Honda CRF 300L series in Nepal: Do new prices justify the upgrades?

Honda CRF 300L is Honda’s dirt bike series released this year. The CRF series is really popular among dirt bike and off-road bike lovers in Nepal. It is also one of the most popular bikes in Nepal.

CRF 250 was the most desired off-road bike here in Nepal, and now, CRF 300L is taking over. Since the new version of the CRF bike is on the way, it is very unlikely that the 250cc version will be manufactured anymore or at least it will not make it to Nepal. Like CRF 250 and 250 Rally, the new CRF 300L is also accompanied by CRF 300 Rally. Apparently, there are a couple of upgrades from design to the power on the new version.

Syakar Trading, the authorised distributor of Honda vehicles in Nepal, has opened booking for the bikes soon after it also launched Honda Hornet 2 in Nepal. It means Honda seems to be in a transition phase, bringing updates on its two-wheelers but also adding hefty price tags.

The two bikes in the Honda CRF 300L series are no exception.

Let’s get into the details of the bikes.

Specifications

Design

CRF 300L gets its new styling based on the CRF450-R Works edition. A lot has changed in the new CRF 300L. Though the looks may seem similar to that of 250L at the first glance, there are lots of minor changes on the bike that makes it more powerful, agile and even lighter. The front of the bike gets the standard halogen headlamp with halogen indicators. It goes the same for the rear section as it gets a halogen lamp as well.

The bike also gets a new gauge display that is bigger and displays new functions like gear position indicator, fuel mileage and fuel consumption. The handlebar sweep has been increased on the bike for a more natural and lighter steering feel. Similarly, the weight also has been increased on the handlebar to reduce vibrations.

The bike has got slimmer around the knee and thigh area to help with input from the lower body for optimum control. Similarly, the footpegs also have been moved back.

Similarly, CRF Rally 300 is inspired by the Dakar CRF 450 Rally machine. It features a large front fairing while most of the features are similar to the CRF 300L.

Performance

Both bikes in the series share similar power figures. CRF 300L is powered by a 286cc liquid-cooled, single, DOHC engine. The engine can generate a maximum power of 27.32 PS/8500rpm and a maximum torque of 26.6Nm/6500rpm which is not a significant increase from the previous generation. It can reach an estimated top speed of 130kmph. While the standard CRF 300L has a fuel tank of 7.8 litres, the Rally 300 has a fuel tank of 12.8 litres. Both bikes are mated with a six-speed gearbox.

A lot has been improvised to make the bike powerful and lighter. The chassis and suspension have been optimised. The lateral rigidity has been reduced by 25 per cent, thus improving the overall manoeuvre and rider feel. The ground clearance has also been increased and has a whopping 285mm on the standard version and 275 on the Rally. The swing arm’s lateral and torsional rigidity also has been reduced by 23 and 17 per cent respectively.

The optimised airflow through filter and exhaust helps fine-tune the power of the bike. The intake camshaft also has been redesigned to improve the power output at low and medium speed ranges. The bike also gets the standard slipper clutch. This reduces the clutch load by 20 per cent and allows better control and reduces fatigue on long rides. The new changes on the bike make it easier to adapt to both cities and off-road rides.

Dimensions

Honda CRF 300L measures 2,230mm in length, 820mm in width, 1,200mm in height and 880mm in seat height. The wheelbase measures 1,455mm while it has an improved ground clearance of 285mm. The kerb weight of the bike is 142 kg.

Honda CRF 300 Rally stands tall at 1,415mm while it has a similar length of 2,230mm. The width of this bike measures 920mm, while the seat height is 885mm. The ground clearance is slightly lower than the standard 300L with 275mm. The kerb weight of CRF 300 Rally is 153kg.

Brakes, suspensions and other features

The dual-channel ABS is standard on Rally but is optional on the CRF 300L model. The bike has a 256mm disc with a two-piston calliper on the front while it gets a 220mm disc with a single-piston calliper on the rear.

Talking about the suspension, both bikes have a 43mm telescopic upside down at the front while at the rear there is Honda’s own pro-link. There is also an option to turn off the rear ABS of the bike. The brakes and suspension on the bike are coordinated properly to match the power and performance and give the optimum riding experience both on the city and off-road rides.

There are tons of improvements to the new version of the bike. Some of the notable features of the bikes are:

• Reengineered 283cc FI engine
• Redesigned intake camshaft
• Increased power
• Lighter body
• Slipper clutch
• Optimized airflow
• CRF450R inspired bodywork
• Halogen headlamp, halogen indicators, and halogen taillights
• New LCD digital metre (with gear positioning, mileage, fuel consumption)
• Redesigned seating
• Polished rims
• Dual disc braking
• Dual-channel ABS
• Inverted front fork and pro-link rear suspension
• Rally bike styling (in CRF300L Rally)
• Dual LED headlamp (in CRF300L Rally)
• Wraparound skid plates (in CRF300L Rally)
• Handguards (in CRF300L Rally)

The price of CRF 300L is Rs 1,750,000 and that of CRF 300L Rally is Rs 1,950,000.

This is a huge jump on the pricing from its previous generation 250L and 250 Rally. There are a lot of significant changes on the bikes, but do that justify the pricing?

Perhaps this is the question yet to be answered.