2025 Honda CRF300L Review

It’s time, in 2025, for the CRF300L to slide up its development curve once again with detail updates and upgrades owners will appreciate. And, just as it should, it remains every bit a true, do-it-all, dual-purpose motorcycle.

Review – Key Features – Features & Benefits – Specifications

2025 Honda CRF300L: LOW RUNNING COST FUN.

Introducing the 2025 Honda CRF300L…

Versatile, reliable, approachable and fun, the Honda CRF300L is one of the most popular dual-sport motorcycles on the market. Featuring a 286cc single-cylinder engine with a focus on balancing performance with ease of use and fuel efficiency, this machine is very budget-friendly. Built to deliver a comfortable ride on the road and an adventure on the trails, the CRF300L will have riders of all skills levels smiling from ear-to-ear. The CRF300L is available in two configurations—standard and the LS (“low seat”) version—both of which come with ABS.

Honda’s enduringly popular dual-purpose machines, the CRF300L and CRF300 Rally, receive a range of detail upgrades for 2025, with smoother ride quality thanks to suspension revisions, and improved rider comfort from more efficient heat management, plus USB socket and revised graphics.

Honda’s popular dual-purpose CRF300L receives several detail updates for 2025, including LED lighting and improved thermal management. Specification includes a strong, responsive single-cylinder engine (now OBD2-2/EURO5+ compliant) and six-speed gearbox with slipper clutch control. A steel frame with tuned rigidity balance, aluminium swingarm, long travel suspension – featuring revised damping rates – and 142kg kerb weight generate easy handling on any terrain, with generous ground clearance. The striking visual impact of the CRF 300L’s sharp bodywork is amplified for 2025 through new colourway options.

The essence of what makes a true dual-purpose motorcycle has long been in Honda’s DNA. In the late 1970s the XL250S was launched ­– a bike providing genuine on-road usability with excellent off-road performance. The entire XL range that followed became legendary and proved that combining an economical and easy-to-use single-cylinder four-stroke engine with a competent chassis created a motorcycle that was useful, versatile and, as riders the world over found, a great deal of fun.

Over thirteen years ago, exhaustive discussions within Honda R&D took place about the creation of a brand-new dual-purpose machine. The company’s long history – in off-road competition and trail-ready machinery – was a useful touchstone when development of the bike first began.

Looking to the needs of customers came first. While some riders insist upon competition-level off-road performance, many others value ease of use, practicality and convenience. For weekday, urban environments they wanted a tough, practical bike with cutting-edge off-road style. But, come the weekend, it needed to provide a ticket to ride, wherever they wanted to go, on or off-road.

Honda’s new dual-purpose bike was always viewed by its development team with global perspective. It not only needed a powerful and frugal engine, its chassis also had to have a broad and capable range. And it needed to be affordable, offering high quality and outstanding value for money, with low overall running costs a priority.

The CRF250L, launched across Europe in 2012, was just that motorcycle.

And Honda’s engineers got the formula right. The CRF250L proved a fruitful base platform which, as well as spawning a RALLY version*, enjoyed consistent sales success around the world. Gaining capacity in 20YM, the CRF300L’s new engine also received an assist/slipper clutch. Thanks to weight reduction in the chassis, it was 4kg lighter, with revised riding position, slimmer seat and tank and positive LCD dash. For 23YM, it got a new paint option and standard-fit knuckle guards.

It’s time, in 2025, for the CRF300L to slide up its development curve once again with detail updates and upgrades owners will appreciate. And, just as it should, it remains every bit a true, do-it-all, dual-purpose motorcycle.

Mechanically unchanged for 2025, the CRF300L’s 286cc single-cylinder engine produces 20.1kW and 26.6Nm. Gear ratios first through fifth are short, for improved response and acceleration, while sixth is tall for more relaxed high-speed cruising. An assist/ slipper clutch manages the rear wheel under hard down changes and offers light load at the lever. EURO5+ compliance has been achieved and the radiator fan orientation has been adjusted for improved heat management. A redesigned protective shroud, and redesigned side cover direct warm air away from the rider, increasing comfort.

A tuned rigidity balance between the steel frame, aluminium swingarm and bottom yoke offer excellent feedback and feel. Steering geometry delivers stability and agility, while long travel front and rear suspension features revised damping rates at both ends for a more stable, comfortable platform for riders.

Sharp-edged bodywork features a slim tank and seat, and new LED headlight and indicators. The riding position is tailored to encourage the light steering manoeuvrability needed off-road and, just as usefully, around town.

The 2025 CRF300L will be available in the following colour options:

• Extreme Red with Blue and white graphic set
• Swift Grey with Red and white graphic set

2025 Honda CRF300L Totalmotorcycle.com Key Features

• DOHC, 286cc single-cylinder engine producing 20.1kW and 26.6Nm
• Improved heat management from the radiator
• Gearbox ratios set for both acceleration and cruising
• Assist/ slipper clutch for light lever load
• EURO5+2 compliant
• Handling and agility ready for action on any terrain
• Lightweight frame and swingarm; tuned rigidity balance for both
• Long travel front and rear suspension with detail changes to dampers 
• Ample ground clearance
• Light, slim bodywork inspired by competition CRF machines
• New LED headlight and indicators
• Knuckle guards standard equipment
• Positive LCD display easy to read and now has USB-C socket nearby

HISTORY

Following a long, proud tradition of popular mid-displacement Honda dual-sport machines with competent handling, remarkable durability and exceptional value, the CRF250L was originally introduced in model-year 2013, and it immediately established itself as an extremely popular option in the U.S. and abroad.

The 2021 model year brought a 15-percent displacement increase and a new name. The CRF300L offered customers not only improved power, but also better on- and off-road handling—thanks to an 11-pound weight reduction, updated geometry and upgraded suspension.

For 2025, the CRF300L benefits from several revisions aimed at improving handling, convenience and styling.

NEW FOR 2025

• New graphics, matching those of the 2025 CRF Performance family.
• LED headlight and turn signals, for better visibility.
• Stiffer shock damping for improved bottoming resistance.
• For smoother initial rear-suspension movement, the rubber bushing in the upper shock mount has been replaced with a bearing.
• Updated suspension damping in the fork.
• New radiator fan and grille, for improved engine-heat management.

2025 Honda CRF300L Totalmotorcycle.com Features and Benefits

DESIGN / STYLING

For 2025, the CRF300L gets stylish new graphics, similar to those used on the championship-winning CRF Performance models, including the CRF450R motocrosser and Baja-ruling CRF450X off-roader. The CRF300LS version has an appealing Swift Gray color.

Riding Position
With both versions, the riding position enables good rider input and vehicle maneuverability. Handlebar sweep allows a natural elbow position and light steering, and handlebar weights reduce vibration. The rear and middle of the seat are relatively wide for comfort, while the front area is slim, making it easy for the rider to touch the ground when stopped. Making that even easier is the CRF300LS, which has a 32.7-inch seat height (2 inches lower than the standard CRF300L). Passenger pegs are provided.

Meter
The meter features black characters on a white background, and characters are large for good visibility. In addition to speed, clock and rpm readings, functions include gear position, fuel mileage and fuel consumption.

ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN

The liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke power plant, has bore-and-stroke figures of 76.0mm and 63.0mm, respectively, for a 286cc displacement. Power output is particularly strong in the rev range’s lower and middle areas, which are used often in both city riding and off-road going.

A 38mm throttle body helps to achieve good power and rider-friendly throttle control, especially at low rpm, and the exhaust system delivers low sound output while keeping vibrations to a minimum. The engine features a valve train with a rocker-arm design, enabling a compact cylinder head, while the counterbalancer provides smooth running.

For 2025, the CRF300L receives updates to the radiator fan and grille, for improved engine-heat management.

Transmission
The six-speed gearbox features close spacing in the lower gears and wide spacing in the higher gears, enabling optimum gear selection while still allowing comfortable high-speed cruising—a great balance between suitability for city, long-distance and off-road applications.

Clutch
The CRF300L has a very light clutch-lever pull, thanks in part to an assist/slipper clutch that also provides good performance during aggressive downshifting.

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION

Overall vehicle weight is low, thanks to careful selection of components. For example, the lower triple clamp is constructed from aluminum instead of steel, minimizing steering effort and keeping the center of gravity low.

Frame / Swingarm
Through optimization of its main components, the frame’s weight is minimized, while optimized lateral rigidity allows maneuverability and good rider feel. The diameter of the cradle tubes is 25.4mm. In addition, ground clearance is a considerable 11.2 inches on the CRF300L (9.6 inches on the LS version), reducing the chance of interference during riding in rough off-road conditions. Similarly, the swingarm’s lateral and torsional rigidity are optimized, and its overall cross section is designed to deliver a uniform distribution of twist, resulting in good feel and predictable handling. The swingarm’s weight is low, minimizing sprung weight for excellent suspension action.

Suspension
A 43mm inverted Showa fork is paired with a Pro-Link® single-shock rear system. The standard CRF300L features 10.2 inches of front and rear suspension travel for excellent performance (particularly during off-road riding), while the CRF300LS has 9.3 and 9.0 inches of front and rear travel, respectively.

New for 2025, the CRF300L receives stiffer shock damping for improved bottoming resistance. In addition, the rubber bushing in the upper shock mount has been replaced by a bearing, resulting in smoother initial rear-suspension movement. Suspension damping in the fork is also updated.

Wheels / Brakes
As with high-performance off-road machines, the wheel sizes are 21 inches at the front and 18 inches rear, enabling smooth rolling over rough terrain. The black aluminum rims have been polished, resulting in a glossy appearance and easy cleaning. The rear axle is hollow to minimize unsprung weight.

Hydraulic brakes are used front and rear, with 256 and 220mm rotors, respectively. Standard and LS models are equipped with ABS for smooth, controlled stops in varying conditions. (Conveniently, ABS can be turned off at the rear, providing a different riding feel in off-road conditions.) The rear-brake master cylinder incorporates the reservoir, similar to the design used on the CRF Performance line, for a simple, clean design.

Honda ACCESSORIES

A number of Honda Accessories are offered, including hand guards, a skid plate, an electrical socket, wider foot pegs, a top box, a rack and more.

Engine

The single-cylinder, liquid-cooled DOHC engine produces peak power of 20.1kW @ 8,500rpm, with peak torque of 26.6Nm @ 6,500rpm. Bore and stroke is set at 76 x 63mm, with compression ratio of 10.7:1.

To match the engine’s punch and for smart pick-up and acceleration, gear ratios one through five are short, while sixth gear is tall for more relaxed highway cruising. An assist/ slipper clutch reduces lever load and manages rear wheel ‘hop’ on rapid downshifts – great for control, on or off-road.

An iridium spark plug, along with precise metering of fuel from the PGM-FI injection system, enhances combustion efficiency and improves environmental credentials. The engine uses an offset cylinder, reducing internal frictional losses, while the piston itself incorporates a special surface material, plus molybdenum coating. The oil pump features an internal relief structure that prevents aeration of relieved oil. The crank journal employs a half-split, press-fit metal bearing while the crank bearing uses a cast-iron bush. A primary balance shaft further reduces vibration.

The cooling system uses a 12.7kW heat-release radiator, sited on the left of the bike. A redesigned side cover mitigates hot air expelled by from the fan.

The engine is EURO5+ compliant with CO2 emissions (WMTC) of 73g/km.

Chassis

Kerb weight of the CRF300 RALLY is just 153kg. The steel semi-double cradle frame’s rigidity balance is tuned to promote handling feel and connection to front/rear traction. The one-piece cast aluminium swingarm is balanced to match.

Extruded aluminium is used for the chain adjustment collar. The bottom yoke is aluminium, saving weight in an area high relative to the centre of gravity for faster steering response. Rake and trail are set at 27.5° and 109mm respectively, with wheelbase at 1455mm, and a ground clearance of 275mm. Turning radius is 2.3m.

The 43mm Showa inverted forks employ a 260mm stroke, with spring weight and damping settings optimised for precise control over a wide range of terrain and speeds. Pro-Link rear suspension also features 260mm axle stroke; the Showa shock absorber is a single tube design. Damping rates at both ends have been revised for 2025 to create a more stable, comfortable platform for riders

The front brake uses a single 256mm disc gripped by a dual-piston caliper, whilst the rear arrangement utilizes a 220mm disc and mono-piston caliper; in common with the CRF competition machines the rear master cylinder is now a lightweight, integrated design. The discs feature a wave design with exceptional self-cleaning abilities in adverse conditions. 2-channel ABS is standard.

The 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear increase stability on rough terrain and allow the fitment of more off-road specific tyres if required. Block pattern enduro-style tyres (front, 80/100-21 51P and rear 120/80-18 62P) provide traction in a wide range of riding situations and surfaces.

Styling & equipment

The CRF300 RALLY is designed to cover distance and its styling reflects this. Derived from the parts used by the CRF450 RALLY, the ‘floating’ screen, upper/lower fairing and side shrouds effectively shield the rider to offer excellent defence against the elements. Knuckle guards offer further protection, both for the hands and the brake and clutch levers. A skid plate protects the machine’s underside and the gear lever features a folding tip.

The fuel tank holds 12.8L; with 32.2 km/l achievable (WMTC) mode cruising range of 413km is possible. The seat is rubber mounted, for comfort and the footpegs also now feature rubber inserts. Seat height is 885mm, 5mm taller than the CRF300L. It features the same narrower profile up front as its sibling, but with 20mm more width across the seated area for long riding days.

The riding position places machine control and manoeuvrability front and centre with an ‘upright ‘rider triangle’ – wide handlebars are pulled back slightly, with footpegs set low and backward to make gear changes in heavy off-road boots easier. And, unlike the CRF300L, the RALLY features internal handlebar weights to minimise vibration. The side stand too has a broad, folding footplate.

Weighing just 70g the LCD screen features large black digits on a crisp white display, for instant readability with large, 23mm speedo numbers. Information includes gear position indicator, fuel mileage and consumption, average speed, stopwatch and rev-counter. The headlight is a compact, asymmetric dual LED unit and for 2025, the indicators are now flexibly mounted LED units.

Accessories

Tailor-made Genuine Honda Accessories for the CRF300 RALLY amplify the motorcycles capabilities, add extra-comfort and peace of mind, and include:

• 38L Top Box, with optional backrest and inner bag.
• Rear Carrier Bracket and Mounts
• Wider Rally Steps
• USB-C Charger
• Heated Grips

2025 Honda CRF300L – Totalmotorcycle.com USA Specifications/Technical Details
US MSRP Price: $5,749 USD
Canada MSRP Price: $8067 CDN (includes Freight, PDI and Fees)
Europe/UK MSRP Price: £ See Dealer for pricing in GBP (On The Road inc 20% Vat)

^{*Includes all standard equipment, required fluids and full tank of fuel—ready to ride
Meets current EPA standards
Models sold in California meet current CARB standards and may differ slightly due to emissions equipment
Specifications subject to change}

2025 Honda CRF300L – Totalmotorcycle.com Canada Specifications/Technical Details

• Engine: 286cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke
• Transmission: Six-speed manual
• Clutch: Wet multiplate, Assist Slipper Clutch
• Brakes: Single 256mm disc with twin-piston caliper (front); Single 220mm disc (rear); ABS
• Suspension: 43mm telescopic USD forks (front); Pro-Link® single shock (rear)
• Tires: 80/100-21 (front); 120/80-18 (rear)
• Fuel Capacity: 7.8 liters
• Seat Height: 32.7 inches
• Wet Weight: 142 kg
• Ground Clearance: 285 mm

2025 Honda CRF300L – Totalmotorcycle.com Europe Specifications/Technical Details

All specifications are provisional and subject to change without notice.

Please note that the figures provided are results obtained by Honda under standardised testing conditions prescribed by WMTC. Tests are conducted on a rolling road using a standard version of the vehicle with only one rider and no additional optional equipment. Actual fuel consumption may vary depending on how you ride, how you maintain your vehicle, weather, road conditions, tire pressure, installation of accessories, cargo, rider and passenger weight, and other factors.

Manufacturer Specifications and appearance are subject to change without prior notice on Total Motorcycle (TMW).