IN-DEPTH REVIEW: 2022 Honda CRF300L - the good and the bad...

468 miles - After spending two full days riding the new 2022 CRF300L in a variety of terrain, I am able to provide an in-depth review of the bike.
Co-host Jeremy chose the Honda CRF300L to be his first full-sized motorcycle. In the past Jeremy has owned lots of powersports, including kid-sized dirt bikes like the 2021 CRF110F featured on this channel. This new 2022 CRF300L is the bike he will ride to learn the art of two-wheel off-road fun. He chose the 300L because of so many reports from riders and professionals that this bike is capable and user-friendly. This is video #3 in our Honda CRF300L video series. We look forward to putting many more miles and hours on this bike.
We purchased this bike brand new on May 27, 2022 from Arizona Motors in Snowflake, AZ. We purchased this bike from Arizona Motors because they offered us the best price in Arizona on this model. Salesman Jerry was awesome to work with.

[@patriot1182]

At 65 years old i agree 100% with you! I bought a 2022 Honda CRF 300L in June! Love it!

[@SouthwestORV]

I hope I’m still biking in 25 years! :)

[@dport1258]

Just hit 10000 km on mine. Commuting in costa rica. My bike has seen everything from rivers mountains mud etc. It gets used. Still runs like new. Best bike I've owned.

[@SouthwestORV]

Wow! Good for you, that's a lot of riding. Como esta el clima en Costa Rica? Me imagino que no cambia mucho, pues disfruta amigo. We loved this bike, seriously.

[@dr.daniel8816]

I purchased this bike. The price point, maintenance schedule, and the fact that Honda stroked the motor were the deciding factors. . Everyone complains about the suspension in my view suspension is a tailored suit, it needs to be fit to the rider and style of riding. Some things on this bike are compromised to meet a price point, but nothing in the heart of it. Consumable items are meant to be replaced , things customized to ones flavor. This is a core reliable machine and only after i wreck some things will i replace them with better ones. Have fun stay young!

[@SouthwestORV]

Congrats! We love it. I agree with your comments on the suspension. This suspension suits me well. Thanks for watching.

[@allans7281]

Love the itemized detailed review. Thought the rims come black?? You can put that muddy bike on the dealer floor in and it would still sell quickly. 😉A big upgrade would be the “Progrip soft rally grips” World of difference a little bit thicker and super comfortable Thx

[@SouthwestORV]

I think the rims are black, they were just so caked with mud and dust that they didn't look black. ;)

[@hal511bm]

Thank you.

[@SouthwestORV]

You're welcome.

[@spring9603]

♥

[@IRQ1Conflict]

I think you'd like the rally better. Better lights more range and I think the brake line doesn't interfere with the gauges.

[@SouthwestORV]

You may be right! I’ve been looking at the Rally.

[@umarkedreturn8776]

I have a 2019 650 Vstrom ADV EXT. I am thinking about getting the 300L to replace that bike and get back to a simpler experience without all the technical and electrical add-ons that I have with the Suzuki. It was kind of an impulse buy and find too many things I don't care for that are not on the 300L.

[@SouthwestORV]

Never had the Vstrom. But I love this 300L.

[@SethJayson]

any bar vibration after taking out the weights to mount the handguards?

[@SouthwestORV]

No sir. Not that we’ve noticed

[@Cyberviper8]

many people are doing the ECU upgrade for power over mileage. 550 performance?

[@SouthwestORV]

Thanks for sharing! I am happy with the power this bike has stock.

[@xaxabat1]

How was the ABS off road? Thanks.

[@SouthwestORV]

I thought it was great. No complaints.

[@marcotalenti2310]

I can ask you what handguards you bought, the handlebar does not have much space to screw the brackets (the ones near the central bar). Thank you

[@SouthwestORV]

Tusk D-flex Pro. It was tough to mount them up. Took some work, but we got it! Thanks for watching. Good luck.

[@mikep2563]

Same problem handguards pain in the ass

[@marcochavanne]

@@mikep2563 Just replace the handlebars. Tusk makes some cheap ones that have held up well for me.

[@frankpowell2178]

It's a honda , the best all around bikes , can't go wrong with a Honda 😊

[@SouthwestORV]

My experience supports what you say.

[@gabrielkopp2036]

Why do you think it's so cheap? The 2021 is the same maybe 2023 they will have fix the brake line issue

[@SouthwestORV]

I doubt it.

[@mikep2563]

Brake line issue not A issue tires,suspension handlebars easy fix

[@Jonathan-jq5cl]

would this bike be able to handle a long road trip?

[@SouthwestORV]

Yes. In fact, check out “itchy boots”. She rode one from South America to Alaska!

[@Jonathan-jq5cl]

Yeah if it can handle what she put it through it can handle just about anything.

[@goldenlion7147]

it would because it has the same engine as the cbr300r which is a street bike. it has a radiator and a 1.8l oil capacity. it's the seat that would probably make you uncomfortable in the long ride.

[@dragonhank4217]

You can remedy the brake cable problem by mounting a stand -off on the top cable guide and that will move the cable just far enough forward to see the gauge. You can find the vid on KZbin kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJzQaYukhp2Umsk

[@SouthwestORV]

Thanks!

[@umarkedreturn8776]

OR, (FREE FIX) you can get a piece of aluminum rod like a fence tie and run it up the backside of the cable/wiring. Bend until you get the proper clearance away from the cluster. Then 3M black electrical tape will hide the fix quite nicely. Done this to many a bike.

[@mt1885]

Will you do the ECU or Exhaust like Yoshi ?

[@SouthwestORV]

No, I’m very happy with it stock.

[@ug9191]

I weigh 140 and the rear bottoms out on woops/rollers.

[@SouthwestORV]

Yes, that is the biggest complaint on the bike. I LOVE the comfort. The bouncy rear is the biggest complaint I have, but that only happens on woops and rollers like you say. I've learned to manage it, but I'm also curious what could be done with the rear shock to mitigate this, perhaps a little more damping? Then again I don't want to adversely affect the way it soaks up the bumps, so I'll probably leave it.

[@ug9191]

@@SouthwestORV I went with the K-tech shock, like everyone says, it transforms the bike. Adding pre-load on the stock shock would make it even more bouncy. Too bad Honda didn't have a stiffer spring and more rebound control, but the bike is otherwise fantastic.

[@SouthwestORV]

I’d love to try that.

[@PatchedBandit]

Have you maxed the rear preload?

[@timothym2241]

What is your weight?

[@SouthwestORV]

I weigh 175 lbs.

[@user-se7vt5ow4e]

Sad that Honda went so cheap with the suspension. My 2000 XR250R had much better suspension and after revalving it was fantastic.

[@SouthwestORV]

I understand. I will say that I love the comfort factor of this 300L's suspension, and would not change it for that reason.