia is because Australia now required ABS standard on ALL street legal bikes.
Yeah, it's the same in Europe. Too bad. Kawasaki could really sell way more bikes if they put the ABS on them.
Excellent writing! Excellent delivery! I like that there is no obvious agenda....just the facts mam.... 🇨🇦
Thank you kindly! Being independent is nice. You don't have to worry about pleasing anyone, just telling the truth.
Much of the world (Europe, India, Japan etc) now requires ABS for all bikes sold over 125cc. Looks like the US and Canada, and no doubt others are where manufacturers will sell bikes that they don’t want to upgrade to ABS. It’s quite heavy so will account for a big part of the weight difference.
Suspension is different yes, but there are other things you forgotten to mention are different on the Rally than compared to the "standard" L model or vice versa. I understand you put a disclaimer in the vid about never riding a 300L before, and how the suspension differences between the two bikes(Rally/KLX300) should not be compared basically. Oook, Well then that doesn't make much sense to "compare" these two at all. As (like you stated) the Rally is different than the L in suspension(as well as other differences forgotten to be mentioned). So having clarified that, this comparison is just a Engine vs Engine comparison really, bc you dont have an L nor ever ridden one to exactly compare it too. Right? Right. Oook then....so putting 300"L" in the title instead of "RALLY" makes no sense. This should be a "CRF300Rally vs" video/title imho. You said two most important things are power & handling which most would agree, but isnt handling "suspension"? Lol. "Any suspension comparisons in this video dont apply"...lol uhhm ok welp then at this very point in the vid imho the entire comparison is irrelevant to even watch and i stopped. I mean how can you "compare" 2 bikes that are supposed to be very similar, but then in the "comparison" *your actually not even riding one of the bikes your claiming to compare* in the title?? I mean at that point it just becomes a power vs power or engine vs engine video, look i completely get it both bikes(Rally & KLX) are somewhat similar and you wanted to make a compare vid between them. Not trying to be rude here just kinda inaccurate title throws ya off. You were the first ive seen so far in numerous vids/owner claims that said the Honda had more torque or felt faster on the ole' butt dyno too. If i had to choose (having owned a Wr250x, Drz400sm, Honda 250l, KLX250L. so no fan boying here) i would go KLX all day long for one simple reason: POWER. It might not be quicker than the honda stock vs stock, but the one thing the Kawi has going for it is the "Bill Blue 351cc " kit. I had installed this into my klx250 and it was awesome to have, nice Noticeable jump in power for sure, what the bike should have been imho. I dont care what anyone says even the NEWEST of riders will eventually want more POWER, that is a given i would bet a years salary on that lol, its just inevitable after you become familiar and comfortable with your bike. Suuuure some will buy these bikes and not ever even consider doing the upgrade, but i can guarantee within half a year(shit even sooner prob, these things are sloooow stock) every single owner will be saying this when asked if they like the bike: "yeaaa its really nice, fun, good on gas, i can go on road/off road wherever i want and most of all it wasn't to expensive, BUT *i just wish it had a litttttle more power* for me". If i had a nickel for everytime someone buying a new bike(or mainly their first bike) told me "nah i wont want extra power" and then eventually did anything they could to make it faster i would be a rich man rn. With the Honda youll be shit out of luck trying to get more power, as even if they do make a BB kit its already documented that the Honda motor doesnt take on the extra CC's/Power so well and breaks very easily. Those complaining about no gas gauge and a gear display is what a newb does or someone who doesnt ride very much or has a VERY serious phobia to running out of gas LOL... because why do you need a fuel gauge? Most if not 99% of riders will ride until gas light comes on or atleast very close, so what is exactly someone's reasoning in needing a fuel guage? Its almost as if they want to fill the bike up when the bike has half or quarter tank, so they WANT the gauge to be able to see when its at that level. BUT WHO DOES THAT? No one. With the Kawi it has a simple "low fuel light" that comes on and you should be good for roughly 35 miles after this, if you cant find a gas station or make it back to a fill point then you must be riding in some crazy places(shit idk if your so damn paranoid strap a 32oz bottle gas underneath or in your bag). The shift selector is another "i want i need" new rider must have it seems, in all my riding years(20) i have never forgotten what gear im in lol. I feel like by default i know what gear im in bc its like second nature to just count, never used or even looked for "what gear am i in" when i rode bikes with a shift gauge. These two things you will forget about as soon as you start riding and it would be crazy to choose the honda over the kawi just based on its display alone, its like people dont understand there are tons of aftermarket gauges out there. So if you really wanted one on the Kawi its possible.
I'm really enjoying your videos. Excellent narration accompanying some great video footage, and you seem to address all the pertinent details fully. I sold my '15 CRF250L last year and replaced it with a NC750X with the DCT...I'm really missing the CRF. Now I have to decide if I'll be grabbing an 'L' or a Rally in the next year.
I'm in S.W. Ontario...where is your riding footage taken?
Very well done video not in the market now but maybe later. 😬
CRF rally for me.
Not sure how or why people buy street legal bikes with 2 gallon tanks.
Makes sense for a dirt bike, but no sense for a street legal bike.
The KLX is pretty easy on gas. You could get 150 miles out of that tank.
@@calcrappie8507 200 miles is the minimum for anything other than a dirt bike or crotch rocket. It was a stupid move to handicap the KLX with a 2 gallon tank.
Being an Aussie the choice is made easy by Kwaka.
If they offered ABS they could sell it there.
ah I didn't realise this.
Excellent video, good writing 👍.
Thank you very much!
If you have to spend a ton of money to get a cheap bike to where you want it to be, it's no longer is a cheap bike. I bought a new KLX 250 in 06 when they first came out and I would buy the KLX 300 again over the Honda.
Excellent content you two! Cheers for the info . From Australia
"Good lookin' moose". "Thank you, I had it stuffed this morning." (Naked Gun...ish)
Fun video great sense of humor! But you do speak the truth. I have the Cali 300 klx 2023 and I freaking love it! Super comfortable organics great attention to detail and yes acceptable suspension
Im 5-10 190 lbs
Happy riding!!
Allan
So Cal USA
As a newbie rider i would go for the CRF because of the better clutch and the display of the fuel and gear.
enjoy the down to earth discussion on the products.
Love to hear your take on the DRZ-400 some day.
It's been a while so I'd have to ride one more recently. More power but a rougher bike in general.
Save your money. It was THE option for a trail capable factory Dual Sport in the early 2000s but the gearing sucks both on and offroad. I haven't had one in over 10 years but the lack of 6th was very annoying on the road and the gear spacing and tall stock gearing sucked offroad. They require significant investment in protection and a few must do reliability mods (MCCT, & Counter Shaft Sprocket nut); the WR250R was a huge improvement (other than the lack of torque) and these 2 will make the DRZ completely obsolete (when buying new).
There's bulletproof, then Chuck Norris, then Honda 💪 Don't think Kawasaki was ever in the Guinness book of records?
Your right, no klx in UK, I think I'd go honda anyway.
Love your videos 👍
Good review. I like the comparison. I have a deposit on the 300L with abs. I really wanted thebl gray camo klx 300 however I think the Honda which is priced cheaper here is a better deal.
Good choice! The Honda is the bike you can upgrade over the long term. Can't go wrong either really.
Agreed!
Moose are pretty majestic to see in person. As for which bike I would prefer, it would be a matter of cost to me, and not so much which is better in any category. So the CRF300L is a couple hundred dollars lower than the KLX300 in my area. Even then, I would still probably get a Versys-X 300 instead of these two. It is all about opinions, and mine is just as good as others.
Yep, the moose blew my mind. The Versys is a better road than either of these. Depends on how much off road you plan on tackling.
Man, I have a 2020 Versey X300 it will run circles around the 2017 crf250L I had, just my two cents !
Would love the Rally, but Honda South Africa is not bringing it in to the country for the foreseeable future.
Great video.
I have an older KLX250S & love it however I sure wish I had more wind protection like on the Rally.
I have the Rally and it's a great bike, but if the Kawasaki had a fuel gauge (and a larger tank) on it I may have bought that one. Fuel anxiety sucks. IMO, the windscreen on my Rally is virtually useless, it's essentially a street bike with knobby tires on it. The big gas tank is the godsend...but off road it's a bit too "wide" because of that tank. I'm 70% off road, 30% pavement and the Rally is fine in that regard...however if I were to spend a vast majority of my time off road with the bike then the "L" model is the one to get...simply for the maneuverability. It's a Honda...it'll last forever but I REALLY dig the camo look of the Kawasaki. If I could go back and do it all over again, it would be a tossup between the "L" model and the 'saki after I had test ridden both...but in the end I'd take the Rally for the range alone. I'm getting over 200 miles to a tank easy which works great considering I'll be camped in the boondocks for a week at a time. The Rally is actually a pretty big bike...bigger than you might think.
KLX is not leagal in Europe or Australia, because it does not have ABS.
The Kawasaki looks to have the good suspension sold on motocross bikes from a few years back. The better the suspension the better the bike in my book. Plus I have owned so many red bikes. I recommend learning to loft the front end and ride wheelies through mud puddles. You and the bike will stay cleaner. Standing up will make the ride easier, those motocross riders are not sitting down. This new adventure bike thing being marketed is funny. I recommend a lighter bike for any off-road adventures. I wonder if anyone sells a center stand for the Kawasaki? Nice video.
I love my lil KLX 300 but if Honda had the 300 Rally out at the time I would have gotten it for the screen and larger tank.
Yes, my cottage is 270km from my house. I can make it these on one tank easy on the Rally, where the 300L and KLX would need a fill-up halfway there. Also, depending on how buggy it is in the wilderness, who wants to mess with a Rotopax? You'll get eaten filling up the tank.
@@DifferentSpokesTV excellent point concerning the bugs!
Your comments are all over the place...
Fuel gauge and gear indicator makes lots of difference. But I guess it has a fuel light.
Yes, the fuel light on the KLX gives you a ton of warning.
if i could find one, i would love to get the klx. however, both are unicorns now....
Which one would i buy?
Er, the 411cc Enfield Himalayan.....
Heavier, same bhp, much more torque, no rads and fans, ie air cooled.
Oh, and it looks like a proper motorcycle , not a transformer, very little plastic, trad analogue dash, no digi bar graph tach and flashing Casio watch speedo, yada nada da bing.
If only Yamaha would introduce an XT400.....
I love them both
Excellent review! Still going to be a tough choice. Is the Honda power really that much more noticable? I'm a big guy.
It is
Dyno wise its 5hp and 4 nm difference and Honda has a better rpm range(don't take it as a fact tho cuz There's only one dyno Score for the klx)
Yes, my butt noticed the difference pretty quickly and my Honda is heavier than the Kawasaki. The standard 300L should be even peppier. Also, if you need more power an ECU is available or should be soon for the Honda. The suspension is soft so you may need to swap the springs.
I found the opposite. The crf300 rally struggles to maintain speed uphill at 60mph where the KLX was fine. The Rally was still in the break in period so maybe the electronics were neutering it, but was noticeable and could not maintain 60 in 6th gear when going up long moderate inclines.
Good review, but I still don't know which one I'll buy. Fortunately, I plan on going to a dealer that has both, so I'll let my butt decide. Do you know how much the suspension upgrade would be on the honda?
CRF Rally version has more padding in the seat than the non-rally. Good choice. but Honda lacks in suspension. Lacks, as in, there's no spring in one of the fork tubes....An upgrade of the full suspension will set you back $1500 USD.
The fact that i might buy this bike and itll be the second honda in a row(500cbx) that has bad suspension leaves a irritated feel in me. But seems way more affordable and time saving and promising performance then my last bike. Im just worried about significant increase in seat height unless they have a small 1 or 2 inch lowering option from a manufacturer.
I am looking at the CRF 300 L but setting it up for more off road I do not want to race it so hoping the stock suspension will be OK but will be going up a couple of teeth on the rear sprocket and going with Dunlop 606 rear and Pirelli MT-21 front and putting a good bash plate and hand guards on. I have a KTM 390 Adventure for a touring bike with 33/64 liter hard bags and a DR650 for rough dirt roads and long runs as it has a 20 liter gas tank. The Honda CRF only road use will be getting to the trails. I have watched a lot of videos on the CRF 300 L and the Rally and talked to a few who have rode them bough and they put the 300 L a head of the Rally, in suspension and weight , and handling. the videos just talk about the weight and suspension, being better. as far as gas goes I will be putting a rear tack on to carry some spare for now. but do not plan on doing any long distance on the CRF as the KTM and DR are bough much better for touring and long day rides when using highway and dirt and gravel roads. If I were to put more off road tires on the DR 650 it would more that do the trails but like to keep it for 50/50 use, and the CRF in also 57 lbs. lighter for off road that is good.
Nice comparison. Rally for me. Thanks. 👍
Are Canadian market bikes made in Japan? I think the US gets Thailand made bikes.
The SOTP meter is what i use too.🤣
Better than any Dyno :)
Thanks for the helpful vidio. I got a honda rally, in 2019 and when the kawi 300 came out i was wondering what if? But im sure now i made the right decision based pn my needs for a small enduro. Lorenzo Tx
Can't wait to see how your ralley turns out. Would you recommend a new dual sport rider get the Honda rally or the t7? I want to use it as a commuter so I thought getting the t7 but im scared of how I might handle a 450lb bike offroad. Also I'm 6'2 and 210lbs
I wouldn't worry that much about the weight of the T7. My KLR weighs that much and I take it off road all the time. It is a matter of how knarly the off road is. If you are going to be commuting, I'd recommend the T7, all day long. Commuting on a little 300 thumper is going to be grueling.
@@beammeupscotty1955 thats what I figured. After some mods to improve the suspension and quality of life mods for my height on the crf the price difference won't be too far apart but a 300 single can't compete with that cp2 from yamaha. I figure ill invest in some crash protection and learn to handle it. I dont plan on doing any serious off road, gravel and sandy roads are the most my bike will see. Thanks for your input. Im doing a demo day with the t7 soon so I hope that solidifies my choice
@@latituderider This is great advice ! I moved from Tuono to Tiger 900 last year for all the right reasons and soon figured out that a 500 pound adventure bike is a handful off road especially in Florida with all the sugar sand. I bought a Rally last month to build skills on and introduce my adult son to two wheeling. What I wasn't expecting was to absolutely love this Honda! The Triumph is still great for what it does but I've found I like dual sport a little more than adventure. If Honda makes a 450RL Rally I most likely will trade the Tiger in on one.
@@RedC63AMG Half of the planet wants a 450 Rally, but all mfg are comited not to build one. Maybe ktm with upcoming 490
@@ERUtheWINDRIDER if honda threw their 500cc engine in the 300l frame they would own the market. I've heard that there's patents for a new transalp from Honda using the nc750 engine in the works to compete with the t7. Who knows maybe with the sportbike section cooling off maybe we get a boom in the adventure segment
If Kawasaki just offered a bigger tank option, so simple, what's wrong with people?;)
The shortcoming of the Green Machine is fuel capacity. 2 gallons what is that? What it needs is a 4 gallon tank.
How do they compair side by side at road speeds? Running down the highway does one pull away better than the other
The Honda’s red turns pink after a while and it has a weak suspension
Can the fuel tank and displays be modded/switched out.
I like a way more narrow fuel tank even if it means more stops to get gas.
And my short range vision isn't great so I'd like a bigger and backlit display.
Thanks
In this category? I'd go for the DRZ400. Wait a minute the Kawasaki has sixth gear?
I like the looks of the Kawi but it'll have to wait until my old exe 350 gets to be too much for me.
how many people were focused with cans and batteries lol 🤣 that's right ✌
I have to wait to get the CRF 300 L so was looking and comparing it to the Rally which there are lots available, but there is more than larger gas tank and wind protection. the suspension is different and the geometry is also different. Do your home work, a side by side shows that the L is much better off road, but the rally better for comfort on the highway. after much comparing I will wait for the L model. as will be using it for 90% off road. The KLX should be done with the CRF L not the Rally as there is just to much difference. The rear end jumping is because of the rally's lighter suspension, the L will be much better, If you are doing for people to decide which one the want you have to do a direct comparison, not to one that is meant for a different purpose. As you will not be given the true fax.
agreed
I’ll take a coke please”. “..Oh, sorry we only have Pepsi products”. I’ll take the Honda
I live in the Kimberley region in Western Australia's north. I have a kawasaki dealer about two kilometres away. The nearest Honda dealership 650 kilometres away and suzuki and yamaha 2000 km. The road going version of the KLX sn't vailable here as it doesn't come with abs and that's the only reason. Come on kawasaki please put abs on this bike so I just have to travel in my town and not hundreds of kilometres.
I'm guessing Yamaha's discontinued WR250R will morph into a 300. Wouldn't that be nice?
I come from a Guzzi Stelvio, bought a Tenere 700 and recently bought a lighter adventure bike (125cc Suzuki DF-E). I also own an old Moto Guzzi California, a HD wanabee bike at the time. Oh and I aslo play guitar. We really should meet :D :D :D :D
Ha! Cool! Great minds think alike!
Review some China bikes, csc tt250 and hawk250
I would but they're not imported to Canada so I can't ride them.
Where is the KLR650 twin? Why aren't they giving us what we want? They seem to make tiny adventure bikes, and HUGE adventure bikes that cost $17,000. Where is the cheap, low quality, high horsepower, 2 cylinder version? Single cylinder streetbikes are not acceptable.
The T7 is the only less expensive player. Still pricey though.
👍
easy choose for europeans. kawasaki is not available XD
Yep, that's because they don't have an ABS option. They're missing out on huge markets.