Honda CRF150R Review: Why It's NOT Right For You

[@MotocrossHideout]

Would you like to see Honda update to Fuel Injection for the CRF150R? Get my 4-step "Foolproof" formula to choose the right bike for YOU [FREE Guide] - motocrosshideout.com/bike/

[@GaigeCutlip]

I have a 2013 crf 150rb and I’m having some carb issues I was wondering if I could contact you to see if you know more about what’s going on with me would greatly appreciate it

[@GaigeCutlip]

With it*

[@MotocrossHideout]

@@GaigeCutlip What are the issues you're having, Gaige?

[@GaigeCutlip]

@@MotocrossHideout well my bike has a 164 Athena big bore kit and it idles fine but when I barley touch the throttle it hangs at pretty high rpms for about 10 seconds and then comes back to normal I can ride it for a short period and the pipe is glowing red it has a 140 main and had a 45 pilot now has a 42 I tried moving the needle to see if that would help and still am stuck in the same boat

[@GaigeCutlip]

All jets are brand new and not clogged

[@reid8844]

I came for epic sound effects. I stayed for the epic sound effects.

[@macdre024rl5]

Whelp... wish I woulda seen this video this morning. Just bought a CRF150R today. Im a beginner rider, and a few hours ago, let the clutch out too fast coming out of a U turn, and dropped the bike on my left ankle because i couldn't keep it running going slow. 😢 think it may be broken boys. Going to the hospital in the morning.

[@MotocrossHideout]

Dude, I'm so sorry to hear that! I wish you would've seen this video before as well... Let us know what you find out. This is exactly the scenario that I'm trying to help people prevent because I hate hearing that you got hurt - especially a new rider ;(

[@Beltslippen]

I am a new rider and saw your vid. It actually made me want it more. I went from a Chinese 110 to this and I’m already wheely ing. It also helps I eat every fall like it’s nothing.

[@bassfishingwiththeantichri2921]

Eat steak and lift weights. You’ll be alright.

[@MotocrossHideout]

No thanks. Not everyone wants to live the macho man lifestyle.

[@userunknown303]

@@MotocrossHideoutDo they happen to make heavier flyweights for this bike? I think i'd like the 250f more than the 150R just cuz I could putt around & enjoy it more... but I do wanna start hitting jumps (MTB, BMX & mountain snowmobile experience) & I feel the 250f suspension would fail on me (i'm 220 pounds). How would you go about trail-converting this bike w/o breakin the bank?

[@TomTomMarchy]

The 150rb is a great bike to throw around in the trails. I definitely got the carb problem. Rather than fix it I’ve learned to embrace it as it keeps my revs high through the corners like my two stroke ;)

[@Talpat15]

I got mine for 4K and it was rebuilt for race and it was literally awesome no problems!

[@Davido50]

Cant be much quick than older CR85 MX bikes. Maybe a bit. Not a Honda guy at all but like the engine size /4-stroke engine. -NY

[@MotocrossHideout]

It has a little more power but is also close to 30 lbs heavier than the 85, which is a lot for a smaller bike.

[@Jaxson_riley]

Ok, I’m new and my bike I just got is a cr125r. Any beginner will be JUST fine on the 150r. It’s actually one of my favorite biks

[@steveng_13]

This is a great bike. Building my 09 RB into a desert type build rn

[@JackNeeHof]

Not gonna lie I got a 150rb and it starts. First kick every time and I can prob start it with my hand no problem and I’ve trail rode with a stage 2 for years loads of fun feels like it has a built in power band reminds me of a 2 stroke

[@MotocrossHideout]

Nice, sounds like you got it dialed in! Yeah, it's definitely a fun bike - just not for everyone when it comes to trail riding. Thanks for watching, Austin!

[@Purple_zip-z9v]

I thought about buying a crf150r or a ycf 190daytona but i am gonna go for the ycf 190 daytona because as you said the crf150 has high end torque the ycf 190 has low and high end torque and thats exactly what i am looking for

[@alexrad603]

got a 250r for my first bike a month ago it’s been great, no power issues in my opinion just learn how to ride ig lol

[@thegreat1548]

Ok fruit cake.

[@Squirrel-i6u]

My crf150rb was really jumpy when I first got it, so I decided to pour a little seafoam straight in the gas tank. Seems like it's a lot smoother not as jerky but I've noticed a little loss of power. Have I made a grave mistake by pouring it right in the tank? I hope not because it's a brand new bike.

[@MotocrossHideout]

Hey Greg, what do you mean by "jumpy"? What made you decide to add seafoam, and how much did you use? I don't personally use it in my bikes, but I wouldn't think that would cause a problem if you use the recommended amount with gas.

[@Squirrel-i6u]

@MotocrossHideout I'm sorry, should have explained a little better. Like right as you start to twist the throttle, it will kinda lug and then take off really hard. I've found this to be a little annoying when trying to climb certain terrain. It's like there's that sweet spot where you need to barely give it fuel but it wants to kinda spit and sputter. My brother is a mechanic and he told me the same thing that you just did. But he also doesn't ride dirt bikes. I've noticed a slight loss of power, but then again it could be the gas I put in it. I put the 89 octane BP gas in it, but I probably should have gotten the premium.

[@Squirrel-i6u]

@MotocrossHideout I kinda just opened the bottle and poured some straight into the tank. Not like a huge amount or anything. I really didn't measure it. I don't know what in the world made me do that for. After I done it, I thought to myself "why in the world did you just do that". But it was too late at that point.

[@MotocrossHideout]

@@Squirrel-i6u Okay, well you can still pull the fuel line off and drain the gas. The 150R is a high-compression racing engine, so you should be using 91-93 octane gas (I highly recommend using gas with NO ethanol so that it lasts longer). As for the sputtering, that sounds rich - I recommend leaning out the fuel screw. Here's an article on it: motocrosshideout.com/adjust-fuel-screw/

[@Squirrel-i6u]

@MotocrossHideout Exactly all the things I done! The one thing I couldn't understand is why I didn't get a owner's manual when I bought the bike. I didn't know I could drain the gas, and I bought a product call "liquid performance Ethanol Equalizer" it came in a 1 ounce bottle that you add to 10 gallons of gas, and I bought different premium grade gas to put in it. So I'm on the right track. I hope this helps cause I really don't want to find out that I've caused some internal damage and only had it a month. Hopefully it's just me being paranoid.

[@trevorkavanaugh88]

It’s a shame they don’t make a detuned wide ratio version of this instead of the 150f, which weighs like 50 pounds more with terrible brakes, suspension and handling

[@MotocrossHideout]

That would be a sweet trail bike, but there probably wouldn't be enough sales to make it worthwhile for Honda to develop it, unfortunately.

[@tripwheelerton2417]

They sell it as the xr150😮

[@lindtg]

Was about to look into these for my kid. Thanks, going back to the klx140 😀

[@thegreat1548]

Don't be soft dad. Get your kid a 450 you'll thank me later when he becomes a Motocross legend. . .

[@MotocrossHideout]

Good choice, especially if your kid is new to riding. Don't listen to those "macho" people that say you NEED more power, especially if you're trail riding or just starting out. The "slow" trail bikes have plenty of power for the average rider.

[@thegreat1548]

@@MotocrossHideout hey who invited you to the party?🥳🎉 This is a 450 conversation.

[@BrielyJeanFowler]

I have lots of experience in a crf150f it no longer has enough power for me… I do woods racing.. would it be a good upgrade

[@MotocrossHideout]

Good question! Have you watched my video comparing the 150F vs 150R? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWnaYaWml7CHh6M) The 150R has about twice the horsepower at high RPM, but not nearly as much torque down low, so it takes more clutch control. If you're racing, it's probably a better choice than the 150F if you don't mind doing a little more maintenance in the long run.

[@julioruiz9638]

watching this review as I saw one on Facebook market place for 1k

[@twilight1453]

I’ve been looking to get my first bike for a while now and I was considering this bike. My friend says it has way too much power for a beginner bike and says i should go with something like a crf125f. The only problem is that I’m 6’2 225 and I’ve sat on a crf125f and I’m hunched over on it. So I don’t know what to really choose

[@MotocrossHideout]

Yeah I wouldn't recommend either of those at your size and being your first dirt bike. What's your budget/price range?

[@twilight1453]

@@MotocrossHideoutI would say around 5000-5500 is the highest I’d probably go

[@MotocrossHideout]

@@twilight1453 Okay, you could almost buy a new bike for that. At your size, a great first bike would be the KLX300R or CRF250F. Super easy to ride, learn on, and low maintenance. The CRF also has a lot of aftermarket parts to upgrade if you plan to keep it for a while.

[@twilight1453]

@@MotocrossHideoutalright, thank you

[@JMProdzz]

i am 12 years old and 5'6 and i have had a klx 110f and a xmoto 125cc i have over 40 hrs of riding time is it time i should move onto the crf 150R?

[@thehappygrenade9140]

Don't take this from me but I say go for it. There are people who started on 250s so there shouldn't be a problem

[@ShaunSavage-kl9pd]

I wanna put my ported cr250 engine in one those frames. Jet for 105 leaded racefuel

[@steve6548]

Great Video! Good description of the Honda 150 models!

[@MotocrossHideout]

Thanks, Steve! Trying to be as helpful in my communication as possible to help people 🤠

[@Davido50]

Try Kawasaki trail bikes. Lots options an nice machines. -NY

[@apocolypse11]

This bike will flip u over even if your 239lbs. 😂

[@FrankAdkins-tg9tm]

Ikr I’m 215 and it woops my ass

[@Davido50]

Lmao maybe if you have no dirtbike experience 🤔 -NY

[@ٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴٴ-ع7ع]

i’m 120 and it does indeed flip me over

[@Duncle700]

Same for any 85cc 2 stoke lol

[@BabyYoda-kr6rr]

@@Duncle700I got an RM 85 and holy shit man

[@martinstoppard2605]

Great info and advice 👍

[@MotocrossHideout]

Thanks for watching, Martin!

[@OffroadJosh902]

Im 28 and was always on 4 wheels until a couple years ago. Got a drz125 but got to try out my friends 150r last month and was super suprised in the difference. Stalled it 3 times trying not to tear up his yard then said fuck it but after that one time i got it going that was enough for me lol. Even my cousins 300L was easier to ride

[@MotocrossHideout]

Yeah, the snappy engine is quite a bit different because it revs up and down so quickly... Thanks for sharing, Josh.

[@OffroadJosh902]

@MotocrossHideout was a humbling experience for sure lol

[@paulschwarz1904]

This channel will help you be a beginner for life. 😊

[@jdavis8604]

Yep I will be subscribing to this guys channel right now

[@MotocrossHideout]

Thanks for your support!

[@danksushi7417]

I ain't even gonna finish this video because you were wrong as soon as you started talking i own a 150 and they have a fuck load of torque not much top end

[@JoshRadcliffe]

Trust me I saw his hair and was like ahhh the 150r was too fast for him skinned his head so he’s here slating it cos he couldn’t get a lawsuit 😂

[@traviscombs2734]

Whats a good honda bike for me to get? I started with a 1988 honda cr 250 two stroke that was 8 years ago I haven't rode sence cause of money problems with my ex wife . But we're divorced so my friend wants me to get a bike and get back into riding so him and I could ride together 😁

[@MotocrossHideout]

Hey Travis, sorry to hear that it didn't work out with your wife. What kind of riding will you be doing?

[@abillionwouldnthurt2695]

Brotha I got a 06 crf 100 and it is a great bike. Definitely don’t need anything new to get back into it 🤝

[@Huntstuntoutdoors]

Just a question, I was riding a 2 stroke the other day for the first time, but u had to keep the revs up otherwise it would reck the motor, so whenever u stopped u had to switch the bike off, is this the same with the Honda crf150r? Can u stop the bike without keeping the revs up as it 4 stroke???

[@MotocrossHideout]

What do you mean it would "reck the motor" if you don't keep the revs up?

[@Huntstuntoutdoors]

@@MotocrossHideout well the oil won’t burn and it will clog the spark plug or something

[@VeeKay10]

@@Huntstuntoutdoors yes i have a 2 stroke you just need to rev it out every few minutes to clean the spark plug but my no means can it not idle! You would be effectively be doing the same thing as idling but if you don't warm your 2 stroke up there's going to be severe problems

[@mmd.618]

If I know how to use the clutch well, would you think this would be a good first bike for me?

[@MotocrossHideout]

If you've never ridden a dirt bike before, I think it would a lot more difficult to ride this 150R than a CRF150F or 125FB, plus this MX bike requires more long-term maintenance.

[@p9t9rp97]

you get more skilled riding a difficult bike. You learn to read the bike to figure out why its not starting and you get used to riding a high power to weight ratio bike

[@thegreat1548]

​@@p9t9rp97exactly I think this is a good way to get into racing. If you can't handle a 150R then a 250 is not for you.

[@BforVendetta6]

Terrible mic quality but you did give me some good info, thanks!

[@MotocrossHideout]

Thanks for your feedback. I'm guessing you're an audiophile ;)

[@BforVendetta6]

@@MotocrossHideout aw man, I didn't mean to sound like a dick 😂 sorry.

[@MotocrossHideout]

Haha, I know it's hard to tell over text. I realize I have a cheap mic, but I didn't think it was terrible, lol. Now worries. I'm planning on upgrading when the budget allows.

[@sustat86]

This was helpful for me deciding not to buy one. I just want a light easy trail bike. Thanks

[@MotocrossHideout]

Glad it was helpful, David! Let us know what you get instead :)

[@JoJoDaJuggman]

Somebody send me a older version of these… I like those better

[@BobbyMccarthy-d1r]

I’ve had a manual bike 14 hp would this be a good bike to upgrade to looking for something with a bit more power

[@MotocrossHideout]

Depends on your goals and what kind of riding you'll be doing. Kick starting is noticeably harder, power is more snappy, and it will require more maintenance in the long run. It's fun on open/fast trails though.

[@BobbyMccarthy-d1r]

@@MotocrossHideout I’m looking to do trail / field riding im not shore weather to get a 85 2 stroke or a 150

[@MotocrossHideout]

Okay, either would be fine for open field riding, but they'd be harder to control if you're riding single-track trails. 85 is easier to start and weighs less, while the 150R has a little more midrange torque.

[@bopboy7931]

I want to get into riding I’m 18 and 160lb 6’0 I want to get something fast ofc even though it’s my first bike but I won’t be riding trails a lot probably just roads and back roads and stuff like that. I wouldn’t be doing jumps or anything just casual and probably racing in a straight line if I had to guess. Wouod this be suitable for me since I wouldn’t be doing trials with a whole lot of slowing down and turning sharp I don’t see the clutch being a big problem for my needs. What do you think

[@MotocrossHideout]

At 6'0", you would be tall for the 150RB. I don't recommend a motocross bike if you've never ridden before just because they're harder to ride and require more maintenance. I know you want something fast - I wouldn't go with anything over 250cc.

[@bopboy7931]

@@MotocrossHideout I have ridden one before and I found it to be not hard. I’ve rode fourwheelers a lot Ik there not the same thing tho. So at my height what would be a good size?

[@MotocrossHideout]

CRF250R, YZ250F or YZ125 if you want an MX bike, or a CRF250F, TTR230 if you want a trail bike.

[@bopboy7931]

@@MotocrossHideout I’ll mostly be driving on the road and gravel roads with a little dirt so what’s better for that?

[@derpmanfb]

@@bopboy7931any bike at that point, either bike will have its pros and cons. Trail bikes tend to handle less maintenance better but aren’t as peppy and can get “boring” MX bikes are the exact opposite, you gotta keep up on the maintenance strictly and they have torque to get you going faster. For you, I’d say an MX bike purely for the extra speed, you’d be in areas where you would actually use that speed. It would just be a learning curve that you have to prepare yourself for

[@Darius_Indrei_MTB_life]

So i should just get a 450 ?

[@ItsJustClutch]

🤣🤣

[@Reek_Flair_]

Why is my brand new 2024 crf 150r shutting off when I push choke in??

[@MotocrossHideout]

Is it fully warmed up when you push it in (turn it off)? Have you tried adjusting the idle speed? Congrats on your new bike, BTW!

[@Reek_Flair_]

You're a life saver! Still have such a hard time starting it every time I wana ride 🤦🏾‍♂️. Thanks for the reply anyway man!

[@Juust_jake]

I have a serious question im about to get a bike and im 5'3 i want a 150r mainly to get to work its a 5 minute car ride im in town and was wondering what the best bike would be if i get a 150 im 99%sure it wont be bigger than that but i was wondering if i could swap the motor with a 250cc so i can have big power with a suitable size frame for my height

[@ERICK4431]

I literally just bought a 150r 2hrs ago with a bad motor for $900 bucks with the purpose of doing a swap but inspecting it closely is gonna take a lot of mods like cutting and welding to do that and I'm still doing it and planning to do a KZbin video series on it but unfortunately not yet I got another bike I have to finish before I jump on that 150r. So I would recommend you to get a Honda Grom you'll love that thing with the 125cc motor and if in the future you want more power you can do a 250/300 swap on it and the mods are very doable plus there are videos on how to do that. You will love that Grom like your mother loves you! Good luck. 👍

[@Juust_jake]

@@ERICK4431 awesome thank you! I'll sub and look forward to the video

[@MotocrossHideout]

Yep, as Erick said, a Grom would be much better for a short street ride.

[@Juust_jake]

@@MotocrossHideout thanks guys it really does make sense to get a grom

[@__big-_-coop]

Should you hold in the clutch while kicking a 150r?

[@MotocrossHideout]

Not if it's in neutral. If it's in gear, then yes, you will need to hold the clutch lever in and it will also be slightly harder to start compared to being in neutral.

[@__big-_-coop]

@@MotocrossHideout thank you

[@FeatheredDino]

Definitely for beginners. Not long ago, 125 2 strokes were beginner bikes, and they made 50% more horsepower than the crf150r.

[@MotocrossHideout]

If a 125 2-stroke was a "beginner bike" back in the 80s and 90s, what was the XR200 or XR250R?

[@FeatheredDino]

@@MotocrossHideout Trail bikes. I would definitely say the XR200 was a beginner trail bike because of it's considerably lower power output, and it's much lower seat height. The 250r was by no means a beginner bike, I'd say it was a good intermediate bike, good enough to basically own and enjoy forever even as an adult experienced rider.

[@MotocrossHideout]

@@FeatheredDino Okay, gotcha. That's an interesting take. Thanks for sharing.

[@Squirrel-i6u]

Can you change the sprocket size to change the gearing for more lower end grunt for trail riding?

[@MotocrossHideout]

Yes and no. Changing to gearing (sprocket size/# of teeth) won't change the power, but it will affect how quickly it accelerates and the top speed. If you want lower gearing for easier low-speed riding and don't mind having a lower top speed, going with a smaller front or larger rear sprocket with achieve that.

[@Squirrel-i6u]

@MotocrossHideout thank you! I'm in the process of buying a new 2023 model. I would assume that changing something like that would void the warranty?

[@MotocrossHideout]

@@Squirrel-i6u You're welcome. Is this going to be your first dirt bike? As for voiding the warranty - I wouldn't think so but I recommend simply asking your dealer that you're buying a bike from if it would or not.

[@Squirrel-i6u]

@MotocrossHideout for the most part, yes, this is gonna be my first bike. I have ridden a little here and there but not very much at all. I will ask them about it at the shop. And thank you for answering my questions.

[@MotocrossHideout]

@@Squirrel-i6u Okay, sounds good. I just want to tell you that this isn't a beginner-friendly bike. You don't need to listen to me, but you should at least read the recent comment from @macdre024rl5 on this video...

[@cm4485]

Nice vid can u do u a similar vid about the cr85

[@MotocrossHideout]

Thanks for watching! I'll add it to my list. Is there anything specific you'd like to learn about the CR85?

[@MotocrossHideout]

Here's the CR85 video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emeVZWp5p8aog5Y

[@ClintonFerguson-yg8ui]

Would you recommend a 125cc for beginners?

[@ayewhite333]

TTR125 is a great beginner bike

[@777Randall]

It’s obviously not for you either. If you don’t know, the front brake hose goes on the inside of the fork leg and not on the outside.🙄

[@TomTomMarchy]

150rb = Best Pit bike

[@rattanack1413]

Is this the same as the xr150?

[@tonymaciel7687]

No how can it be the same if it’s 2 completely different names

[@Wheetlelol]

It is for me😊

[@HexBMX]

Stick the beginners on a 2 Stroke. After that, adjusting to 4 Strokes is nothing. You just have to get used to it. Stick a 4 Stroke rider on a 2 Stroke for the first time and they are 100%, full-on weirded out.

[@Huntstuntoutdoors]

I only ride a 4 stroke trail bike all the time, the other day was my first go on a 2 stroke but it was weird cuz the power band, and I always had to keep the revs up so I couldn’t ride slow around corners or stop, otherwise the spark plug would fill with oil, I want a racing bike but one that I can ride slow around sharp corners and stop to open gates, that’s why I thought a 4 stroke racing bike would work, what do u think?

[@ilovepizza8263]

is 100 hours a lot??? im coming from street bikes so when i hear the engine will need to be rebuilt after 100 hours, thats a major turn off for me

[@MotocrossHideout]

It depends on how you ride, what bike, and where you ride. 100 hrs of racing would be a lot, but for casual trail riders that would be fairly low.

[@caseyl3631]

yep! not for me

[@Nn42089]

No point in upgrading if your not willing to learn

[@MotocrossHideout]

Hey Nathan, willing to learn what exactly? Thanks for watching.

[@eriklemke8672]

this was my first bike i recommend it as a first bike of if your not a chump

[@MotocrossHideout]

Okay, I must be a chump then because I wouldn't recommend it as a first bike :(

[@HassanHuh-z1h]

Harvey Roads

[@GavinM429]

Nice👍👍

[@RonMatthews-q6h]

Martinez Laura Jackson David Rodriguez Mary

[@ThomasPerez-l1p]

Rodriguez Robert Anderson Robert Harris Donald

[@LilyHeloise-c6f]

Jones Thomas Lee Matthew Lee John

[@ThompsonUpton-k7l]

Lewis Edward Davis Angela Wilson Sandra

[@sophiamarquez-kf5ud]

White Charles Rodriguez Ruth Jones David

[@chrisvigil5018]

Bump the rear up 2 teeth.

[@LickMist]

Just give er a rip

[@26dato]

are your serious or is this joke?

[@MotocrossHideout]

About what?

[@fearfulburst859l]

It’s a kids bike lmao😂😂😂

[@MotocrossHideout]

It's a race bike.

[@fearfulburst859l]

@@MotocrossHideout ya for a kid

[@teteasailo1203]

Carson Brown rode the TTR50 and is still way faster than you...

[@JJLilp]

The guy in the video has no idea what he’s talking about

[@MotocrossHideout]

Yeah I just blabber nonsense. Everyone should check out your channel for the best answers ;)

[@paulleonard7038]

22hp from a 150cc bike is dog shit! 😂 ktm and husq. 125s have mid 30s

[@MotocrossHideout]

Apples vs oranges 2T vs 4T

[@BobbyMccarthy-d1r]

I’ve had a manual bike 14 hp would this be a good bike to upgrade to looking for something with a bit more power

[@ryonmurphy3797]

personally, i think the 150r is a great upgrade from a smaller trail bike. you could also get a 2stroke 85 like a rm85 or yz85, but i’d choose the 150 especially if you feel confident when using the clutch

[@DefoeBrian-x9m]

Martin Ronald Garcia Christopher Thomas Angela